₦airaland Forum

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday stated that it was the struggle for power that caused the rift between him and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to him, “It was the struggle for power. But me, I was not struggling for myself; I was struggling for the people.” The presidential aspirant, who spoke at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, while responding to questions from journalists, stated that Mr. Obasanjo had jokingly told him when they assumed office that he (Obasanjo) was puzzled that Mubarak (Egyptian president), Ghadaffi (Libyan president) and Eyadema (Togolese president) were still in office 20 years after he left them in office in 1979.

Mr. Abubakar said in his response to Mr. Obasanjo he had said “Mr. President, Nigeria is a different country. It is not Egypt, it is not Libya, you just have to go.”

The former vice president stated that had Nigerians not stood up against the former president, he would have wanted to remain in office in perpetuity, like other African leaders.

“I knew Baba was not looking for third term; Baba was looking for life presidency.”

Wasted Power funds

While commenting on his involvement in the billions of dollars spent on power during the Obasanjo administration, the former vice president denied any culpability in the management of the funds.

He explained that the National Council on Privatisation under him had contacted an audit firm in 2002. The firm presented a comprehensive report on the reform of the power sector, which included establishment of small and medium power stations all over the country to be funded by the private sector.

“The minister of power submitted a different report recommending the use of N650 million to revamp the old power stations. He decided to accept the minister’s recommendation and released the money. The money went down the drain,” Mr. Abubakar stated.

“I know of a contractor who was paid $1.8 billion upfront and till today, he has not delivered. When Umaru’s administration came on board, they paid more money,” he stated, reiterating that he was never involved in the management of the funds.

I will run Nigeria like a business

While commenting on how he would generate funds for his various programmes if elected, Mr. Abubakar stated that, “I am going to run this country like a business enterprise.”

The presidential aspirant explained that the country is continually in debt as “all our capital expenditures are being funded with bonds.” He lamented that the country could not even fund the money approved for INEC and had to resort to sale of bonds for it.

Mr. Abubakar, while citing the example of Dubai, said that the private sector needed to be encouraged to invest in the economy: “you must give as many incentives as possible to encourage people to bring their money.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5607517-146/obasanjo_wanted_life_presidency__.csp

The newly appointed minister of state for education, Kenneth Gbagi, has called for the deregulation of the university sector so that schools can single-handedly raise funds for their projects.

Mr. Gbagi made this call on Monday in Abuja when the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Julius Okojie, paid him a visit. He said that the move was necessary because government’s resources are inadequate to cover the high cost needed to run Nigerian universities every year.

Meaningful education

“We must as a country start, the same way we deregulated the petroleum sector, to deregulate the university sector,” said Mr. Gbagi. “I will support anything in that direction because the burden of government in the education sector is one that is extremely very heavy.”

Though he admitted it would mean an increase in tuition fees, he said that many Nigerian families were already paying large amounts to send their children abroad.

“It will interest you to know that a great proportion of our resources today is paid to African countries. In Ghana, our students pay close to $5,000 and $7,000 to gain university education,” he said. “If we take all these children to Ghana, America, and England and pay fees, we should be ready to pay minimum fees for our students in Nigeria. If you must go to school, you must be able to pay a price.”

He, therefore, urged the commission’s executive secretary to work out a ten-year plan on how to gradually reduce the government’s involvement in running the university system.

Illegal degrees

The new minister also talked about the growing number of illegal degree-awarding institutions in the country. He charged the NUC to be more proactive in tackling the menace. Mr. Gbagi said the 60 days of grace currently given to such institutions is out of place and ordered the immediate closure of illegal universities when identified.

“As NUC publishes the list of genuine higher institutions, it should also set up a monitoring team to discover and get reports of such institutions. Government will do everything within its power to ensure that these illegal institutions are dealt with very quickly,” he said.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5607562-146/minister_advocates_deregulation_of_universities_.csp

The All Igbo Summit which held yesterday in Enugu has given tacit support to the touted presidential ambition of Dr Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. This is even as northern youths under the aegis of Arewa Youths Development Foundation stormed the Coal City in a different summit that saw them signing agreement with South-east youths to support a presidential candidate of the northern extraction.

The Igbo summit which held without any of the governors of the South-eastern states and many prominent Igbo leaders attending resolved that since Bayelsa is of the old Brass Division in the defunct Eastern Region, it would be wise for the Igbo to support Jonathan who is one of their own, but not without some conditions.

The All Igbo Summit was convened by elder statesman and former Aviation Minister in the First Republic, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, to draw out eminent Igbo leaders, sons and daughters to deliberate and take a common stand, particularly on the upcoming 2011 presidential election which many believe would determine the fate of the Igbo in 2015.
Eminent Igbo leaders at the summit were industrialist and publisher of Champion Newspapers, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Ambassador to Soviet Union (now Russia), J. C. Ikemefuna, former Commissioner for Education in Ebonyi State, Chief Offia Nwali and former Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr K. C. Elemor, Chief Ugochukwu Agballa and Azuka Okwuosa, who served as chairman and secretary of the organizing committee for the summit respectively.

In the resolution, the summit said it has endorsed Jonathan for 2011 presidency, but must negotiate with the South-south over guaranteeing Igbo interests.
The summit also said that time had gone when Ndigbo only played the second fiddle in Nigeria, adding that at independence Nigeria was divided into three regions and later into four before the creation of more states, in which period the Igbo had little or no say while the north ruled for 38 years.
“Therefore, the old Eastern Region should be allowed to produce the next president,” the summit agreed.

Speaking before the end of the summit, Chief Amaechi had observed that most potent political issue in Nigeria today is who would be elected President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2011.
This he said followed the question of whether his election is based on zoning or retention by Presidential incumbency.
“I should add a third question, which is to say, in whichever way the president will be selected and elected, how best will the collective interest of Ndigbo be guaranteed and protected today and tomorrow.”

Also after the Igbo youths summit, the regional Leader of the South-east Igbo Youths Forum, Hon Nwodo Uchenna signed the agreement with the National President of the Arewa Youths Development Foundation, Abubakar Amin Kurawa, a lawyer.
In a chat with Daily Sun, the Media Consultant to Arewa Youths Development Foundation, Alhaji Nasir Dambatta, said that it became important for the northern youths to sign an agreement with their counterparts in the East to ensure that the South/ North zoning system is respected till 2015 when the North would also support the Igbo to take their turn.

He said that the North would produce a credible candidate that would be acceptable to Nigerians, advising President Jonathan to respect the zoning that produced him as vice president in the first instance.
Dambatta told Daily Sun that the northern youths would not support the trio of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Military Head of State, Alhaji Mohammadu Buhari and former Military President, Alhaji Ibrahim Babangida who had already declared their intention to contest the 2011 presidential election.
Indeed, the National President of the Arewa Youths Development Foundation, Kurawa, who led the northern youths to Enugu to meet their South-east counterparts, said the youths would not support anyone of the three early northern candidates.
“One of the press conferences we did back in the North in Kaduna about four months ago, what we said then was that Atiku, IBB and Buhari must give way to younger generation to come and take over,” Kurawa said.

On why they were in Enugu, he said: “I am the leader of the delegation of the northern youths to Enugu. It is the youth summit of Ndigbo and they invited us to partake in the summit. It is all about the political issue that is inherent in the national politics. We are to discuss issues concerning the presidency.
“Initially, this issue of zoning was part of the agenda, but it has been swept out, so it is no longer an issue now. So, we are going to discuss how we are going to adopt a common candidate, and we are going to see how we can work towards achieving adequate youth representation in the national polity in 2011.
“We are looking at a common candidate of the northern extraction, but we have an agreement we will sign today, the youths of the North are here to sign an agreement with the youths of the South-east so that they will give us their mandate now and in return in 2015, we will give them ours and we will work only with the candidate that accepts this term.”

The northern youth leader said that they took the decision as they had analyzed the political scenario at the national level and discovered that an Igbo man has never been a president or vice president throughout this political dispensation, saying that “it is only right if by 2015 an Igbo man becomes the president, that is the way we look at it; at least, the South-south man has become the vice president and now the president; North had a president and West had a president.”





http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2010/aug/17/newsbreak-17-08-2010-001.htm

Foremost Babangida loyalist, Alhaji Mohammed Nma Kolo has expressed confidence that former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida will win in at least 32 states of the federation in the PDP primaries and go ahead to win the 2011 presidential election.

Reacting to the insinuation that Babangida and other northern leaders are clamouring for zoning because they are afraid of primaries, Kolo said on the contrary, Babangida as a democratic would not agree to the arrangement of bringing him into office through the back door.

“We are happy with the arrangement of conducting the presidential primaries in the states at the same time, that is when the boys will be separated from men. We are confident that IBB will win in no fewer than 32 of the 36 states and Abuja and this is no exaggeration.

All we are expecting is a level playing field where the wishes of the ordinary party member must count.
“Any attempt to sacrifice free and fair primaries on the altar of some selfish or primordial interests will spell doom for our party and that is a wind that will blow no one any good. What I am saying in essence is that no step must be taken to shut out Babangida in this election, because anybody who does that will be inviting electoral misfortune for PDP at the general election next year.”

“Babangida is already thinking beyond the election. What that means is that he is not losing sleep on the 2011 election. He is even thinking of which part of the country his successor will come from. Anybody who is still thinking of whether he would win the election or not will not be talking of spending only one term or thinking of who succeeds him.

“In any free and fair election, everybody knows that Babangida is the man to beat. Why we are happy is that the pronouncements of both the president and the INEC Chairman, Professor Jega have continued to give us hope and don’t forget that Babangida’s of contacts are there to speak for him.
“But if for reasons of selfish interests we fail to get it right again in 2011 then Nigeria will easily be counted as a failed state. I am sure nobody is praying for that. We are resting our hope on the conduct of a free and fair election which will produce credible leaders at all the tiers of government.
“Even out of power, IBB remains a household name in Nigeria, far more popular and highly referred 17 good years after leaving office. All we are waiting for is for INEC to blow the whistle signifying the beginning of the game, then you see what I am talking about.

“Yes, back home, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu has made it clear that IBB remains the candidate of the state. He is holding on tenaciously to the tenets that charity begins at home. He has not only declared his support for zoning, he has spoken in unmistakable terms that the government and people of Niger State will leave no stone unturned in their support for the presidential aspiration of the former president,” Kolo said.

Kolo warned against the possible sanction against the governors that stood for zoning, saying that will be the end of PDP.
“I am sure anybody toying with the idea wants to set the party on the path of self-destruct. We in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially the anti-zoning elements in the party should know that PDP is not the only party in the country. As long as we have that at the back of our mind, we should be mindful of what we do because as far as I know, the party was founded on the principles of fairness and justice.
“One of the tenets of democracy is to avail everybody the freedom of choice. Like I said earlier, no obstacle should be put in the way of any member over the position he takes because even if your candidate picks the flag of the party, such candidate will still need the support of everybody. PDP should not create avenue for mass defection.


Link:
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/17/national-17-08-2010-004.htm

Barely three days after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was not one of those it granted waiver to qualify to vie for elective posts on its platform, after his return, the former vice president has formally applied for it.

Revealing this in Abuja yesterday, during an interactive session with senior media executives, Atiku said although the Ekwueme Committee report granted him and other people who were frustrated out of PDP an “unconditional and unfettered” waiver, he decided to apply for it all the same.

He said: “There was the Ekwueme Committee. The Ekwueme Committee gave a report. In that report, it was recommended that there should be unconditional and unfettered return of those who left the party. The National Executive Committee (NEC) accepted the recommendation and directed state chapters to issue registration cards to those concerned. The report is valid. Lawyers say that I don’t need any waiver. However, I have asked for a waiver. My application for waiver was filed this morning (yesterday). The former vice president expressed optimism that he would get waiver from the PDP. He specifically said that the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, who left the party the same time he did, got a waiver based on Ekwueme’s report.

“ I would get the waiver. This is because I moved out of PDP with Nwodo. He told me that he got a waiver based on the Ekwueme report. I don’t need a waiver. In case I need a waiver, I have requested for it,” he said. Atiku noted that if the leadership of the PDP insists on stopping him, he would seek a legal interpretation of the matter in court.

He said: “I don’t see how PDP will get out of this. If they don’t do it, the court will then give an interpretation.”
The former vice president said that the waiver clause was inserted into the PDP constitution by former President Olusegun Obasanjo specifically to stop him from returning to the PDP and vying for any public office. Atiku said: “It’s true that sometime ago, in the PDP constitution, if you are a returnee or new comer, there is provision that says you can’t run for public office until after two years. All these provisions were not there. They were inserted by Obasanjo to stop Atiku. After Yar’Adua came into office, the party said there was need to reconcile those frustrated out of the party. Ekwueme Committee was set up.”
On the controversy over his membership of the PDP, Atiku said he followed the procedure specified by PDP constitution and was readmitted. He said that he registered at his ward, as required by the party’s constitution, and got his membership card.

He said: “The constitution of the PDP provides how you become a member. Registration is at the ward level, not local government or state level. The constitution requires you to register where you reside, work or where you own a house. When I returned, I registered at my ward. I was issued a membership card when it was available. The governor said that I registered in the faction he did not approve. I went and registered in the one he said he approved. Therefore, legally, constitutionally, the governor has nothing to do with it. My membership is valid, legal and constitutional, whether Nyako likes it or not.
“Before I came back, as I said, there were two factions. When I came back, I called the two factions together for reconciliation. As far as the PDP constitution is concerned, I am a member of the party constitutionally and legally.”

On the genesis of the crisis in Adamawa PDP, Atiku said it was caused by the imposition of Governor Nyako on the party by Obasanjo.
“Before I returned to the PDP in Adamawa State, there was crisis in the party in the state, which broke the party into two. The governor belongs to one camp. The crisis started because of the governorship election. Before the election, there were nine aspirants in PDP. Nyako was in ANPP. Obasanjo took him from ANPP and imposed him on the party.”

Atiku said although there are other candidates in the presidential race, he is optimistic to win. He said he had all it took to become president. He, however, said that the electorate would eventually decide who would be president.
“Every candidate will tell you that he will win. Babangida will tell you he will win. Gusau will tell you he will win. Jonathan will tell you he will win. I am extremely confident also, but the electorate will decide. There may still be more candidates coming into the race.”
Atiku formally joined the presidential race on Sunday.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/17/national-17-08-2010-002.htm

After sifting and weighing the implication of the statement of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on zoning, leaders of the Northern Leaders Forum (NLF) pushing for the zoning of offices have concluded that the party has decided that the presidency should remain in the North until 2015.

There were different meanings read to the position of the PDP since the NEC took a stand on zoning and rotation last week.
PDP National Chairman, Okwesileze Nwodo, said that the party decided that President Goodluck Jonathan could contest the 2011 election because he was completing a ticket given to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Also, the PDP chairman said that any other party member was free to contest for the position of president in 2011.

But the Chairman of the NLF, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, told Daily Sun yesterday that the implication of the position of the NEC was that the presidency remained in the North. Indeed, the NLF leaders were very pleased with the position of the party.
He gave two different meanings to the position of the PDP. According to him, the first import of the position of the party was that any Nigerian that was qualified to run should feel free to contest the 2011 election, which is in conformity with the position of the Northern governors. Mallam Ciroma emphasized the fact that the party had not endorsed the candidacy of President Jonathan.

The second meaning was that rotation and zoning remained the guiding principle of the party.
He said: “The decision of the NEC has two sides to it: The first is that any Nigerian, according to the constitution and the electoral law, can contest. It is incontrovertible. It is not an endorsement for the President to run. It is also not an endorsement for anyone. That can only come after the national convention.
“Secondly, the position of the party is that zoning and rotation remain the guiding policy of the party. There is nothing to dispute about it. We, who are pro-zoning, are happy with it.”

When told that former PDP chairman Chief Solomon Lar, gave a different interpretation to the NEC position when he told reporters that President Jonathan was given the nod, Mallam Ciroma said: “ I am not going to take on Solomon Lar, I am not going to say anything against him. Whatever he said, quote him.”
He emphasized the fact that the party had made it very clear that the Presidency remains in the North, adding that if the party conformed with its decision, there should be no dispute as to who must produce the next president.

“If zoning and rotation policy are to remain, it means the North has it.”
When Daily Sun contacted a member of the NEC that took the decision for the true interpretation of the position of the party, he said: “The truth is that the party on that day gave the ticket to Jonathan. All other comments are political. That statement you refer to was made to please all shades of opinion within the party.”
But the Secretary-General of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Chief Willy Ezugwu, criticised the PDP, saying that the party spoke from both sides of the mouth.

He said: “All parties adopted zoning. The PDP said zoning remains and the President can run which means other people from other places can run. The PDP has not finished dealing with this country. They talk from both sides of the mouth. They are deceiving Nigerians. They are using all of us like tools. What they have said is that Jonathan should run, but others can run like Abubakar Rimi and Barnabas Gemade did against Obasanjo in 2003.”





http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/17/national-17-08-2010-001.htm

These guys mentioned Femi Falana - to convey a meeting! Becareful of Femi Falana. Pastor Bakare, if you ever said that you missed the point. The hand is the of Esau, the person who is hijacking is NOT Ribadu. Be wary of Femi Falan. He is very very smart. You only need to go back to his 'outfit' - the Campaign for Democracy and Human Rights (CDHR)- to see Femi Falana's lust for power. They are as not committed as you see them. Ask him of the crisis in CDHR and also do your independent investiagtion. You will be amazed.

Their meeting is alawys about politics. How many times did you see them meeting about development of South-West. These are not good leaders. They are not concerned about overhauling the decayed infrastructues that will lift up the social/economic growth of South-West but only in sharing political booty. When did OBJ meet with those governors in mapping out & strategising on how to develop the infrastructues of South-West? They don't love the people but only their political offices.

I don't know why people talk like this at times, the guy or man is making things happen for him self and you guy's are out there trying to pull him down. Let him live his life the way he wants to for they are people all over the world that even do things that are very bad, but you guy's are not talking about them. if he goes around town on a bike that is what he likes.

All you have to do is look at the economic data for the period of his rule. Shame the man thinks we are in the 20th century forgetting that any fool with a computer can factcheck his claim of economic performance. I repeat the only two times the Nigerian economy grew higher than twice the rate of population has been 1977-1980 and post 2003-2007 and maybe 2009. The two sustained period was under Obasanjo. The latter is the only time in recorded history where growth was through the internal Market rather than exports. Anyways how can you argue with a man whose answer to age suitability is that his daughter makes sure he goes to the gym. What a load of bull.

[quote author=@labiyemmy link=topic=497774.msg6579668#msg6579668 date=1281941190]what do these pictures show and how do they prove your point?[/quote]Do i need to call a prof to prove my point to you my guy

This guy's will not stop

Shortly after the death of Umaru Yar’adua, his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as president on May 6, 2010, . Over the past 100 days, President

Jonathan has announced some policies, appointed officials and set up committees.

Some of the most notable policies made were the banking reforms, the appointment of new Independent Electoral Commissioners and their chairman, and the banning--and unbanning--of the national football team, the Super Eagles.

He had banned the team from playing in any international matches for two years, following their poor performance at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but also reversed the ban before a deadline set by FIFA for the reversal, elapsed. He further took steps to clean up the country’s football by dissolving the board of the Nigeria Football Federation, and also ordered an audit of the finances of the World Cup project.

Mr Jonathan has also clocked several air miles through trips to several countries, as both the leader of Nigeria and that of ECOWAS. He also made history as the first Nigerian leader to embrace social networking as a tool of governance, with a popular page on Facebook. The signing of the Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Bill into law, during his tenure, is a major aspect of a reform which has had a huge impact on the banks and the entire economy.

But some Nigerians said the reforms have left some out in the cold. An Abuja based policy analyst, Chukwuemeka Obi, said “many bank heads fell prey and ever since, we have been expecting that government will give them a chance to defend themselves, before totally branding them negatively. As it now stands, people cannot even borrow or if they do, it is at a very exorbitant interest rate. Not much has been happening. There is just so much to do and a 100 days is just not time enough to justify his performance.”

Citizens’ rating

Nwankwo Nnaemeka, an environmental consultant who also lives in Abuja, rates Mr Jonathan a whopping 75 per cent. “He has done more of politiking than the real thing, which is giving him the popularity. So far, so good. He has done surface changes, which have helped improve his popularity. Like the ministerial changes, INEC and NCC. We are yet to see real deep rooted sustainable changes. However, I rate him 75 per cent.”

Audu Khark, a banker, said: “I think he is still trying to find his feet. For me, he hasn’t done much but I think the best he has done is maintain stability in the political system. His worst is kidnap of journalists, which goes to show that security under him is still very slack.”

But more than anything, Mr Jonathan’s 100 days in office have been dogged by public debates of whether or not he should contest for the presidency in 2011.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5606599-147/100_days_of_president_jonathan_.csp

The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, has refuted claims that he is plotting to hijack the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) to secure his political relevance in 2011.

According to the press statement by his aide, Chido Onumah, the recent utterances by the pastor of the Latter Day Saints, Tunde Bakare, suggests such and does not in any way reflect the plans of Mr Ribadu. “Nuhu Ribadu’s attention has been drawn to claims in the Sunday (August 15, 2010) sermon of respected preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare, to the effect that Mr Ribadu desires to hijack the Save Nigeria Group for the purpose of his political ambition,” stated Mr Onumah. “Mr Ribadu strongly refutes this claim and affirms that he has the highest regard for Pastor Bakare and for his patriotic vision espoused through the SNG.”

The former anti-graft czar added that he still salutes the sacrifice, energy, and resources many Nigerians have invested in building the SNG, and hopes it will continue to grow in strength to become a major movement that will deepen democracy and national development. “I am convinced that Pastor Bakare came to his conclusion on a mistaken brief, and I look forward to meeting him soon to assure him that nothing like that ever, or could ever happen, because of the kind of person I am and the philosophy that guides my pubic conduct,” he said.

Mr Ribadu stated that no one can deny the role SNG played, and continues to play, “as our country tries to chart a path to greatness 50 years after independence.” “The SNG has become a mass movement of patriotic Nigerians from different walks of life and political persuasion whose common vision is a new and better Nigeria,” he said. “It would not only be presumptuous but tragic for any individual to think he or she can ‘hijack’ such a people-oriented organisation.”

Turbulence within

Last week, the SNG, a coalition of civil society and human rights group, suspended Mr Bakare, Yinka Odumakin, and Salihu Lukman from the group. According to the coordinator of Lawyers of Conscience, Benedict Ezeagu, and the Secretary General of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, Willy Ezugwu, the three were suspended because they refused to heed to warnings to stop activities that are contrary to the goals of the group. Mr Ezeagu said the suspension order stands till the proper constitution of the organization leadership structure was sorted out, revealed that frontline activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, was urged to convene a stakeholders meeting within two weeks.

They three members were accused associating with some politicians and presidential aspirants, and making some negotiations with them on behalf of the group. Mr Bakare and the other two members were said to have met with the former EFCC boss. SNG said the trio were suspended because their actions contrasted with the group’s objectives, insisting that the group is non partisan.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5607195-147/story.csp

A little doubt goes along way

The Office of the VP with the Nation was belittled by the Man; named Tilde, by not allowing A Constitutional and Functional Vice President to have daily briefings with the President in according to the requirements of the Constitution. He literarily held the President and the presidency hostage to global embarrassment to the Nation.
I don’t know of any Civilized Country where such could have happened: Knowing the reason the VP run on the same ticket with the President is to emphasize the two are inseparable/ or the two offices are inseparable! But the cabal and the cohorts believed they had the “Unconstitutional Right” to do that, and they literarily Hi-Jacked the Presidency for keep!

This is coming a little late.

The Office of the VP with the Nation was belittled by the Man; named Tilde, by not allowing A Constitutional and Functional Vice President to have daily briefings with the President in according to the requirements of the Constitution. He literarily held the President and the presidency hostage to global embarrassment to the Nation.
I don’t know of any Civilized Country where such could have happened: Knowing the reason the VP run on the same ticket with the President is to emphasize the two are inseparable/ or the two offices are inseparable! But the cabal and the cohorts believed they had the “Unconstitutional Right” to do that, and they literarily Hi-Jacked the Presidency for keep!

This is coming a little late.

Most churches out there are just out to make money they are not out to lead people to CHRIST at all.

Why will they not go to hell

Christ Image Fire Ministry

Run For Your Life International Church

Racked by frustration over his still-born presidential campaign, former Nigerian dictator, Ibrahim Babangida yesterday in Minna issued a rambling statement at a restricted media parley that saw some of malleable editors and media executives in attendance smiling home with N10 million in “transportation money.”

Our sources stated that the event started at 11 p.m. and ended just after 1 a.m. Among the editors and executives in attendance were Tunde Rahman and Ijeoma Nwogwugwu of ThisDay, Eze Anaba of Vanguard, Felix Abugu and Martins Oloja of the Guardian, Steve Nwosu of the Sun, Arowolo of The Punch, and Sam Omatseye of The Nation. Thisday Newspaper, photography director, Mr. Sumi Smart Cole covered the parley.

Several sources told Saharareporters that Ikeddy Isiguzo of Vanguard newspaper in Lagos was responsible for “mobilizing” the media executives and ensuring that they were friendly towards the general. But a source inside Babangida’s disclosed that the former dictator’s spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, afterwards had a tense exchange with Isiguzo whom he accused of allowing some of the media executives to “embarrass the general with tough questions.”

Our sources revealed that the general showed nervousness as some of the editors peppered him with hard questions. “It was not a comfortable atmosphere for General Babangida,” said one source, adding that “Kassim later persuaded the editors not to use the question and answer exchanges but to focus on the general’s statement.”

The first four paragraphs of Babangida’s prepared statement were devoted to praising the media. “It was the worst kind of hypocrisy,” one of the media executives told Saharareporters, adding, “as I watched the general try to massage our egos, it occurred to me that he must have thought that nobody in the room remembers how his regime abhorred the media.” The source referred to Babangida’s closure of several news outlets, including Punch, Concord, and Newswatch, his harassment or detention of numerous journalists, including NewBreed publisher, Chris Okolie, and the culmination in the murder of Dele Giwa, one of the founders of Newswatch.

“I actually believe his speech was drafted by one or two of our colleagues who spent several days working with him underground,” said our source.

In the speech, which served as a formal announcement of his presidential bid, Babangida claimed that he believes that the press has a role to play in his renewed but lackluster campaign to recapture power.

The former dictator’s disjointed statement also touched on some of the issues that have nagged his widely unpopular, epileptic campaign. He spoke condescendingly about the annulment of the June 12 1993 election, stating that he had compensated for the annulment by supporting Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo to become president of Nigeria in 1999.

Mr. Babangida was sharply critical of those who have taken him to account over his widespread stealing and corruption that were documented in the Okigbo reports. He berated them as “misinformed critics,” adding, “they have been using the Okigbo Panel Report in the most blindly controversial and distorted manner lacking fairness and morality.”

One of our sources said that Babangida appeared visibly uneasy as he tried to deny that his regime was responsible for the death of Dele Giwa, one of Nigeria's foremost investigative journalists. “I could see the sides of his mouth twitch as he claimed that he believed in the sanctity of life.

Last week, two sources in Nigeria’s military intelligence had told Saharareporters that Babangida had plotted to eliminate General Mamman Vatsa and other innocent military officers by implicating them in phantom coup plots. Several years ago, the late Vatsa’s family sponsored a documentary that revealed how Babangida plotted to eliminate Vatsa, a fine officer and poet.

Our sources, who are retired intelligence operatives, also stated that Babangida had contrived to down a military jet conveying many officers.

One of the editors at the event said he cringed in embarrassment as Babangida said, “My discipline as a military commander also does not condone the killing of defenseless innocent people.”

A source inside the campaign told Saharareporters that Babangida was uncomfortable and looked tired throughout the parley claiming that it was because of the ongoing Ramadan fast. He added that the former dictator’s handlers had gambled that, with the largesse offered to some of the media executives at the Minna parley, the retired general would start getting a more positive media coverage. The source said that Afegbua was irate with Isiguzo for doing a poor job of aligning some of the editors with the dreams of the campaign.

Babangida’s full statement:

Distinguished Gentlemen of the Press

TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD OUR NATION

I am highly delighted by your kind response to my invitation for an interactive session with you on my political aspiration. I welcome you to my hometown of Minna and my residence. I believe this will be an open, frank and enriching interaction on the way forward for democracy in our great country. You are all key media players endowed with knowledge of Nigeria because of your primary preoccupation of being the watchdog of our society. I have written letters to a number of political leaders intimating them of my aspiration and I found it necessary to inform you in this interactive manner because the media as an institution, plays a key role in educating, informing, reforming and entertaining the people.

It gives me great pleasure and utmost sense of comradeship to be in the midst of professionally eminent personalities of your pedigree who are the main pillars of our media industry that constitutes the entity called the "Fourth Estate" in our beloved country, Nigeria.

This fraternity with you today is neither a coincidence nor an accident. It is really a private platform for me to appreciate and elucidate my age-long reverence for the role of the press in modern civil society.

You are a beacon of hope, the shining torch of enlightenment, the amplifier of codified messages, agents of policy formulation and dissemination, the watchdog of democracy, molders of opinion and advocates of fundamental human rights. Truly, yours is no doubt a noble profession even though a thankless and hazardous one at that. I therefore wish to praise all media men, for your courage and commitment to national development.

The Press plays the key role of edifying and fortifying Democracy. The fact that your members have been able to hold the forte in the struggle for nation building without felling the apple cart, despite open assaults and risk to life, deserves kudos and accolades from all. May our country continue to flourish, so that your calling can develop more to enhance and advance our collective national dream! Together, we can build a strong, virile and prosperous Nigeria for unborn generations to behold and emulate.


I wish to acquaint your esteemed selves that my desire and interest to offer my stewardship by vying for the office of president in the 2011 general elections stemmed out of my belief and those of many other compatriots, that our country need an experienced and tested leader, who has a rich knowledge of the socio-economic and political dynamics of our people and country. Without being immodest, I have implicit confidence that I fit into that consideration.

Meanwhile, I believe you are aware of the robust debate as to whether or not I should contest the highest office in the land. In fact, some people in their negative criticism continue to render acrimonious misrepresentation to distort and disparage my true character and general contributions, past and present, towards the greatness of our dear country. Without sounding superfluous, from North to South, East to West, there are visible landmark achievements to underscore my contributions to national development and growth of our fatherland.

It behooves reason therefore to state that these diversions infringe upon my fundamental human right and democratic license to vote or to be voted for in an election. It is unjust and unfair to feign ignorance of this salient constitutional fact.

I have built bridges of understanding across our great nation, and held wide consultations and discussions with various classes of people on this project, with a view to charting a new developmental agenda for our dear country. Generally, the consensus has been the dire need for a dynamic, visionary, pragmatic, experienced, knowledgeable and detribalized leadership, to steer the ship of state and create opportunities for addressing contemporary challenges of nation building.

Given my wealth of experience and decades of leadership study, plus the urgent need to confront the challenges of our national lives, I believe the time is ripe for me to serve our people as a civilian president, with your kind support, cooperation and understanding. Thus, I intimate you formally of my studied decision to vie for the office of President in the 2011 general elections.

I believe that together we can drive the ship of state to the bay of hope and prosperity, through selfless service, positive political will and visionary leadership, based on skill and experience with consideration for national balance and effective separation of powers. My military discipline, knowledge of the country, democratization over the years, astute leadership endowments, amiability and nation-wide acceptance are eloquent testimonials for my qualification for the number one job. I say, like Sir Winston Churchill give me the tools and I will finish the job for you.

Permit me therefore to touch on some of the impressions and issues that you and I must have been confronted with relating to my personality and previous administration.

Why do I want to be President? Firstly, it is my constitutional right to do so. I have a fundamental right as a bona-fide Nigerian to vote and be voted for in an election. I am only exercising my franchise. Secondly, my previous government was a military one. I have seen over the years that many things could be done better. I have also spent many years to understudy democratic leadership in several countries and have mastered the art of democracy and learnt how to apply it better under our Nigerian conditions. History is replete with leaders who despite their ages, staged a come back. More than ever before, IBB is back with a lot of new policies that will drive Nigeria's plural society under a new federal system that will cater for the needs of the various nationalities for equity and unity. Additionally, we need to fix many things positively in our educational, infrastructural, energy, and economic, socio-political and moral lives. We must begin to address our minds on the practice of true federalism, creation of State Police to support our Federal Police, devise ways of running slim government, devolve power at the centre and build on our foreign policy and defense profiles. These are some of my attractions and motivation for leadership.

On June 12: Severally and with great remorse too, I have taken responsibility as a true leader for the actions and decisions of the military administration that I led. The annulment of the June 12 election is one of the ugly spots one has to live with. It was a collective decision taken after series of consultations with several stakeholders. Even though ours was a military regime, yet we governed as a team, majority decision always carried the day. I know that a day will come when Nigerians will forgive our regime because we are a godly nation that embraces the culture of forgiveness. After all, I introduced the era of new-breed politicians. In addition, the electoral formula we used is to date considered the most effective in the country. I am referring to "Option A4" and the establishment of two political parties. I am neither an enemy of democracy nor averse to the success of the candidates that contested the said elections. I knew both Bashorun MKO Abiola and Alhaji Bashir Tofa. Years after the annulment, I, in concert with other patriots, conscious of the geopolitical divides in the country, tried to assuage the feelings of the aggrieved people by supporting the candidacy of my senior military officer former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who in our estimation has an unshakeable faith in the unity of the country and who hails from the same State with Bashorun MKO Abiola.

OKIGBO REPORT: Many mis-informed critics have been using the Okigbo Panel Report in the most blindly, controversial and distorted manner lacking fairness and morality. They dwell so much on a purported $12.4billion Gulf Oil Windfall. Let me state categorically that the Okigbo Panel was never a trial court for me. The Federal Government set up the Okigbo Panel to examine the operations and make recommendations on the Re-organization of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Its scope of reference was from 1988-94, way beyond my tenure. It was not a probe of the Babangida regime but one aimed at improving the operations of the CBN. Kindly see details in the attached copy of a public announcement placed in the Vanguard of Thursday, June 10, 2010. The records are there for all to see. The Okigbo Panel made valued judgments on some items of expenditure funded with receipts into certain dedicated accounts. Nowhere did it indict me for any acts of financial impropriety. Throughout the panel's sitting, I was never subpoenaed.

ON DELE GIWA: For the umpteenth time, I wish to state that, I did not murder Dele Giwa. In addition, no agent or agency of government was found guilty of this heinous act by the law courts. I am a man of great faith in God and I believe in the sanctity of life. My discipline as a military commander also does not condone the killing of defenceless innocent people. Aside, court judgments have vindicated me on this. Some of them were by the esteemed Justice Candido Johnson who quashed the allegation for want of evidence by the prosecutors. Nevertheless, perception, often repeated, no matter how untrue, becomes very hard to obliterate.

Finally, my humble upbringing does not give room for one to join issues with juniors nor insult or disrespect elders. Better still, I do not quarrel with anyone, not even my peers. To all I accord mutual respect. I grew up with these ideals. However, a treasured attribute of mine has been grossly abused and misinterpreted by my critics. All thanks to Allah that my faith, Islam, is about a total submission to the will of the Almighty and abhorrence of oppression of others.

I guess you will find time in your quiet moments to reflect on these issues as you engage the public on a regular basis through your news report, articles, editorial comments and opinions. A formidable Press is surely the hub that wields together the tracking spokes in the wheel of national development. May your pens never run dry of indelible ink! On a lighter note, I think the press should also give our regime some credit for liberalising the space for the media, particularly the ownership of private television, radio stations and universities. God bless you all.

Long live Democracy.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.



General Ibrahim B. Babangida, GCFR

Saturday, 14th August, 2010.


http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/babangida-%E2%80%9Cbuys%E2%80%9D-media-executives-talks-down-dele-giwa-june-12-and-okigbo-report

Personal Letter to Mr. Babangida, if you will allow a team of renowned and respected journalists, such as Ray Ekpu or the team at Sahara reporters to (1)interview you as to why Nigerians should trust you and elect you as their next president, (2) Give them unrestricted access to your mansion in Minna and allow them to do a video documentary and take photographs of your property that can be published in both Nigerian and international media. You ask why is this necessary? Well we can ascertain from the pictures or video if indeed you were corrupt because we have an idea what a military leader should have earned as President of Nigeria for the time you were in office and see if this is proportionate with your property. If you will allow this, many Nigerians, myself included will determine if we should elect you as our next president.

Ibrahim Babangida officially affirmed his presidential ambitions on Saturday after declaring: “I’m back.”

The declaration is the culmination of a busy fortnight which has seen the former military ruler launch a campaign website and set up offices in 32 states of the federation.

No manifesto

Speaking at his house in Minna, the retired general dismissed all the recurrent obstacles that have been put forward to dissuade his ambitions. However, during a two hour press conference he repeatedly failed to put forward any clearly defined policies. He conceded that policy making was not his strongest point and that he will entrust such matters to a “trusted team of experts.” He however defended some of his old policies such as the controversial Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) which he said foreshadowed many of today’s democratic policies.

“When you look at SAP, it set out to achieve some things that are now being praised. Deregulation, opening up the economy and stabilising the naira were all things we set out to do with SAP and I am very proud of those things.”

He said that although he presently had no clear manifesto, he will “unleash” outlined policies to the public in “two or three weeks.”

Fighting the clock

At 69, the former president dismissed suggestions that he was too old for the job.

“I have a daughter who makes sure I go to the gym every day so I have never been healthier. If you look at other countries [Hosni] Mubarak is 82, [Shimon] Peres is 87 and [Muammer] Ghadaffi is my age.

So I don’t think age matters much.”

Mr Babangida came close to apologising for the annulment of the June 12 1992 elections calling it an “ugly spot that one has to live with.”

He stopped short however by saying that the decision was a collective one during his regime. He fully expected Nigerians to forgive his regime’s decision because he believed “we are a godly nation that embraces forgiveness.”

The former president challenged anyone who could claim he has ever offered a bribe to speak up. He said he had made a similar challenge when he was president and, to date, no one has been able to bring up credible evidence. If elected, he said that he would take the same “vigorous stance” against corruption as he has always taken.

“I am getting tired of people who say I institutionalised corruption,” he said.

“People forget that I disciplined a military administrator over N300, 000. Today people in office are accused of N300 million, N15 billion and they are still there.”

Okigbo report

Mr Babangida absolved himself of any blame in the Okigbo report saying his critics were using it in the most “blindly controversial and distorted manner.” The panel was set up, he said, not to investigate his regime but to “examine operations and make recommendations for activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

He added that he was never subpoenaed nor was he linked to any acts of financial impropriety in the entire report.

The former president once again distanced his regime from any culpability in the 1986 killing of the Newswatch editor, Dele Giwa.

“I wish to state for the umpteenth time, that I did not murder Dele Giwa,” he said. He added that no agency under his regime was found guilty of the “heinous act.” Last week, the Peoples Democratic Party, which Mr Babangida aims to represent in the elections, failed to take a decisive stance on who it would back for the presidential elections. He said although there was still ambiguity he was happy that the race was thrown open this year.

Reasons for returning The former president said he had hoped that, seventeen years after leaving office, Nigeria would be in better economic shape but that had not happened.

“I left that house seventeen years ago and I had wished that things would be different now. I can assure you that Nigeria was far better off between 1985 and 1993 than from 1999 to present day.” He further argued that he achieved greater economic stability and security with far less resources than were available in the democratic years.

Money has seldom been far from any discourse relating to Mr Babangida and he said his campaign would be funded by both himself and “good friends who benefitted from his policies.”

The former president paid tribute to his late wife saying that she would be “difficult to replace.” He added, however, that he had not entirely ruled out the possibility of remarrying.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5607239-146/babangida_declares_presidential_ambition__.csp

", Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, in Abuja, declared his intention to contest for president, saying HIS GENERATION , MUST SOLVE THE COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS BEFORE PASSING LEADERSHIP to the younger generation.", really!! so if your generation no fit fix the problems we have to wait until una solve it abi? if you guys could not solve it when you had more and active brain cells twenty years ago, what makes you think you can solve it now with mostly aged and dead brain cells. i think this is the onset of alzheimer or he must think everybody is really stupid. i'll put my wager on alzheimer.

The controversy over the recent altercation between Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, appears unending as the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Frederick Fasehun, at the weekend asked Mr Bankole to apologise for his action during the commissioning of Ota Bridge.

Mr Fasheun, in a statement released over the weekend, said his view on the incident, is based on (his) “private investigations, informed opinion, and conclusion on the incident.” The OPC leader also said he tendered, on behalf of the Yoruba people, “an unreserved apology to Senator Daggash,” assuring him that Mr Bankole’s conduct on the said day “was far from Yoruba character.” “Bankole is my son; He has always struck me as a respectful, dignified and composed young man. But I don’t know how he came to lower his guard in the passion of that moment in Ota,” said Mr Fasheun. “Maybe he was only being human. However, he should have shown restraint; and if he felt wronged, he should have bridled himself until a saner moment to seek redress, instead of that public outburst. Mr Speaker should have considered his office and the audience present.”

He also said rather than take umbrage, Mr Bankole “should have gone into that bus to tender an unreserved apology to dignitaries present” for coming late to the occasion. “Officials said he had no formal role to play in that event, except to add grace and glory with his presence as a privileged son-of-the-soil,” he said. “To say the least, the altercation gave room for a security breach, which endangered the lives of the speaker himself, the governor, the federal minister, and other agents of state present at the occasion. We will urge the 41-year-old speaker as well to seek out these elder statesmen to tender his apology to them. The speaker is young and politically upwardly mobile; his political life is just beginning, and it looks very bright.”

Danger to elections

Mr Fasheun seemed more concerned about what the incident holds for the coming general election. “The real problem I see in the Ota drama is the danger it portends for 2011,” he said. “If learned and highly-placed officers of state can descend to squabbling in full public glare, what will happen when politics enters full swing and their unlearned and uncouth supporters face each other on the campaign trail? This fire for fire in Ogun State politics must stop. It is not only embarrassing for our people, it is endangering their lives.” He advised Mr Bankole and Mr Daniel to make room for amicable resolution to any differences that may exist between them and asked Ogun State traditional elders to “help douse the tension brewing between these two gentlemen before it spills over to the politics of the state.” “Yoruba elders must reconcile the speaker and the governor, and get them to smoke the pipe of peace,” he said. “My tone here may be harsh, but I will not stand by passively and watch anyone endanger the peace and tranquillity of Yorubaland.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5607217-146/fasheun_asks_bankole_to_apologise_.csp

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, the current Chairman, Board of Trustees of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), , yesterday evening held a meeting with governors of south-west states elected on the platform of the PDP, to strategise on common positions ahead of the forthcoming party primaries and polls in the governors’ respective states.

The closed-door meeting, which took place at the private residence of Mr Obasanjo at the Hilltop, Abeokuta, lasted for over four hours. It had in attendance the Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel; Oyo State governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala; Ekiti State governor, Segun Oni; Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as well as former Ondo State governor and party leader in the state, Segun Agagu.

Speaking with the press afterwards, Mr Obasanjo said the meeting was convened at the request of governors of the south-west. “We resolved to hold consultative meeting among ourselves; me as the BOT Chairman, they as leaders of the party in their respective states,” he said.

Putting heads together

Mr Obasanjo further said, since the PDP has resolved the issue of zoning, “we have decided to have a preliminary meeting to put our heads together in the south-west.” The BOT Chairman, who said another similar meeting would take place soon, stated further that the issue of zoning has been laid to rest. “We are going to have another meeting in due course and when we hold that meeting, we will be talking to you in a more relaxed and more prepared fashion than this impromptu.”

On the visit of the party National Chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, to Ogun State today over the unresolved political crisis in the state, Mr Obasanjo declared that the party chairman is not coming to pay him a visit, hence, he is not interested in addressing the issue further.

Similarly, on the proposed visit of Goodluck Jonathan to the state next month, Mr Obasanjo also told journalists that he is not aware of the president coming to the state. “I am hearing of the visit of the president for the first time,” he said.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5607344-146/story.csp

The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, in Abuja, declared his intention to contest for president, saying his generation of Nigerians must solve the country’s problems before passing over leadership to the younger generation.

Mr Abubakar spoke at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, where he formally declared his intention to run under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He advised Nigerians and his party members to ensure that only experienced leaders are considered for the highest office in the land. “We cannot pass all these mess to the next generation, we must clean it up,” he said. “This is not the time for a novice. This is not the time for ill prepared leaders. This is not the time for risky experiments. It is time for action.”

Recipe for power problems

While outlining his plans to solve the nation’s power problems, Mr Abubakar stated that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, did not accept his proposed solutions. “If my blueprint for sufficient power in Nigeria in the year 2002 had been implemented, by 2006 we would have been self sufficient in power,” he said. “I have the solution to the power problem.” The former number two citizen explained that an immediate solution to the power problem was the building of “small and medium power stations” in different parts of the country through the encouragement of the private sector.

Speaking on his achievements while in office, Mr Abubakar stated that “as vice president in the Obasanjo administration, I assembled the economic team, [and] pursued privatization program of the government. I [also] played an important role in the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”

While condemning the increase in armed robbery and kidnapping in the country, Mr Abubakar stated that “Governance at the highest level as been reduced to the announcement of award of contracts, to the sharing of oil revenue , and not to development.” He also said that in spite of the modest achievements of the past, the country is still “drifting like a rudderless ship,” adding that it is difficult for anybody to say exactly what vision is guiding the actions of those in charge as the country seems to be stumbling from one crisis to the other. He expressed dismay that the nation’s economy is “weak and unable to deliver the goods and services needed to give our people a decent standard of living to the people.” The reason, according to him, is because the infrastructure is in “shambles” thereby making economic and social activities “unprofitable and unattractive.” He also condemned the decay in infrastructure and the collapse of public education which has led to an increase in private schools in the country.

Five point agenda

Mr Abubakar said he has decided to pick five areas for intervention because of their critical impact on all other areas of development. The five areas are: Employment generation and wealth creation; power generation and infrastructural development; security, good governance and war against corruption; education, health and social services; and the Niger-Delta. While commenting on the position of the PDP, as stated by the party’s publicity secretary, Rufai Alkali, that he could not vie for the party’s ticket as he has not asked for, and has not been granted a waiver, Mr Abubakar said he was only waiting for the formal declaration. “Tomorrow, I will file for my application, let’s see whoever will stop it,” he said.

The former vice president, whose campaign slogan is ‘Make good things happen,’ said that he would vie for the presidency under the PDP, and will not leave the party even if he does not win the primaries. Mr Abubakar recently returned to the PDP from the Action Congress, on whose platform he contested the 2007 presidential elections. Though a founding member of the PDP, he left the party following disagreements with Mr Obasanjo in 2006.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5607331-146/atiku_jumps_into_the_ring_again.csp

The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly Matters, Senator Aba Aji, has said the outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party‘s National Executive Committee meeting has shown that the president is the party‘s official presidential candidate for the 2011 poll.



”Oh, it was a perfect decision and consistent with our aspirations. Now, it is certain that the President is the official candidate of the PDP for the election,” Aji declared.



The PDP NEC had met on Thursday in Abuja where its members gave Jonathan as well as other party faithful the go ahead to vie for the PDP presidential poll in 2011. The committee also retained the zoning formula and power rotation in the party.



But the presidential aide who spoke with our correspondent on Friday commended NEC for declaring that Jonathan was free to contest for the poll.



The party‘s position, he said, was in tandem with the desire of his group, Friends of Democracy, that Jonathan be allowed to complete the tenure of the late president Umaru Yar‘Adua, which he said still runs till 2015.



According to him, before the Thursday‘s meeting, the party‘s National Caucus, the Board of Trustees, governors elected on the platform of the party and the members of the National Working Committee have agreed that Jonathan should be allowed to run.



He also confirmed that the meetings agreed that zoning should not be expunged from the party‘s constitution.



He said, ”That NEC decision started with the first meeting with the NC, which agreed with the decision. It was endorsed by the BoT.



“Then we met with the NC, BoT, governors elected on the platform of the party and members of the NWC before the NEC meeting. In these meetings, the agreement was unanimous. There was no dissenting voice.”



When reminded that there were other candidates already in the race, Aji stated that no right-thinking member of the party would contest against the president during the primaries.



He added that one of the contestants would soon announce his support for Jonathan and withdraw from the race.



”No right-thinking member of the party should contest against him. He is the official candidate of the party,” the presidential aide insisted.



Aji also revealed that the President would before mid September formally declare his intention to participate in the contest.



Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that the clearance that Jonathan got from the party has emboldened him and his supporters. For instance, it was learnt that preparations were now on top gear for the president and his deputy, Namadi Sambo, to have a smooth declaration.



Jonathan was said to have delayed his declaration for the party to take a decision on the raging zoning palaver.



In another development, more facts emerged on Friday on how the battle for the rotation and discarding of zoning nearly tore the party members apart.



Our correspondent gathered that because of the sensitivity of the issue, which was the last on the seven-point agenda of the party, almost every NEC member, including the governors and its former national chairmen, were in attendance. The President and his deputy were also present.



It was learnt that in order not to affect the other issues slated for deliberation, the party leadership carefully listed zoning as the last item on the agenda.



Sources close to the meeting, which was held behind closed doors said that the governors, who had met at Kwara Lodge, Asokoro a day before the meeting were said to have dropped their sword.



However, it was gathered that the governors were appeased at the earlier meeting they had with the President, where they expressed their disapproval to some actions already taken by the party‘s chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.



Specifically, the governors were said not to be happy with the unilateral action of the Nwodo-led NWC to discard the manual registration of party members.



They also frowned on the comment credited to the party chairman as saying that he would chase away any governor that came to him with money and that some moneybags had been trying to influence him.



The governors, it was also argued were said to have also complained about the desire of Nwodo to embark on amendment to the party‘s constitution without carrying them along.



It was learnt that when these issues were raised before the President, it was resolved that the issue of online registration would be suspended.



However, it was learnt that the chairman argued that the party‘s constitution had to be amended to allow it conform with the new Electoral Act which forbids commissioners and other political appointees from being made automatic delegates to congresses.



At this meeting, SUNDAY PUNCH also learnt that Jonathan told the governors about his intention to run for the presidency in 2011.



Though none of the governors was said to have opposed this, they however asked the President to impress it on the party‘s leadership not to treat them with disdain.



The outcome of the meeting, it was learnt showed that the Jonathan group would have a smooth sail at the NEC meeting.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008155525295

National Security Adviser (NSA), General Muhammadu Gusau (Rtd) has resigned, Daily Sun, learnt yesterday. The dreaded spy chief had resigned about a month ago, but President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to approve his resignation.

The development had engendered palpable tension in the nation’s seat of power as Gusau’s deputy, Col Kayode Are (retd) is yet to take full control of affairs. Gusau still comes to work occasionally. The outgoing NSA had nursed a long standing presidential ambition before he came back to the seat he left six years ago in the aftermath of the crisis of succession that dogged the last days of the late President Musa Yar’Adua.

A presidency source told Daily Sun yesterday that the quandry and fuss over the General’s resignation was uncalled for since the negotiation chip was that he would be allowed to pursue his presidential ambition as soon as the nation’s security apparatus was stabilized.
President Jonathan was said not to be disposed to the resignation and had put in place measures to make him rescind the decision, while considering other options which include; either allowing Are to move up the ladder or get another person to occupy the seat.

Gusau’s resignation had even worsened the situation, with the unexpected mounting opposition to Jonathan’s perceived presidential project, which had gravely unsettled his camp. Groups rooting for his presidency in 2011 rose to an all-time high number of 88 before last week’s decision by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hierarchy to retain the zoning principle in its constitution. The groups had expressed the hope that Jonathan was going to have an easy sail But when the clog came, calm, apprehension and uncertainty took over. Some notable members of the groups who were not consulted before they found their names enlisted, but kept quiet for obvious reasons, had been emboldened to make a hasty denunciation of their involvement.

Notable among those who had since made their stance known was Chief Emeka Ofor, a known associate of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar who had already declared his intention to gun for the 2011 presidential seat on the platform of the PDP. The developments had placed a pall on Jonathan’s presidential activities, leading to rife speculations that he may be forced to reconsider his interest in the 2011 presidential race.

Some Niger-Delta groups including supporters of Tonye Princewill, the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate for Rivers State in the 2007 election who is now in PDP, are also declaring open support for Atiku.
But a presidential aide, (names withheld) told Daily Sun last night that there was no going back for Jonathan. “This kind of thing should be expected. It is natural in politics, No aspirant for any office should expect to have an expressway to it. It comes with determination, plans, and strategies. Only a brutal incumbent will take the option of suppression as we had in the late Gen Abacha days, to have his way”


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/16/national-16-08-2010-001.htm

This one is not for LOVE at all, it's for GREEN CARD