Sunday 4 May 2014
Mercy Johnson writes on missing school girls
Sunday 23 February 2014
Female lawyer tortures househelp with disused car fan belt
I think the police should start arresting people who inflict such injuries on others. Call it 'attempted murder' or something like that and lock them up for at least a year. How can anyone be so heartless to do this to another human being?
A female lawyer based in Calabar Cross River State, Florence Ujinka, was picked up and interrogated by the police for torturing her 13 year old househelp, Chidera Asonye Nathaniel. Florence is reported to have used an old fan belt to inflict marks on young Chidera.
The woman was reported to the police by a Child Rights Group called Basic Rights Counsel Initiative in Calabar, who revealed that since the woman and her husband brought Chidera from Anambra state to Calabar in 2012 to serve as their househelp, Mrs Ujinka had repeatedly subjected the young boy to torture and inhuman treatment.
"Mrs Florence Ujinka has been subjecting Chidera to inhuman and degrading treatment by torturing him with an automobile fan belt and in the process inflicting him with severe wounds on his body”. The group said
The group wants the police to file a case of 'torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and child trafficking' against the lawyer and her doctor husband. The police in Calabar have promised to investigate the matter and said the couple would be brought to book soon and made to face the law
Forbes refers to President Jonathan as President Johnson
Is President Jonathan that unpopular that Forbes would make such a mistake?
Wednesday 22 January 2014
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson buys his housekeeper a brand new car
The action star surprised his house keeper of 10 years with a brand new car and shared the info and pics on twitter. He bought his dear Esperanza a 2013 Ford Edge Limited Edition worth $40,000.
Monday 20 January 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014 Footballer Osaze Odemwingie and wife expecting baby number 2
Osaze announced that he and his wife, Sarah Fallon are expecting their second son this June as he celebrated his son's first birthday yesterday. Their son Noah was born Jan. 20th 2013 but Osaze and his wife celebrated his birthday early because most of their friends could only come on a weekend, he explained. Congrats to the them.
Adamu Mu'azu is new PDP National Chairman?
According to a breaking news report by the The Will Nigeria, former Bauchi State Governor, Adamu Mu'azu (1999 - 2007) has been chosen as the new National Chairman of the PDP.
He was reportedly unanimously adopted on Sunday night Jan. 18th at a meeting attended by president Jonathan, VP Namadi Sambo, Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; Senate President David Mark and all the state Governors elected under the PDP, amongst others.
The Will reports that the 58 year old politician will be unveiled formally today Monday January 20th at a Special NEC meeting of the party.
First pic of nun who gave birth and claimed she didn't know she was pregnant
Circled is the Salvadorean nun who said she had no idea she was pregnant when she gave birth to a baby boy last week (Find the story here).
33 year old Roxana Rodriguez, a nun with the order of the Little Disciples of Jesus, initially claimed she thought her labour pains were 'stomach cramps' when an ambulance rushed her to the hospital.
Her picture was published this weekend in the Italian daily newspaper, Corriere Della Sera. The new mum reportedly told her social worker:
'I am so happy. I feel more of a mother than a nun, I think that's obvious. I decided to call him Francis in honour of our wonderful south American Pope. I do not feel of guilt. I will be keeping him and bringing him up. He is a gift from God. I am little worried about all the publicity, not only in Italy but in El Salvador and all over the world. Everyone is talking about this and I don't think I will be able to return to my home country"
Sister Roxana took her vows and became a nun in the order last September and has since written an apology letter to the Church and her Mother Superior. She revealed that the father of her child is a man from her native El Salvador but has not named him. Continue...
A priest close to the new mum told the Italian magazine:
'It all happened last spring, around March or April time when she was back in El Salvador to get her passport renewed. She has not said who the father is but I understand he is an, shall we say, old flame of hers from when she was younger. At some stage I expect she will tell the father that he has a son and they will be reunited but I don't know when that will be.
Sunday 19 January 2014
D'banj's custom made Guiseppe Zanotti sneakers finally arrive
n October 2013, D'banj shared a pic of Italian shoe designer Guiseppe Zanoti holding up a pair of his famous custom sneakers which he gifted to D'banj. (If you missed it, find it here). Three months later, the sneakers is finally here. D'banj posted the photo above and wrote - "It was real and it has landed special delivery by the Man Himself. #GiuseppeZanotti"
Saturday 18 January 2014
Tuesday 7 January 2014
Rihanna sets eyes on another hot dude that looks like Chris Brown
Rihanna has her eyes on another hot dude. She posted a pic of NFL player Mychal Kendricks on her instagram page today and admitted that he's her #MCM. #ManCrushMonday.
Mychal is 23 years old and looks like a healthy version of Chris Brown. Someone should hook them up fast fast!
Wednesday 1 January 2014
Monday 30 December 2013
Banker explains why she nearly severed her hubby's penis with knife
Some days ago you read about a pregnant banker who sliced her husband's penis during a fight at their home in Surulere on December 16th. (If you missed it, read HERE)
31 year old Bimbo Danju has explained why she did it. She told Saturday Punch...
“Please, kindly judge this by yourself. As a pregnant woman, will I willingly attempt to cut off my husband’s penis? I ordinarily would not have said anything. I did not realise this will escalate to this stage. The case is being handled by my lawyer at the moment.
“My husband is not a hot-tempered man but he gets angry once in a while. He lied that he washes my clothes. He only did that once or twice when I was ill. We had a disagreement that day and he beat me up. My mother came to the house and took away our son.
“Without telling anybody, I went to my hospital and was treated. I did not tell him. But when I got home, he continued to harass me. He said I must ensure his son was returned to the house. Continue...
“I was so tired and I went to sleep. But in the middle of the night, he woke me up and asked me again to produce his son. We started fighting and he was beating me. In order to escape his beating, I had to hold his penis. I wanted him to leave me alone. I held on to it until I had a chance to escape.”
“Please ask him, which certificate is he even talking about? When I married my husband, he told me he graduated from the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, but that he had an accident some time ago, in which his certificates were burnt,” she said.
“When I married him, he did not have a job. He said he was working on a CD and all the money I made, I spent on him.”
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, her husband told a different story.
He said, “My pastor had advised me against marrying her because of an encounter he had with her. Before we got married, in a meeting with Bimbo, my pastor said he asked her about her past and my wife said, ‘How dare you!’
“Of course, I did not believe my pastor at the time because I was in love. But now, I rue the day I met that woman.”
Lekan alleged that his wife had been behaving strangely since he lost his job. He stated that he had done everything he could to ensure that she remained happy.
“I wash her clothes including her underwear. Even without a job, I ensure that the proceeds of my gospel music CD are used to take care of her and our son,” he said.
The apartment Lekan shared with his wife is a mini-flat. Asked who paid for the apartment, the man said the house belonged to his father.
According to him, he was living in a rented apartment in Ikorodu before relocating to his father’s house in Surulere so that it would be easier for his wife to get to work.
Lekan explained that Bimbo was a good woman at the time.
He said, “I married her legally. We did a church wedding, went to court and did the traditional wedding. But when I lost my job, I realised that after a little disagreement, she would rain abuses on me and my family.
“She would sometimes destroy things in the house. There was a time we had a disagreement and she chased me down the street with a stick. During another disagreement, she took my HND certificate to the end of the street and dropped it beside a gate. Neighbours had to plead with her to bring it back.”
He narrated to Saturday PUNCH how his wife attacked him.
“That fateful day, I was washing my wife’s clothes. She reminded me that she needed some money for foodstuffs and I told her that God would provide for us. Later, she came out of the house and said she had eaten noodles and had fed our son.
“When I finished with the clothes, I was so tired because the clothes were many. I ate the leftover of her noodles. There were about three-spoonfuls left.”
Lekan alleged that that did not go down well with his wife who said she still wanted to eat the leftover.
He said he had to go to the street to buy bread for her since she said she was still hungry.
He further explained that he had to go out shortly after to get some money from a salesman who handles his CD sales.
“I came home and informed my wife that I got some money from my CD. She told me that she would like to eat wheat and white soup which I usually buy for her from a restaurant. I bought that for her,” he said.
By that time, Lekan said the only thing he had eaten that day was the leftover noodles. He said the remaining money from the CD sales had been used to buy things needed in the house.
But his elder sister who had a shop nearby was to later give him N500 when she noticed that he did not look like he was feeling well.
“I went out to buy rice and when I came in and she saw me eating that, she flared up. She said I lied to her that I had no money. She was shouting but I pleaded with her to calm down so that my people around would not hear. She replied that it would not be well with the people. She abused my relations and parents.
“The following day, a Sunday, I swallowed my pride. I woke up and asked which clothes she would like to wear to church so that I could iron it with mine. When she did not answer, I left for church but came back after the workers’ meeting.
“I got home and saw her preparing jollof rice but I went out to buy N60 bread and N40 beans. Trouble started again when she saw me eating that. She said I refused to give her money but I was buying food to eat. She said, ‘Before I say anything now, you will go and complain to your useless family.’ That was when I told her that it was her whole family that was useless. Had I known, I would have kept quiet. She took the plate of beans and poured it on my head.”
But Lekan said even though many men would have pummelled such a woman, he feared he might kill her in anger. The matter died down, or so it seemed.
Around 2am, Lekan said he received a sudden and painful knock that woke him up from sleep and realised that it was from his wife.
“I knew she had decided to start her trouble again. But I did not in my wildest imagination think that she could do what she did next.
“Before I realised what she was doing, I felt a sharp pain in my manhood. I touched it and blood was gushing out. I screamed and my immediate thought was, ‘Is this the way I would die?’”
Lekan pointed to a kitchen knife in a corner of his room. He said it was the weapon his wife used.
The wound inflicted on Lekan’s manhood was deep but it had been stitched after he was rushed to the hospital by neighbours.
Lekan said he is not pressing charges against his wife.
Culled from Punch
Thursday 26 December 2013
Justin Bieber confirms he's officially retiring from music
Don't know if he's serious or not, but the troubled teen singer took to twitter on Christmas eve to announce to his 47 million followers that he's retiring from music...at age 19, and after only 3 albums and 4 years of singing professionally. He also said the media 'make up a lot of lies' about him.
He made the announcement on Twitter just a week after he told a radio station that he planned to quit music. "After the new album, I'm actually retiring, man. I'm retiring," he told Power 106 on Dec 17.
Tuesday 24 December 2013
Read President Goodluck Jonathan’s Christmas Message To Nigerians
The president of Nigeria, has sent a Christmas message to all Nigerians.
Read it below.
Dear Compatriots, I greet and felicitate with you all as we celebrate Christmas once again. I join our Christian compatriots and all other Nigerians in giving thanks to God Almighty whose Grace and Benevolence has helped our nation to overcome the many challenges it has had since we celebrated Christmas last year.
The annual commemoration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ is a most auspicious time for us, as individuals and as a nation, to rededicate ourselves to the virtues and ideals which the Messiah preached and exemplified during his earthly ministry.
Let us all therefore resolve this Christmas to make the ideals of peace, harmony, tolerance, love and goodwill to all even more manifest in our interactions with others.
It remains my sincere belief that no height of human accomplishment is beyond us as a nation, if we can overcome our differences, such as they are, and forge a binding national consensus to put the progress and well-being of the country above all other considerations.
My administration will do all within its powers and abilities to ensure that when representatives of our people assemble for the forthcoming national conference next year, they will have every opportunity and encouragement to make very significant contributions towards forging the required consensus for sustained national peace, unity and progress.
It is also my expectation that the national conference will contribute in no small measure towards the urgent resolution of contentious issues which currently hinder our progress as a nation.
With God Almighty as our Guide, Strength and Enabler, My Administration will continue to implement its Agendafor National Transformation in furtherance of its avowed commitment to improving the living conditions of all Nigerians.
We will continue to count on the prayers, support and cooperation of all patriotic Nigerians in the coming year as we consolidate and build on our achievements in several sectors including national security, power supply, communications, transportation, health and education.
As we commemorate the birth of the Prince of Peace, let us all strive to honour Him more by living our lives as He taught; by making personal sacrifices for the good of others, by showing greater love for others, by being fairer and more honest in our dealings with others, by being ever-willing to forgive those who offend us and by always extending goodwill towards others.
On behalf of myself, my family and the Federal Government, I wish you all very joyful Christmas celebrations, and a peaceful and prosperous 2014.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
The 5 Richest Contemporary Entertainers In Nigeria
A list compiled by Ventures Africa. See the 5 richest contemporary Nigerian entertainers below...
Tuface
Born Innocent Idibia, the former member of the band, Plantashun Boyz, is among the richest artists in the industry. With two platinum records already behind him, Tuface (2Face) is speculated to be worth about 550 million naira ($3.47 million). He has had endorsement deals from companies such as Guinness, which earned him 20 million naira ($125,000) and Airtel, which earned him 22 million naira ($139,000). He was also rumoured to have collected 30 million naira ($189,000) from the producers of the Phat Girls movie. Tuface has invested heavily in real estate and stocks, and made bug money from it. He once said his goal was to recover all the wealth taken from Africa.
Others are D'banj, P-Square, Don Jazzy and Banky W. See their worth after the cut...
D’banj
Apart from his music interests, D’banj has moved into other sectors. His interests include Koko Mansion, a TV reality show, Koko Lounge, an upscale hangout in Lagos and the UK, Koko Foundation, a charity, and Koko Mobile. There are also rumours that he is set to launch Koko Records. The bulk of his money comes from endorsements – his endorsement deal with Globacom telecommunications cost 70 million naira ($442,000). He has a multi-million naira endorsement with energy drink Power Fist, a deal with the makers of the Virgin Colour soft drink and another huge deal with a popular jeweller. Another endorsement which runs into millions is with Chris Aire, with D’banj acting as the face of his watches. He collects between 5 million naira ($31,500) and 7 million naira ($44,200) as performance fee for local gigs, and even bigger fees across the rest of Africa and in the US and the UK. Like his old boss, Don Jazzy, D’banj also bagged a recording deal with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music. D’banj once said, “I work hard so that money, awards, endorsements, bookings and kokolets chase me.”
Don Jazzy
Real name Michael Enebeli, Don Jazzy, is the founder of now defunct Mo’Hits and now runs Mavin Records. He is one of the most sought after producers in Nigeria. As a child he was a member of Good Morning Kids, a group created by his father. He is known for his business dexterity, building Mo’Hits from scratch to become one of the biggest entertainment empires in the country. He recently signed a recording deal with Kanye West – a move that not only boosted his reputation as an entertainer, but also his wealth.
P- Square
Singing and dancing duo Peter and Paul Okoye won the KORA award for Best Africa Artiste in 2010, collecting a $1 million prize in the process. Shortly after, the duo got an endorsement deal with Globacom telecommunications worth about 240 million naira ($1.5 million) for four years. Their seven-city American tour in 2010 earned them a whopping $1m and have also built a house valued at 300 million naira ($1.9 million). They own Rayfield Hotel, Jos, and two multi-million naira factories in the same city, where they built a multimillion naira bakery and sachet water companies for their parents. The bulk of their wealth comes from concerts, especially in Africa, where they charge about 2 million naira ($12,600) per show. They have sold over 14 million copies of their CDs since 2005.
Banky W
Banky W has become one of the richest entertainers in the industry, making the bulk of his wealth from gigs, where he charges between 2.5 million naira ($15,800) and 3 million naira ($19,000) per show and performs three to four times each week. A brand ambassador of Estisalat, one of Nigeria’s telecommunications giants, he also featured in Coca Cola-Nigeria’s World Cup theme song and Microsoft’s Anti-cyber Crime Initiative. An entrepreneur, Banky W has invested heavily in various businesses and also doubles as a philanthropist, founding the Mr. Capable Foundation, where he provides tuition fees for indigent and brilliant students. He is also the force behind EME music which has, arguably, the Nigeria’s fastest rising artiste (Whizkid) under the label.
‘Boko Haram buried weapons in Apo cemetery’
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, has said the Army has information that some arms and ammunition were buried in the Apo Cemetery, Abuja, by some Boko Haram members.
He said the Army had been unable to locate where they were hidden because the person who hid the weapons was on the run.
Gen Ihejirika said the weapons were to be used in an attack on Abuja by the sect earlier this year.
The Army Chief spoke yesterday at a public hearing by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the September 20 killing of eight residents at an uncompleted building in Apo.
Security personnel had invaded the house, said to be inhabited by about 100 people, on the claim that the inhabitants were Boko Haram members.
Gen Ihejirika, who was represented by the Commander, Brigade of Guards, Maj Gen Emmanuel Atewe, justified the invasion of the house.
He said the operation in Apo was informed by a report from the Department of State Security (DSS), alleging an attack by members of the Boko Haram.
“Between September 18 and 19, two persons were arrested in Abuja and they made useful confessions that there was a cache of arms hidden at Apo Cemetery to be used in a planned attack,” he said.
The Army chief said upon the confession of the suspects, his men went to the cemetery in search of the weapons.
“It was in the night, the area was bushy and we could not navigate the cemetery and the suspects could not identify the actual spot where the weapons were buried.
“It was at that point the suspects said their leader, one Suleiman, if arrested would show us the spot where the ammunition were hidden,” he said.
Gen Atewe, who failed to name the “two suspects,” said they told security agents that Suleiman was living in the Apo uncompleted building. He said they (the suspects) also disclosed that their intention was to launch attacks within Abuja.
“It was on that premise that the team moved to the uncompleted building to arrest Suleiman. But unfortunately, as troops were to cordon the building, the fire came, first it was a single shot before rapid followed. Under self defence, the troops returned fire,” he said.
“The military operating in FCT are well trained in handling arms and have exercised restraint in the discharge of their duties. We have no reason to kill anybody dastardly or act under provocation.
“The adversaries did firearm movement, they were firing as they escaped, a loaded magazine was found and from our records, it does not belong to the military,” he said.
Gen Atewe stated that the Apo incident was an isolated case and an unfortunate one.
He insisted that the security agents acted proactively to prevent collateral damage that may have resulted from an attack in Abuja.
He said despite their efforts, Suleiman was still at large and the cache of arms at the Apo cemetery still undiscovered.
“We have carried out 153 operations successfully, made arrests and did not shoot anybody.
The NHRC yesterday granted an application by the DSS to have its officials testify in its headquarters to protect their identities.
DSS’s lawyer Clifford Osagie and other officials of the service cited security reasons for the application to have the panel move its sitting venue from the NHRC’s Abuja office to DSS’ headquarters.
The panel will resume sitting next month.
Govt votes N1.56b for 11th presidential plane
A NEW plane is set to join the presidential fleet.
The fleet’s 11th plane – is Gulfstream- is to attract a N1.52million deposit, going by the 2014 budget.
The aircraft is expected to cost about N8 billion, according to industry sources.
The rest of the payment will be spread over one, two or three years before the jet is built and delivered.
The expenditure is part of the projected spending contained in next year’s estimate, which was laid before the National Assembly last week by Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
These items include: the completion of a hanger, N405,500,000; Tyre bay tools and equipment N106,000,000; Towberless tow tractor for aircraft towing for 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.
Others are CCTV and surveillance equipment for 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.
The aircraft in the fleet of the PAF include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, a Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One) being used exclusively by the President 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 bought in 2010 cost $51.1 million. The Gulfstream 550 may have cost $53.3 million.
However, none of the aviation industry Bluebooks will give the simple calculation accuracy of how much an aircraft really costs. A number of issues are responsible for the difficulty in presenting a clear figure for a make/model/year, of an aircraft to help accurately determine how much it really worth.
Some of the issues include: lack of central reporting of aircraft sales for either tax or licence requirements, the complexity of individual aircraft value calculations, the timing of sales (long timeframes from offer to closing during which time the market can go up or down substantially), multiple synchronous closings for jet aircraft in particular, international currency sales, and non-disclosure-of-price terms included in many transaction documents.
Desmond Elliot In Romance Controversy With Two Gorgeous Blood Sisters (PHOTOS)
Nollywood Star actor, Desmond Elliot is in the middle of a serious controversy. The handsome Nollywood top shot, National Enquirer gathered is presently in a sizzling romance with two blood sisters and this has been causing squabbles between the half-caste ladies of same parents, Roseline and Yvette Muere.
According to one of Desmond’s close friends, the actor has been secretly stepping out with the two sisters separately and as at the last time, he was spotted with the eldest, Roseline Muerer at the just concluded Nollywood at 20 event which held at the prestigious Intercontinental hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Though not so many people is aware that they came together, the “couple” who came in same car stylishly stepped into the hall in a ‘CODED’ manner to deceive the public.
And in another development, Desmond whose wife has bore him 2 set of twins has also been seen with the youngest Muerer, Yvette at The Mall, where they went to see movies together, he has also flown the teenage girl to several movie sets in Calabar and as a matter of fact, the school certificate holder, Yvette has once crashed Desmond’s coupe’s car which she cruises around.
Tracing the genesis of their relationship, we gathered that, the beautiful Roseline sought Desmond’s help to make her an actress and no sooner they met than he (Desmond) featured her to star alongside notable faces like Uti Nwachukwu, Ini Edo, Lydia Forson, Morris Sesay in one of the films he directed, In The Cupboard, a story that revolves around the lives of six siblings born into the rich, aristocratic Desouza family; a name synonymous with wealth & power, the rest as they say has been history.
The source told National Enquirer further that Desmond and Roseline’s affair blossomed to the extent that, Rose’s mum got wind of it, this was what informed the closeness of Rose younger sister, Yvette and before anybody could say Jack Robinson, the teenage girl had moved in with Desmond in his matrimonial home in Lekki without her sister’s consent, and meanwhile Desmond’s wife has since been in the US where she was delivered of their second set of twins.
Bubble however burst when Yvette’s whereabouts was unknown and Rose’s efforts to visit her boyfriend who had paraded and introduced her to friends as the new woman in his life were abortive, this aroused suspicion as Rose had to confront her sister to tell her of her hidden place. It was a hot argument between the blood sisters but we learnt they later resolved, even though Yvette confessed that nothing has happened between her and Desmond despite that she’s been everywhere with him including staying in his matrimonial home and cruising his ride.
Trust your darling National Enquirer, in our efforts to nail the story, we rang Desmond Elliot and his swift response was not just appalling but amazing, here us: “this call is from National Enquirer, we’re investigating a story of your relationship with the Muerer sisters, Roseline and Yvette, we would like to know more about it, after a moment of sigh, he told us he was driving and after confronted him with the fact at hand, in a trembling voice, the actor said “look, just wait like that, and the next thing was a lady’s voice on the line, “hi hello, my name is Roseline Muerer, how’re you, and just before we began to ask her anything, Desmond spoke again, just wait o, hold on again and alas, he put the younger Muerer on the line again, hello how’re you, my name is Yvette and he got the line back line, look what I can tell you is that, we’re all family friends, don’t know who’s giving you the story but the story is unfounded, in fact, do you have a blackberry, please text it to me I’ll add you right away so that we can chat further, he said.
We however sent the blackberry pin but he didn’t add the number till we went to bed.
Gunmen Attack APC Chieftain In Abeokuta, Ask Him To Drop His Political Ambition
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State, Chief Kushimo Lukmon, was yesterday, attacked by unknown gunmen who broke into his house at Ita-Eko, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The chieftain was reportedly escaped death following prompt intervention of men of Vigilance Service of Ogun State.Speaking on hospital bed, Lukmon said a gang of six men invaded his residence at 5,Famuyiwa close, Surulere, Ita-Eko, Abeokuta, around 1:am and threatened to kill him if he did not drop his ambition for Ogun State House of Assembly.
He said he was hit on the head and arm with a sharp objects which made him lost consciousness before he was rushed to the hospital.Narrating his ordeal, the victim said the assailants were wearing masks and came with dangerous weapons such as guns, rods, acid and matches.
“They did not steal anything but almost raped my wife and threatened to kidnap my children before they were chased away by men of vigilante.“I was also warned not to contest for Ogun State House of Assembly from Abeokuta South constituency II in 2015.
They said what I saw is a tip of an ice bag.“My life is in danger and because I could recall that I escaped a gun shot last week from unknown gunmen”, he said.
When asked whether if he had reported the case to a police station, the victim said men of vigilante have done that.
Attempt to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi was unsuccessful as he could not be reached. [Vanguard]
Bayelsa Deputy Governor Escapes Death In Boat Convoy Crash
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), narrowly escaped death on Sunday when a boat in his convoy lost control and crash into the surrounding mangrove forest, killing a soldier in his security team instantly.
Two other soldiers sustained serious injuries along with the driver of the boat.
The accident happened along the Ogbia-Nembe waterways while the deputy governor was on his way to his country home in Nembe on a private visit.
The boat driver was said to have lost control of the vessel, veered off the water and crashed into the mangroves at about 8 a.m.
A source told THISDAY that: “The boat ran into the mangrove forest. About three of the soldiers were injured but the injuries of one of them were serious.”
When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the deputy governor on Media, Mr. Ebi Evinson, neither answered his telephone calls nor replied text messages.
But the Media Coordinator, JTF, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the accident but denied that the soldiers were attached to the deputy governor.
He insisted that nobody died from the accident, even as he said the injured were being treated in an undisclosed hospital.
“No soldier is attached to the convoy of the deputy governor. The soldiers were only behind the convoy when the boat veered off the water and ran into the mangroves. Only two soldiers sustained minor injuries. Nobody died,” he said.
Jonathan Wants To Kill Me – Amaechi
The Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has claimed that he is one of the persons on the lists of 1,000 politicians that President Goodluck Jonathan is targeting to kill, as alleged in a letter by a former Nigerian president to Jonathan.
At a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Port-Harcourt, to galvanise support ahead of the 2015 election, Governor Amaechi decried the level of impunity in Nigeria, alleging that the police and other security agencies were molesting innocent citizens..
“There is no rule of law in Nigeria at all. We are being molested by police. They are paying thugs to shoot dynamites and guns against innocent citizens,” Amaechi told the crowd.
President Goodluck Jonathan Involved In Food Poisoning Trial
The 2012 food poisoning trial involving Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, his delegation and Gambia’s five-star hotel Coco Ocean has been adjourned to Tuesday, December 24.
It will be recalled that, during his two-day state visit in Gambia last November, Jonathan was allegedly served with food that had been preserved for a long period. This caused food poisoning.
Ayoub Aliris, chef of the hotel, allegedly unlawfully or negligently cooked prawns served to President Jonathan and his entourage as a starter during a special lunch hosted in honor of the visiting Nigerian head of state.
On Thursday, December 19, the chief of Coco Ocean was charged in the Kanifing court with negligence and poisoning the Nigerian President as well as his delegation. Aliris denied the charges.
President Jonathan, who celebrated his 56th birthday a little over a month ago, then suffered from a “stomach upset” and was forced to enter a hospital in London to seek medical attention.
A prosecution witness, Babucarr Gomez, also a cook at Coco Ocean, explained that a day after the lunch he received a call from his boss informing him that there was an infection in the food served to the Nigerians. Gomez, who said he was ordered by Aliris to prepare the food, said he also ate it and experienced “vomiting, stomach ache and frequented the toilet.”
Why Dbanj's Koko Concert didn't hold this year
You know Dbanj organized his Koko concert last year which received a lot of back lash because of the distance people had to trek inorder to get to the venue. This year,the concert isn't going to hold.According to Dbanj, he cancelled it in honour of late Nelson Mandela (‘Hey Kokolets,the yearly Koko Concert has been cancelled because of the Madiba Legacy Concert happening tomorrow at the Ocean View event center!!‘,.)but Nigerian Tribune reports otherwise
Contrary to report on tweeter that Koko Concert for this year was cancelled by D’Banj in honour of the late Nelson Mandela, an artiste manager has described the story as a lie.
Rather, it is because the concert was not able to get sponsorship support as planned by the Kokomaster.
In a phone call by R to him on Friday morning, the manager of one of the hottest musician in the country right now said D’Banj had admitted to my artiste that he was having problem getting a sponsor and would not hold the concert if his attempts at getting one fails. He spent a lot of money in bringing Idris Elba and others to the country last year and does not want to do so alone this year. So, when I read on tweeter that he said he was cancelling the concert to honour Mandela, I just laughed at the PR-driven lie’, he said.
D’Banj himself made the cancellation announcement on his Twitter account, explaining that the yearly concert was cancelled because the ‘Madiba Legacy Concert‘, which held on December 18, 2013 at The Oceanview Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“D’banj’s reason for cancelling the event does sound very cheeky as we wonder how a one-day tribute concert (which he clearly did not put together) would stop him from holding his own show this December, wrote a disgruntled fan, Ay.
He has, however, promised to make it up to his fans by hosting three ‘Koko Parties’ this yuletide season.
‘Not to worry, I’m hosting 3 Koko parties this season for my dear fans’, D’Banj added
DELTA STATE GOVERNOR COMMISSIONED 130 BUSES.
Yesterday, His Excellency the of governor of Delta state Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan commissioned a hundred and thirty buses.
EFCC Arrests Speaker of Kano House of Assembly, and 11 others
The EFCC Monday swooped on the Kano State House of Assembly and detained the Speaker of the House, Alh. Gambo Sallau, alongside principal officers in what the state government has described as a political assault on the state government following the mass defection of the State Governor, Engr. Rabiu Kwakwanso alongside several other key politicians in government positions to the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Arrested alongside the Speaker are the Deputy Speaker, Isyaku Ali Danja, the Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, Chairman House Committee on Finance and Clerk of the House. Continue...
A statement by the Government of Kano State said it noted with utter disappointment and surprise, the arrest of the officials.
The statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations to the state governor, Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, stated that the public officials were apparently arrested in connection with the budget amendment of 2013 of the State Government, which has already been signed into law by the state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
The statement added that the Speaker and his colleagues have only exercised their constitutional responsibilities of ensuring that budgets are properly articulated, to ensure probity and accountability in public expenditure, so that in the end, the citizens enjoy dividends of democracy.
“It is Chrystal clear that the above mentioned public officials were arrested by the EFCC on the orders from the above, because of the legislators’ defection to APC, in support of Governor Kwankwaso,” the government said, adding that “This action is obviously to intimidate and cow them into submission for choosing to move to the progressive fold. This action is not only despicable and absurd but also capable of igniting crisis in the polity, thereby breaching the relative peace that is being enjoyed in Kano state. It is regrettable that the EFCC is allowing itself to be a tool of witch-hunt in the hands of powers that be.”
THEWILL contacted the EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwajaren, to seek further information on why the officials were detained and the allegation of witch-hunt, he urged us to email our questions for a formal response.
Mr. Uwajaren’s had not responded to our questions as at the time of filing this report.
source - THE WILL NIGERIA
D'banj shares a pic with Glo chairman, Mike Adenuga
D'banj today joined several Nigerian entertainers as an ambassador for telecoms giant, Globacom. He shared these photos of himself with billionaire businessman and chairman of Glo, Mike Adenuga, on his instagram page.
LG G series smart phones now available at LG brand stores nationwide
When you think LG Electronics (LG) is all about Home Entertainment & Home Appliance products, the company going by the game changing smart phones it has been churning out recently has indicated its readiness to constantly stay ahead of the pack in the mobile device segment. LG Mobile, a global leader in Mobile Communications, has announced that its G Series smart phones and tablet which comprises of the G Pro, G Pro-Lite, G2 as well as the G Pad are now available at LG brand stores all over Nigeria.
Obasanjo says he will not react to President Jonathan's letter
Former President Obasanjo says he will not react to President Jonathan's letter. He released a media statement today through his Media aide, Tunde Oladunjoye, saying he has accomplished his aim of bringing President Jonathan's attention to important national issues and has nothing else to say to him
The statement read,
“Since the publication of the letter written by the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, which was in response to the letter earlier written by revered former President Olusegun Obasanjo; we have received several requests from local & international media asking to know Chief Obasanjo’s reaction to Mr. President’s response.
“One, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, acknowledges Mr. President’s letter/response. However, 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. Let me quote from page fourteen, paragraph two of Chief Obasanjo’s letter to Mr. President dated December 2, 2013 and titled Before It Is Too Late: Continue...
‘I will maintain my serenity, because by this letter I have done my duty to you as I have always done, to your government, to the party, PDP, and to our country, Nigeria’.
“Two, let me reiterate here, that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR has tremendous respect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo sincerely appreciates all of you, my cherished colleagues; gentlemen and women of the media profession, who have been very upright, ethical and robust on the subject matter.”
Monday 23 December 2013
DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT ORGANISES CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR CHILDREN IN THE STATE.
His Excellency the of governor of Delta state Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan who recently bagged an award as the best sporting governor at Abuja was present at the event centre, Asaba to receive and wish the children of delta state a wonderful Christmas. He further urged the children to be obedient to their parents, imbibe the culture of hard work as they celebrate the birth of Christ, in this yuletide season.
Made In Nigeria Vehicles To Sell For Between N1.2m – N1.5m -FG
The Federal Government, in a bid to ensure the successful implementation of its recently approved National Automotive Industry Development Plan, said it would encourage local auto manufacturers to produce less expensive models with price range of between N1.2m and N1.5m.
It also said it would collaborate with auto manufacturers, franchise holders, reputable motor dealers and selected banks to put in place an all-inclusive domestic dealership network through which a user-friendly vehicle purchase scheme could be funded by the National Automotive Council.
These are contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the NAC and obtained by our correspondent in Abuja.
The statement said, “Under market development, the NAIDP anticipated that higher-end expensive models will still be imported into the country in the initial stage, but the new strategy is to encourage local auto manufacturers to focus primarily on lower-end less expensive models with price range of between N1.2m and N1.5m; which is affordable to the middle class, coupled with other finance options.”
The statement added that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, had constituted two committees to ensure seamless implementation of the recently approved automotive plan.
The first is the Automotive Industry Policy Implementation and Monitoring Committee, with members drawn from broad-based industry stakeholders, including the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers/Assemblers Association and the Automobile Local Content Manufacturers Association.
Others are the Automobile Franchise Holders (Mercedez Benz, Kia, Suzuki, CFAO, Toyota, Volvo, Globe Motors, Dana, Balyn Motors, Metropolitan Motors), Used Vehicle Dealers Association, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Original Equipment Manufacturers.
The second body is the Inter Agency Implementation Committee made up of representatives of relevant government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the Federal ministries of Power, Solid Minerals and Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, Bank of Industry, Nigerian Ports Authority, and Raw Materials Research and Development Council, among others.
The Director-General, NAC, Mr. Aminu Jalal, said in the statement that under the NAIDP skills development, there would be extensive local and international manpower development programmes aimed at ensuring that, over the next four to six years, skilled positions in all auto industries in the country were occupied by Nigerians.
To ensure that the cars produced are of good quality, the statement said NAC was currently building automotive component test centres and laboratories to conduct vehicle homologation and other comprehensive tests of parts and components that would enhance overall product quality.
The statement said, “Under investment promotion, fiscal measures and patronage strategies are being introduced to create enabling environment, allowing existing assembly plants to flourish, while attracting new core investors like Nissan, Renault, GM and Toyota; which had expressed interest, to establish plants in Nigeria.
“For policy consistency, NAIDP is formulated as a 10-year programme (2013-2024) subject to review after five years while its major elements would be legislated over the next two years.”
President Jonathan finally replies Obasanjo's letter
President Jonathan has finally replied former president Obasanjo's 18-page letter where he accused Jonathan of taking actions calculated at destroying Nigeria. President Jonathan's reply below...
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. Continue...
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.
Sixthly, you are very unique in terms of the governance of this country. You were a military Head of State for three years and eight months, and an elected President for eight years. That means you have been the Head of Government of Nigeria for about twelve years. This must have, presumably, exposed you to a lot of information. Thus when you make a statement, there is the tendency for people to take it seriously.
The seventh reason is that the timing of your letter coincided with other vicious releases. The Speaker of the House of Representatives spoke of my “body language” encouraging corruption. A letter written to me by the CBN Governor alleging that NNPC, within a period of 19 months did not remit the sum of USD49.8 billion to the federation account, was also deliberately leaked to the public.
The eighth reason is that it appears that your letter was designed to incite Nigerians from other geopolitical zones against me and also calculated to promote ethnic disharmony. Worse still, your letter was designed to instigate members of our Party, the PDP, against me.
The ninth reason is that your letter conveys to me the feeling that landmines have been laid for me. Therefore, Nigerians need to have my response to the issues raised before the mines explode.
The tenth and final reason why my reply is inevitable is that you have written similar letters and made public comments in reference to all former Presidents and Heads of Government starting from Alhaji Shehu Shagari and these have instigated different actions and reactions. The purpose and direction of your letter is distinctly ominous, and before it is too late, my clarifications on the issues need to be placed on record.
Let me now comment on the issues you raised. In commenting I wish to crave your indulgence to compare what is happening now to what took place before. This, I believe, will enable Nigerians see things in better perspective because we must know where we are coming from so as to appreciate where we now are, and to allow us clearly map out where we are going.
You raised concerns about the security situation in the country. I assure you that I am fully aware of the responsibility of government for ensuring the security of the lives and property of citizens. My Administration is working assiduously to overcome current national security challenges, the seeds of which were sown under previous administrations. There have been some setbacks; but certainly there have also been great successes in our efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency.
Those who continue to down-play our successes in this regard, amongst whom you must now be numbered, appear to have conveniently forgotten the depths to which security in our country had plunged before now.
At a stage, almost the entire North-East of Nigeria was under siege by insurgents. Bombings of churches and public buildings in the North and the federal capital became an almost weekly occurrence. Our entire national security apparatus seemed nonplussed and unable to come to grips with the new threat posed by the berthing of terrorism on our shores.
But my administration has since brought that very unacceptable situation under significant control. We have overhauled our entire national security architecture, improved intelligence gathering, training, funding, logistical support to our armed forces and security agencies, and security collaboration with friendly countries with very visible and positive results.
The scope and impact of terrorist operations have been significantly reduced and efforts are underway to restore full normalcy to the most affected North Eastern region and initiate a post-crisis development agenda, including a special intervention programme to boost the region’s socio-economic progress.
In doing all this, we have kept our doors open for dialogue with the insurgents and their supporters through efforts such as the work of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and the Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenges in the North-East. You also know that the Governor of Borno State provided the items you mentioned to me as carrots. Having done all this and more, it is interesting that you still accuse me of not acting on your hardly original recommendation that the carrot and stick option be deployed to solve the Boko Haram problem.
Your suggestion that we are pursuing a “war against violence without understanding the root causes of the violence and applying solutions to deal with all the underlying factors” is definitely misplaced because from the onset of this administration, we have been implementing a multifaceted strategy against militancy, insurgency and terrorism that includes poverty alleviation, economic development, education and social reforms.
Even though basic education is the constitutional responsibility of States, my administration has, as part of its efforts to address ignorance and poor education which have been identified as two of the factors responsible for making some of our youth easily available for use as cannon fodder by insurgents and terrorists, committed huge funds to the provision of modern basic education schools for the Almajiri in several Northern States. The Federal Government under my leadership has also set up nine additional universities in the Northern States and three in the Southern States in keeping with my belief that proper education is the surest way of emancipating and empowering our people.
More uncharitable persons may even see a touch of sanctimoniousness in your new belief in the carrot and stick approach to overcoming militancy and insurgency. You have always referred to how you hit Odi in Bayelsa State to curb militancy in the Niger Delta. If the invasion of Odi by the Army was the stick, I did not see the corresponding carrot. I was the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State then, and as I have always told you, the invasion of Odi did not solve any militancy problem but, to some extent, escalated it. If it had solved it, late President Yar’Adua would not have had to come up with the amnesty program. And while some elements of the problem may still be there, in general, the situation is reasonably better.
In terms of general insecurity in the country and particularly the crisis in the Niger Delta, 2007 was one of the worst periods in our history. You will recall three incidents that happened in 2007 which seemed to have been orchestrated to achieve sinister objectives. Here in Abuja, a petrol tanker loaded with explosives was to be rammed into the INEC building. But luckily for the country, an electric pole stopped the tanker from hitting the INEC building. It is clear that this incident was meant to exploit the general sense of insecurity in the nation at the time to achieve the aim of stopping the 2007 elections. It is instructive that you, on a number of occasions, alluded to this fact.
When that incident failed, an armed group invaded Yenagoa one evening with the intent to assassinate me. Luckily for me, they could not. They again attacked and bombed my country home on a night when I was expected in the village. Fortunately, as God would have it, I did not make the trip.
I recall that immediately after both incidents, I got calls expressing the concern of Abuja. But Baba, you know that despite the apparent concern of Abuja, no single arrest was ever made. I was then the Governor of Bayelsa State and the PDP Vice-Presidential candidate. The security people ordinarily should have unraveled the assassination attempt on me.
You also raised the issues of kidnapping, piracy and armed robbery. These are issues all Nigerians, including me are very concerned about. While we will continue to do our utmost best to reduce all forms of criminality to the barest minimum in our country, it is just as well to remind you that the first major case of kidnapping for ransom took place around 2006. And the Boko Haram crisis dates back to 2002. Goodluck Jonathan was not the President of the country then. Also, armed robbery started in this country immediately after the civil war and since then, it has been a problem to all succeeding governments. For a former Head of Government, who should know better, to present these problems as if they were creations of the Jonathan Administration is most uncharitable.
Having said that, let me remind you of some of the things we have done to curb violent crime in the country. We have reorganized the Nigerian Police Force and appointed a more dynamic leadership to oversee its affairs. We have also improved its manpower levels as well as funding, training and logistical support.
We have also increased the surveillance capabilities of the Police and provided its air-wing with thrice the number of helicopters it had before the inception of the present administration. The National Civil Defence and Security Corps has been armed to make it a much more effective ally of the police and other security agencies in the war against violent crime. At both domestic and international levels, we are doing everything possible to curb the proliferation of the small arms and light weapons with which armed robberies, kidnappings and piracy are perpetrated. We have also enhanced security at our borders to curb cross-border crimes.
We are aggressively addressing the challenge of crude oil theft in collaboration with the state Governors. In addition, the Federal Government has engaged the British and US governments for their support in the tracking of the proceeds from the purchase of stolen crude. Similarly, a regional Gulf of Guinea security strategy has been initiated to curb crude oil theft and piracy.
Perhaps the most invidious accusation in your letter is the allegation that I have placed over one thousand Nigerians on a political watch list, and that I am training snipers and other militia to assassinate people. Baba, I don’t know where you got that from but you do me grave injustice in not only lending credence to such baseless rumours, but also publicizing it. You mentioned God seventeen times in your letter. Can you as a Christian hold the Bible and say that you truly believe this allegation?
The allegation of training snipers to assassinate political opponents is particularly incomprehensible to me. Since I started my political career as a Deputy Governor, I have never been associated with any form of political violence. I have been a President for over three years now, with a lot of challenges and opposition mainly from the high and mighty. There have certainly been cases of political assassination since the advent of our Fourth Republic, but as you well know, none of them occurred under my leadership.
Regarding the over one thousand people you say are on a political watch list, I urge you to kindly tell Nigerians who they are and what agencies of government are “watching” them. Your allegation that I am using security operatives to harass people is also baseless. Nigerians are waiting for your evidence of proof. That was an accusation made against previous administrations, including yours, but it is certainly not my style and will never be. Again, if you insist on the spurious claim that some of your relatives and friends are being harassed, I urge you to name them and tell Nigerians what agencies of my administration are harassing them.
I also find it difficult to believe that you will accuse me of assisting murderers, or assigning a presidential delegation to welcome a murderer. This is a most unconscionable and untrue allegation. It is incumbent on me to remind you that I am fully conscious of the dictates of my responsibilities to God and our dear nation. It is my hope that devious elements will not take advantage of your baseless allegation to engage in brazen and wanton assassination of high profile politicians as before, hiding under the alibi your “open letter” has provided for them.
Nevertheless, I have directed the security agencies and requested the National Human Rights Commission to carry out a thorough investigation of these criminal allegations and make their findings public.
That corruption is an issue in Nigeria is indisputable. It has been with us for many years. You will recall that your kinsman, the renowned afro-beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti famously sang about it during your first stint as Head of State. Sonny Okosun also sang about corruption. And as you may recall, a number of Army Generals were to be retired because of corruption before the Dimka coup. Also, the late General Murtala Mohammed himself wanted to retire some top people in his cabinet on corruption-related issues before he was assassinated. Even in this Fourth Republic, the Siemens and Halliburton scandals are well known.
The seed of corruption in this country was planted a long time ago, but we are doing all that we can to drastically reduce its debilitating effects on national development and progress. I have been strengthening the institutions established to fight corruption. I will not shield any government official or private individual involved in corruption, but I must follow due process in all that I do. And whenever clear cases of corruption or fraud have been established, my administration has always taken prompt action in keeping with the dictates of extant laws and procedures. You cannot claim to be unaware of the fact that several highly placed persons in our country, including sons of some of our party leaders are currently facing trial for their involvement in the celebrated subsidy scam affair. I can hardly be blamed if the wheels of justice still grind very slowly in our country, but we are doing our best to support and encourage the judiciary to quicken the pace of adjudication in cases of corruption.
Baba, I am amazed that with all the knowledge garnered from your many years at the highest level of governance in our country, you could still believe the spurious allegation contained in a letter written to me by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and surreptitiously obtained by you, alleging that USD49.8 billion, a sum equal to our entire national budget for two years, is “unaccounted for” by the NNPC. Since, as President, you also served for many years as Minister of Petroleum Resources, you very well know the workings of the corporation. It is therefore intriguing that you have made such an assertion. You made a lot of insinuations about oil theft, shady dealings at the NNPC and the NNPC not remitting the full proceeds of oil sales to the of CBN. Now that the main source of the allegations which you rehashed has publicly stated that he was “misconstrued”, perhaps you will find it in your heart to apologize for misleading unwary Nigerians and impugning the integrity of my administration on that score.
Your claim of “Atlantic Oil loading about 130, 000 barrels sold by Shell and managed on behalf of NPDC with no sale proceeds paid into the NPDC account” is also disjointed and baseless because no such arrangement as you described exists between Atlantic Oil and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company. NPDC currently produces about 138, 000 barrels of oil per day from over 7 producing assets. The Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) of the NNPC markets all of this production on behalf of NPDC with proceeds paid into NPDC account.
I am really shocked that with all avenues open to you as a former Head of State for the verification of any information you have received about state affairs, you chose to go public with allegations of “high corruption” without offering a shred of supporting evidence. One of your political “sons” similarly alleged recently that he told me of a minister who received a bribe of $250 Million from an oil company and I did nothing about it. He may have been playing from a shared script, but we have not heard from him again since he was challenged to name the minister involved and provide the evidence to back his claim. I urge you, in the same vein, to furnish me with the names, facts and figures of a single verifiable case of the “high corruption” which you say stinks all around my administration and see whether the corrective action you advocate does not follow promptly. And while you are at it, you may also wish to tell Nigerians the true story of questionable waivers of signature bonuses between 2000 and 2007.
While, by the Grace of God Almighty, I am the first President from a minority group, I am never unmindful of the fact that I was elected leader of the whole of Nigeria and I have always acted in the best interest of all Nigerians. You referred to the divisive actions and inflammatory utterances of some individuals from the South-South and asserted that I have done nothing to call them to order or distance myself from their ethnic chauvinism. Again that is very untrue. I am as committed to the unity of this country as any patriot can be and I have publicly declared on many occasions that no person who threatens other Nigerians or parts of the country is acting on my behalf.
It is very regrettable that in your letter, you seem to place sole responsibility for the ongoing intrigues and tensions in the PDP at my doorstep, and going on from that position, you direct all your appeals for a resolution at me. Baba, let us all be truthful to ourselves, God and posterity. At the heart of all the current troubles in our party and the larger polity is the unbridled jostling and positioning for personal or group advantage ahead of the 2015 general elections. The “bitterness, anger, mistrust, fear and deep suspicion” you wrote about all flow from this singular factor.
It is indeed very unfortunate that the seeming crisis in the party was instigated by a few senior members of the party, including you. But, as leader of the party, I will continue to do my best to unite it so that we can move forward with strength and unity of purpose. The PDP has always recovered from previous crises with renewed vigour and vitality. I am very optimistic that that will be the case again this time. The PDP will overcome any temporary setback, remain a strong party and even grow stronger.
Instigating people to cause problems and disaffection within the party is something that you are certainly familiar with. You will recall that founding fathers of the Party were frustrated out of the Party at a time. Late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was pushed out, Late Chief Solomon Lar left and later came back, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Chief Tom Ikimi also left. Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo left and later came back. In 2005/2006, link-men were sent to take over party structures from PDP Governors in an unveiled attempt to undermine the state governors. In spite of that, the Governors did not leave the Party because nobody instigated and encouraged them to do so.
The charge that I was involved in anti-party activities in governorship elections in Edo, Ondo, Lagos, and Anambra States is also very unfortunate. I relate with all Governors irrespective of political party affiliation but I have not worked against the interest of the PDP. What I have not done is to influence the electoral process to favour our Party. You were definitely never so inclined, since you openly boasted in your letter of how you supported Alhaji Shehu Shagari against Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and others in the 1979 presidential elections while serving as a military Head of State. You and I clearly differ in this regard, because as the President of Nigeria, I believe it is my duty and responsibility to create a level playing field for all parties and all candidates.
Recalling how the PDP lost in states where we were very strong in 2003 and 2007 such as Edo, Ondo, Imo, Bauchi, Anambra, and Borno, longstanding members of our great party with good memory will also consider the charge of anti-party activities you made against me as misdirected and hugely hypocritical. It certainly was not Goodluck Jonathan’s “personal ambition or selfish interest” that caused the PDP to lose the governorship of Ogun State and all its senatorial seats in the last general elections.
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 so as 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.
Your allegation that I asked half a dozen African Presidents to speak to you about my alleged ambition for 2015, is also untrue. I have never requested any African President to discuss with you on my behalf. In our discussion, I mentioned to you that four Presidents told me that they were concerned about the political situation in Nigeria and intended to talk to you about it. So far, only three of them have confirmed to me that they have had any discussion with you. If I made such a request, why would I deny it?
The issue of Buruji Kashamu is one of those lies that should not be associated with a former President. The allegation that I am imposing Kashamu on the South-West is most unfortunate and regrettable. I do not even impose Party officials in my home state of Bayelsa and there is no zone in this country where I have imposed officials. So why would I do so in the South West? Baba, in the light of Buruji’s detailed public response to your “open letter”, it will be charitable for you to render an apology to Nigerians and I.
On the issue of investors being scared to come to Nigeria, economic dormancy, and stagnation, I will just refer you to FDI statistics from 2000 to 2013. Within the last three years, Nigeria has emerged as the preferred destination for investments in Africa, driven by successful government policies to attract foreign investors. For the second year running, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Investments (UNCTAD) has ranked Nigeria as the number one destination for investments in Africa, and as having the fourth highest returns in the world.
Today, Nigeria is holding 18 percent of all foreign investments in Africa and 60 percent of all foreign investments in the ECOWAS Sub-Region. Kindly note also that in the seven years between 2000 and 2007 when you were President, Nigeria attracted a total of $24.9 Billion in FDI. As a result of our efforts which you disparage, the country has seen an FDI inflow of $25.7 Billion in just three years which is more than double the FDI that has gone to the second highest African destination. We have also maintained an annual national economic growth rate of close to seven per cent since the inception of this administration. What then, is the justification for your allegation of scared investors and economic dormancy?
Although it was not emphasized in your letter of December 2, 2013, you also conveyed, in previous correspondence, the impression that you were ignorant of the very notable achievements of my administration in the area of foreign relations. It is on record that under my leadership, Nigeria has played a key role in resolving the conflicts in Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea Bissau and others.
The unproductive rivalry that existed between Nigeria and some ECOWAS countries has also been ended under my watch and Nigeria now has better relations with all the ECOWAS countries. At the African Union, we now have a Commissioner at the AU Commission after being without one for so long. We were in the United Nations Security Council for the 2010/2011 Session and we have been voted in again for the 2014/2015 Session. From independence to 2010, we were in the U.N. Security Council only three times but from 2010 to 2015, we will be there two times.
This did not happen by chance. My Administration worked hard for it and we continue to maintain the best possible relations with all centres of global political and economic power. I find it hard therefore, to believe your assertions of untoward concern in the international community over the state of governance in Nigeria
With respect to the Brass and Olokola LNG projects, you may have forgotten that though you started these projects, Final Investment Decisions were never reached. For your information, NNPC has not withdrawn from either the Olokola or the Brass LNG projects.
On the Rivers State Water Project, you were misled by your informant. The Federal Government under my watch has never directed or instructed the Africa Development Bank to put on hold any project to be executed in Rivers state or any other State within the Federation. The Rivers Water Project was not originally in the borrowing plan but it was included in April 2013 and appraised in May. Negotiations are ongoing with the AfDB. I have no doubt that you are familiar with the entire process that prefaces the signing of a Subsidiary Loan Agreement as in this instance.
Let me assure you and all Nigerians that I do not engage in negative political actions and will never, as President, oppress the people of a State or deprive them of much needed public services as a result of political disagreement
I have noted your comments on the proposed National Conference. Contrary to the insinuation in your letter, the proposed conference is aimed at bringing Nigerians together to resolve contentious national issues in a formal setting. This is a sure way of promoting greater national consensus and unity, and not a recipe for “disunity, confusion and chaos” as you alleged in your letter.
Having twice held the high office of President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I trust that you will understand that I cannot possibly find the time to offer a line-by-line response to all the accusations and allegations made in your letter while dealing with other pressing demands of office and more urgent affairs of state.
I have tried, however, to respond to only the most serious of the charges which question my sincerity, personal honour, and commitment to the oath which I have sworn, to always uphold and protect the interests of all Nigerians, and promote their well-being.
In closing, let me state that you have done me grave injustice with your public letter in which you wrongfully accused me of deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, clannishness, divisiveness and insincerity, amongst other ills.
I have not, myself, ever claimed to be all-knowing or infallible, but I have never taken Nigeria or Nigerians for granted as you implied, and I will continue to do my utmost to steer our ship of state towards the brighter future to which we all aspire.
Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration and warm regards.
GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)