What Jonathan Should Do In 2014 -Sam Nda-Isaiah

Sam Nda-Isaiah

We are 48 hours away from the year 2014. 2014 would be Jonathan’s last full year in power, so he has to make full use of it. That would be his last chance to construct a meaningful legacy for himself. As it stands today, he is in a very bad shape. The legacy he has built so far has been that of incompetence, corruption and impunity. But one year is surely enough to reverse this outlook. After all, the late Murtala Mohammed spent only six months in office but he made a clear statement on competence and the fight against corruption.

The first thing the president must decide to do in 2014 is tackle corruption. President Jonathan must make up his mind about corruption. On New Year’s Day, he must make this resolution. And the place to start is for him to change his current attitude about corruption. Our president does not appear to know that corruption is an imp that stunts the growth of nations. Our president’s mien suggests that he encourages, protects and romances corruption, sometimes even with the life of his government. President Jonathan must change his disposition towards corruption. No nation has ever developed or even made any meaningful progress without first tackling corruption. All great leaders who have made a difference to their countries have said so.

Man Fights Crocodile With Bare Hands To Save Son

A Mutoko father dived into a river and fought a crocodile with his bare hands to save the life of his 11-year-old son who had been seized while crossing Nyaitengwa River. Mr Tafadzwa Kachere and his son, Tapiwa (11) were both seriously injured in the battle and were yesterday admitted at Chitungwiza Central Hospital.

Tapiwas left leg had to be amputated, while his fathers left hand is badly hurt. Mr Kachere, who stays in Katiyo 1 Village under Chief Nyajina, said the crocodile attacked while they were on their way home from his garden. When we were coming from the garden, I was walking in front and the boy was following me. After crossing the river, I heard the boy screaming for help and I rushed to rescue him. I could see him struggling to free himself as the crocodile kept on holding on to his leg. I took the risk and dived into the water and joined the fight trying to force open the jaws with my hands. I failed to open the crocodiles mouth and resorted to poking its mouth with reeds while seated on its back. I instructed my son to hold on to the reeds as I continued poking into the crocodiles mouth until it released the boy, said Mr Kachere.

Rival APC warns G7 Governors over defection

As court rules on APC acronym November 28.

The African Peoples’ Congress, currently in court over the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register it as a party, has warned the seven governors of the Kawu Baraje faction of the People Democratic Party, PDP, against yielding to the invitation by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to join it, “to avoid walking into a trap.”
The political association said it was issuing the advice to the governors because it was still contesting its disqualification by INEC.
It said that if the case eventually ended in its favour, it would reclaim the APC acronym and the governors would be stranded.
The governors, who belong to the faction also called the “New PDP”, are Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger).

Tunde Bakare rejects Christmas cow from President Jonathan

Tunde Bakae

Pastor Tunde Bakare rejects Christmas cow from President Jonathan

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, has revealed that Pastor Tunde Bakare, the General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, turned down a cow, which was reportely sent to him for Christmas by President Jonathan.

In a tweet posted on Sunday, El Rufai wrote: “Just learnt that GEJ sent a Christmas cow to Pastor Bakare, but Pastor asked – is it cow we need in Nigeria? Nigerians want good governance!”

Daughter Of Wole Soyinka, Iyetade Soyinka Dies At 48

Daughter of Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka, Iyetade Soyinka has passed on at the age of 48, Sahara Reporters report.

Ms. Soyinka, who was born June 6, 1965, died at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital where she was being treated for an undisclosed ailment.

The death was disclosed in a statement signed by Jahman Anikulapo, an aide to Mr. Soyinka, one of the world’s foremost dramatists and winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in literature. The statement noted that the late Iyetade Soyinka was a student at the Staff School and Queens School, Ibadan before she studied Medicine at the University of Ibadan.

Mr. Anikulapo’s statement described the deceased as “affable, intelligent and sometimes capricious,” adding that she “struggled with her health in recent years.” Despite her health woes, the late Iyetade Soyinka “greeted every day with a smile and doted on her two children.”

OBASANJO/JONATHAN LETTERS: POUND FOR POUND?

The political war of words between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his erstwhile godson, President Goodluck Jonathan, is on everyone’s lips. Like a buffet, probably served to mark the end of the year, people are taking the bitter diatribes by the two leaders from various angles and serving themselves different interpretations.

Obasanjo had opened the highly controversial debate with his open letter to Jonathan dated December 2. The letter 18-page letter was a fusion of potentially explosive allegations that kept everyone alert and waiting for Jonathan’s reply. The reply came on December 20. But taking careful notice of what Obasanjo said in his letter, it appears Jonathan’s reply does not quite address the issues.
The former president had raised very serious allegations bordering on security, corruption, and oil theft. The bottom line, according to Obasanjo, is that Jonathan wants a second term at all cost.

Does Jonathan’s reply really disprove the allegations in Obasanjo’s letter? A comparative study of the key issues in the two leaders’ write-ups would confirm.

Reading Their Lips
Obasanjo: Obasanjo accuses Jonathan of elevating his personal political interest above the national interest. He alleges that the president had instigated the ongoing division in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party with an inordinate ambition for re-election in 2015 that contradicts his earlier promise to do only one term.
The former president says, “Many of us were puzzled over what was going on in the party. Most party members blamed the national chairman…The chairman is playing the tune dictated by the paymaster.    But  the  paymaster  is  acting  for  a  definitive  purpose  for  which deceit  and deception seem to be the major ingredients.

Unknown 'Drone' Crashes In Ibadan

A mysterious spacecraft, which residents of Awotan in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State called a “drone”, was reported to have crashed into a building at Omiremi Quarters in the community, leaving a crater on the roof of the building, just as aviation sources confirmed the object as a United States’ drone on an espionage mission in Nigeria.

Considering the registration number, TX 5803, inscribed on a black battery under the craft, a source said the space craft must have taken off from  NASA base in Texas in the US, stating that the battery attached to the spacecraft powered it and enabled it to move around so that it could do the bidding of those who sent it.
Though many aviation sources told Sunday Tribune that the object could be a device used in espionage, another source, however, believed that the craft was a “nondescript aviation device”.

It will be recalled that the United States of America has, in recent times, come under attack by other countries for spying on their activities which may have confirmed the discovery of the spacecraft in Ibadan.
The craft, which was said to have dropped down from the orbit, flew into a toilet in the house of Ashipa of Awotan, Chief Tajudeen  Adetoro, a few minutes after his grandson, Afeez  Adewale and daughter-in-law, Adikat, left the toilet where they had gone to answer the call of nature.

El-rufai And Others Narrowly Escape Plane Crash In Lagos

Tragedy was averted, Sunday, when a Boeing 737 plane with over 100 passengers belonging to Aero Contractors had a bust tyre at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos.

The aircraft, which departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, NAA, Abuja around 9am had a burst tyre on landing at the Lagos Airport.

One of the over 100 passengers onboard the plane was the former Minister, federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Mal. Nasir el-Rufai who tweeted “Upon landing in Lagos, our Aero aircraft lost a tyre. The pilot did a great job of breaking to a halt. My phones flew under seats.”

Reacting to the incident, Mr Yakubu Dati, Coordinating Spokesman, Aviation Parastatals said “ A aircraft Boeing 737-500 with Registration No 5N-BLC, operated by Aero contractors landed safely at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, following loss of pressure in one of the tyres, today December 29, 2013”.

2015: First Lady Accuses Gov. Akpabio Of Having A Vice Presidential Ambition

…Alleged to have said pursue your Vice Presidential Ambition
…Stop deceiving my husband

THE INK NEWSPAPER – The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a result of President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition may have claimed another casualty. The latest according to our source is the Akwa Ibom State Governor and the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governor’s Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio.
Inside sources within the nation’s seat of power informed our reporter that Nigeria’s first lady and wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan descended ferociously on Akpabio at the Presidential Villa in Abuja recently accusing him of being a cog in the wheel of the process to resolve the crisis in the PDP.
According to the source, a visibly angry Patience Jonathan shouted at the Governor and asked him why he was busy deceiving her husband.
the ink newsShe is said to have told Governor Akpabio point blank that he should stop masquerading himself before her husband as a peacemaker and concentrate on his now revealed Vice Presidential ambition and leave the President alone.
Reports reaching the First Lady, the source continued, have confirmed that Governor Akpabio’s treachery and pursuit of his Vice Presidential ambition is responsible for the failure of the reconciliation process in the party and one of the reasons the G7 Governors have ditched the party.

FG To Investigate Case Of Pregnant Worker Beaten By Lebanese Boss

The Nigerian presidency has made moves to investigate the disheartening case of Alice, a 7-month pregnant Nigerian factory worker in Lagos who lost her baby after being beaten up by her Lebanese boss on December 13th.

Nigeria's presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati tweeted:

Woman loses pregnancy after alleged kick from boss

A 34-year-old woman, Mrs. Alexandra Ossai, has accused her Lebanese boss, Kaveh Noine, of causing her to lose her seven-month-pregnancy after he kicked her in the stomach.

Ossai, who until December 13, 2013, was a supervisor with a Lebanese owned firm, Toppan Printing Company, alleged that Noine assaulted her many times during her eight months stay at the company.

Currently at a private hospital in the Fagba area of Lagos State, Ossai told PUNCH Metro that she had undergone emergency surgery four days after the kick to save her life as her placenta was said to have been damaged.

She said, “I started working at Toppan in April. I earn N17,000 salary and work from Monday to Saturday. Anytime Noine was annoyed, he would beat the person he was angry with. Sometimes, he would throw whatever he can lay his hands on at the person. Prior to that incident, Noine had slapped me many times.

Soldiers kill passenger at check point in Katsina

The deceased is believed to be a National Diploma II student of Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic.
Soldiers in Katsina State on Thursday opened fire on a commercial vehicle with reg. number AY504KTN, killing one of the passengers.
Ikedichi Iweha, the JTF spokesman in the state, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Katsina.
Mr. Iweha, a captain, said that the soldiers opened fire on the vehicle when the driver attempted to beat a military check point at Batagarawa area of the state.
He said that one of the passengers in the vehicle was hit and died instantly.
The JTF spokesman said that the affected driver had been arrested while the vehicle had been placed under the custody of the army.
Mr. Iweha said that investigation into the incident had also commenced.
Meanwhile, a witness, who pleaded anonymity, told reporters that the driver allegedly attempted to overtake a truck at the check point.

Still on Sanusi -Tahir Ibrahim Tahir

In line with this faustian season of letters, I have decided not to be of nuisance to anyone in particular, but to myself; having set to write a letter to myself, just as a teaching of the prophet of Allah says, "the best kind of righteousness or cleansing is the correction of ones' own character and attitude". I have accepted that the larger society would be a better place if we would all retrace our mis-steps and walk the right path, in the proper pace. Print, visual and social media are awash with critics that waste no time in hastily bringing down the sledge hammer on the wrong doers of our society, largely those in power, and yet, a cursory look at the attitude and demeanor of most of us leaves much to be desired; for proper conduct that would refine our society.

I have found it hard to swallow, that we would vilify those with genuine contributions and efforts towards nation building, and turn away from the real question in our public space. Even while cantering on the horse of criticism, we allow the thorns of ethnicism and religious bias to blur our efforts. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as CBN boss, was mandated by the president to sanitise the banking industry, curb or maintain inflation, rescue bad loans and debts which were making banks look huge and hollow, and also protect nigerian customers from losing money in banks as was the scenario before now, where banks crumbled with customers bearing the full weight of their bank's fall. The CBN boss did a wonderful job of the mandate given him, excelling at it and gaining global recognition. He has infact maintained a 35 year all time low of reining in inflation and is perhaps on the verge of reducing inflation to a single digit. He has more than delivered what Mr President has asked of him. He has successfully arrested billions of customer and shareholder funds being fritted away by bank executives who have either been brought to book, or are in the arms of punitive laws for their improprieties.

The worst Govenors of 2013

NEWISSUES MAGAZINE, Abuja

Despite the accolades the activities of most Nigerian governors remain a hype, the work of aggressive Public Relation stunt. A close look at the work of these shrewd shaddy politicians always reveal much more than meets the eyes. Behind the curtain is systematic looting and money laundering activities going on and everyone is involved. Despite the shameless corruption some of these governors have done relatively well or have been percieved to have done well. Today we are discussing those who haven’t done much or upto expectation, those who don’t even know why they are governor. We are looking at the first ten starting from 10 to number 1.

 (10) Delta State Governor: Despite the huge revenue allocated to Delta State, Governor Oduaghan hasn’t been able to bring remarkable change to Delta State. When we hear what people like Governor Rotimi Ameachi have been able to achieve in Rivers State, his Delta State counterpart is not known for any serious infrastructural development. Oduaghan became governor like most governor. He was the cousin of the previous governor, James Ibori, who is now languishing in a London prison after he was found guilty of money laundery. Oduaghan’s government is characterised by sorrounding himself with friends and family members and making them rich to the detriment of the state. He has spent almost eight years as Delta State governor and we haven’t seen anything remarkable yet.

(9) TA Orji of Abia State is the worst governor in Igbo land for 2013. In Nigeria he came as number 9. The people haven’t seen anything like dividend of democracy and many Abia indegenous people have personally called to say he is the worst governor in Nigeria. NEWISSUES categorise him as number 9. His people expect much from him but in the end governance to some of these men in government is about personal business and wealth accumulation for themselves and their friends.

Michelle Obama Wants To Divorce Barack Obama -National Enquirer

“I’VE had enough!” Furious first lady Michelle Obama hurled those fight­ing words at her husband after he publicly humiliated her by flirting with a leggy blonde foreign leader at South African icon Nelson Mandela’s memorial ser­vice, sources say.

In a bombshell world exclusive, The ENQUIRER has learned that in the wake of the mortifying incident, Presi­dent Barack Obama and his wife are now sleeping in separate White House bedrooms.

Sources say an enraged Michelle is also preparing to boot her hubby of 21 years out of their ritzy Chicago home – and seriously discussing divorce.

“The smart money says the marriage is doomed,” said a close source.

“Barack and Michelle have had a rocky go for years and mainly stayed together for their daughters and his political career.

“But now Michelle is mad AS hell. She feels violated in front of the whole world, and screamed at him, ‘I’ve had enough!’

“She’s met with divorce lawyers and told Barack that she wants a life apart from him.”

Our own Madiba from Bauchi; The late Talban Bauchi, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir.

Late Dr. Ibrahim Tahir

Nelson Mandela was once imprisoned for life, and as he passed away, it seems ironical that this life will be imprisoned by the memoirs, salutations and adulations for the late freedom fighter. Madiba's death came at about the same time as the 4th year remembrance of the demise of Dr Ibrahim Tahir's. As we all mourned Mandela, the commiserations found ready, a sober and tearful mood in my already grieving heart, realising that time had flown so fast, and it was already 4 years since we lost our own Madiba from Bauchi. Baba Abdullahi Yelwa, in the People’s Daily, described talking to Tahir as "akin to taking a transcendential journey into the intellectual wilderness". He said Tahir had "rare intellectual prowess and an academic grounding in logic and philosophy. He was eloquent and compelling, an intellectual colossus with a huge frame, towering over and above his peers".

Ugar Odey of Findings news magazine referred to Tahir as the intellectual gladiator of his era, a perfect philantrophist, community leader and orator of unparalled eloquence. For a fact, I know late Talba narrowly missed on winning a nobel laureate award over his work with his novel titled Last Imam, as details showed that he was slightly edged out of the award. President Gowon consulted Tahir while he was in school at Cambridge University, according to Lord Dennis Stevenson of the British House of Lords, as he wrote to condole the family. Late Talba himself narrated how the Obasanjo/Shehu Musa Yaradua government of the 70's had held him hostage several times for long spells, maxing his intellect for input on government policies, Nigeria's constitution, and many similar national issues.

Python Causes Traffic jam At Galadima-zuba Express Axis, Abuja (Photos)

The already decapitated python was on display by some dare devil hunters, what they didn't know is that, while rabbits and grass cutters are regular sights and wouldn't cause more than a stare or two, this python is proving to be a crowd puller.... As motorist and commuters parked to catch a glimpse of the specie. It got so serious that the road safety had to be called in....anyways, enough stories, enjoy the view......

I stand by my letter to Jonathan — OBJ

*Jonathan’s response, shallow – NEF, CNPP
*President responded well – Afenifere, IYM, others
*They should refrain from evil things – Sagay
*Obasanjo jealous of Jonathan –Ezeife

ABUJA—FORMER President, Chief  Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, declined to respond to President Goodluck Jonathan’s reply to his December 2 letter, saying that he stands by the contents of his missive.
Obasanjo who spoke to newsmen at his hilltop mansion in Abeokuta through his media aide, Tunde Oladunjoye, said he would not reply the letter because he has chosen to maintain his serenity.
President Jonathan in a 14-page response to Obasanjo’s 18-page letter, said he only had time to respond to the most serious of the charges which question his sincerity, personal honour and commitment to his oath of office. He said Obasanjo did him grave injustice by accusing him of “deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, clannishness, divisiveness and insincerity,” among others and challenged Obasanjo to substantiate the allegations.
However, Obasanjo indicated that he is not ready to the president’s challenge yesterday. Chief Obasanjo, in the statement read by Oladunjoye, acknowledged receiving President Jonathan’s response, followed by several requests from local and international media for his reaction.
“Baba, as he already indicated in his December 2, 2013 (letter), does not wish to make further comments beyond the contents of his last letter to Mr. President or react to the said letter/response from Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,” the statement said.

Villa zoo: Jonathan budgets millions of naira for animals

The Presidency  will  next year  spend  N34.5m on two  wild animals for the State House Zoo and car trackers for presidential ground fleet as well as utility vehicles.

 Out of the sum, N14.5m  was set aside in the 2014 budget  as the cost of the  two animals whose names were not given and N20m for the trackers.

Extra N2m is expected to be expended on two fleet tracking base stations.

These are contained in the details of the Appropriation bill presented by President Goodluck Jonathan through the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to the National Assembly last week.

Also contained  in the plan   is the sum of  N50m   for  the improvement of electrical installations inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Presidency To Buy 11th Aircraft For N1.5bn

The Presidency has commenced plans to purchase a brand new aeroplane by making an initial deposit of N1, 520,000,000 for the aircraft. This will bring to 11 the number of aircraft in the presidential fleet.
According to the 2014 budget estimates submitted to the National Assembly last week for appropriation, several new items are to be purchased anew by the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) under the supervision of the State House.
Other new items listed in the PAF budget are – the completion of hanger project (N405,500,000), tyre bay tools and equipment (N106,000,000), Towberless tow tractor for aircraft towing ( N58,740,000), hanger sweeper (N31,870,000), luggage conveyor belt truck (N28,898,000) and harlan tow tug for aircraft equipment towing (N27,590,000).
Other new items are – CCTV and surveillance equipment (N18,000,000), aircraft tools and equipment (N11,480,000), battery workshop equipment (N5,050,000), complete tool box for general works and vehicles (N360,000), heavy duty crocodile jacks (N300,000), aluminum ladder (N285,000), safety boots (N52,500) and foldable ladder ( N50,000).
In 2012, there were plans by the Presidency to acquire two planes and presently the aircraft in the PAF are – two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, a Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and a Gulfstream IVSP, one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.
It is estimated that each of the Falcon 7X jets purchased in 2010 cost the nation, $51.1 million, while the Gulfstream 550 was purchased for $53.3 million

Jonathan’s Response Shallow, Disappointing — Northern Elders

The NEF lamented that Jonathan adopted what it called ‘pedestrian approach’ to addressing the core issues raised by Obasanjo and ended up creating more tension in Nigeria than what his predecessor’s letter had generated.
"We feel highly disappointed by the tone and contents of Mr. President’s response to Obasanjo’s letter," Secretary General of the NEF, Prof Ango Abdullahi, commented on Jonathan's move.
NEF representatives blasted Jonathan for him not taking time to explain to Nigerians whether he had fulfilled the electoral promises he made to the nation and whether in his view, he had made the country better than he met it on assumption of duty.
Moreover, Abdullahi claimed that Jonathan should sum up courage as the current leader to address the germane issues raised in the letter so that the country could move forward.
He noted that the country was going through a complicated period in its political history and that Jonathan should take reasonable steps to arrest the drift rahter than pretend that everything was fine.
Abdullahi also said that it would have been better for Jonathan to keep quiet over the Obasanjo letter than offer a lame reply, which in the main, shies away from the bone of contention.

Obasanjo And Jonathan: Who’s Worse?

SAM NDA-ISAIAH
This is the subject of a discussion that has been taking place for quite some time now but which has reached a frenzy since former president Obasanjo’s letter-bomb to President Jonathan. It is a discussion or an argument that I have been reluctant to encourage. As the reader will have noticed, the question is not who is better between Obasanjo and Jonathan but who is worse. This presupposes, quite correctly, that both of them are bad for Nigeria. Only God knows why He afflicted Nigeria with both of them, but God is always right. Nigeria would have been a much better place without them as presidents. The answer to the question is not that easy. Anyone who wants to answer the question – who is worse between Obasanjo and Jonathan? – must first be ready to answer the famous question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
The truth is that every bad thing Jonathan is doing today he learnt from Obasanjo. Jonathan has only done them all bigger than his teacher. And why should Obasanjo, the teacher, complain? Is it not the wish of all teachers that their students should outdo them?

General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over power to General Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999, in an election that was generally regarded as credible. But that was the last credible election that Nigeria has had till date. All the elections since then have been massively rigged, sometimes by Obasanjo, the president himself. The elections Obasanjo conducted as president, in 2003 and 2007, have been the worst in the history of elections in the country. Obasanjo as president personally supervised the crime of election rigging, many times very openly. So far, Jonathan has supervised only the 2011 general elections. And even though he would have won the presidential election anyway, because the opposition parties were not as organised as they are today, Jonathan still went ahead to rig the elections badly, using the same methods and tricks as Obasanjo did. He proved to be a very good student of Obasanjo because Jonathan showed, by his conduct of the 2011 election that even if he was the only candidate standing in that presidential election, he would still have rigged the election. Rigging obviously runs in the family. If Jonathan insists on contesting the 2015 elections in spite of the promise he made to his party men in 2011, it is because he saw what Obasanjo did with his own promises. There was also a tacit understanding that Obasanjo was going to do only one term from 1999. He nonetheless contested and rigged the 2003 election massively. Before then, Bola Ige had to be killed to make the rigging easier in the south-west which Obasanjo thought he needed badly. In 2006, Obasanjo started sharing bribes to the National Assembly members to get a third term. Jonathan saw all that, so why should he keep his own promise? What is wrong in Obasanjo’s student wanting his own third term? Let someone else complain, but not Obasanjo.

Soyinka blasts APC leaders over invitation to Babangida, Obasanjo, others



Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, Sunday, lashed out angrily at the patron-shopping strategy of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, suggesting that the strategy lacked moral focus, and had the feel of political prostitution.
In a short email message, the professor of literature said he was triggered by media reports indicating that an “APC-led group …has been paying courtesy visits to former Heads of States,” prompting him to ask if the party had thought it through what disaster this would mean for the nation.
Mr. Soyinka said the media report that stirred him to respond to the APC had these words: “Tinubu added that the APC had resolved to rescue Nigeria, appealing to Obasanjo to lead the mission. We’re resolved and determined to rescue Nigeria. We want you as navigator”.
He then asked if the APC was truly comfortable that this represented its core principles.
“Would it be correct to state that their purpose is captured in the following Mission Statement?” he queried, suggesting that an impending political disaster loomed before the nation, with grave humanitarian consequence.
“If this attribution is correct, may I urge you, as an urgent public service, to advise families to begin the stockpiling of life-belts for the guaranteed crash.
“Don’t forget to alert the coastguards – Ecowas, AU, UNO etc etc – to be on the alert for possible salvage operations.”
Mr. Soyinka then hinted at the moral opportunism of the patron-shopping strategy by asking: “By the way, If General Sani Abacha were alive today, would he also have been on  the ship’s complement? As Captain perhaps?”
Some Nigeria’s pro-democracy activists had  also in separate interviews with  PREMIUM TIMES Saturday expressed outrage at the invitation handed the likes of former Presidents Ibrahim Babangida and Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to join the APC, saying the party’s progressive posturing might after all be a fluke.

EFCC arrests Kano Assembly Speaker, 10 other members over alleged N25billion fraud

Gov Kwankwaso

EFCC says it was responding to petition against the Assembly and the state governor

The Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly, Gambo Sallau, the clerk and nine lawmakers who were earlier arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in Kano, have been moved to Abuja for further investigation.

A source within the commission told PREMIUM TIMES that the lawmakers were arrested over allegations of aiding the abuse of Kano State Government funds.

According to the source, some prominent indigenes of the state petitioned the commission alleging that the N25 billion approved under the state’s 2013 supplementary appropriation law was to be used as smokescreen to cover unauthorised usage of funds by the governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The source said, “The supplementary appropriation was to be backdated and used as smokescreen to cover some unauthorised usage of state funds by Kwankwaso.”

I won’t dignify Jonathan with a response, Obasanjo says

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said on Monday he would not dignify President Goodluck Jonathan’s letter to him with a reply, stating that he had performed his duty to the president, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Nigeria with his December 2 letter.
Mr. Obasanjo, who spoke through his aide, Tunde Oladunjoye, at a press conference at the former president’s Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said although had received several requests from local and international media, asking him to respond to the president’s letter, he would prefer to keep his promise in his letter to maintain silence.
The former president had in an 18-page letter to Mr. Jonathan accused the president of failing to deliver on his electoral promises, promote national unity, check corruption and strengthen national security.
He also accused the president of planning to renege on his promise to spend one term of four years in office and of training a killer squad ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Mr. Obasanjo added in the letter, which he also shared with some past leaders, that he was ready for whaterver backlash his letter would provoke from the Presidency.

President Goodluck Jonathan Replies Former President Obasanjo

December 20th 2013
His Excellency,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR
Agbe L’Oba House, Quarry Road,
Ibara, Abeokuta.

RE: BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

I wish to formally acknowledge your letter dated December 2, 2013 and other previous correspondence similar to it.

You will recall that all the letters were brought to me by hand. Although both of us discussed some of the issues in those letters, I had not, before now, seen the need for any formal reply since, to me, they contained advice from a former President to a serving President. Obviously, you felt differently because in your last letter, you complained about my not acknowledging or replying your previous letters.
It is with the greatest possible reluctance that I now write this reply. I am most uneasy about embarking on this unprecedented and unconventional form of open communication between me and a former leader of our country because I know that there are more acceptable and dignified means of doing so.

But I feel obliged to reply your letter for a number of reasons: one, you formally requested for a reply and not sending you one will be interpreted as ignoring a former President.

Secondly, Nigerians know the role you have played in my political life and given the unfortunate tone of your letter, clearly, the grapes have gone sour.  Therefore, my side of the story also needs to be told.

The third reason why I must reply you in writing is that your letter is clearly a threat to national security as it may deliberately or inadvertently set the stage for subversion.

The fourth reason for this reply is that you raised very weighty issues, and since the letter has been made public, Nigerians are expressing legitimate concerns. A response from me therefore, becomes very necessary.

The fifth reason is that this letter may appear in biographies and other books which political commentators on Nigeria’s contemporary politics may write. It is only proper for such publications to include my comments on the issues raised in your letter.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken the first step in the right direction towards making Nigeria great again.
Obasajo stated this on Saturday when he met with leaders and governors of the APC on Saturday evening at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The meeting is said to be in continuation of their consultations on political developments in the country. The APC leaders including of the Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Senator Bukola Saraki, Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso(Kano) and Mutala Nyako (Adamawa) drove into Obasanjo’s mansion on Segun Osoba Hill – Top by 5:50pm in convoy.
General Mohammadu Buhari, three – time presidential contestant, arrived Obasanjo home, the venue of what was described as a “high – powered meeting of an equally high powered coalition of progressive forces,” by 5:56pm on Saturday.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) who drove himself with Mallam Nasir El – Rufai on the passenger seat, arrived by 5:59pm and followed closely by Governors Abiola Ajimobi(Oyo) and Babatunde Fashola(Lagos).

Why I gave up on my dad – Iyabo Obasanjo

*Obasanjo to VANGUARD: “You’re bloody idiots”
*Iyabo confirms letter; flays denials on social media

LAGOS — With echoes of the open letter to former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo from his daughter, Iyabo, reverberating nationwide, the daughter yesterday gave reasons she gave up on her father ever changing.
Senator Iyabo Obasanjo spoke against the background of mixed reactions from Yoruba elders and politicians on the import of the letter which she said was the last communication with her father.
Obasanjo-Iyabo
The former president himself was furious when approached by Vanguard, yesterday, as he hurled invectives at the newspaper. The exchange between Vanguard and the former president ran thus:
Vanguard: Sir, we tried reaching you all through yesterday, to no avail, over the letter written by your daughter, Iyabo, to you.
Chief Obasanjo: You are a bloody idiot, you have published the paper and you are now looking for me, you are an idiot, don’t call me again. When Iyabo finishes you in court…. (hangs up).
Senator Obasanjo nevertheless flayed the orchestrated attempt in the social media by a network of associates of her father to separate her from the letter.
Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun State, who was cited in the letter, confirmed the meeting between him and Iyabo in Massachusetts, United States but distanced himself from the plot allegedly cited by her father to empower her with the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC for the next round of elections.

Kabiru Sokoto, Sentenced To Life Imprisonment

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced Kabiru 'Sokoto' Usman, the alleged mastermind of Christmas Day bomb attack at St Theresa Catholic Church in 2011 that killed 44 people and injured several others, to life imprisonment.

The court also found Kabiru Sokoto guilty of planning to bomb the Police Headquarters in Sokoto State.

Sokoto was a member of the Shura council of Islamist sect Boko Haram according to his personal testimony during the trial.

Calling of the last Imam: A tribute to Dr. Ibrahim Tahir Talba

By Abdullahi Yelwa
I learnt of the death of Dr.Tahir in Decem, 2009 from a mutual friend of ours, Mallam Musa Bukar Sani. I was inconsolable. I had, in that my moment of shock and grief thought of his place (though largely unappreciated by his less intellectually endowed contemporaries) in the socio-political life of our nation, his position in his family and the Bauchi axis of the Northern divide, and even of his critical role as bridge builder between the North and South, and the academia and the real world of politics. Then, for me, there was a situation of a personal nature as well. I had at the time returned to active journalism, as publisher of Great Republic Newspaper after my difficult junket into the treacherous waters of Nigerian politics. I had therefore not only lost a friend and senior brother, but also a major source of breaking news as well.
Dr. Tahir had been my editorial magic wand from the early days of the IBB era till his death. When the big stories break, Tahir was the man to see. Even on a bad news day when bad stories refuse to break, Tahir can save the day with his usually controversial comments and views. A reporter’s delight, Tahir needed no questionnaire, prior appointment or talking points from any journalist before granting interviews.
During our last telephone interview we had discussed so many national issues, beside the mega party topic, my initial area of interest. Previously during our happenchance meeting in the country residence of Ciroman Keffi, I had asked after his health. His steadfastness, giant frame and courage couldn’t allow him to admit the seriousness of his ailment.

Jonathan evades 2014 budget presentation, delegates Okonjo-Iweala

The president did not state the reason for his action.

Contrary to the norm, President Goodluck Jonathan will not personally present the 2014 Appropriation Bill (budget) to the National Assembly.
Rather than appear before the lawmakers, the president has delegated the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to present the 2014 Budget before the joint session of the National Assembly.
By his decision, the president also makes history as the first hale and hearty president since 1999, Nigeria’s recent democratic dispensation after prolonged years of military rule, to delegate budget presentation to a minister.
The exception was late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who while sick and in a foreign hospital delegated his Special Adviser, Mohammed Abba-Aji, to quietly submit the 2010 budget to the leaders of the National Assembly.
However, while the norm had been for the sitting president to personally present the budget, Section 148 of the Nigerian constitution empowers the president to delegate any of his duties to selected persons.
“The President may, in his discretion, assign to the Vice-President or any Minister of the Government of the Federation responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation, including the administration of any department of government,” the section states.

2015: APC will visit Obasanjo soon – Buhari

As part of its ongoing efforts to win more political gladiators into the party ahead of the 2015 general elections, the leadership of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has said it would soon visit former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

A former Head of State and a chieftain of the party, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja, while speaking with newsmen at the residence of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The party chieftain noted that the leadership of the APC, had been paying courtesy visits to prominent Nigerians and it was high time they visited Chief Obasanjo.

He said: “We have been visiting others; like the G7 Governors; we have visited former heads of state, and we intend to visit former President Olusegun Obasanjo any time he is available, to ask for understanding and brief him on why we formed the APC.”

Buhari said he was happy with the outcome of the meeting between the leadership of the APC and Abubakar. According to him, the Turakin Adamawa had promised to discuss with his supporters and political associates, before taking a decision on whether to defect from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to the APC or not.



“I think Atiku has spoken to you about what we discussed with him now, but he said he will get back to us later,” Buhari added.

“I have given them an indication that I will call a meeting of all my supporters across the country and we will take a decision and tell the press,” he said.

Iyabo’s letter: You are bloody idiots – Obasanjo blasts Vanguard Newspaper

Apparently angered by the content of a purported letter written to him by his daughter, Iyabo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday rained thunder and brimstone on Vanguard Newspaper over the missive.

The media was awash yesterday, with a purported letter written by Iyabo Obasanjo to her father, accusing him of being responsible for the nation’s many troubles.

Iyabo in the letter obtained by Vanguard, also accused the Otta farmer of abandoning his family.



“You think our existence on earth is about you. By the way, how many are we? 19, 20, 21? Do you even know? In the last five years, how many of these children have you spoken to? How many grandchildren do you have and when did you last see each of them? As President you would listen to advice of people that never finished high school who would say anything to keep having access to you so as to make money over your children who loved you and genuinely wished you well,” Iyabo allegedly wrote her father in the said letter.

However, when Vanguard contacted Obsasanjo to hear his own side of the story, a visibly enraged politician-turned-pastor, insulted them for calling him after publishing the story.

Senate passes harmonised conference report banning same sex marriage bill

The Senate in Abuja on Tuesday unanimously passed a harmonised Conference Committee report banning same sex marriage in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Senate passed the Same Sex Marriage Bill, 2011 on Nov. 29, and the House of Representatives passed it on July 2.
Following the variations in the two versions passed, both chambers set up a conference committee to harmonise the differences which appeared essentially in five clauses of the bill.

The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Umaru Dahiru (PDP-Sokoto), who presented the report, appealed to members of the Senate to pass the report because the committee had tightened all loose ends.

The Senate President, David Mark, who presided over the plenary, appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to quickly assent to the bill so that it could become a law.

“We have been under series of attack from different quarters. I think we believe in this bill.

“The earlier we sign it into law, the better. We (Nigeria) have many shortcomings, we don’t want to add this one (same sex marriage) to them,’’ Mark said.

Missing Oil Money $12bn Not $49.8bn - Sanusi

Contrary to the earlier alarm raised, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has clarified that the amount for crude oil revenue not accounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is now $12billion and not $49.8billion.

Sanusi stated this yesterday in Abuja, during a joint briefing by the minister of finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke and himself, at the Finance Headquarters.

This is even as the minister of finance, Dr Okonjo-Iweala said the shortfall they are reconciling with the NNPC is $10.8bn and not $12bn, as claimed by Sanusi.

She said that in the course of the reconciliation from January 2012 to July 2013, “we have looked at a shortfall of about N1.7trillion, the equivalent of $10.8bn. That is the amount that we have been discussing and of course NNPC has been disputing some of it.”

Sanusi said that from the reconciliations of the last two days, it was discovered that out of the total crude oil of $65bn shipped within the period, $24bn did not belong to the NNPC. Rather, it was crude that was paid by oil companies as tax and royalties.

Iyabo Obasanjo Writes Father: Calls him Liar, Manipulator, Hypocrite

“It brings me no joy to have to write this but since you started this trend of open letters I thought I would follow suit since you don’t listen to anyone anyway. The only way to reach you may be to make the public aware of some things. As a child well brought up by my long-suffering mother in Yoruba tradition, I have been reluctant to tell the truth about you but as it seems you still continue to delude yourself about the kind of person you are and I think for posterity’s sake it is time to set the records straight.

“I will return to the issue of my long-suffering mother later in this letter.

“Like most Nigerians, I believe there are very enormous issues currently plaguing the country but I was surely surprised that you will be the one to publish such a treatise. I remember clearly as if it was yesterday the day I came over to Abuja from Abeokuta when I was Commissioner of Health in OgunState, specifically to ask you not to continue to pursue the third term issue.

“I had tried to bring it up when your sycophantic aides were present and they brushed my comments aside and as usual you listened to their self-serving counsel. For you to accuse someone else of what you so obviously practiced yourself tells of your narcissistic megalomaniac personality.  Everyone around for even a few minutes knows that the only thing you respond to is praise and worship of you. People have learnt how to manipulate you by giving you what you crave. The only ones that can’t and will not stroke your ego are family members who you universally treat like shit (sic) apart from the few who have learned to manipulate you like others.

Before It REALLY Is Too Late

By Abiodun Ladepo

Via Sahara Reproters

They are acting as if they have never seen this picture before – the picture of politicians behaving badly.  And they are acting as if they never heard the “Fellow Nigerians” salutation before – the one that used to be preceded by martial music.

They are acting, yet AGAIN, as if they are omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent - our politicians, I mean.  Not too long ago, precisely December 31st, 1983, our dearly beloved Brigadier Sani Abacha came on the FRCN air with his “Fellow Countrymen and Women” speech, to address us, as he put it “on behalf of the Nigerian Armed Forces.”  By the time Abacha was done, President Shehu Shagari was gone.  Vice President Alex Ikwueme was gone.  Lateef Kayode Jakande no longer governed Lagos State.  Cornelius Adebayo no longer governed Kwara State.  Omololu Olunloyo no longer governed Oyo State.  Sam Mbakwe was gone.  Jim Nwobodo was gone.  Ambrose Ali was gone.  Olabisi Onabanjo was gone.  Solomon Lar was gone.  Barkin Zuwo was gone.  Senate Leader Olusola Saraki was gone.  Minority Leader Jonathan Odebiyi was gone.  In fact, from loudmouth party apparatchiks Uba Ahmed (NPN) and Ebenezer Babatope (UPN), all the way up to party leaders Adisa Akinloye, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Aminu Kano, Waziri Ibrahim, Tunji Braithwaith; all were gone just like that.  Fiam!  In one fell swoop!  They went down and took with them all the ministers, the rest of the governors, senators, representatives, assemblymen, commissioners and special advisers.  They also took with them all those local government councilors.  On their way home, some of them took a detour through Kirikiri and other prisons across the country.  In short, we were back where we started just four years prior, when the military voluntarily disengaged from Nigerian politics and civil administration.

Explosion hits Rivers state Deputy Governor’s office

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru

Published: December 17,2013, Premium Times

A blast has hit the Rivers State government house, a government spokesperson said.
The explosion occurred near the deputy governor, Tele Ikuru’s office in the early hours of Tuesday. There were no casualties, commissioner of information, Ibim Semenitari, told PREMIUM TIMES.
Ms. Semenitari said the explosion is suspected to have occurred after a dynamite was thrown into the building at about 3 am Tuesday.
Police anti-bomb personnel immediately took control of the situation and retrieved some shrapnel, she said.
However, a police spokesperson in the state denied knowledge of the incident.
Police Public Relations Officer Ahmad Muhammad told PREMIUM TIMES he was not aware of any explosion in the state.

FG, INEC plot to disenfranchise our members -APC

National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande The All Progressives Congress alleged on

Tuesday that the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission were planning to disfranchise its members in both the South-West and North-Eastern parts of the country.

It specifically said the information by the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that elections might not hold in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states where the Federal Government declared emergency, was another

plot aimed at reducing the electoral fortunes of the APC.

The Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, who read the communique of the party after its National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja, said the party would resist this attempt. He warned the Federal Government against extending the emergency rule in the affected states. Akande said, “ The APC has earlier alerted the nation of the strategy of the (President Goodluck) Jonathan administration to

depopulate areas where our party has strong followings and suppress voter turnout in the Northern and South-West states through deliberate exacerbation of insecurity.

"I don’t crave material things. All my life, I have been living for other people, not even my family" -NUHU GIDADO

Engr. Nuhu Gidado, a chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), won the Bauchi State governorship primary in 2011 and was to fly the party’s flag in the general election, but was substituted at the last minute. In this interview, he tells GEORGE AGBA what went wrong and how General Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s leadership of the new All Progressives Congress (APC) can instill internal democracy in the new party.

From the records, you were a huge success in the civil service before venturing into the private sector where you achieved even more in terms of your profession and other businesses. Why did you choose to venture into the murky waters of Nigerian politics?

It is a common notion in this country that politics is murky. It couldn’t have been better than now. I was engineered to see the need and the reason to abandon all else and to turn deaf ears to the definition of politics in this country, that it is murky and dirty. One would have continued sitting on the fence and decide to let it continue in this mode.

But who, rather than me, you and our likes that believe in the credibility of politics, would change the situation that we are going through? The more we run away from partisan politics, the more it gets murky, the more it gets dirty and the more it destroys the fabric of the nation. So, I was engineered by the fact that where you have credibility and you mean well for your country, there is nothing that bars you from joining partisan politics.

Before 2010, I was having the same notion; I was tempted several times to join politics but I vehemently refused to do so under the guise of what you are defining now as being murky, dirty and so forth. But later on I saw wisdom in sacrificing all else. At this my age today, I don’t see what I stand to gain or lose if I join politics, rather than contributing the utmost best you can to change the situation for the better.

By and large, I was also inspired by no other person than General Muhammadu Buhari. If you talk about credibility, forthrightness, gentlemanliness and experience, it boils down to one single representation in the person of General Buhari. Whatever made that man to sacrifice all else to go into politics, I think every right thinking person who means well for this country shouldn’t be afraid to join and to contribute in the utmost best one can. That is my inspiration.

Obasanjo To Jonathan: ‘Keep Your Reply and Save Nigeria!

As the Presidency prepares a reply to the 18-page letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan on the state of the nation, indications emerged, yesterday, that the former leader was not expecting any reply but action from Jonathan.
A competent source told SUNDAY VANGUARD that Obasanjo was more interested in Jonathan addressing the core issues he raised in his letter rather than getting a reply to his damning missive, entitled, ‘Before it is too late’.
The source, which also denied any breakfast meeting between Obasanjo and Jonathan in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, said the story was made up by those who tried to play down the importance of the former leader’s letter.
The source said,”The truth of the matter is that former President Obasanjo is not expecting President Jonathan to reply him. Absolutely no. The President did not consider it needful to respond to previous letters privately written to him by the former head of state and he does not expect any reply to this one.
“I can tell you that Obasanjo wrote the letter with the best intentions for Jonathan and Nigeria and what he wants from the President is courageous and timely actions to save Nigeria from the brink. That’s all.
“Obasanjo will be a happy Nigerian if appropriate steps are taken by President Jonathan to address the burning issues of corruption and other challenges that threaten to bring this country down.
“There is absolutely no reason to expect a reply from the Presidency when previous letters written to him were not even acknowledged.”
It was however learnt, at the weekend, that presidential aides have drafted a response to Obasanjo’s letter. The response was said to be awaiting Jonathan’s approval.

APC WILL WIN BAUCHI COME 2015 - NUHU GIDADO

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State and Sardauna of Jama’are Engr. Nuhu Gidado has assured his party’s commitment to dislodge the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 gubernatorial election in Bauchi state.Speaking with newsmen in Lagos Gidado said the newly registered APC is a government in waiting as it enjoys wide acceptability among the people of Bauchi state.
“Contrary to the speculation and insinuations by top government spokespersons and PDP stalwarts, APC is waxing stronger by the day and becoming more formidable than ever and I tell you this, we are just getting started and the PDP has not seen anything yet,” Gidado said.
The APC chieftain also made a passing remark at the statement credited to President Goodluck Jonathan, saying with the crisis in the ruling PDP, it is apparent that it is the confused party and not APC.“Even the President said we are confused and at the end of the day, his party came up with two different candidates for the Anambra gubernatorial elections, while the APC has seen to the democratic emergence of a single candidate.

Picture Gallery Of Rare Moments With Nelson Mandela

These are some rare pictures "The Man With The Midas Touch" Mandela took with worlds most popular and well-known figures like Beyonce Knoles, Micheal Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, David Beckam, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Aishwarya Rai, Abdul Kalam, Atal Bihari, Dalai, Manisha Koirala, Amitabh Bachchan etc

Senate probes alleged missing $49.8 billion

*Missing fund must not be swept under carpet–APC senators warn
*Insist “we ‘ll follow probe to the latter

The Nigerian Senate at plenary on Wednesday, directed its finance commitee to commence a full-scale probe into the alleged missing $49.8 billion from the nation’s treasury. Senate also mandated the committee to conclude its findings and report back to it in less than seven days.

Senate directive followed a Point Of Order 42 of the Senate standing rules raised under Matter of Urgent National Importance by Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi (APC Ekiti North), not only to draw the attention of the upper legislative chamber to the allegation but request that it carry out an indebt probe of the missing fund.

The alleged missing fund is said to be the value of crude oil export and proceeds from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, expected to be lodged in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Senator Adetunbi who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Planning and Budgeting, at the plenary, said: “There has been a raging debate on the issue of missing money from the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Today, all papers carried the report on $49.8 billion that has not been remitted to the federation account.”

PDP Asks Court To Remove Defecting Governors

The Peoples Democratic Party has asked an Abuja Federal High Court to sack the five
governors who defected to the All Progressives Congress. The governors are Alhaji Murtala Nyako
(Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara).
The Independent National Electoral Commission was listed as a defendant alongside the governors in the suit filed on behalf of the PDP by Alex Izinyon, SAN. PDP argued that the governors should be sacked
from office on the ground that, because of their defection, they have forfeited their offices, which,
as a result, have reverted to the party. In the event that the five governors are sacked from office, PDP wants the court to order the deputy governor or speaker of the state Houses of Assembly of the affected states, or any officer next in rank, who is still its member, to assume the office of governor.

Mandela Was Angry With Nigeria - Dr.Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

"It is better to help a friend pay his fine,than tell a
lie to help him cover a crime." - Nigerian proverb.
It was literally a life-long ambition, and I used
every opportunity to meet the old man in person. I
was finally in a position to press buttons and call
old friends to render favours, and in early 2007 I
succeeded. I was told I could see Mandela for only
30 minutes at his home, but I needed to get there
one hour earlier. Colleagues I had leaned on were
skeptical that I would see him despite the
appointment, particularly since I will not say it was
official. An old South African friend and course
mate from South Africa who helped, suggested I
asked questions or matters I wanted to discuss
with him and send them in advance. I did not think
that was the type of meeting I wanted, so I did not.
Mandela was surprised when he was told I worked
at the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but had
spent 6 months trying to see him to pay my
personal respects. Why did you not go through
your colleagues here? I told him the visit was not
official. I just wanted to meet him. He relaxed and
apologized that it had taken that long for me to see
him. Others left us, except a lady who sat
discreetly away from us. I thought she was a
medical person.

BREAKING: Court frees Elrufai in Abuja Land Grab Case -Premium Times

An Abuja High court has freed former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, of charges of abuse of power.
The court gave its discharge verdict Friday morning, exonerating Mr. El-rufai of criminal charges.
The former FCT minister, now a leading member of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, was charged under the Corrupt and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 for using his position to corruptly revoke a plot of land from its previous owners – Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc – and re-award same to his wife, Hadiza Ahmed El-Rufa.

President Jonathan Responds To Obasanjo’s Plot To Install Northern President In 2015

A source close to President Goodluck Jonathan told SaharaReporters that the president has commissioned a group of political pundits to begin to counteract former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s reported secret plans to work for the emergence of a Northerner as president in 2015.

The source added that the Jonathan’s team is charged with strategizing on the best maneuvers to contain Mr. Obasanjo’s moves.

The source added that Mr. Jonathan did not yet have a full understanding of where Mr. Obasanjo stands in the crisis tearing apart the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but added that the president has decided not to take chances by ignoring the former president. The Northern members of the team set up by the president have been mandated to lead the first stage of Mr. Jonathan’s campaigns and consultations across the entire Northern states.

“Some of the president’s pundits have swung into action in the ‘core’ Northern states of Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina and northern Kaduna,” our source disclosed.

He added that Jerry Gana, Jonathan Silas Zwingina, Abdulkadir Kure, and Isaiah Balat were among those assigned to run the early stages of the president’s campaign in the Middle Belt. “Another group led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Barrister Ahmed Gulak is working on the same mission in the North-East axis,” he said.

The source revealed that a key strategy of the president’s group was to seek the support of top Islamic and Christian clerics in the North. The well-funded presidential group is offering millions of naira to selected clerics in return for their political sympathy for Mr. Jonathan’s reelection campaign.

Sunusi Lamido's Letter to President Jonathan on the massive corruption in NNPC

"Dear Mr. President, The NNPC Has Stolen $50 Billion Of Crude Oil Earnings' -Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Transcript Of The Letter From The CBN Gov To President Jonathan
December 10, 2013 - 15:40
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (CON), Governor, Central Bank Of Nigeria, alarmed at the unbridled theft of crude oil earnings by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and cronies of President Goodluck Jonathan wrote and hand delivered the letter reproduced below to the president on September, 25 2013.


H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,
President and Commander-in-Chief,
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
State House -Abuja

Your Excellency,
Subject: Non-Repatriation to the Federation Account by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of $49.8 Billion representing 76% of the value of crude oil liftings in 2012 and 2013.
Failure of NNPC to pay N22billion Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) Levy, Other Related matters

I am constrained to formally write your Excellency, documenting serious concerns of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the continued failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to repatriate significant proportions of the proceeds of crude oil shipments it made in gross violation of the law. Sources of Federation Account Revenues include proceeds from Export of Nigeria’s crude oil by the NNPC, Petroleum Profits Taxes, and Penalties for gas flaring, oil exploration licenses and
concession block allocations, etc.