http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/04/13/iwu-will-go-says-jonathan/
*Sweeping changes underway in INEC

By Daniel Idonor

ABUJA—ACTING President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commision, INEC, and many of its current commissioners would not conduct the 2011 elections in the country.

Jonathan, who reaffirmed his strong desire to conduct a credible election that will meet the yearnings and aspiration of most Nigerians and the international community in 2011, spoke in Washington DC, as guest of the Council on Foreign Relations, CFR, moderated by Howard Jeter, former United States, US, Ambassador to Nigeria.

He said: “Before 2011 there will be a number of changes in INEC. A number of people talk about the chairman but it is not the chairman alone. The chairman’s tenure will expire by June 13. But he is not alone, there are quite a number of the officers, more than two thirds of them.

“Basically I am a bit lucky now because most of the commissioners at the national level have completed their tenure or will complete their tenure in a couple of months, so we are going to review them individually and the ones we feel are not good enough to be reappointed, we will not reappoint them.

Jonathan to inject fresh blood in INEC
“We will inject fresh blood and we will make sure that we bring people on board that if their names are mentioned, people in the civil society will be happy that they can conduct free and fair election. Of course that is psychological because as I said it has to do with perception so we are a bit lucky in that respect.”

The Acting President said that INEC had lost public confidence to conduct free and fair election, adding that it would be difficult for the government to allow the current leadership of the commission to go ahead with the conduct of next year’s elections.

He said: “People have the perception that the body cannot do what is right and even when they do what is right people find it very difficult to believe. That is the story of the Nigerian electoral body, the INEC. The feeling is that INEC cannot conduct credible elections in Nigeria.”

Jonathan stressed that if the nation was to continue to play her leadership roles on the African continent, and direct others on what to do, then “we must be prepared to live above board.”

The Acting President noted that with the present electoral laws, the country could conduct generally accepted elections that could earn it a score of up to 70 per cent but stressed that the problem of compromise was responsible for the doubts on election results.

Interactive session
During the interactive session, the Acting President called on the United States government and other developed countries to assist Africa in the control of the proliferation of small and light weapons, noting: “It looks like Africa is a dumping ground for small and light weapons by the international community.

“Definitely, this is an area that worries us. The free movement of small arms into Africa is a major problem. It is a huge challenge to us and we believe that the US should help.”

On the question of public security and safety in Nigeria, Jonathan said the government was doing everything possible to adequately equip the police for effective crime control. He lamented, however, that at the moment the police was ill equipped to tackle the huge challenges of crime in the country.

He said the Federal Government was working on a joint funding agreement with the three tiers of government and the private sector to provide the needed funds for the police.

While reassuring the international community of Nigeria’s determination to sustain the war on corruption, Jonathan said the government had engaged all stakeholders in the post amnesty programme in ensuring that the tempo was sustained.

He stressed the fact that the government was tackling the problem of power, hinting that he was exploring alternative sources of power to meet the growing needs of the over 140 million Nigerians.

He said: “We will have definite road maps in the power sector. We want to change the focus and that is why we are yet to have minister of power. Once we set the stakes, we will bring a minister on board.”

The Acting President was emphatic that the government would tackle all problems associated with the human factor in the power sector while those that had to do with infrastructure development would have clear-cut goals and timelines for implementation.

On his foreign policy thrust, Jonathan pledged to consolidate on Nigeria’s leadership role both at the sub-regional and continental level especially in its campaign for a sustainable democratic culture and pursuance of peace.

Earlier, he said he was confronted “with the greatest test of my political career,” while continuing to pray for the recovery of President Umaru Yar’Adua, adding “it is my responsibility to work with Nigerians to improve the pace of development and to do so facing the right direction.”

He noted that “in this responsibility of consolidating and deepening our democracy, we are committed to ensuring that the remaining period of the administration is not a transitional period but one which, we hope, one day will be viewed as a watershed, a transformational time in our young democracy.”
20 Responses for “Iwu will go, says Jonathan”

1.
Uche Mbano says:
April 13, 2010 at 1:40 am

my brother Iwu have disappionted the whole nigerians, he is not a true son of Igbo land and Imo state. shame on you Maurice Iwu. and Mrs Ayoka from Ekiti state should go also for taking bribe from the PDP. I love Jornathan because he is not working for the PDP alone but for the entire country as the case surpose to me. Obasanjo said that PDP will rule for 50 years with some body like Maurice Iwu and Mrs Ayoka.
2.
Uche Orji says:
April 13, 2010 at 1:25 am

I’ve no doubt in my mind Dr. Jonathan will deliver. The Acting President’s sound understanding of public perception is sufficient enough to indicate that he has a clear cut direction and the political willing to move Nigeria forward ever.
3.
kelechi from italy says:
April 13, 2010 at 1:16 am

Mr president thank you very much our God will bless you more and more Iwu should go the problme we have today in Imo state is cost by him so he most live,we opuition A4 will be good for us,
4.
OTUNBA OLA says:
April 13, 2010 at 1:14 am

if this is the only thing mr acting president can do i will be glad…………………, akala no way for uuuuuuuuuuuuuu………, IWU IS GONE
5.
chekwube says:
April 13, 2010 at 1:13 am

The system that produced and made Iwu is the problem and not Iwu,most of you will do worst than Iwu if you were to be in his shoes,Who can you trust when corruption is the order of the day.A country that a common Local govt. Chairman will become millionaire over night and nothing happens.A country that has more Billionaires than industries,a country with more churches than worshipers,a country were illiterates are in power,a country of looters and vision less Statesmen,a country were leaders are constantly recycled,a country full of cowards and fools who are willing and calling on a junta that ruled 20 years ago to come and rule them again,It would have being better to invite the colonial masters to come back and take over from where they stopped years ago.A blessed country but cursed through amalgamation.

so this guy fit pray,

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/3904-jos-crisis-another-genocide-averted-in-jenta-kuru

Jos crisis: Another genocide averted in Jenta Kuru

| Print | E-mail

Written by Isaac Shobayo
Still reeling from the gruesome killings at Dogo Nahauwa in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, where about 500 people were killed by some people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, there was another attempt at Kuru Jenta village at the early hour of Sunday, leaving score of people with injuries and property worth million of naira destroyed.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the attackers suspected to be Fulani in their large number at the early hour of Sunday, stormed the village in the Jos South Local Government with sophisticated weapons cudgel and cutlasses.

An eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that on arriving at the village the attackers released gunshots into the air to smoke people out of their houses just as it was done at Dogo Nahauwa and the recent one in Riyom Local Government Area of the state.

The eyewitness further stated that based on the experience of the previous attacks, the people refused to come out of their respective homes while some continue to make calls to the security agencies to come to their aids.

It was further gathered that while the few military men at the scene were trying to repel them, some of the attackers who, engaged the military men in a fierce battle gained access to the houses of the former Commissioner of Mineral Resources, Mr. Davou Timothy Pwarjok and Mr. Markus Pwarjok both brothers and rained bullets into the two houses.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that two families along with other whose houses were attacked escaped with various degrees of injuries while the district head of the area also escaped with injuries.

When Nigerian Tribune visited the scene of the unfortunate incident on Sunday afternoon, many of the houses in the village were riddled and perforated with bullets.

The Operation officer of Operation Save Heaven, Brigadier Kayode Ogundele, who confirmed the incident to the Nigerian Tribune said no life was lost during the invasion adding that just few people sustained minor injuries.

Brigadier Ogundele who stated that two houses and four vehicles were burnt said that the attackers who came in large number had good knowledge of the environment, adding that the timely intervention of his men nipped the situation in the bud.

He added that the house of the community head in the area was not touched because of the presence of the military men around the house and advised the people to report and suspicious moves within their vicinity.

It will be recalled that it was the same Jenta Kuru that some people were allegedly killed during the January crisis in the state and their bodies allegedly stuck into a well.

@ Topic

Praise God

how u take know

thats the best,

Not Now

@ MamaGee

Oh yeah, Jonathan who has done nothing as President would be meeting Obama.
I guess all those thieves are looking for a way to make the U.S. send money to them inorder to help the failing country and then proceed to put the money in their own account.
Bunch of Criminals!



Hw u take know,

1 he ensure free and fear Election in Anambra State
2. He has open show cabals the way out
3. NNPC Head Changed

just within 2 month of takin over

and many head are going

@ Joke

I think NL don dey turn to Night of a thousand Laugh, \

Blouethouth and Co don dey turn to Basket mouth, Gandoki, I go Dye, Maleke, Ali Baba and Co

edoyad:

Hope a letter has been written to the senate to that effect incase Jonathan has to remain in hospital there.

Just shut dt mouth
Nothing dey Happen

@ Topic
No Wahala,

vykychie:

It's Obvious that Jonathan Goodluck's secret intentions of having this meeting with Obama is to ask for the U.S. to help Nigeria.

Cause Nigeria is a 3rd world Country and then it'll go straight to his bank account, It's very simple and smooth.

Obasanjo did it as a President and he would definitely not be the only president to do it during their term in Office, others must follow in his footsteps,

mama gee, na wa for una o, most times i doubt if u r rly a Nigerian from the way u talk, it's rly a rotten attitude, no one wins with such a mentality, it's just full of the history of a defeat man who never plans of moving forward in life, pls change your reasoning about yourself cos when you do, your reasoning abt some of our leaders would change, some of them have great plans and they are moving towards achieving great things for this country, Fashola is an example, whether you agree with me or not, so be positive for once. thank you

I believe his meeting with Obama will go along way to review our image and increase patronage by these world Power

The School is an affilliate of Nova University United State Of Ame

becomrich6:

Ben 10, nairaland is funded by the nigeria government and any view different from this is delete or ban.

You can see iwu just said, only he thinks only an idiot thinks he can carry out electoral reform. We have to face the truth. Only strutural reform can solve nigeria problem.

this boy again,

u no just they reason at all,

ve told u to go to He, ll

live this forum for us,

Yorubadogia

No qualms,

Ibori need prayers

The Keeper of Israel has neva sleep nor slumber he is watching ova Jona

marvix:

What difference has it made knowin dat your president cld not sit still for 5mins and is in deep excruciatin pain?

Does it mean that his family should pull the plug on him? Or are we to sack him because his sickness is grave? As a mata of fact how does dis afect d price of beans in d market?

THE GUY SHOULD GO AND REST.

GO BACK TO KASTINA

SO TO GIVE RELIEF TO THE AG PRESIDO

mODE LoCk THIS THREAD, PLEASE

IF TRUE THEN THE NATION IS HELD HOSTAGE,

ABALAJO, JONATHAN SABI SAY THE GUY DON TURN VEGETABLE THAT IS WHY HE SACKED ALL D CABALRIAN IN GOVT.

i SUPPORT THE MOVE FOR A DEVELOPMENTAL SUB-SECTION,

I WISH I COULD ADD A POOL ,

Litmus:

That picture is like a backward child’s vision of the future. The future should be green. Scooping up the Amazon jungle and sprinkling it on New Your skyline should give you an idea. I am aware that the thread is really about separation but to my mind the idea of America as the future and the idea of segregation as a means to development, both belong to outmoded concepts and values. There is a real debate to be had about where to take Nigeria and what to fight for, but people do not seem ready for that debate. I am yet to determine if the reason for this lies with the relative youth of a majority of forumites (I believe between 16 and 17yrs) or just plain backwardness. Although 16 and 17 year olds’ really ought be more accommodating, generous and futuristic in their concepts and aspirations.       

NA TRUE U YARN

Ministers:The Profiles
04.07.2010

Dora Akunyili
Information and Communication

Minister of Information & Communications Prof. Dora Akunyili was born on July 14, 1954 in Markudi, Benue State. She hails from Nanka in Anambra State. The minister finished from the Holy Rosary Secondary School Nsukka with a distinction prompting the then Eastern Nigerian Govern-ment to grant her an undergraduate scholarship to study Pharmacy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

She has a doctorate degree in the same field and institution. She was appointed National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAG) Director-general in 2001 and was Minister of Information and Communication on December of 2008 by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Her memo calling on members of the Federal Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) to act on the ill-health of Yar’Adua would remain a defining moment in the emergence of the Goodluck Jonathan Acting Presidency.

Adamu Maina Waziri
Police Affairs Minister

Adamu Maina Waziri was born on the 14th of September, 1952. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He began his career as a lecturer in 1979 at the University of Maiduguri. He was at various times, Executive Director, Hydro Quest Nigeria Limited; Board member, Students Loans Board, Federal Ministry of Education; Chief
Executive, Bogaru Interna-tional Limited; Special Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture; Senior Special Assistant to the President (Employers OPS); Coordinator, National Poverty Eradication programme (NAPEP) and Chairman, Road Safety Commission. Between 2005 and 2006.
He also served as Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN)
Justice Minister & AGF

Minister of Justice and Attorney-general of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) was born on September 1,1963. He was educated at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and graduated in 1985 with a degree in Law. He was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar in October 1986. He worked variously with Kwara State Schools’ Management Board; Kano State Ministry of Justice as pupil Counsel; Messrs Zakari Yaro & Co; and I. M. Boyi & Co; before establishing Messrs M.A Bello & Co.
A consummate Legal Practitioner, Chartered Arbitrator and Notary Public, Adoke was a member of the Board Peugeot Automobile Limited, Kaduna between 2006 and 2008 and Chairman of the Board Audit Committee of Unity Bank Plc. He is currently a member of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee.

Chris Ogiemwonyi
Minister of State for Works

The new Minister of State for Works Chris Ogiemwonyi is a technocrat popularly known as ‘Mr. Local Content’ because of the local factor initiative he championed at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He hails from Abudu in Orhionwon Local Government Area of Edo State. He attended Western Boys’ High School now known as Airewele Boys High School in Benin City. He proceeded to the University of Benin, Benin City where he studied Physics for his first degree. His 34-year stint at NNPC climaxed with his elevation as Group Executive Director. He retired in 2009.

Henry Odein Ajumogobia (SAN)
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Henry Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2003. He was a former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Rivers State. He was appointed Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum in July 2007 and was at the fore-front of the push for the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry.

Iyom Josephine Anenih
Minister of Women Affairs

Iyom Josephine Anenih was the chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers from 1994 to 2000. She was the first National Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999-2005. An indigene of Anambra State, Anenih is a lawyer by profession.

Chukwuemeka
Ngozi Wogu
Minister of Labour & Productivity

Chukwuemeka Ngozi Wogu is lawyer by training. He was a Commissioner of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

Aliyu Idi Hong
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong was born in 1967. He was PDP Secretary Adamawa State and was also Personal Assistant to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Jubril Aminu. He was appointed Minister of State for Culture & Tourism in 2007 before his reappointment as Minister of State for Health.

Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed
Minister of Culture and Tourism

Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed was born on October 14, 1961. He hails from Nafada LGA of Gombe State. Mohammed holds a bachelor and masters degree in physics.
He went on to become a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology Yola, between 1986 and 1996. He was MD/CEO of various companies between 1996 and 2002. Muhammed also worked at the National Teachers Institute (NTI) Kaduna, between 2002 and 2008 before becoming the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is regarded as an unassuming personality.

Awodele Najeem Alao
Minister of State for Agriculture

Awodele Najeem Alao was born on August 22, 1955 at Abeokute, Ogun State. He bagged his first and second degrees in Philosophy from the University of Lagos. He is also a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management.
Awodele had a brief stint as a secondary scool teacher after his graduation before joining the private sector as General Manager,
Namson Management Services between 1990 and 1998. He became a Managing Consultant, Namson Consulting Ltd from 1999 up to the time of his ministerial appointment.

Jubril Martins-Kuye
Minister of Commerce and Industry

Chief Jubril Martins-Kuye, a Chartered Accountant, who will be 68 August 16 this year is having his second shot as a minister. The onetime Senator and Minister of State for Finance during President Olusegun Obasanjo administration hails from Ago Iwoye, Ijebu constituency of Ogun State. He was an erstwhile governorship candidate under PDP for Ogun State. Senator Kuye is an Alumnus of the University of Ibadan where he studied Sociology between 1965-68. He later proceeded to Harvard University Business School, where he majored in Economics graduating in 1983.

Navy Capt Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade
Minister of Special Duties

Navy Captain Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade is an indigene of Ekiti State. He rose to the pinnacle of his career when on June 9, 1997 he was appointed Military Administrator of the then newly created Bayelsa State by the military government of General Sani Abacha.

Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho
Minister of Interior

Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho hails from Imo State. He is professional involved in the marine sector. He is Managing Director of Genesis Worldwide Shipping Company, a major indigenous shipping operator and a national carrier. He holds a Master of Science degree in International Transport from the University of Wales Cardiff, United Kingdom and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in General Management from the University of Bradford.
He is also Chairman/CEO of Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd, an independent marketer of clean petroleum products and owners of the 30 million litre Integrated Oil and Gas tank farm in Apapa, Lagos.

Suleiman Bello
Minister of State for Health

Alhaji Suleiman Bello comes from Zamfara State. Until his appointment, he was the Commissioner representing Katsina at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He is waiting for the new minister of health with whom he will work in the ministry.

Fidelia Akuabata Njeze
Minister of Aviation

Mrs. Fidelia Akuabata Njeze is returning for the fourth time as a minister. She had been Minister of State for Water Resources, Defence, Agriculture and now Aviation. Born on June 8, 1964 in Enugu State, She holds a B. Sc (Pharmacy) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She worked as a member of the Enugu State Health Services Board and was also formerly Managing Director, Gredel Pharmacy Limited.

Humphery Abbah
Minister of State for Aviation

Mr. Humphery Abbah comes from Kogi State. He was Minister of State for Commerce and Industry in the last cabinet. He has pledged to work assiduously to realise the objectives of the ministry, which entails ensuring security of the nation’s airspace.

Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufai
Minister of Education

Prof. Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufai was former Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in Jigawa State. A Professor of Education (Curriculum Studies), Rufai bagged a B. Ed in History as a Teaching Subject at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK) in 1981, MA History from the same university in 1987 and PhD in Education from the West Virginia University, USA in 1991.
Rufai hails from Ringim in Jigawa State and had lectured at BUK from where she was picked to serve as Commissioner for Health under the military between 1993 and 1996. She was promoted professor in 2003, making her the first female professor produced by BUK and also the first from North Western Nigeria.

Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed
Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation

Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed until his recent appointment was the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Bayero Nafada. Mohammed bagged his B. Sc (Physics) in 1985 from University of Maiduguri and M.Sc in the same discipline form the University of Ibadan. He caused a stir recently during his confirmation screening when the Senators battled to come to terms with his statement of results, which indicated that as a graduate with First Class Honours in Physics, he was only able to muster a pass grade (P7) in Physics and Mathematics at the O’ Level.

Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN)
Minister of Defence

Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN) is a 1981 University of Lagos graduate of Law. He comes from Ikare-Akoko in Ondo State. He was a staunch member of the Abuja chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In 2007, he was first appointed Minister of Culture & Tourism and then Labour and Productivity. After Chief Mike Aondoakaa (SAN) was demoted from Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation early this year to Special Duties Minister, Kayode was appointed AGF. Kayode is a prominent senior legal practitioner who had been counsel to the Federal Government, PDP, INEC, etc. He is one of the earliest legal practitioners in Abuja.

Murtala Yar’Adua
Minister of Defence (State)

Alhaji Murtala Yar’Adua whose ministerial nomination generated controversy in his family is the eldest son of late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua, elder brother to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
After his secondary education, Murtala attended South-eastern University, London, England and graduated with a B. Sc Degree in Business Management and an MBA in Financial Management. Following in his father's tracks, in politics, business and now defence, he served as Director of Intel Services Ltd, Port Harcourt; Nation House Press, Kaduna, Hamada Holdings Nigeria Ltd, Kaduna. He also served as a member of the Board Directors of Platinum Habib Nigeria Bank Plc. He was turbaned Tafidan Katsina in 2002, a traditional title he inherited from his late father.

Bala Mohammed
Minister of FCT

Senator Bala Mohammed was born in 1958 and attended Duguri primary school, Government secondary school, Bauchi and University of Maiduguri where he read English. He was elected a Senator in 2007, representing Bauchi South. He is a vocal voice among the members of the red floor of the Senate. This, he displayed during the early days of Yar’Adua’s ill-health controversy, when he was the first to ask for the invocation of Section 144 of the 1999 constitution and declare President Yar’Adua incapacitated. He was then the arrowhead of the pro-Jonathan Senators in the Senate.

Olusegun Aganga
Minister of Finance

Mr. Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga was born in Lagos in 1955. Before he was called to serve, Aganga held sway as Managing Director of the reputable investment company in the United Kingdom, Goldman Sachs International.

Aderemi Babalola
Minister of Finance (State)

Mr. Aderemi Babalola was the Minister of State for Finance who had in the immediate past worked with two Finance Ministers consecutively, that is, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman and Dr. Mansur Muhtar. Before he was appointed the Minister of State for Finance in 2007, he was an Executive Director in charge of Operations at First Bank of Nigeria Plc. The young Babalola is not your run-of-the-mill politician but he is said to be learning the robes gradually.

Shamsuddeen Usman
Minister of National Planning

Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman was the first Finance Minister to serve in the President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration. He was later moved to the Ministry of National Planning following a cabinet shake-up. Until the recent cabinet dissolution, he was the Minister of National Planning.

Suleiman Yusuf
Minister of Transport

Alhaji Suleiman Yusuf was born in 1963 in Sokoto State. He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with B.Sc Business Administration in 1986 and got his Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 1989.

John Ogar Odey
Minister of Environment

Mr. John Ogar Odey has retained his position of Minister of Environment in the dissolved cabinet of President Yar’Adua. He was former Minister of Information and Communications in the first cabinet of President Yar’Adua in 2007. Odey who hails from Cross River North Senatorial was born in 1959. He holds a B.Sc in Banking and Finance from the University of Calabar.
Before his federal appointments, he was a Commissioner for Agriculture in Cross River State from 2003 to 2005 under the administration of Governor Donald Duke. From 2005-2007, he was the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, a position he held before he was appointed a minister by President Yar’Adua.

Ibrahim Bio
Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission

Alhaji Ibrahim Bio was born in 1957. He is an indigene of Kwara State. He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained B.Sc in Pharmacy and an MBA from Ogun State University. In 1999, he was elected on the platform of the All Peoples Party (APP) to the House of Representatives. Following the leadership tussle between the leader of Kwara politics, Dr Olusola Sarki and late former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Muhammed Lawal, Bio pitched his tent with Oluwo as Saraki is popularly known. He stepped down to contest for the State House of Assembly based on the promise by Saraki to hand over the Speakership of the State House of Assembly to him. He became the Speaker of the house and in 2007, he was appointed Minister of Transport.

Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed
Minister of Culture and Tourism

The new Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed was born on October 14, 1961. He hails from Nafada LGA of Gombe State. Mohammed holds a Bachelor and Masters degrees in physics. He went on to become a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology Yola between 1986 and 1996. He was MD/CEO of various companies between 1996 and 2002. Muhammed also worked at the National Teachers Institute (NTI) Kaduna between 2002 and 2008 before becoming the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is regarded as an unassuming personality.

Awodele Najeem Alao
Minister of State for Agriculture

Mr. Awodele Najeem Alao was born on August 22, 1955 at Abeokuta, Ogun State. He bagged his first and second degrees in Philosophy from the University of Lagos. He is also a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM). Awodele had a brief stint as a secondary school teacher after his graduation before joining the private sector as General Manager, Namson Management Services between 1990 and 1998. He became a Managing Consultant, Namson Consulting Ltd from 1999 up to the time of his ministerial appointment.

Diezani Alison-Madueke
Minister of Petroleum Resources

Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke came to limelight when she was appointed Minister of Transport in 2007. Her stay in the Transport Ministry lasted a little over a year before she was reassigned to the Ministry of Mines and Steel in December, 2008. Before the dissolution of the last cabinet, Alison-Madueke was working hard to surmount the challenges she faced at her second job at the federal level. Her appointment as the Minister of Petroleum comes with some surprise, though she was before her ministerial appointment in 2007 a top management staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and as such may be said to be in a familiar terrain.

Musa Mohammed Sada
Mines and Steel Development

New Minister of Mines and Steel Development Alhaji Musa Mohammed Sada. Sada hails from Katsina State. The ministry is regarded as strategic given the untapped resources under the control of the minister. In terms of revenue generation, the ministry could rival petroleum resources if fully developed.
Like most other ministries in the country, it has suffered from a huge turn-around of ministers. It is not certain if Sada would be able to make any meaningful impact within a short period. But much is expected of him.

Nuhu Somo Wya
Ministry of State for Power

Alhaji Nuhu Wya is returning to the same portfolio he held before the cabinet dissolution. He hails from Kaduna. The sorry state of power supply in the country may have compelled Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to refrain from appointing a substantive minister for power. Instead, he is expected to oversee the ministry along with Wya.
Nuhu is known to be humble and less controversial.

Godsday Orubebe
Minister of Niger Delta affairs

Niger Delta Minister Godsday Orubebe was formerly Minister of State in the same ministry. He is returning to a familiar ground. Orubebe has carried out several assignments in the region dating back to the President Olusegun Obasanjo regime.
Orubebe is seen as one of the pillars in the government’s efforts to move the Federal Government amnesty programme forward.

Sam Odey
Minister of State, Niger Delta

Mr. Sam Odey hails from Benue State and is said to be a hard-working technocrat who is eager to make his mark in governrnent.

Jonathan to Meet Obama on Sunday
From Tokunbo Adedoja in Washington, DC, 04.08.2010

In what would be his first major outing as Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan would be hosted by US President Barack Obama on Sunday at the White House in Washington D.C.
It would be a rare meeting between an American President and a non-substantive president of a country.
The high-level meeting has not been officially announced by both countries.
But sources at the Nigerian Embassy and the US Department of State told THISDAY that all necessary preparations had been made for this important parley.

It was reliably gathered that the meeting was finally sealed on Tuesday when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Alhaji Ahmed Yayale and US Secretary of State Senator Hillary Clinton met in Washington, D.C., to sign the Bi-national commission agreement between the two countries.
President Obama had sent an invitation to Jonathan last month to attend the Nuclear  Security Summit which is taking place between April 11 and 14. Nigeria’s Ambassador to US Professor Adebowale Adefuye had told Obama while presenting his letter of credence at the White House two weeks ago that Jonathan has accepted his invitation.

It could however not be confirmed if the Acting President would stay throughout the duration of the summit especially when he does not have a Vice-President to take charge of affairs in his absence.
The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations at the meeting which would take place by 5pm on Sunday. The Nigeria-US Bi-national Commission is on the agenda, in addition to global terrorism and counterterrorism measures.
Also to be discussed are issues of regional security and peace-keeping. Nigeria is Africa’s largest contributor to peace-keeping.
Working groups had been formed by the commission to address specific issues. These include: good governance; transparency and Integrity; energy and investment; food security and agriculture; Niger Delta and regional security co-operation.
The Good Governance, Transparency and Integrity working group will be launched  first because of the preparations and reforms necessary to ensure that the 2011 elections are free and fair.

US had last week announced new enhanced aviation security measures and set aside the list of countries of interest (which Nigeria is part of) announced on January 3, 2010, as an emergency security measure after the botched Christmas Day bombing of an American aircraft  by 23-year-old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
Although, THISDAY could not get the itinerary of the Acting President's during the visit, it was gathered that he may hold a meeting with selected members of the Nigerian community in that country.
THISDAY also confirmed that the US Secretary,  Department of Homeland Security,  Janet Napolitano, who announced  the new enhanced aviation security measures last week, will arrive Nigeria on  Saturday.

@ poster
where is ur source

@ Poster,

truly u r confused, like Turai

sjeezy8:

ahaha those muslims again abi? we need to seperate from the north . . . they cause trouble everywere they go.

what has the Muslim got to do with attack on hospital

Fhemmmy:

Like the governor really care

the guy dey busy with rally,

@ topic

I fear, the State Get Governor so, State owned Hospital

Not Now or I will send MEND to Finish the unfinished issue

Just Go to Hausa Section,

Waawaa

@ poster

Take my advice
send ur issue to culture Hausa section,