Politics

Nigerias First Lady Behind Military iinability to bring back the Chibok Girls 

A trusted inner-circle confidant of the Nigerian

President, Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that the

First-Lady/president’s wife, Patience Jonathan is

behind the refusal of the State security services and

defense forces to rescue and free over 200 girls

abducted from a school in Chibok, mid April.

According to the source who demanded absolute

confidentiality, the President told him that his wife

said, “the girls and their families must suffer as she

suffered humiliation in the eyes of the world,” further

threatening the president that “he should get rid of her

(President’s wife) first, before he dares to order the

rescue of the abducted girls.”

The source said that this is why several successful

efforts to free the girls were aborted by executive

order of the president at the last minute. Source said

the American experts involved in rescuing the girls

were exasperated — that despite accurate intelligence

shared which made safe rescue missions possible since

several weeks ago, Nigeria simply refused to give the

order.

It would be recollected that a Boko Haram

sympathizer and chief negotiator, Ahmad Saldika was

flown in from the UAE to negotiate the release of the

girls in early June. He had successfully struck a deal

and took a video showing the girls with Boko Haram to

the presidential Villa, however at the last minute when

the swap of the girls for non-combatant Boko Haram

‘sympathizer’ prisoners was to be conducted, the

president suddenly called in from France where he

was attending an anti-terror summit, and aborted the

mission. He said that this was due to pressure from his

wife.

The source also reminded us that when the Chief of

Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh had

revealed to Nigeria that they knew exactly where the

abducted girls were, the presidency displayed its anger

towards him for making this known to the press.

He explained that president Goodluck Jonathan’s

hands were tied by his wife who felt so humiliated

when videos, songs and even T-shirts of her crying

and making incoherent utterances [#DiaRISGODo]

went viral. Source said, she took it very personal with

the victims, the teachers and families for turning her

down when she invited them over for a coffee meeting

to crush the globally spreading scandal of the

abduction.

Source further said, the First-lady has never felt so

humiliated in her life, and recognized that the scandal

of the abduction and failed efforts including her and

government denials, and publication of a fake rescue

after the event, made this (abduction) incident the

major challenge to a second term ambition. As such,

she said for as long as she lives, the girls must remain

in the forest and die with the terrorists.

According to our reliable informant, it is open

knowledge in executive and top military circles that

the 200+ girls could be rescued within 24 hours of an

order by the president however such order was not

forthcoming due to ‘domestic matters.’

“If you want the girls out tomorrow, talk to Patience,”

he concluded.

Sales of Forms for both Exco and Parliament in the Faculty of Education to Expire on the 17th of January 2014

This is to remind all interested candidates vouching for post and membership in both the executive arm and the legislative arm of the above faculty that their sales of form expires on the 17th of January. Interested candidates are hereby urged to buy their form and submit it on or before that date as no extension would be given. 

We thank the Electorial committee for the expending work done to ensure the Electorial process kick-starts albeit all obstacles caused by the ASUU strike. In same vain we urge all politically inclined personnel not to over heat the polity so as to ensure a fair election without violence.

We also seek the understanding of the good and great students of NUESA to participate in this election although date is yet to be released.

Let us all come together mad vote for the person who is both reliable and credible. 

Let us all come together to vote for the person whom we know will utilize our dues without any question of character.

Let us all come together to build NUESA.

11/012014

REVEALED: Why Amaechi Was Blocked From Entering Government House

The Rivers state police command has explained the reason for barring the governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi from entering his residence through the Forces Avenue main entrance to the Government House.

The governor who was on Thursday returning from an inspection tour of projects in the state was barred by gun-totting policemen who barricaded the entrance.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Angela Angela Agabe (DSP), the entrance was blocked as a measure to prevent a breakdown of law and order after a splinter group of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in the state opened a secretariat on the same

road. All roads leading to Forces Avenue were immediately closed.

The governor’s Chief of Staff, Tony Okocha had earlier led members of a faction of the PDP to open the secretariat at 38, Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt. The ‘secretariat’ was, however, later closed down by the police who were said to be acting on superior orders.

“You can’t do this. Not here. We will not allow it,” ordered the police deputy commissioner, Sam Ogaora, who reportedly led the police team.

“We will go all out to ensure that we maintain law and order in this state. Anybody that takes the law into his hands will be dealt with accordingly. That is exactly what we have done here. We don’t have any secretariat here and anybody who has come here to hoist any flag will be dealt with. Nothing more than that,” he said.

While explaining the closure, the state police PPRO says the governor could have made use of other entrances to the Government House seeing no reason for the ruckus being generated. “The governor has other routes to get to the Government House. So I don’t see how this should be an issue,” Agabe said.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/47023.html

Jonathan Storms Out Of Reconciliation Meeting; Accuses Obasanjo Of Being Behind PDP Crisis

President Goodluck Jonathan lashed out at former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing him of being the mastermind of the intractable crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, reliable presidency sources have said.

“Obasanjo created the problem, he should go and solve it,” Mr. Jonathan was quoted as saying at a meeting he held with leading members of the Abubakar Baraje’s faction of the party on Sunday night.

The reconciliation meeting was called a day after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, seven state governors, and some other party top guns walked out of the party’s national convention in Abuja and then announced the formation of a parallel faction.

Mr. Obasanjo was not at the meeting but both men had worshipped together at the Aso Rock chapel earlier that day.

Sources at the meeting said after the “dissident” governors, led by Kano State Governor, Musa Kwankwaso, tabled their grievances; a livid President Jonathan fumed about how opposition elements within his party were trying to blackmail him to submission.

He then suddenly rose from his seat and stormed out of the meeting saying, while going away, that he was no longer in the mood for any reconciliation talk and that Mr. Obasanjo, who created the mess in the party in the first place, should be allowed to clear it.

“We were shocked when the president walked out of the meeting in anger saying he had grown increasingly frustrated by Mr. Obasanjo’s destabilizing antics,” one of our sources said. “He pointedly accused the former president of being behind the crisis.”

Another source said as the president hurried away, the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Tony Anenih, ran after him pleading with him to return.

He eventually returned.

The president’s adviser on political matters, Ahmed Gulak, as well as his senior special assistant on public affairs, Doyin Okupe, did not answer or return calls to their mobile telephones when PREMIUM TIMES sought to get their comments for this story.

Mr. Obasanjo could also not be reached.

Reports of the president’s comment and behaviour at the closed-door meeting came shortly before a pro-Jonathan group, Media Network for Transformation, circulated a statement in Abuja accusing Mr. Obasanjo of destabilizing the PDP and asking him to call his associates to other.

“Apart from being their sponsor, the rebel governors draw their inspiration from him,” Goodluck Ebelo, Coordinator of the group, said in the statement. “Apart from numerous clandestine meetings, President Obasanjo started his public romance with the rebel flank when he became unavoidably absent at this year’s Democracy Day celebration in Abuja, but vigorously participated in the day’s activities in Dutse, Jigawa State.

That was followed by the rebel governors’ visit to his Abeokuta home.”

Mr. Ebelo was not done. He continued, “Then came last Saturday, and Chief Obasanjo’s mischief literarily flew over the Eagle Square venue of the Special Convention. Unavoidably absent, again, he was to turn up the next day in Church, at the Presidential Villa. Made a few platitudinous remarks on the need for a peaceful resolution of the crisis and thereafter called a meeting. His meeting failed and will continue to fail.

“Chief Obasanjo cannot continue to be hands of Esau and the voice of Jacob at the same time. No arbiter, who is the guiding light of the rebels can make peace. Peace, in this matter, will continue to elude President Obasanjo because his activities are the very antithesis of the conditions precedent to peace.

“Unfortunately, his eight years in office provides no road map to resolving a political dispute. All that can be gleaned from the debris of his time in power, are abuse of institutions of State in shutting down dissent, hounding political opponents into prison and forcing a party chairman to resign at gun point. Little wonder that such baleful legacy dogs his attempt at making peace.

“President Obasanjo has to come out publicly to renounce his ties with seven governors who are trying to impose their will on the remaining twenty nine states and the Federal Capital Territory or acknowledge them and be treated like them. The governors are welcome to contest the PDP primaries, individually or present a candidate. That’s democracy. But for persons, who themselves, stood for elections for their second terms to demand that Mr. President cannot avail himself such amenity is not only rude but feudal.”

Our sources said before the president’s brief walkout at the peace meeting, the aggrieved governors had accused Mr. Jonathan of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to hound governors and other party chiefs considered opposed to him.

Specifically, the governors, according to our sources, accused the president of having masterminded the recent investigation of Senator Bukola Saraki and conviction of a son of Governor Sule Lamido for under declaring the amount of foreign exchange he was taking abroad.

The governors also reportedly asked the president to keep his promise to run for only one term and jettison his 2015 presidential ambition.

In response, Mr. Jonathan reportedly denied being behind the investigation of anyone by the EFCC, saying most of the investigations commenced long before he came to power.

O

n the request that he shuts down his presidential ambition, Mr. Jonathan was quoted as saying he would not surrender his right to vote and be voted for.

Stop Disgracing Me, Jonathan Begs PDP Governors; Breakaway Faction Gives Conditions For Meeting

Posted: September 2, 2013

Jonathan, who is still coping with the unexpected shock he received yesterday when seven governors broke away from the party to form a parallel PDP during the party's mini convention in Abuja, called the governors to a peace meeting at the Presidential Villa on Sunday night.

But as of the time of this report, only 16 of the 23 governors, including those of the G5+ who had been on a consultation tour, had arrived at the meeting, which was being held at the previously-unknown First Lady wing in the villa. Several of the governors hurriedly left Abuja to avoid meeting with the

president.

They were Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Idris Wada (Kogi), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Murktar Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Garba Umar (Taraba Acting Governor), Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Theodore Orji (Abia), and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe).

Also present at the meeting were the counsel to PDP, Joe Kyari Gadzama; the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; and the Chief of Staff to the president, Mike Oghiadhome.

President Jonathan, along with his deputy, Namadi Sambo and some members of the PDP leadership, arrived at the venue of the meeting at exactly 9.27pm, while the governors were waiting.

Sources at the meeting said the President urged the governors to stop disgracing him at public.

The source said, "The President, who looked subdued, begged the governors to sheathe their swords and stop disgracing him in the public."

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the breakway faction of the party sent Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to offer Mr. Jonathan two conditions for a meeting with him: step down from running in 2015, and let the party hold a fresh convention.

The split in the ruling party has seriously unsettled Mr. Jonathan, and earlier on Sunday, he invited former president Obasanjo to an emergency meeting.

It was learned that Mr. Obasanjo, who had earlier met with some of the rebellious governors, was the one who advised President Jonathan to invite the governors to an emergency meeting.

 A source at the presidency said they were shocked that the breakaway governors only sent Mr. Kwankwaso to the meeting with the president as they had expected all the governors to be in attendance.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal is also contemplating pledging allegiance to the New PDP.  A source told SaharaReporters that a lot of activities will change in the political landscape this week as a lot of political interests within the ruling party plan to abandon Mr. Jonathan and his team by openly pledging allegiance to the breakaway faction

PDP elects new national officers amidst major crack (See full list)

By Wale Odunsi on September 1, 2013

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday elected new officials into its National Working Committee, NWC.

The event was however not without drama, physical attacks and protest by opposing members and delegates.

Governors including Chibuike Rotimi of Rivers State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Muritala Nyako of Adamawa and the latest being Usman Sa’idu Nasamu Dakingari of Kebbi, walked out of the venue in anger.

The convention was organised after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, cited fraud in the last year’s process that produced them.

The INEC in its report on the conduct of March 24, 2012 National Convention of the PDP criticized the processes. It said, ”The mode of election adopted for single candidates was not in accordance with the mode of election stipulated in paragraph 6.5 (i) of the guidelines for the conduct of the year 2012 congresses and national convention and therefore not acceptable to the commission”.

It declared that only four NWC members were duly elected. They are the National Chairman, Tukur; former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former National Auditor, Bode Mustapha and National Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani. Mustapha has since been replaced by Adewale Adeyanju as national auditor.

Those INEC said were elected outside the guidelines set for the convention include erstwhile Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; National Organizing Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; National Youth Leader, Alhaji Garba Chiza; Deputy National Youth Leader, Dennis Alonge Niyi; Deputy National Auditor, Senator Umar Ibrahim; Deputy National Woman Leader, Hannatu Ullam and National Woman Leader, Kema Chikwe.

Others are former Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Okechukwu Nnadozie; Deputy National Treasurer, Claudus Inengas; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh and Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Binta Masi-Garba

At the end of Saturday’s voting, the following were declared winners and are henceforth the new set of national officers of the party.

1. Deputy National Chairman- Secundus Uche 2241 votes

2. National Treasurer: Bala Buhari 2181

3. Deputy National Publicity Secretary – Jalo Abdullahi Ibrahim 2215

4. National Organizing Secretary – Mustapha Abubakar 2125

5. Deputy National Legal Adviser – Bashir Maidugu 2011

6. Deputy National Organizing Secretary – Nnadozie Okechkwu 2226

7. National Legal Adviser – Kwonm Victor Yususfu 2053

8. Deputy National Financial Secretary-Gwadabe Awwalu Abdu- 2316

9. Deputy National Secretary – Onwe Solomon Onwe- 2051

10. National Publicity Secretary – Olisa Metuh- 1956

11. National Woman Leader – Kema Chikwe- 2011

12. Deputy National Auditor – Lawal Anche- 2221

13. Deputy National Woman Leader – Ulam Hannatu- 2154

14. National Youth leader (2 candidates) Baba Wakili -421 and Abdullahi Maibasira 1547

15. Deputy National Youth leader – (3 candidates) Victor Modupe, 25. Ogunmole Felix 423 and Alonge Olaniyi Dennis 1045. 118 votes were voided.

However, the chairman of the electoral committee, Ken Nnamani announced that “there is a serious petition against the election of the National Youth leader because the winner did not participate in the screening exercise”

He said the petition will be considered later.

The winners received certificates of return. The oath of office was administered by Justice Ricky Tarfa, SAN.

Former chairman, Bello Haliru Mohammed moved the motion for the closing of the convention. It was seconded by the FCT Minister of state Olajumoke Akinjide.

Earlier in the day, Govenors and chieftains of the ruling party led by a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, stormed out of the venue not long after voting commenced.

Part of the reasons for their action was that virtually all their candidates were tactically disqualified from taking part in the contest.

Already, they have announced a parallel faction of the ‘Africa’s largest party’, with a promise to ensure fairnes, justice, equity and unity.

Why I want to contest N/Assembly election – Erewa

on August 31, 2013   /   in Politics 12:08 am   

Hon Meyiwa Jehoida Erewa (JP) is a renown Chartered Surveyor and Estate Valuer in Delta State. A man of many parts, Erewa is the pioneer Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Warri South Local Government Area of the State. With an eye on the House of Representatives come 2015. In this interview,  he speaks on how to provide an all -inclusive representation for the multi-ethnic Warri Federal Constituency and other issues. Excerpt:

What special qualities do you think you possess that has made groups and people call on you to contest forHouse of Representatives elections come 2015 ?

Since I joined politics several years age, I have been in the vanguard of politics that will better mankind. There were three principles that made me join politics then : I cannot sit and watch some persons that are not experienced to be my leader; secondly, I cannot be here begging cap- in- hand when politics is there to enhance the economy; and thirdly, I won’t allow politics to insult my institution. By institution, I mean, myself, family, tribe and culture.

There are instances where persons of substance because they are not in politics, their cars are impounded and dropped in the council until they pay huge amounts of money before it can be released but those who are in politics that are uneducated park at the centre of the road and yet their vehicles are not impounded. With all these reasons, I believe that politics will go a long way to promote my institution, release me from begging and improve the economy.

Why did you accept these calls, knowing that politics in Nigeria requires a lot of money?

I don’t believe in money politics because when I came into politics, I didn’t spend money. I believe in the quality in you, the way the people assess and accept you. All these years, I have been in politics, I have grown to the height of my profession where I can be comfortable with myself. But sitting at home and my office will not help mankind. Many people today are in their homes and offices comfortable and yet others are suffering. Politics is not all about money.

Meyiwa Jehoida Erewa

It is about service and bringing development to the people. Let me digress a little, Daudu street area where I hail from in Warri is still the way it was in 1948 . No development. If you view the area I am talking about from the air, you will see that the colonial masters did a lot in terms of infrastructure. Most of the structures there were built by the colonial masters. The road network is quite okay but the conviniences should be in line with modern trends.

Most of the houses in this area have no such facilities. Those that built them are all dead and those enjoying it today cannot develop it, all they are looking for is how tenants can pay them money. The government can help by coming up with a policy and asking them to come with the survey plan of their land, then they will come into agreement, call the pay back period. Then, the government will develop the land. Thereafter, the man who owns the land will be collecting 40 percent of the rent, while government will collect 60 percent till the amount for the development would be completed.

With such a policy, you will find out that we will bring a new life and development to these areas and these are the things politics only can do. It is only the government and multinational companies that can do it. Ofcourse, the multinational companies will not do it because they are here to maximize their profit. I believe if given the opportunity to serve at the Federal House of Representatives, I will attract government to do it because I want to be in government to protect the minority.

How do you intend to give an all inclusive representation vis-a-vis the multi-ethnic setting of the Warri Federal Constituency and your take on zoning of political position in Nigeria?

All democracies are peculiar in Nigeria, because our federal character zoning has contributed immensely to our oneness, peace and political stability. It has given a sense of belonging to all sections of the country and it is my candid opinion that it should be given legal backing by enshrining it ‘in the Nigerian constitution.“If you take the Warri Federal Constituency for example, you will find out that since 1999 when democracy came to stay permanently in Nigeria, no politician from Warri South LGA has represented the constituency in the Federal House of Representatives while Warri South- West LGA and Warri North LGA have been there for two tenures each and we are saying that for political stability, equity, justice and fair play, 2015 is the turn of Warri South LGA.

I support zoning because of it’s unifying force. There is no place in Nigeria where you don’t have different ethnic groups because the constitution states that if you have lived in a place for ten years, you can vote and be voted for. We are not talking of the indigenes who can vote and be voted for. There was a time when someone from Agbor became a councilor in Warri because he was popular in his area. There was another time when an Hausa man was made a ward executive in Warri. All we are saying is that the people who you are going to serve must believe in you and they must have the confidence that you can deliver for them based on your relationship with them over the years. Like I keep saying, in every family we know who can be a treasurer.

Briefly assess Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration and Delta at 22?

Nobody will ever say the man has not done well. It is not easy to continue from where your predecessor stopped and still do more because first you will have to maintain the projects he left for you and to improve on the standard to enable the man who wants to take over from you have a platform to continue. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to a large extent engaged in mega projects which are capital intensive. We may not see the benefit of it until they are completed.

When Warri was to be dualized, critics did not allow people to rest but today if you take a ride around Okere, Cemetery, Warri-Sapele and other roads, you will enjoy it because they are all well tarred. Some persons that left Warri years ago, if they return now may not know their compound because of the development .Political opportunities have transformed Warri and other towns believe Uduaghan is doing well and should be given opportunity to do more, and the opportunity to aspire to higher position for continuity purposes.

A child at 22 is still growing; the level we have attained now is commendable. I really appreciate Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for the ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ initiative. It is really improving the lot of the people because the oil servicing companies have not done well in terms of development of host communities. The Delta beyond oil initiative is gradually diverting our attention from oil and that is a sign of positive development in the future.

Do you think there is a threat to the political space in Nigeria ahead 2015 election?

I don’t think so because all over the world, nobody wants military to come to power. You can see the reaction of civilians in countries where the military wants to take over power because they want the people to be ruled by the people. So the era of military rule is gone. Democracy will surely thrive but the only place I see that is not strong enough is the legislature.

For now, I think the legislature is still growing because they have not been able to come up with fundamental laws and bill that will better the lot of the people. All the laws in operation today were put there by the executives. Up till now, we have not been able to come up with an amended constitution. We should look at policies. I know no law is easy, it is either we amend and modernize it to better the lots of the people.

The judiciary and the executive work” with the law and it is my impetus to contest for the House of Representatives. They should allow performance to take its place. The last election in Edo state was done base on performance because Governor Adams Oshiomhole performed creditably well in his first term. We are coming to the days where performance will determine who to be voted for. Come 2015, anybody that wants to contest must have a track record and not money.

As a pioneer local government Chairman of the PDP, how would you rate 14 years of PDP rule in Delta state?

PDP is a big party; it is one of the biggest parties in Africa. One of the major tasks we have is to manage human beings. Selection vis-a.-vis people representing the party at various positions have been a problem and in my time as the Chairman of PDP in Warri South Local Government Area, we advocated for true primaries because anything you do, if you don’t do check and balances, you’d will not grow.