lekanolas: A former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Thursday formally joined the Labour Party where he hopes to rekindle his political strength ahead of 2015.

The former governor met with the national chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, in Abuja, to put pen to paper and to clear the air on which party he hopes to achieve his senatorial ambition.

The meeting, which was held at the national headquarters of the party located at Garki, was aimed at discussing the modalities that would be used to accommodate Daniel in the party. Daniel, who was accompanied by few aides, was received at the party’s secretariat by the LP chairman.

Our correspondent reports that it is difficult to say which party Daniel currently belongs to now because the former governor was the promoter of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) during the 2011 governorship election in Ogun State.

He led the campaign train of the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Isiaka, during the election, which was won by the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/daniel-dumps-pdp-joins-labour-party/

Warri _Pikin:
Is it possible or is this publication false, that these same countries citing the ICC warrant as a justification the continue their campaign of calumny on Nigeria, do not even recognize the same court themselves?
Wonders or perhaps more appropriately [size=15pt]HYPOCRISY[/size] shall truly never end.

ojubi: AND WHY IS NO AFRICAN GOVT. CONDEMNING THE US. FOR ACQUITTING GEORGE ZIMMAMAN FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING TREYVO MARTINS CITING THE USELESS "STAND YOUR GROUND LAW"?

mojounited:
Oi listen, I am not here to praise an individual or party... I am only happy that for once the FG have decided not to cow to international pressure but to stand up for Nigerians and what we believe in - our culture, norms and values. My point did not only address the state visit to China, but other diplomacies to shove back pressures of foreign powers where the sun doesn't shine #Did you even bother to open the link and read the whole article before pouncing on your keyboard? It clarifies issues and Nigeria's position on death sentence, gay rights, piracy and crude oil theft by foreigners, Sudanese President's visit, et al...whereby pressure is being applied on Nigeria by foreign powers.

My point is:

*Some states in the US still serve capital punishment (death sentence) to offenders but Human Rights Activists have kept mum only to dabble into our affairs.

*UN has disrespected Nigeria despite being the largest country in Africa on peace keeping missions - Liberia, SL, Dafur, Congo, Ivory Coast, etc. What experience and military tact does Rwanda have over Nigeria on peace keeping missions, that a Rwandan is appointed to lead West African contingent when a Nigerian is there?

*News Agencies keep telling bare-faced lies and reporting trash despite our positives and progress made in fighting against boko haram terror, citing extra judicial killings, Baga mass grave, the military being stretched or not just good enough... How many people has the US killed with drone strikes in the middle east? Have many has CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera reported?

*Obama was in the middle east to address issues even when war against terror was boiling. Mc Cain was in Syria to support the rebels amidst gun battles more deadly than what we've experienced here in NE Nigeria...yet Obama couldn't visit, citing security issues. Meanwhile, we've been doing US bidding and serving their interest since time immemorial - our support against Al-Gaddafi. The state visit to China was to show that, as the most populous black nation, we can make other allies within a snap of the finger.

So tell me, is it not time we took a stand as a sovereign nation and call their bluff? #Keep your crappy party talk and power tussle in disguise to yourself mate.

manny4life:
At times it amazes me how you people are saddened and bitter to the core. I will break down your itemized points.

So what if he went as a borrower? Hasn't U.S. traveled to China ( previously by Tim Geithner)? Or hasn't any other country done so? How does borrowing impact on being trading partners? Your logic is not ONLY flawed, but I also question your reasoning. GEJ's trip was to increase Bilateral trade and investment relationship with China.

What I fail to understand is equal partners in what exactly? China is loaning Nigeria money, just like it loaned U.S., Britain, Europe, Mexico, South Africa, etc, how is Nigeria any different and how has that negated the fact that they have a good trading partnership and equal understanding?

Using your flawed logic, China and US debt relations, should we now assume that U.S. owing China more than $1trillion in debt that doesn't make U.S. a partner in trade? The day you people STOP the hate, perhaps you can see the light



Here you come again with your priceless theory, Chinese president was on an America's Tour for a two-day summit where president Obama as well as four other America's leaders where present. The trip wasn't about Obama only, but China wanting to strengthen her ties in the American continent. So please, stop quoting out of context, after all, the same papers stated "tensions rising" as President Xi visits Americas. His visit was not because he wanted to bow before Obama or trip to him, but his trip was indirectly to tell America "Bleep YOU". We are here to invest in other Americas, something U.S. couldn't do.

In other words, GEJ has gotten some balls to spit fire, so whether you like it or not, he's on fire.

odeotito: Yesterday 19072013 Governor Aregbesola of Osun State Embarked on Politically Inexpedient Demolition of buildings along Gbongan Road in Osogbo.While many cursing him and counting their losses ended up in hospitals following the resultant trauma it remains to be seen how he will be reelected come 2014 and whether the PDP Secretariat also in the path of contravention will be demolished though passed over yesterday.It is to be noted that Governor Akande of ACN lost to Governor Oyinlola resulting in 7/half years of maladministration due to Akande's unpopular decision to sack teachers leading to the death of many in the largely civil service employment dependent state.It remains to be seen whether the public servants who looked the other way while the now demolished structures were built will be sanctioned.

mojounited: Recently, GEJ visited China to sign MoUs related to infrastructural development and back-stage Military pact after Obama snubbed Nigeria during his visit to Africa. Also, FG announced withdrawal of Nigerian troops from Dafur (Sudan) and Mali to spite the UN after it appointed a Rwandan to lead the UN African-PKO mission in Mali (despite the fact that Nigeria contributes the highest peace keeping force in Africa and fourth in the world - with vast experience)

Following recent events and from the above, without mincing words, it appears that, for once, GEJ/FG have grown the biggest pair of b@lls in dealing with international politics and will not submit to being anyone's puppet. #Way to go FG

PointB: Soyinka has deployed his depth of wisdom; the acme of his professorial and literary sagacity to inform those from the 'Delta swamp' that apart from oil, the other things they are good at producing are mammy watas, manatees, hippopotami, and mermaids. I am very sure the people of 'Delta Swamps' will rejoice exceedingly at this well crafted, apt characterization of themselves by the infallible and erudite Prof. Either that or this sagacious professor just called a woman - someone's mother, a wife, a sister - hippopotami. Either way, since he is a Nobel Laureate, I must harken to say, his is right, just and honorable! He is utterly flawless, and wiser than Solomon!

Please join me in hailing Saint Soyinka!!

kenifeh: This is the state of the Nigeria educational system. People should learn to read and understand before talking anyhow in public forums. Wole Soyinka was referring to the rich resource endowment of the Niger-Delta, and he never called Patience Jonathan a hippopotamus. Read the context in which that statement was made. He was indirectly saying that oil, which is the main issue causing the crises, is not the only rich resource of the region. People should look into the waters for solution, "the kingdom of God is within and around us".

seunmsg: How did Odumakin's statement end up as Buhari calling ACN governors corrupt? GEJ's lapdog always doing wonders. Twisting odumakin's statement to carry Buhari's name. What else won't we see on nairaland? Na wa o.

Ikengawo: I'm just hearing that Wole was a part of IBB's regime
is there any truth to this?

wellmax:
The House of Representatives also passed a motion directing the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to redeploy the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu for ‘dereliction of duties.’

ayox2003:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201307051418.html/

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/07/03/oshiomhole-debunks-ministers-claim-on-road-project/
Published on July 3, 2013 by · No Comments
JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Nigeria’s Edo state has [size=14pt]presented to members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Works, the project design, contract award documents and evidence of payment to Reynolds Construction Company(RCC) for the construction of the controversial Five Junction in Benin.[/size]

The representatives visited him in Benin today.
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku had claimed that the Federal Government was bankrolling the Five Junction road beautification as part of the reconstruction work on the Benin-Lagos road, a claim Oshiomhole debunked.
Oshiomhole described the controversy over the project as unnecessary, adding that he brought the documents to settle the issue once and for all.
He insisted that if the Ministry claimed it paid for the contract, Edo State should have its money refunded.
[size=14pt]“If the Ministry of Works insist they did the work, it would mean they are claiming money for work they did not do and that will be fraud, Oshiomhole said, just as he called on the House of Reps to investigate the matter.
The Governor enumerated several Federal projects executed by the State Government and called for re-imbursement,[/size] even as he observed that the designs of Federal Road projects in the state were without provision for drainages.
He commended the House of Reps for its legislative activism, saying that the House was giving meaning to the principle of separation of powers.
He also commended the Committee for its oversight function and pleaded with its members to intervene in the Queen Ede Gully Erosion site in Benin which he said has wiped away an entire community.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Ogbuefi Ozombachi told the Governor that members were in the state to exercise the House’s oversight function on some Federal road projects to ensure that Nigerians get value for money appropriated for projects.
He attributed the projects failure to the attitude of users and compromise on the award and supervision by the authorities.
Ozombachi disclosed that there was provision of N30 billion in the 2013 budget for re-imbursement to state governments.
He later led the Committee members to visit the Queen Ede Erosion site.
He also asked Governor Oshiomhole to forward the documents on the Five Junction project to the House for thorough investigation.

Myself2:

In your haste to drag Mr President into Amaechi's matter,you turned your post upside down.Your cart has firmly been placed before the horse

ogb5: Amaechi should stop all this cry-cry talk.
The money used in funding the police is public fund and it is not in the interest of the public for the police to be underfunded.
He should just sit down and do his job instead of playing politics with the lives and security of the citizens of his state.

chino11: President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday in Abuja condemned the irregularities which characterized the rerun election to the Imo State of Assembly in Oguta last Saturday, saying that the conduct of certain persons and groups involved in the election totally negated the spirit of one man, one vote which his administration is trying to foster in Nigeria.

Speaking at an audience with a delegation from the Nigerian Senators’ Forum, President Jonathan urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the nation’s security agencies to take immediate steps to bring all those who played any role in the violence and electoral irregularities that marred the election to justice.

The President said that it had become apparent that in order to successfully achieve his administration’s objective of entrenching a culture of consistently free, fair and credible elections in the country, it must be made clear to all stakeholders that any unlawful conduct during elections will be swiftly punished.

“Those who made it impossible for the rerun election in Oguta to be conclusive must be brought to book. We must make it clear that impunity in the perpetration of violence and irregularities during elections will no longer be tolerated. Sanctions, promptly imposed on guilty persons, will deter others from engaging in such acts in future,” he declared.

Welcoming the Senators’ Forum’s pledge of support for his administration’s efforts to thoroughly sanitize Nigeria’s electoral system, President Jonathan said that he was glad that his advocacy for one man, one vote was winning more adherents across the country.

The President said that the Federal Government under his leadership will work with other like-minded Nigerians and the forum, which has a membership of over 500 serving and former senators, to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and deliver more dividends of democracy to ordinary Nigerians.

“There must be even greater harmony between the executive and legislative arms of government. We must work together to ensure that all Nigerians benefit more from our political activities,” he told the delegation which was led by Senator Khairat Abdulrazaq Gwadabe.

Senator Gwadabe had earlier told President Jonathan that the Senators’ Forum which was established in 2003, was committed to supporting his efforts to strengthen institutions of democracy in Nigeria.

She praised the President’s commitment to maintaining cordial and harmonious relations with the National Assembly as well as his respect for the rule of law.

The delegation included Senators Abubakar Girei, Iyabo Anisulowo, Alex Kadiri, John Danboyi, Victor Oyofo, Emmanuel Ibok Essien, Haruna Abdulazeez and Sunday Fajimi, Sylvannus Ngele, Bala Adamu, Zeog H. Aziz and Omololu Meroyi.



Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 2, 2013

[url]http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/en/component/k2/item/15791-we%E2%80%99ll-soon-stop-funding-police-in-rivers-amaechi-%E2%80%A2calls-for-transfer-of-cp.html[/url]
We’ll soon stop funding police in Rivers -Amaechi •Calls for transfer of CP
Written by Bolaji Ogundele -Port Harcourt
Wednesday, 03 July 2013

RIVERS State government has threatened to stop its assistance in further equipping the state police command, as it is no longer devoted to securing the people of the state.
The state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this when members of the governing board of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), led by its chairman, Chief Gordon Bozimo, paid him a visit in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.
He also called on the Federal Government to help the economy and security of the state by replacing the current Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu.
Amaechi, who spoke on the security situation in the state when the chairman of the board, who is also a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), complained about the recent rise in kidnap cases involving corps members in the state, noted that security situation had nose-dived in the state since Mbu moved in.
It will be recalled that the relationship between the governor and the police commissioner had not been cordial since the political crisis in the state escalated.
Governor Amaechi further lamented the turn that the security situation in the state had taken since the commissioner resumed duties in the state, calling on the Inspector General of Police to consider the plight of the people who had been at the receiving end of the worsening security and redeploy Mbu.
“I don’t want a commissioner of police that will work for me, I want a commissioner of police that will work for the interest of the state, that will work for Rivers people. So, it is not only me that you should complain to, talk to the Inspector-General of Police and those who transferred the commissioner that was working in the interest of Rivers people.
“Port Harcourt is becoming unsafe and more NYSC members may be kidnapped, except they remove Joseph Mbu. It will worsen when we (the state government) stop funding the police, because we will soon stop funding them.
“Mbu has been sitting with politicians for political reasons and the security system is down and out. Since he came, we have never had peace. We have held security council meetings two or three times. But before Mbu came, we used to hold security meetings two or three times every month.
We know where our corps members are and we know the level of security arrangement we put in place to protect them.
“We also send the SSS to watch over them. We have equipment that monitors what happens where. The only way they will not kidnap corpers is to send Mbu back to where he came from and post us a commissioner of police that will serve the interest of this state,” the governor said.
Governor Amaechi further alleged that the target of those who effected the posting of Mbu into the state was to cripple the economy of the state.
“Mbu is a politician, because he attends political meetings with those who brought him to our state and there is no way you can stop that.
“The only way you can stop that is to ask the politicians in Abuja to withdraw their Commissioner of Police and allow us to secure Rivers State.
“My fear is that his stay in Rivers State is intended to kill the conducive business climate in Port Harcourt and the fast growing economy of our state,” he said.
In his speech, chairman of the visiting board, Chief Bozimo, observed that if the situation threatening the stay of corps members in the state was not curbed on time, it might create an image problem for the state.
“Three days ago, three of our corps members were kidnapped. I feel very worried because, if Port Harcourt is not safe, I don’t know where people will run to. So, we are imploring you to look at the problems and fashion out what we can do to nip the problem in the bud,” he said.

king of pool: End time things

ekt_bear: A great, but long read: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/07/how-africas-new-urban-centers-are-shifting-its-old-colonial-boundaries/277425/?single_page=true

Most of the article focuses on Lagos State and Fashola, but there is a lot of other interesting material in it.

tomakint: This is what I call courage with class! Jonathan all the way to 2019!

Shobayo Emma: Good achievement by the mr president there. God bless NIGERIA.

BeraBera: About 16,447 housing units were added to the national housing stock through various interventions by the Federal Mortgage Bank, Federal Housing Authority and Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

Similarly, 238 housing units under the prototype housing scheme and 2,009 housing units under the public private partnership/contraction finance programme were also executed.

The Minister of lands, Housing and Urban Development Miss Ama Pepple announced this at the 2013 mid-term Ministerial platform in Abuja.

She explained that during the period under review 7,510 housing units through estate development loans were also provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank.

The Minster also noted that the Ministry is currently establishing 150 fully serviced residential plots per site in 12 States of the six geo political zone of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Miss Ama Pepple also announced that the Ministry in collaboration with Aso Savings and Loans Limited and Federal Mortgage Bank is developing 144 mixed housing units of 1-3 bedroom apartments in Lugbe.

However, the Minister expressed unhappiness that despite the efforts of the Ministry lack of funds has become a huge challenge in the housing development sector of the economy.

While speaking earlier, the Minister of Information Mr. Labaran Maku said the Minster of Housing has produced a workable housing policy for the country, adding that Miss Pepple has delivered excellently on the mandate of the Ministry.

http://fmi.gov.ng/over-16000-housing-units-developed-in-two-years-of-jonathans-administration-pepple/