Yobe Massacre: We Are Running Out Of Excuses- Tambuwal

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has described the killing of dozens of students at the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State as ignoble, wicked and horrendous.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

In a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal tasked security agencies to redouble their efforts and change their tactics especially now that those engaged in the killings have increased their attacks on softer targets.
He said the only way to console the families of the victims and Nigerians is by fishing out perpetrators of the dastardly act by bringing them justice.
“While attending prayers organised to mark the 89th birthday celebration of former President Shehu Shagari in Sokoto, my attention was drawn to the horrendous act of barbarity visited on innocent college students in Yobe State.
“My first thoughts go to the families and friends of the kids brutally gunned down in an act of cowardice by people whose humanity must be called to question.
“While we must all join hands to bring this insanity to an end, we must however bear in mind that we are running out of excuses in our responsibility to our citizens.
“We in the House of Representatives feel the grief and pain of the families of the victims. In this their hour of need, we will stand with them hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. We assure them that as brothers, we will continue to confront headlong, the threats of terror facing our nation, and we know we will come out stronger, and victorious.”
While expressing sympathy with the families of the victims, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to be more vigilant and to help security agencies with useful information that will help to secure their areas.





REF  http://www.africanexaminer.com/yobe-massacre-we-are-running-out-of-excuses-says-tambuwal/

Tambuwal holds secret talks with Obasanjo in Abeokuta

Aminu Tambuwal

The Speaker said the suspension of the Central Bank governor, Lamido Sanusi, could send wrong signals to investors
The Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on Sunday visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where the two men held secret talks for almost an hour.
Mr. Tambuwal was accompanied by Kawu Sumaila, the deputy minority leader of the House, Ajibola Muraina, who represents Ibarapa Central/North of Oyo State, and Aminu Shagari who represents Sokoto State.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Mr. Tambuwal described Mr. Obasanjo as an African leader, who should be consulted on matters of national interest.
The speaker said the members of the House of Representative came to tap from Mr. Obasanjo’s wealth of experience.
“There are lots of issues in Nigeria today. Of course there is issue on Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that we are considering in the house, we are doing constitution amendment in the House and a host of other very key and important legislation before the parliament,” Mr. Tambuwal said.
“So we needed to consult our leaders on such very important and vital legislation before we conclude what we are doing on them and electoral act is likely to be amended. So, from his wealth of experience, we needed some input from Baba,” Mr. Tambuwal said.
“I am just visiting our national leader of PDP, myself and Baba are in PDP,” he insisted.
Although the two leaders belong to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, they are also known critics of the Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP government.
Mr. Tambuwal criticized last Thursday’s suspension of Sanusi Lamido, as governor of the Central Bank, and said the controversial move by President Goodluck Jonathan could send wrong signals to foreign investors.
“On the implications on the economy, I am not an economists but I personally felt that it will definitely send wrong signals to investors because they need to have confidence in the financial institutions particularly the independence of financial institutions of the country before foreign investors may consider such a country worthy of their investment, I have my concern about that,” Mr. Tambuwal said.
“Whether it is lawful, legal or illegal, the personality involved has told everybody that he is going to court and I believe he is already in court on that suspension,” the Speaker added.
Mr. Tambuwal said regardless of the numerous defections to opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, he remains a part of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.



REF   http://premiumtimesng.com/news/155643-tambuwal-holds-secret-talks-obasanjo-abeokuta.html

Jonathan Appoints Zenith Bank’s MD As New CBN Governor

Unconfirmed reports reaching us reveals that President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Godwin Emefiele, who is the managing director of Zenith Bank, as the new governor of Central Bank.
Mr. Jonathan submitted Mr. Emefiele’s name to the Senate for confirmation Thursday hours after he announced the suspension of Sanusi Lamido as the CBN governor.
The CBN’s deputy governor, Sarah Alade, was named early Thursday as acting governor of the bank.
Mr. Jonathan said if confirmed by the senate, Mr. Emefiele will take over fully as the substantive governor in place of Mr. Sanusi whose tenure elaspes in June 2014.
The president also nominated Adelabu Adebayo as the deputy governor of the bank. Mr. Adebayo is current an executive director at First Bank.
He will succeed Tunde Lemo who retired as Deputy Governor of the regulatory bank in late 2013.





REF  http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/jonathan-appoints-zenith-bank%E2%80%99s-md-new-cbn-governor

President Jonathan suspendes Lamido Sanusi as CBN Governor

President Jonathan has suspended Lamido Sanusi as CBN Governor. This was disclosed by presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati on his Twitter hanldle @abati1990 at 9.00 am today

  According to Abati President Jonathan suspends Lamido Sanusi as CBN Governor, appoints Dr. Sarah Alade, Acting Governor. Details shortly.

N1tr spent on kerosene subsidy without approval – Tambuwal

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, said on Tuesday that available records indicated that the Federal Government spent over N1tr on kerosene subsidy between 2010 and 2013.
Tambuwal said in spite of the expenditure not having the approval of the National Assembly, the product was equally not available in the country for “suffering Nigerians” to buy.
He noted that the product was not sold in any part of the country at the subsidised price of N50 per litre.
Tambuwal spoke in Abuja as the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) opened an investigation into subsidy payments on kerosene between 2010 and 2013.
The committee, which is headed by Mr. Dakuku Peterside, had the mandate to establish the actual amount spent on subsidy by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the sole supplier of the product, and how it got the authority to subsidise kerosene.
The Speaker, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, said, “Curiously, since there were no budgetary provisions for subsidy on kerosene, the people of Nigeria will obviously be interested in knowing the source of funding of kerosene  subsidy and on whose authority such monies were appropriated.”
But, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, and the Managing Director of the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, Mr. Haruna Momoh, evaded questions on the actual amount of money spent on subsidy during the years under review.
Yakubu at first declined to make the presentation of the NNPC, yielding the floor to Momoh to address the committee on kerosene importation and distribution.
Although, he told the committee that he would adopt the presentation of Momoh, lawmakers insisted that he must answer questions on policy issues after the PPMC-MD would have concluded his submissions.
He explained that the figures represented both the imported product and the quantity supplied by local refineries in the country.
Specifically, Momoh gave the imported figures as 1.7tn metric tones (2010); 1.6tn metric tone (2011); 1.8trn metric tones (2012); and 2.1tn metric tones (2013).
He told the committee that the job of the agency ended with the bulk supply of the product, adding that it was not answerable for how it got to the end user.








  REF     http://www.punchng.com/news/n1tr-spent-on-kerosene-subsidy-without-approval-tambuwal/

S’Court straightens Amaechi’s ‘k-leg’ –Obasanjo

From CHRIS ANUCHA, Port Harcourt 

Former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said the judgment of the Supreme Court has straightened the ‘K-leg’ of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.
Obasanjo alluded to a statement he made in December 2006, at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt,  which deprived Amaechi the opportunity of contesting as  the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2007 general elections.
The same ‘k-leg’ saga  threw up Celestine Omehia, who later won the election on the platform of PDP. Omehia lost the seat to Amaechi after six months in office, through a Supreme Court judgment.
The former president had said when he was handing over the party’s flag to other governorship candidates, that Amaechi’s candidature had ‘k-leg.’
Speaking on Monday at the Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School, Ebubu, Eleme,  one of the Model  Secondary Schools built by Amaechi, Obasanjo said that he made the statement, based on  security report  that incriminated Amaechi.
He said: “I believe as a leader, when I have something that requires action, that action must be taken; otherwise, I’m not a worthy leader.
“There was a report incriminating him, and I said, there is a k-leg, and as a result of the k-leg, what was, could not continue to be.”
Obasanjo, who is on a two-day visit to the state, for official commissioning of many projects executed by Amaechi’s administration, noted that Amaechi did what was required  in  a democratic dispensation, by going to court.
“He went to court to straighten the k-leg. I’m one of those, who, when he (Amaechi) got the judgment or verdict, found it awkward. I did not voice it out publicly, but I found it awkward.
“Awkward in the sense that, how can a man who has not contested an election, a man who has not been voted for, be declared the governor, without being voted for?
“But  Amaechi  won at the Supreme Court level. As far as I’m concerned, that has ended the k-leg. If anybody is not satisfied at that, he has to wait for the judgment of the Supreme Being,” he said.


So, the k-leg has been straightened. Not only that, after his first tenure, he contested and won overwhelmingly, landslide victory. Then, what k-leg are you talking about?” he said.
While saying that he was in the state to see development and to acknowledge development, Obasanjo averred amid thunderous applause: “I’m here to see development, to acknowledge development, and so far, I have seen a bit. We still have time to see more. And whatever I see… when I earmark, I eye-mark, and I mouth-mark. So far, I have earmarked, I have eye-marked and I’m trying now to mouth-mark.”
The former President disclosed  how there was pressure on him not to honour Amaechi’s invitation because of security and the fact that, the governor cancelled  a  Road named after him,  after the k-leg saga.
Obasanjo said he did not want to do things that would make people to name roads after him, but his name has been written in the hearts of Nigerians, adding that Amaechi should not blame his predecessor, Dr. Peter Odili, for the k-leg saga.
According to him, he (Obasanjo) was solely responsible. “I’m overall in charge, I fast and pray before I take decision.”
Earlier in his speech, Governor Amaechi thanked the former president for honouring his invitation. He said he decided to invite  Obasanjo, because of his down-to-earth nature.
He said Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School was among the 27 of such schools being constructed in the state. According to him, seven had already  been completed, stating that the school was computerized,  with each student having a laptop, school uniforms, sandals, free of charge. He said the students in the school, which has 25 classrooms,  also enjoy free education, while two students share a room in the boarding facilities of the school.
Some of the projects commissioned by the former President yesterday included, G.U. Ake Road, Oporo Road, Ken Saro-Wiwa Road, Model Primary Health Centre, Akpajo, Eleme, Songhai Farms, Bunu, Tai, Afam Power Station, among others.



REF   http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/scourt-straightens-amaechis-k-leg-obasanjo/

We can’t win Boko Haram war –Shettima

From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja
 Frustrated, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima was in Abuja yesterday to brief President Goodluck Jonathan on the latest attack by suspected  Boko Haram members, admitting that the Islamist sect parades more sophisticated weapons and better motivated by their backers to continue to unleash terror on the North-East.
The insurgents were reported to  have killed over 100 people in Izge village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State last Saturday.
The attack came three days after gunmen stormed the same village and killed dozens of people including nine soldiers in a shoot-out.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents, Shettima, who was visibly shaken by the development in the last few days, said political leaders should be held responsible for the failure to halt deadly attacks.
Shettima said that the North-East in particular was in a state of war and it was high time political leaders stop playing the ostrich, pulling out all available resources to tackle the menace.
The governor who said he was more interested in stopping the carnage by the terrorist group rather than elections, regretted that the sect was yet to meet a formidable response from the government to deter their attacks.
Asked what  would stop Boko Haram, Shettima said: “Well, in a nutshell, what we are being confronted with is that we are in a state of war. It is what I came to update Mr. President with, the sooner we stop playing the ostrich and rise up to the challenges of the day, and marshall all resources towards neutralising the antics of Boko Haram, the better for all of us.
“But the bottom-line is that we need more resources, more vote on ground. In all fairness to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and Police, they are doing their best given the circumstances  they have found themselves in. But honestly, Boko Haram is better armed and better motivated than our own troops. And believe me, I am an eternal optimist as I have always said, but I am also a realist. Given the present state of affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram,” Shettima said.
On the threat by Boko Haram to be more deadly if Cameroon assists Nigeria to fight it, the governor said: “I am not privy to such an information but the President has assured us that he will put in his best to see that the unfortunate tendency of the Boko Haram overrunning communities and butchering innocent souls is brought under control”.
Asked if the President was made to understand that Boko Haram is better armed, he said, “I made it emphatically clear to Mr. President that Boko Haram is better armed and better motivated, anybody who is following events in this country can attest to the fact that the insurgents have a very smooth sail overrunning communities, killing people. Have we ever succeeded in thwarting any of their plans? They went to Konduga and did what they wanted to do, they held sway for over five hours before they left. They were in Kauri, Izge and I don’t blame the Nigerian military, honestly, we, the leaders should be held responsible for our failure in leadership”.
On the casualty figure, Shettima said: “In Izge alone, we lost 106 people and they raided eight other communities, so, until I get back home, today or tomorrow, I cannot give you the exact figure. But some were hospitalized with very great injuries, so, I am afraid the figures might climb”.
On the threat of the sect’s attack affecting next year’s election, the governor said, “It is foolhardy for anybody to talk about election when human lives are involved, power comes from God and He gives power to whom He will. I don’t care a hoot whether elections are here but I do care that peace is restored in Borno and the North-East sub-region, so people should stop playing politics”.


REF  http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/scourt-straightens-amaechis-k-leg-obasanjo/

NNPC returns N7.61bn to Federation Account

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AS the crisis generated by the alleged missing $20 billion heightens between the Nigerian National petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the NNPC has returned N7.16 billion to the federation account.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla, who presided over the  February meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), following the exit of Minister of State for Finance, Dr Lawan Yerima Ngama, from the  cabinet, said the  N7.61 billion was part of the  debt owed the federation by the NNPC.
He said the returned debt was part of the N629.12 billion shared among the three tiers of government as allocations for January.
According to  Mr Otunla, the shared amount represented proceeds from statutory allocation, N503.68 billion; value added tax, N82.27 billion; Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, N35.54 billion and the NNPC refund of N7.61 billion
Out of the  statutory allocation, the Federal Government, after deducting the cost of collection of N5.24 billion for the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), got N235.02 billion, about 52.68 per cent; the 36 states, N119.20 billion or 26.72 per cent; while the local governments got N91.9 billion or 20.6 per cent.
Similarly, the oil producing states received N52.30 billion, based on the 13 per cent derivation principle.
Otunla said the country recorded an increase of N60.92 billion in gross revenue, from N479.95 billion received in December to N540.87 billion in January.
“The gross revenue of N540.87 billion received for the month was higher than the N479.95 billion received in the previous month by N60.92 billion, regardless of the disruptions in production and lifting operations that were witnessed in the month under review, due to maintenance, multiple leaks, pipeline breaks and theft,” Otunla stated.


REF     http://www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/news/lead-stories/item/33632-nnpc-returns-n7-61bn-to-federation-account.html

2015: PDP govs, senators at war

• Automatic  tickets pit Jonathan against lawmakers

From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, another battle looms in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its senators are set to revolt, unless President Goodluck Jonathan wades in. The agitation is against the senatorial ambition of  13 governors who are set to wrestle the 2015 tickets from the incumbent lawmakers.

Already, the Senate PDP caucus has intimated President Jonathan of the ambition of the  governors to snatch the tickets, in a countdown to the party primaries later in the year.
The caucus made this known at a meeting with the President at Aso Rock, Abuja last week. In the event that Mr. President refuses to rein in the governors, some of the senators have vowed to leave the PDP for “any opposition party and slug it out with these governors.”
At the meeting, Daily Sun learnt that the issue of automatic tickets to “deserving and loyal members of the party” was reportedly mooted. Furthermore, three former governors, now senators, were allegedly identified as stoking trouble for the President. It was gathered that three former governors are from the North.
“If in this dispensation, only three governors are causing all the problems in the country, imagine the scenario when 13 former governors sit down in the Senate chamber…” the President was reportedly told at the meeting.
Another senator recounted that, “at the meeting with the President, we reiterated loyalty to the party and that the party must also show appreciation by making sure that these governors do not snatch our return tickets. In a worst-case scenario, let the primaries be a level-playing field so that whoever wins will know that he/she was not denied the opportunity of fair play.”
But there seems to be a crack in the caucus as some members do not believe the request for “automatic tickets” from the President and, by extension, the party will work “because, truth be told, most of the governors are also loyal to the President and he would prefer to work with them for a second term than assure lawmakers of return tickets.”
The lawmakers were, however, adamant that they should, at least, be compensated for their loyalty, particularly against the backdrop of the onslaught of defections which hitherto threatened the party in the Senate but which they have been able to successfully contain in the chamber.
Back to the Senate, Daily Sun learnt that at least, six PDP senators have indicated interest to join another party, not necessarily the All Progressives Congress (APC), should the PDP shut them out in the build-up to the 2015 polls.
The senators have said they would wait till the primaries to see what happens “as our governors have made it known to us that nothing and nobody can stop them from going to the Senate.”
Four of the senators are from the South-South while two from the North-East have, for now, adopted a wait-and-see attitude before moving to the opposition.” It will then be a battle of who is more popular to come to the Senate,” one of them said at the weekend.
Meanwhile, four opposition senators may defect to the PDP before April. Two, who were PDP members before defecting to opposition parties are on their way back as they have already defected to the PDP in their constituencies.
Regardless, fresh indications emerged at the weekend on how Senate President David Mark reportedly foiled a plot by the PDP caucus to sack senators from the chamber on Wednesday, February 12.
Daily Sun gathered that at the PDP caucus meeting held at the residence of Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) a day before the game plan was to take the fight to the APC after the opposition party had succeeded in disrupting plenary for close to two weeks over the stalled defection of 11 members.
At Wednesday plenary, Senators Ita Enang and George Sekibo successfully moved constitutional motions from the Senate Standing Orders, urging the Senate President to remove “strangers” in the chamber. Mark refused and reminded them of the cases in court.
The ultimate plan was for the Chairman of the Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze, to move another motion vide Order 17, which would be backed by the caucus, asking the presiding officer to expel the five PDP senators who had hitherto declared for the APC. If Eze had moved the motion and Mark sustained his order, the senators would have been regarded as “strangers” in the chamber consequent upon which the Sergeant-At-Arms would have been ordered to escort them out of the session.
Order 17 stipulates those who may gain entry into the Senate chamber when it is in session and that, “the chamber shall not be granted for any other purpose than the use of Senate.” In the course of the session, the plan leaked to Mark who strongly disagreed and subsequently refused to recognize Eze to speak or raise his order, even after he repeatedly shouted ‘Point of Order’ from his seat.
“The defecting senators have been told to lie low until the legal hurdles are clear after all, the Senate President has given his word, both in executive sessions and at plenary, that he would not declare any seat vacant. That promise holds as far as they don’t tempt him with any further attempts to disrupt the chamber,” a ranking senator said.




REF  http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/2015-pdp-govs-senators-war/

Don’t leave politics to evil ones –Obasanjo

From Moshood Adebayo, Abeokuta
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, former president Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday urged Christians to take active interest in the democratic process of the country. Obasanjo spoke during the fifth anniversary thanksgiving service of the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King (CCGK), a religious arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The elder statesman, in his vote of thanks, thanked God for the existence of the chapel which he is the chief promoter, and urged Christians to participate in politics in 2015.
His words: “I want to say here that Christians should participate in politics. We should not leave politics in the hands of the evil ones that cannot offer this country any good.”
Former president of Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Revd. S. T. Ola Akande, described Obasanjo as a rare and special gift to Nigeria, adding that his likes were rarely found once in a while and not at all times. According to him, God had been so kind to Obasanjo considering all the travails he had passed through in life, saying all victories granted him were for a purpose. He said: “I have been a spectator of the many ups and downs of life of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo across the years. There is no doubt that I am his elder brother. During our times together, I came to know a miracle about him, and that this is a special man that God has given to our contemporary Nigerian generation.




REF   http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/dont-leave-politics-evil-ones-obasanjo/

2015: Jonathan in consultations with Emir of Kano, Ooni, Alaafin, Akiolu

President Goodluck Jonathan playing the talking drum presented to him by the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi(iii) in his palace in Oyo yesterday.

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, launched into what was believed to be consultations with some prominent monarchs in the North and the South-west ahead of his purported re-election bid next year.

President Goodluck Jonathan with the Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubusi ii during the President’s visit to the Ooni yesterday in Ile Ife.

Jonathan, who has said he will make public his decision to run or not to run in the 2015 presidential election later this year, visited the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Lukman Akiolu. In Kano, Bayero told the President the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.
The Emir said his emirate will work with other members of the traditional institution to ensure that the peace and unity of the country is enhanced.

CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano,Alhaji Ado Bayero during President Jonathan’s visit to the Emir yesterday in Kano.

Negotiating Nigeria’s unity as a way of addressing perceived imbalance in the structure of the nation is an issue as the country prepares for a National Conference scheduled to start soon. Speaking in Hausa, he commended the Jonathan’s administration for its efforts at keeping the country at peace despite daunting security challenges.
Bayero expressed optimism that Nigeria would not disintegrate despite the hydra headed socio-economic and political problems facing it.The 13th Fulani Emir of Kano said: “Nigeria has come of age, and as a nation state it has survived multi faceted upheavals that as it is today, it would be difficult for it to break up.“Nigeria may be going through hard times peculiar to developing nation states but the pointer remains clear that we shall overcome the travails and become stronger than we are before.
“Nigeria as at today is an embodiment of one strong nation and I have not seen anything in the horizon that would divide us.”
The Emir tasked the President to float people oriented policies to ginger political and economic stability in the country, maintaining that this is essential for the nation to achieve accelerated progress in our march towards attaining nationhood.

President Goodluck Jonathan playing the talking drum presented to him by the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi(iii) in his palace in Oyo yesterday.

He, however, told the visiting number one citizen to run an inclusive government vital to national cohesion, pointing out that such step is strategic to nation-building.
Bayero further charged Mr. President to appoint credible personalities into his government to achieve set goals, stressing, “Government should, at all times, avoid mediocrity to forestall failure of strategic policies that are of importance to Nigerians”. The Emir commended Jonathan over the attention on terror war, and therefore called on the citizens to extend their full cooperation to achieve lasting and enduring peace in the country.
While thanking the President and the Federal Government for the support during his ill health, Bayero noted that nothing could be greater than peaceful co-existence amongst the various ethnic groups in the country and tranquility in the society.
He assured the President that his administration would continue to receive support from him and the emirate.
Jonathan told the Emir he was in Kano to pay homage and thank the emirate for the efforts at keeping Kano State at peace.
He said his administration was open to wise counsel and advice from the traditional institution.
The President wished Bayero good health and called on him to continue to guide and encourage the political leadership.
Speaking to journalists at the palace after the visit, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and a Kano prince, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said the Emir’s message was instructive and supportive.
”The position of the Emir is very clear. He is always praying and advising for peaceful co-existence”, he said.
”The Emir said this is one country, one indivisible nation with one President. ”He said they will continue to support the President as he continues to work and create an environment in which every Nigerian will feel he belongs.
”I am sure that message is encouraging and is a message of support, prayers for peace and development and also for the unity and security of this country”.
Secret meetings
In Ile-Ife, Osun State, Jonathan met with Oba Okunade Sijuwade behind closed doors.
Sources said the issues discussed include the 2015 presidential poll and the governorship election in Osun State scheduled to hold in August and in which Senator Iyiola Omisore, an indigene of Ile-Ife, is a leading aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
They also reportedly discussed the nation’s security. The meeting, it was gathered, was called by the President to seek the support of the Yoruba race in the 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan, who arrived the Ooni’s palace at exactly 3.00pm, was accompanied by the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide.
After introduction of dignitaries who joined Sijuwade to welcome the President, the monarch and Jonathan entered into the inner chamber of the palace where they met for 30 minutes.
The President, who left the palace of the Ooni at about 3.45pm, refused to speak with newsmen, insisting that the visit to the monarch was a private one. The Deputy Governor of Osun State, who welcomed the President to the state on behalf of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, was among dignitaries at the palace of the Ooni.
Jonathan’s meeting with the Alaafin, Oba Adeyemi, during the visit to the Oyo palace was also held behind closed doors. The President later thanked the people of Oyo State for the support he received during the 2011 elections.

President Jonathan with the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, during the President’s visit to Oba in Lagos yesterday

Addressing the people of Oyo, he said, “I thank not only the people of the state, but the entire South-west for the support we received in 2011 and I have come to reciprocate the gesture with the hope that things will continue as well. We are one, I remain your own”. Jonathan described the meeting as very private.
Before heading to Oyo town, the President was received on arrival in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, his deputy, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and some members of the state executive.
At the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Akiolu, Jonathan was received by the monarch and his queens before they went into a closed door meeting at about 8 pm.


REF  http://www.osundefender.org/?p=150753

Tambuwal Thumps up Calabar International Convention Center

Senator Imoke and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has lauded the effort of the Cross River State Government in sustaining its status as the preferred tourism destination with the construction of a world class conference facility in Calabar.
Fielding questions from journalists shortly after undertaking an inspection tour of some of the projects embarked by Imoke in Calabar, yesterday, the Speaker maintained that the state could not have done anything less being one of the preferred destinations for conferencing in the country.
Accompanied by top leadership of the House including the Deputy leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, Tambuwal , averred: “You could see clearly that this project is now going to bring out the value of Tinapa. I was shocked and surprise to see how close Tinapa is now to Calabar. Tinapa can now be optimally utilized by the people.
“when you talk about tourism destination in Nigeria, Cross River State and Calabar in particular is number one destination and being the number one destination, you are going to need not only the convention Center like we have here but the facilities like the hotels, the golf course, the estate and the community all around this convention center.
“I believe it is a well conceived project and it is a very good idea and commend Governor Liyel Imoke for this wonderful vision, I commend his tenacity in ensuring that this idea is translated into reality.
“I’m sure beyond the people of Cross River, the nation will benefit from this all important project”
The Speaker promised to be the first guest at the Convention Center by bringing the House for a retreat at the facility when completed.
“I’m told by the Governor that the project will be completed by December. The Deputy Leader of the House is here and I can assure you that we will bring the entire House of Representatives here not for a special session of the House but for a retreat.”




REF http://crossriverwatch.com/2014/02/tambuwal-thumps-up-calabar-international-convention-center/#

Indian parliament in crises, members used pepper-spray to attack each other on the floor of the house

A statue of the former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi is torn down at a protest in Anantapur against the formation of Telangana state. Photograph: Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty

India's parliament erupted in chaos on Thursday over a bill to create a new state, with angry MPs coming to blows, pulling out a microphone and pepper-spraying the chamber.
Holding banners and shouting slogans, lawmakers disrupted the lower house of parliament as the Congress-led government introduced the contentious bill to carve a new state out of the existing Andhra Pradesh.
Legislators opposed to the new state of Telangana tried to rip out the speaker's microphone while one unleashed a can of capsicum spray, prompting a rush for the exit, TV channels reported.
Several lawmakers climbed into ambulances suffering breathing problems before reportedly being taken to hospital.
Small fights also flared between MPs opposed to the bill and several trying to stop the chaos and restore order, as the parliament – known for its disruptions – was adjourned, the Press Trust of India (PTI) said.
The parliamentary affairs minister, Kamal Nath, slammed the unrest as a "big blot on our parliamentary democracy" and called for the strongest possible action against the offending MPs.
"It is the most shameful day in our parliamentary history," Nath told reporters outside parliament.
Seventeen MPs were suspended from the house over the unrest, which also saw lawmakers rip up official papers and smash a glass. Others wore black blindfolds as a sign of protest, PTI said.
In the confusion one MP from Andhra Pradesh, who opposes Telangana, was accused of brandishing a knife in the chamber, a claim he denied.
"I pulled the microphone in front of my seat, not a knife. Why apologise? I will not apologise," Venugopal Reddy shouted at an NDTV reporter.
The cabinet last week approved the creation of Telangana from the south-eastern state of Andhra Pradesh, after a decades-long and sometimes violent campaign.
Mainly tribal groups have demanded Telangana be carved out of a northern, impoverished and drought-prone part of Andhra Pradesh, which supporters say has long been neglected by successive state governments.
But wealthier regions of Andhra Pradesh, home to IT giants including Google and Microsoft in its capital Hyderabad, have strongly opposed the split because they say it would create economic upheaval.
Security at parliament had been high before the bill's introduction after one MP threatened to set himself on fire in protest.
Observers say the Congress government moved to create Telangana in the hope of winning much-needed votes in the region at national elections in coming months. But they have warned the move may backfire amid an intensifying political battle in Andhra Pradesh.
Violent demonstrations have erupted there since Congress announced the move last July, while three federal ministers have resigned in protest.
Outside parliament on Thursday, ugly clashes broke out between supporters of the Telangana state and police, an AFP photographer at the scene said.
Police dragged away protesters and bundled them into buses.
Congress has denied trying to seek any political advantage from splitting Andhra Pradesh, insisting it is trying to fulfil a longstanding pledge.





REF  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/13/india-parliament-pepper-spray-brawl-telangana-state

Jonathan vowed to serve single term – Obasanjo

By EMMA EMEOZOR with Agency Report
Barely two months after former president Olusegun Obasanjo said in a letter that President Goodluck Jonathan promised to serve one term, he has restated that the president actually vowed to do so. Speaking to Bloomberg News, a London-based tabloid, yesterday, Obasanjo said during the 2011 electioneering, Jonathan promised to serve one term.
“President Jonathan said, not only once, twice, publicly, not only in Nigeria, outside Nigeria, that he would have one term, and said that to me,” Obasanjo said.
In the interview, Obasanjo challenged Jonathan to be a man of his words while reminding the president of the implication of not keeping vows.
“One of the things that is very important in the life of any man or any person, is that he should be a man or person of his word,” Obasanjo said, adding: “If you decide your word should not be taken seriously that’s entirely up to you.”
In the report, Bloomberg News stated that its effort to reach Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, proved abortive as his phones were switched off.
“Reuben Abati, Jonathan’s spokesman, could not be reached on his mobile phone for comment, as it was switched off,” Bloomberg News stated.
Ever since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for next year’s elections, there have been pressure on Jonathan to declare his intention, as to whether or not he would contest 2015 presidential election.
Though Jonathan has neither confirmed nor denied his rumoured ambition to contest the  election, the issue has remained a thorn in the flesh of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a development that has given birth to pro-and anti-Jonathan groups.
The pro-Jonathan group insists that the president has the right to seek a second term and therefore, should be given the platform to contest the 2015 election. The anti-Jonathan group has consistently made reference to a supposedly 2011 promise made by Jonathan not to seek a second term, a claim the Presidency has repeatedly denied.
Obasanjo in a letter he wrote to Jonathan stated that the president told him he would seek one term in office. The letter read in part: “Up till two months ago, Mr. President, you told me that you have not told anybody that you would contest in 2015. I quickly pointed out to you that the signs and the measures on the ground do not tally with your statement. You said the same to one other person who shared his observation with me.
“And only a fool would  believe  that  statement  you  made  to  me  judging  by what  is going on. I must say that it is not ingenious. You may wish to pursue a more credible and more honourable path. Although, you have not formally informed me one way or the  other,  it will be necessary to  refresh your memory of what transpired in 2011. I had gone  to Benue State for the marriage of one of  my staff, Vitalis Ortese. Governor Suswam was my hospitable host.
“He told me that you had accepted a one-term Presidency to allow for ease of getting support across the board in the North. I decided to cross-check with you. You did not  hesitate to confirm to me that you are a strong believer in a one-term of six years for the  president and that by the time you have used the unexpired time of your predecessor and  the four years of your first term, you would have almost used up to six years and you would not need any more term or time. Later, I heard from other sources including sources  close to you that you made the same commitment elsewhere, hence my inclusion of it in  my address at the finale of your campaign in 2011…”
But in its reply to the former president’s letter, President Jonathan said: “You quoted me as saying that I have not told anybody that I will seek another term in office in 2015. You and your ambitious acolytes within the party have clearly decided to act on your conclusion that ‘only a fool will believe that statement’ and embark on a virulent campaign to harass me out of an undeclared candidature for the 2015 presidential elections to pave the way for a successor anointed by you.
“You will recall that you serially advised me that we should refrain from discussing the 2015 general elections for now so as not to distract elected public officials from urgent task of governance. While you have apparently moved away from that position, I am still of the considered opinion that it would have been best for us to do all that is necessary to refrain from heating up the polity at this time.
“Accordingly, I have already informed Nigerians that I will only speak on whether or not I will seek a second term when it is time for such declarations. Your claims about discussions I had with you, Governor Gabriel Suswam and others are wrong, but in keeping with my declared stance, I will reserve further comments until the appropriate time.”




REF  http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/jonathan-vowed-serve-single-term-obasanjo/

Nigeria: Oil Theft, Govt Spending, Greatest Challenges to Economy - Sanusi

 By Jonah Nwokpoku, 13 February 2014
Lagos — CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has identified oil theft and increasing government spending as the greatest challenges facing the Nigerian economy.
He stated this while delivering a keynote address at the Udo Udoma and Bello Osagie 30th anniversary lecture in Lagos.
He said that the situation where some people successfully steal crude oil, refine and ship outside the country, and the fact that government spending is on a continuous upward trend, will continue to make it impossible for the economy to move at the desired rate.
"We have a problem that is entirely home grown. Oil theft, increase in government spending are greatest challenges of the economy. And people who are investing in our markets are watching and when there is little panic, the economy may collapse. So we cannot take the stability that we currently have for granted. We should stop oil theft, leakage and build our reserves," he said.
The CBN governor, who used the opportunity to recount the efforts the apex bank has made under his leadership, noted that the bank's monetary policies have made tremendous impacts on the exchange rates, especially in defence of the nation's currency.
According to him, "The CBN is not looking for strong or weak naira. We are instead, looking for a stable currency. This is because we understand how a weak currency impacts the lives of ordinary Nigerians. Our biggest problem remains the threat to the exchange rate, because we should be resisting appreciation and not fighting depreciation as currently is the reality."
Sanusi, who disclosed that the cost of managing the currency has dropped from N39 billion in 2009 to N34 billion in 2013, lamented the acute inefficiency in the value chain and explained that Nigeria needs to improve on that to drive the economy and make the banking industry lend more to the sector.
"We have moved agriculture lending from 0 to 4 percent in two years and today, Nigerian banks have up to N500 billion in agriculture. This is because we can abuse the banks from now till tomorrow or employ all sorts of tricks to get the banks to lend to agriculture and they will not. So sometime ago, we invited Standard Chartered from Kenya and Standard Bank from South Africa to come and explain to us how their banks are lending to the agriculture sector and they said that the whole issue revolves around value chain, which is actually the answer to the problem of the entire economy.






REF   http://allafrica.com/stories/201402130272.html

Corruption: Jonathan Hits Back At Tambuwal, Others

George Agba

— February 13, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday took a swipe at critics of his approach to the anti-graft war, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, saying those disparaging him on television for not fighting corruption are even the ones who are corrupt.
Tambuwal, LEADERSHIP recalls, had last year at a conference on anti-corruption day by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), had alleged that the body language of the president indicated clearly that he was not ready to tackle corruption.
But hitting back implicitly at the Speaker and other critics of his administration, Jonathan said: “But these days, anybody who wants to claim any element of credibility will go to the television and attack government for corruption (saying the President’s body language shows that or he is not ready to fight corruption). Sometimes, it is even the very corrupt people that are making these statements.”
He stated this while swearing in the new National Population Commission (NPC) chairman Mr. Ezeduru Ihuoma, and  other members, a commissioner of the ICPC, Mr. Bako Abdullahi, his new S.A. on NEPAD, Amb. Fidelia Njeze and  S.A. on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Makanjuola Ajani at the presidential villa, Abuja.
He urged the EFCC and ICPC to prove to Nigerians that they were carrying out their duties without fear or favour.
Jonathan also gave a hint on why he sacked former NPC chairman Mr. Festus Odimegwu, saying his controversial statement had brought a credibility problem to the commission.




REF    http://leadership.ng/news/345084/corruption-jonathan-hits-back-tambuwal-others

Opinion: How to stop Jonathan from bankrupting Nigeria

This rape of our land should offend us and move us to action. If we do not act, if we do not remove these amoral instincts of dispossession and primitive acquisition from our national psyche, we may remain a country but we will not be recognizably Nigerian.

The mistake of former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not end with installing an incompetent successor. In addition to our misfortune, he got us a speculator who deals on both sides of the national question. President Jonathan holds a long position on Nigeria as the President and Commander-in-Chief and a short position as an Ijaw irredentist, protector of economic saboteurs and an enabler of terrorists.
Jonathan’s tenure is officially the most corrupt in the history of Nigeria. Under his watch, his minions steal on his behalf and for themselves with the greatest impunity ever known in the history of this nation. The quantum scale looting they engage in, is no longer about kickbacks, over inflation of contracts, budget padding and adding digits to withdrawals. Those are for the boys in the ministries. The scale of stealing now is designed to bankrupt and splinter Nigeria.
It is the collusion by the Petroleum ministry, Finance and the Presidency to openly rob Nigeria by giving 24 percent of what the country earns while they pocket 76 percent. The NNPC do not remit oil receipts into the federation account; NNPC spends money with appropriation; Excess Crude Account is depleted without anything to show for it. Nothing is going to change until Nigerians show interest in holding public office holders accountable on the issues of public finance, transparency and responsibility.
We must find a way to create a short squeeze on them because the cost will be too high if we continue to let this President, his advisers and party apparatchiks take a bet against Nigeria. Do not be deceived that this is stealing for enrichment only, it is not. They are amassing obscene wealth in the belief that Nigeria is built on quicksand. They are hedging their bet in the event that Nigeria crumbles. If it does, they will profit; if it doesn’t there is nothing to lose because of their long position.
Their bet seem reasonable since the cost of rebuilding their lives will be significantly less than the cash reservoir they have built. They believe Nigeria’s constituent parts are fungible having hedged their bets on its unity or disunity by holding both positions. What can we do so we won’t catch a falling knife? We can refuse to be led by these saboteurs. We can recall erring representatives, we can impeach this president. We can call his bluff in massive protest – organized mass action in civil disobedience.
We can say no to the mortgaging of our future and that of our children. The $20billion dollars that was not remitted to the federation account could have paid for lifelong healthcare for every man, woman, and child in this country. We have sunk further down the impunity dungeon with NNPC under the untouchable; Her Royal Deepness Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke. The NNPC under her stewardship is bigger than the state and constitute law unto itself. The NNPC has castrated us and we all look on helplessly and can do nothing because the triumvirate of Jonathan, Allison-Madueke and Okonjo-Iweala wills it so.
The shocking truth is; the NNPC is NOT remitting all the monies it is legally and constitutionally required to remit to the federation account. Whenever NNPC wills, it transfers monies from crude sales to private entities like Atlantic Energy and Seven Energy. These are companies with well known links to the Petroleum minister. At other times, NNPC will claim the money was spent (again without appropriation) on kerosene and fuel subsidy, contrary to the 2009 presidential directive eliminating subsidy on Kerosene.
While other African countries of smaller means are recording humongous successes, Nigeria is facing the double jeopardy of depleted Excess Crude Account (ECA) and a dwindling foreign reserve. The ECA went from $8.65 billion in January 2013 to $2.5 billion in January 2014. To local and international analysts, Nigeria’s financial future evokes pity given the squandered riches and lost opportunities. Our current federal fiscal trajectory courts disaster that will significantly impact our nation’s ability to stay united.
If anyone is in doubt, going through the 2014 budget proposal; What new strategic vision and direction does the budget bring? Does anyone care how this budget will affect the education of children? What implications does our expensive democracy hold for the country’s fiscal health? What will happen in a country without modern infrastructure, explosive youth bulge and untamed unemployment? These questions and a lot more bite every right thinking citizen daily.
The worst challenges of our world are facing us because the country has refused to do the right things and do things right. Our leaders have not learned any lesson and they refuse to see the consuming power of the impending conflagration. The country is bleeding dollars from government approved oil theft, militancy is on the rise, ethnic agitations, terrorism, unemployment, religious intolerance, communal clashes, drug trafficking, human trafficking, criminal gangs etc. despite our vast oil wealth and huge human capital, we have managed to emerged as a symbol of black Africa’s ungoverned space, waste, corruption and hopelessness.
We have managed to evolve as a people who do not encourage hope and progress, health and good government. We have managed to be the breeding ground and a net exporter of terrorists who contribute to insecurity in the world. Jonathan and his party the PDP are complicating Nigerian interests. It is our constitutional duty to stop them.
We can begin by sending them a message that it can no longer be business as usual. Let us tell them in action and in words that Enough is Enough! Unalloyed and brazen thefts like we are seeing deadens our national conscience. It turns Nigeria’s relative prosperity into a charade. It threatens commitment to our unity as one nation and changes the dynamics among ethnic nationalities from a union of enhancing opportunities into a union of demanding obligations.
This rape of our land should offend us and move us to action. If we do not act, if we do not remove these amoral instincts of dispossession and primitive acquisition from our national psyche, we may remain a country but we will not be recognizably Nigerian.





REF  http://www.ynaija.com/opinion-how-to-stop-jonathan-from-bankrupting-nigeria/

Missing $20bn: Civil society demands action from Jonathan

The Say No Campaign-Nigeria and its allies have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to demonstrate genuine anger for the alleged stealing of oil revenue in Nigeria as shown by reports on the sector.

The group also wants the Senate Committee on Finance currently investigating alleged unremitted oil revenue to be thorough in the exercise.
The committee should also make recommendations on how best to deal with general challenges of non-remittance by agencies of government and for it to galvanise appropriate support for the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), among other pleas, the group said.
Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Auwal Musa Rafsanjani said the civil society in Nigeria was deeply concerned about the uncertainties the unfolding events have created in the country just as he lamented the seeming failure of institutions named in the issue to responsibly address the concerns.
He said the groups support for decisive action stem from the recurring leakages that have been identified in the series of reports of government commissioned committees, panels and task forces on oil and gas revenue management in Nigeria.
These include the four NEITI oil and gas audit reports (1999-2004, 2005, 2006-2008 and 2009-2011), KMPG report on process and forensic review of the NNPC, the House of Representative Ad-Hoc Committee Report on Fuel Subsidy regime among other reports.

REF  http://dailytrust.info/index.php/news/16630-missing-20bn-civil-society-demands-action-from-jonathan

PDP Dangles Dollars To Lure Back Defected Federal Lawmakers, Says APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the  People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of using public funds to lure back some of the federal lawmakers who have defected from the ruling party to the APC, condemning what it called political horse trading carried too far.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mr Lai Mohammed, the party said the PDP, in an unprecedented show of desperation, has rolled out a mouth-watering enticement package that promises $2 million to each Senator who returns to the PDP; $1 million to each member of the House of Representatives, and $10 million to each ‘leader’ who abandons the APC for PDP.
It said the price tag for the federal legislators from Rivers State is even higher, at $5 million each.
But the APC said there is no cause for alarm, as no amount of inducements will stop the change that is in the horizon, because the long-suffering people of Nigeria are ready and eager to vote out the PDP next year.
The party said the five House of Representatives members who have taken the PDP’s killer bait when they defected to the APC, were neither forced to do so nor given any incentive beyond the rare opportunity offered them to be a part of the looming change.
It expressed the hope that the double defectors will declare the alleged blood money they have allegedly collected from the PDP to those who voted them into office, and also pretend to be democratic by sharing the money with them.
”Nigerians can now see why their country has gone broke; why the allocation to states from the Federation Account has continued to dwindle, and why infrastructures have either remained decrepit or non-existent. It is not difficult to imagine the number of boreholes that 10 million dollars can sink, or how far such a huge amount will go in building cottage hospitals and health clinics.
”Things are bound to get worse in the days ahead because the desperate PDP will, more and more, use public funds to try to change the course of history. We therefore urge Nigerians to remain resolute in the face of what will be a wave of inducements never before seen in these climes, because there is no going back on the plan to vote out the PDP next year and save Nigeria from a rapacious and inept leadership,” APC said.






REF    http://www.channelstv.com/home/2014/02/11/pdp-dangles-dollars-to-lure-back-defected-federal-lawmakers-says-apc/

Immigration arrests 400 northerners in Bayelsa

Comptroller General of Immigration, David Shikfu Parradang, mni

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

Officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on Monday swooped on 400 people of northern Nigerian extraction, living in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.

A northerner resident in the town told the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), that those arrested and detained were mainly petty traders who had been conducting their’ activities in the state capital for years.

But the Immigration service said the arrest and detention of the northerners was in line with measures being undertaken nationwide to fish out illegal immigrants.

Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Chukwuemeka Obua, who confirmed the arrests to the BBC, said 100 of those detained had already been released after interrogation.

Amongst those released were citizens of Niger Republic, who possess the necessary requirements for living in Nigeria.

The development comes as a large number of Nigerians from the North are being arrested and detained in some parts of southern Nigeria based on suspicions that they pose security threats or could be linked to the Jama’atu Ahlus Sunnah lid Da’awati wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram.

Last month, over 300 northern traders, mostly natives of Jigawa and Kano states, were arrested by the police while travelling in Rivers state. The then state Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, described the arrests as a “top security issue”.

Mbu has since been summoned by the House of Representatives to explain the reason for the arrests of the northerners.

REF   http://www.peoplesdailyng.com/immigration-arrests-400-northerners-in-bayelsa/

PDP regains control of House

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday reclaimed its dominance  in the House of Representatives as five members of the All Progressives Congress(APC) defected to the ruling party. With this development, PDP  now enjoys  a 10-margin gap over APC. While the former has 178 members, APC has reduced  from 173 to 168.
This is even as the Lower Chamber yesterday commenced debate on the 2014 budget proposal. The debate was suspended last week following objection from Hon Emmanuel Jime  to the entertainment of the debate, alleging the executive breached the Fiscal Responsibility Act by not accompanying the budget sent to the chamber with the full estimates of agencies. Speaker Aminu Tambuwal had to raise a six-man panel to advise him on the debate procedure.
The defection of five APC lawmakers to PDP, predictably took the shine on other proceedings yesterday .
APC  was not totally on the losing side as one PDP member also joined its fold. The movements announced by the Speaker, proved  an interesting drama with both sides displaying huge emotions.
The floor of the House was thrown into a rowdy session for some minutes with some PDP lawmakers  shouting “PDP, power! APC, shame!”
An attempt by the Minority Leader,  Femi Gbajabiamila, to talk, was visited with boos and jeers from PDP lawmakers.
The defectors from APC to PDP are: Hons. Lawan Shehu-Bichi (Kano); Abdulsalam Adamu (Kano); Sani Umar (Zamfara); Ibrahim Shehu Gusau (Zamfara) and Umar Bature (Sokoto).
Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru (Kaduna) moved  from PDP to APC. There was a speculation of a likely defection of some Sokoto APC members to PDP before the end of the week.
The two lawmakers from Kano, who defected to the PDP are believed to be loyalists of former governor Ibrahim Shekarau.
They were part of the 11 members from the legacy parties  in Kano State that merged to form the APC. They had addressed a press conference, distancing themselves from Shekarau’s defection.
Speaking to newsmen after the plenary session , Hon Gusau  from Zamfara State, who is nursing governorship ambition, hinged his decision to defect to the PDP on a number of factors, which included the alleged denial of his supporters an opportunity to register during the current APC registration nationwide.
He said: “On the creation of employment, there has not been any progress, only efforts I have made in my capacity as a representative, which include the education sector”.
On December 18, 2013, PDP lost 37 of its lawmakers to the APC. The development gave the latter a majority status in the chamber  as its number climbed to 173 while PDP reduced from 208 members to 171 members.





REF  http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/pdp-regains-control-house/

I’ll leave Nigeria better than I met it –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan
|

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday inaugurated the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme.

He also said the various policies so far put in place by his administration were clear indications that he would leave the country better and stronger than he met it.

Jonathan recalled that prior to the launch organised by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he had inaugurated the Mortgage Refinance Company, the Dry Season Farming and had also hosted a conference on the private sector financing of the power sector.

He said all these were borne out of his desire to build legacies that would outlive his administration.

Jonathan said, “This year, we have launched the Mortgage Refinancing Company, that is another area that will revolutionarise the housing sector, where people will be able to build their own affordable houses instead of paying rent.

“We have also launched the dry season farming scheme and have revolutionised agriculture with our new initiatives that all the players in agriculture including the World Bank are commending the Nigerian programmes and today, we are launching this twin programme – Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme.

“These are clear indications that we will leave this country stronger and better than we met it.

“With diligent implementation of these revolutionary programmes that we are launching today, we can tell Nigerians that our country is set for development.”

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, had earlier in his opening remarks, explained that NEDEP was designed to address the neglect that SMEs had suffered in the past.

Aganga said his ministry had so far created 10,000 cooperatives societies while his target was to create 50,000 every year and produce one million direct jobs yearly.

He said with the present administration’s feat in the cement industry which led to the exportation of the commodity, his ministry was ready to replicate same in 15 other sectors.

“If we can do it in cement, we can do it in 15 other sectors. The plan is holistic. We intend to create industrial cities and parks in conjunction with the state governments. We must consume what we produce which means local content is a must,” the minister added.

REF   http://www.punchng.com/news/ill-leave-nigeria-better-than-i-met-it-jonathan/

Showdown In Senate: Mark refuses to read 11 defectors’ letter

The 11 senators who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday stepped back from physically crossing the carpet in the face of a stand-off with Senate President David Mark.
However, the tide of movement in the House of Representatives went against the APC when five members of the party decamped to the PDP while one PDP member defected to the APC.
The sudden reversal of fortunes in the House saw the APC accusing the PDP of using public funds to lure back former PDP legislators who had defected to the APC, condemning what it called political horse trading carried too far.
The APC alleged that $2 million as the price tag for a senator, $1 million for a member of the House of Representatives and an unprecedented $5 million for members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Senate President as exclusively reported yesterday, refused to read out their letter of defection citing the ongoing court case instituted by the senators to stop him from declaring their seats vacant.
The stand-off on the Senate floor, which saw APC senators visibly agitated and murmuring, also stopped Senator Ehigie Uzamere from declaring his defection from the APC to the PDP.
Senator Uzamere who left the PDP for the APC in 2011 on the claim that the PDP senatorial ticket in Edo State was “valueless as a Zimbabwean dollar”, has written his constituents, saying that internal reorganization of the Edo State chapter of the PDP has lifted the value and virtues of the party.
The drama in the Senate started when the arrowhead of the 11 senators, Senator Bukola Saraki, (Kwara Central) upon Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rule, asked the Senate President to read the letter he and 10 other senators submitted on January 20, notifying the Senate that they had left the PDP for the APC.
I can’t read your letter, Mark tells defectors
Senator Mark in rebuffing him, affirmed that since the affected Senators had approached the court on the matter, comment on the issue was subjudice.
Mark referred him to Order 53(5) which reads: “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending, in such a way as might in the opinion of the President of the Senate prejudice the interest of the parties thereto.”
He further told Saraki: “It cannot be a matter of privilege to you because the matter is in court and no mention should be made of it. Therefore, I rule you out of order.”
Besides Saraki, senators Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West), Aisha Alhassan (Taraba North); Magnus Abe (Rivers South East) and Wilson Ake (Rivers West) also spoke in the same vein.
However, that did not go down well with the defectors and the leadership of the opposition party in the Senate, who made efforts to quote relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution that guaranteed their freedom of association, but their persuasions did not move the Senate President as he ruled each of them out of order.
Even when senators Akume and Anthony Adeniyi tried to convince the Senate President that the case in court was an injunction stopping the Senate from declaring seats of the affected senators vacant and not stopping them from defecting to the APC, Mark could not be moved.
Akume raised Order 15 which reads: “Any senator may rise at any time to speak upon a matter of privilege suddenly arising, and he shall be prepared to move, without notice, a motion declaring that a contempt or breach of privilege has been committed, or referring the matter to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, but if the matter is raised in Committee of the Whole Senate, the Chairman shall leave the Chair and report progress.”
After citing this Order, Akume went further to say, “this is a legislative house and privileges are guaranteed by law. This is an issue that has dragged on for so long. We cannot stop people from associating. By the power conferred on me as the Minority Leader, I have the right to speak on behalf of my people. Therefore, I move that the Senate President should read the letter now. I so move.”
But Mark again replied Akume saying, “tell me your privilege that is being breached and I will rule on it. I do not want to shut you out, but there shall be no further reference made on it”.
He then ruled him (Akume) out of order, declaring that by the power conferred on him by Order 14 which Akume referred to, he was not satisfied by his explanation.
We are now members of APC — Defectors
Still standing on the Point of Order, the 11 senators, who spoke one after the other, announced that they had become registered members of the APC which they claimed their constituents had approved and that it would be better to join their colleagues in their new party, but with the insistence of the presiding officer not to read their letters, they could not cross over to the ‘Minority Party’ seats.
It was gathered that the defected senators had earlier boasted that having registered in APC, they were not going to sit with the PDP senators on resumption, yesterday, but they failed to put into practice their threat because of the alleged plan by the Senate President to declare their seats vacant.
Vanguard reliably gathered that Senator Mark was infuriated by the threat and was prepared to order the Sergeant-at-Arms to walk them out of the Senate chamber if they should change the seat arrangement without following the laid down procedure of doing that.
Uzamere’s defection to PDP
Because of Senate President’s disposition to the defection of the 11 PDP senators to APC, he could not attend to Senator Ehigie Uzamere, APC, Edo South, who had raised a point of order to announce his defection to the ruling PDP.
Mark, sensing that allowing Uzamere to declare for the PDP would cause uproar from the aggrieved APC senators who were not happy that the senate had failed to allow the 11 PDP members to join the APC fold, stopped Uzamere from publicly renouncing the APC on the Senate floor.
An indication that there was going to be a turbulent session emerged when the APC senators alongside the 11 PDP senators distanced themselves from the Senate President’s procession when Senator Mark entered the chamber that morning.
Senator Uzamere in a letter to constituents giving reasons for his return to the PDP said: “From what we can all see, the PDP, Edo State Chapter, has been re-engineered and repositioned to deliver on good governance. With a politically contrite heart and broken spirit arising from its former outing in the State, the party is equipped mentally, morally and politically for good governance.
“Secondly, Mr President’s transformation agenda has impacted significantly on the party’s readiness and credentials. I believe very conscientiously that the reformation is genuine and that the party deserves a second chance. Even Almighty God will not despise a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
“The minority leader who followed a different path went to the opposition side and took his seat and was welcomed with backslapping, while the defected senators remained on their seats without looking at the direction of the Senate President and other principal officers.”
Speaking after the plenary and closed door session which ended in a deadlock, Senator Magnus Abe, Rivers South East, said that only a political solution could solve the problem even as he stated that the affected defectors had announced that they were no longer members of the PDP.
Senator Abe said he still had trust in the leadership of the Senate President who he described as an astute politician and a democrat.
Also commenting, Senator Aisha Al-Hassan, Taraba North, said she was no longer in PDP and had registered as a bona fide member of APC.
She said: “I moved the same order because I need to inform the senate and Nigerians that I have had a change of position.
“I have registered in the APC, I have moved from PDP to APC, the registration is ongoing and you can confirm that I am following the instruction of my constituents. Go to my state and see how registration is going on and how people are coming out in support of me and registering in the APC.”
Briefing newsmen at the end of the session, Chairman Senate Committee on Information, Publicity and Media Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said that there was nothing to show that there was any movement in the senate.
Abaribe said: ”We resolved within the Senate that we should continue to maintain the dignity of the upper chamber of the National Assembly and in that wise you could see that subsequently, everything was done openly and transparently and with no rancour at all.
“I think we have to give kudos to the senators and also the senate president for handling the proceedings today (yesterday) in such a manner that Nigerians are very proud of their National Assembly.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t meet with the Inspector-General of Police as we had scheduled for today (yesterday) because of some scheduling problems but we will let you know once we are able to have the interaction with the IG.”
On whether the defection matter had been laid to rest, he said: “Senators can get up and express themselves but the procedures must be followed and that’s what the Senate President was saying. Our rules are very clear, if the matter is in court, we cannot discuss it. The hands of the senate president are tied; he cannot do otherwise and if he does otherwise, it will be contempt of court.
“Therefore, while not saying that the matter has been laid to rest, we can say sufficiently, that the matter has now been adumbrated in a way and manner that all sides are well aware of their rights and things are going smoothly in the senate.”
Abaribe further stated that senators were elected under party platforms , adding, “if you have to move, there are conditions to meet. If the President of the Senate rules you out of order, it means that whatever you say is null and void. It was the legal opinion, which Mark sought that played out in the Senate today (yesterday). The defectors got an interim injunction; the main case is still pending. The onus lies with those who went to court to either withdraw the case or ask the court to expeditiously dispose the case. We are not keeping anybody; we are only saying that the rules must be followed”.
On the political solution which some of the defected senators had canvassed for, the Senate spokesman said: “Political solution is what you saw, that despite the fact that people came and thought there will be fisticuffs, you could see that everything went nice and smooth. So that is the political solution that played out on the floor of the Senate.”
Meanwhile the Senate could not have a session with the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar as previously announced because of the late arrival of the police boss.
The Senate had last week announced that the IGP would be coming to the floor of the senate to give explanations on the crisis in Rivers State and had scheduled the meeting for 12pm, but the police boss arrived shortly after the Senate had adjourned sitting for the day.
Five Reps defect to PDP
The five House members who defected back to the PDP, yesterday were Reps. Lawal Shehu Bichi, Kano; Abdulsalam Adamu,Kano; Sani Umar ,Zamfara; Ibrahim Shehu Gusau,Zamfara; and Umar Bature,Sokoto.
Bature was one of the 37 PDP lawmakers who defected to the APC on December 18, last year, but, yesterday, he moved with the four others to the PDP.
However, a PDP lawmaker from Kaduna State, Rep Isa Mohammed Ashiru moved to the APC.
Following announcement of the defections by Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the floor of the House was thrown into a rowdy session for some minutes with some PDP lawmakers shouting “PDP, Power! APC, shame!”
At a point, Minority leader Femi Gbajabiamila stood up to talk, but was shouted down by PDP lawmakers.
This development further widens the margin between the PDP and the APC. The PDP now has 178, while the APC now stands at 168.
The two lawmakers from Kano who defected to the PDP were believed to be loyalists of former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, who defected to the PDP a fortnight ago, following the leadership tussle between him and the current Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Rep Gusau’s defection to the PDP, a source said, was part of plans to realize his ambition of contesting the Zamfara State gubernatorial election in 2015 following his fall out with the state governor, Abdulaziz Yari, and the APC state leader, Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima.
Gusau has had a running battle with Yari after his governorship ambition became public knowledge. He was attacked late last year in Gusau while attending a meeting.
Speaking to Vanguard, Gusau said his decision to defect to the PDP was informed by a number of factors which included the denial of his supporters the opportunity to register during the current APC registration exercise nationwide.
According to him, the directive for his supporters not to be registered came from above, saying the APC lacks “clear direction to salvage our democracy.”
APC had enjoyed a slim majority between December 18, 2013 and January 21 this year following the defections of 37 PDP lawmakers to the party.
But that has since changed as the House witnessed series of defections following the lawmakers’ resumption from end of the year break.
PDP’s inducements can’t stop us — APC
Reacting to the development, yesterday, the APC said that irrespective of the alleged inducements by the PDP to their legislators that nothing would stop the change that is coming.
The party in a statement issued by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that the “long-suffering people of Nigeria are ready and eager to vote out the PDP next year.”
The party said the five House of Representatives members who have taken the PDP’s killer bait when they defected to the APC, were neither forced to do so nor given any incentive beyond the rare opportunity offered them to be a part of the looming change.
“Nigerians can now see why their country has gone broke; why the allocation to states from the Federation Account has continued to dwindle, and why infrastructure have either remained decrepit or non-existent. It is not difficult to imagine the number of boreholes that 10 million dollars can sink, or how far such a huge amount will go in building cottage hospitals and health clinics.
“Things are bound to get worse in the days ahead because the desperate PDP will, more and more, use public funds to try to change the course of history. We therefore urge Nigerians to remain resolute in the face of what will be a wave of inducements never before seen in these climes, because there is no going back on the plan to vote out the PDP next year”.
VANGUARD
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