PDP’ll sack Ajimobi in 2015 –Makinde

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

A governorship aspirant in Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Seyi Makinde, has said that the opposition party would win the 2015 governorship election in the state.

He stated this in Abuja on Wednesday when he submitted his expression of interest form to contest the governorship primaries on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo state.

Makinde said, “The PDP will sack Governor Abiola Ajimobi from office next year.”

While welcoming Makinde’s delegation to his office in Abuja, the National Organising Secretary of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, on Wednesday, described Makinde as a man of the people.

Abaubakar noted that the presence of the National Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Wale Oladipo, and other chieftains of the PDP on the entourage of Makinde showed that the aspirant has notable connections.

Makinde explained that the process of taking Oyo from the All Progressives Congress had begun with his submission of the expression of interest form.

He said, “I am proud of the quality of the state executive. I only demand a level playing field during the primary so that the most popular aspirant could emerge as candidate. I know that I will emerge as the Oyo PDP governorship candidate in a free and fair primary.

“All over the world, age, intelligence, vibrancy, passion, integrity and dedication are qualities of great leaders. 

I have these qualities and I want to offer myself for service of the my people.”

Polling units: Afenifere asks Jega to resign

 

A pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has kicked against giving autonomy to local government administration in the country in the recently concluded amendments to the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.

The group also called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to resign over his planned creation of additional 30,000 polling units across the country.

The group reached these conclusions after its meeting held in Akure on Tuesday at the residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasaranti.

Addressing journalists at the event, the Chairman of Afenifere, Ondo State Chapter, Chief Korede Duyile, said Afenifere had lost confidence in Jega’s capacity to conduct credible elections in 2015.

“Jega is pursuing a course that will affect the credibility of the next general election if he insists on going ahead with the creation of the additional polling units,” he said.

According to him, the creation of the units was totally against the interest of the southern part of the country, given that over 20,000 of the new units would be located in the north.

“We believe that Jega is acting on this based on uninformed issues. His actions are against the interest of those in the southern part of this country,” Duyile said.

On local government autonomy, he said the group had called on the Federal Government to come out clear on the recommendations of the National Conference before the report is eroded by actions by the National Assembly.

He noted that the granting of autonomy to local governments contradicted the position of the confab on local councils.

According to Afenifere, the recommendation was for the scrapping of the local government system from the constitution, so that states would be responsible for the creation and administration of local governments.

He also said the Afenifere was undergoing reorganisation to allow for an expansion of its membership given renewed interest from young elements from the Yoruba speaking communities to join the group.

Tambuwal: Jonathan calls emergency PDP meeting

 

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday engaged some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in a meeting aimed at taking a common position on the Tuesday defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

The meeting took place hours after the House said the PDP, individuals and groups condemning the defection of   the speaker to the All Progressives Congress should not dictate to it on how to conduct its affairs.

Tambuwal had announced his defection from the PDP before he adjourned sitting till December 3.

The situation made the President to summon the National Chairman of the PDP,   Adamu Mu’azu, to the meeting which had the Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha; the Deputy Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor; and a member from Delta State, Ndudi Elumelu, in attendance.

Some PDP governors such as Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa): Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu) were also part of the meeting.

Top government officials who attended the parley   included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; the National Security Adviser,   Sambo Dasuki; and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN).

One of those in attendance told one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity that the meeting centered on how to make Tambuwal vacate his seat as speaker.

“The issue of the Speaker and his exit was one of the fundamental issues discussed at the meeting,” he   said.

The source however did not disclose the decision reached at the meeting.

Another source said that Ihedioha “took the heat at the meeting.”

He did not explain further.

The presence of Adoke and Dasuki at the meeting suggested that they might have reviewed the legal and security implications of the options available to them with the two government officials.

Earlier, Mu’azu had at another meeting   the President had   with a delegation of the Federal Capital Territory Council of Chiefs,   dropped the hint that Jonathan summoned him.

“The President had summoned me for a meeting. I was with him when he wanted to come and receive you and he told me to follow you. I only did follow follow,” he had told members of the delegation.

The PDP had shortly after Tambuwal announced his defection called on him to do the needful by resigning as speaker.

The party, argued through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, that since Tambuwal became the speaker on the ticket of the “majority party (PDP), he had no right to continue to occupy the seat.

But the House said on Tuesday that   the PDP and most of the commentators on the issue were “ignorant” of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the House Standing Orders.

The   Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs,   Victor Ogene, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues,   said Tambuwal did not breach any law in defecting to the APC.

He also noted that there was no provision in the constitution prescribing that the speaker must be elected from among the majority party members.

Ogene cited Section 50 (1)(b) of the constitution to buttress his argument.

He said, “The clear provisions of Section 50(1) (b) of the Nigerian Constitution easily settle the worries regarding the continued speakership of Tambuwal – ‘There shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.’’’

He also noted that the speaker was elected as the representative of the “generality of Nigerians” and not necessarily because he belonged to a particular political party.

On the views of some “commentators” that Tambuwal should have vacated his office by virtue of the provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the constitution, he replied that the matter was still awaiting judicial decision.

Ogene added, “It is common knowledge that following the defection of 37 members of the House in December 2013, from the PDP to APC, there has been multiple court cases on the matter, thus rendering it subjudice to discuss any likely outcome.

“Everyone is thus enjoined to await the final judicial pronouncement on the issue of defection, which has afflicted virtually all political parties in the land.”

He warned the PDP   against interfering with the lawmakers’ “privilege” and constitutionally-guaranteed freedom to choose their leaders.

Ogene stated, “Additionally, Order 1, Rule 1 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives states: ‘ In all cases not provided for hereinafter, or by sectional or other Orders, precedents or practices of the House, the House shall by resolution regulate its procedure.’

“It is in the light of the foregoing that the House wishes to appeal to those who seek to regulate its procedure from outside its hallowed chambers to have a rethink, as the nation’s Constitution, the Standing Orders of the House and precedent – as in the Speakership of the late Edwin Ume-Ezeoke in the Second Republic on a minority platform – have all provided answers to what would have otherwise been a knotty political issue.”

But as Ogene spoke, the PDP through its National Vice-Chairman of the party in the South-South, Dr. Cairo 

Ojougboh,   vowed to do everything within its powers to regain   the speakership of the House.

Ojougboh told journalists at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja that there was no way Tambuwal and other defectors from the party would be allowed to go away with the party’s mandate.

He said, “PDP is a very disciplined party. If you come and steal in the PDP and use the PDP to elevate yourself and get into office when the time comes, God will get you out like the issue of Tambuwal.

“You can see how God has exposed him. PDP will do everything within the law to regain its seat and that is what we are going to do in Edo and Rivers states as well. We are going back to the South-South to regain our seats.”

 

Jonathan receives N100.5m donations to buy PDP form

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said he had received a total of N100.5m donations and pledges from persons, groups and communities who offered to assist him to pay for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential nomination fee.

The PDP’s Presidential Nomination Fee is N20m and its Expression of Interest Form is N2m, making a total of N22m.

Jonathan said he would pick the nomination form on Thursday (today).

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President thanked all Nigerians who he said had been urging him to seek re-election based on his administration’s achievement in the last four years.

The statement read in part, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will tomorrow, Thursday, October 30 pick up the PDP nomination form for the 2015 Presidential elections.

“President Jonathan thanks all Nigerians, members of the PDP, friends, associates, and all groups who in sincere appreciation of the achievements of the administration in the last four years, have been urging him to seek a second term in office.

“President Jonathan is greatly encouraged by the overwhelming outpouring of goodwill and support, as well as the confidence of the generality of Nigerians in his ability to continue to transform the country for the good of its entire people.

“The President is also grateful to all the persons, groups and communities who have sent donations, and made pledges to assist him to pay the required N22m for the PDP Presidential Nomination Fee and Expression of Interest Form.”

Abati said 36 groups and communities donated to the buy-form-for-Jonathan fund.

According to the breakdown of the donations and pledges received by the President, the highest donors are the PDP Governors’ Forum and the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria that donated N22m each.

Jonathan assured the donors that he would continue to do his best to justify the confidence they reposed in his leadership.

 

Health of boy attacked by dogs worsens

It appears the condition of four-year-old Omonigho Abraham, who was attacked by two dogs in the Igando area of Lagos State about a month ago, has worsened in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja where he is currently receiving treatment.

Rev4mation's world learnt from his father, Odia, that Omonigho’s scalp which was torn off by the German shepherd dogs during the gruesome attack, had not healed and had been giving off an offensive odour.

He said this had given the family serious concern.

Odia told our correspondent on Wednesday that attempts to get the medical report of his condition had also been frustrated by some medical officers in the hospital.

He said, “My boy still complains of pains in different parts of his body. Also, when they open the bandage on his head, you will see that there is no much difference. It’s still like the first time the incident happened.

“In fact, for up to two weeks no consultant or doctor attended to him, and his head started smelling.

“We have been told he may still have to be admitted for six months or up to one year, for the doctors to do a skin-grafting surgery on his open skull. They will cut skin from parts of his body, to cover up the skull.”

He added that he had also continued to foot the bills of the boy, despite the instruction of the state government to the hospital management not to collect any money for his expenses.

Our correspondent gathered that a non-governmental organisation had to raise money for Omonigho’s drugs and over N100, 000 had been purportedly spent in buying drugs, among other expenses.

The report of a fundraising for Omonigho’s medical expenses was said to have angered the management of LASUTH who allegedly accused Odia of making money off his son’s predicament.

The father of three told our correspondent he was called into a meeting on Tuesday in which the management of the hospital promised to start implementing the state government’s pledge to the Abrahams.

He said, “The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Health, has already played its part by writing a letter to LASUTH that it would foot all the bills for which we are grateful.

“But when the letter got to them, they did not implement it. I was still buying the drugs till yesterday (Tuesday) that I was exhausted and I cried out that I did not have any money to buy drugs again.

“That was when the management of the hospital led by the Chief Medical Director, apologised and promised to start implementing the state government’s order.

“I have decided to wait for at least a week and see if they will change, like they promised.”

Odia said the Delta State Government and a few other people were interested in the medical report which had not been issued to him.

“The real issue I have now is that they (LASUTH) have not released the medical report which I asked for since October 16. They (LASUTH) have been directing me from one person to another and I am getting tired. If I see the report, I will know what exactly to do about this issue.”

Attempts to get the reaction of the management of LASUTH proved abortive as its Public Relations Officer, Dele Johnson, neither picked his call nor responded to a text message sent to his phone.

 

Market capitalisation falls by N145bn on investor caution

 The trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange

The stock market closed on a negative note on Tuesday with the market capitalisation of the listed equities declining for the fourth straight trading session.

Specifically, the market capitalisation fell by N145bn or 1.13 per cent from N12.826tn to N12.681tn.

Similarly, the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index fell by 473.59 basis points or 1.13 per cent to close at 38,286.56 basis points, higher than the 0.93 per cent decline it recorded the previous day to close at 38,724.15 basis points.

The NSE 30 Index, which measures the performance of the 30 most capitalised companies on the Exchange, shed 28.4 basis points or 1.6 per cent from 1,749.97 basis points to 1,721.57 basis points.

The banking sub-sector led the activity chart, accounting for 19.3 per cent of total turnover volume traded on Tuesday.

A total of 76.984 million stocks worth N953.7m were traded in the sub-sector in 1,600 deals.

Volume was driven by trading in the shares of Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

In all, 17 equities recorded price appreciation on Tuesday, while 36 stocks recorded price depreciation.

Rak Unity Petroleum Company Plc led the gainers, rising by 61.29 per cent or 19 kobo to close at 50 kobo per share.

It was followed by Mobil Nigeria Plc and Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, which gained 5.87 per cent and five per cent to close at N170.98 and N188.52 per share.

Evans Medicals Plc rose by 4.90 per cent or 10 kobo to close at N2.14 per share, while May and Baker Nigeria Plc gained 4.81 per cent or nine kobo to close at N1.96 per share.

Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, however, topped the losers after it fell by 6.57 per cent or 58 kobo to close at N8.25 per share. It was followed by Union Homes Real Estate Investment Trust, which shed 4.98 per cent or N2.37 to close at N45.22 per share.

National Salt Company of Nigeria was down by 4.96 per cent or 43 kobo to close at N8.24 per share, while Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc declined by 4.93 per cent or 37 kobo to close at N7.14 per share.

Investors exchanged 398.894 million shares valued at N2.804bn in 4,579 deals on Tuesday.

 

HON. DINO MELAYE

HON. DINO MELAYE wrote:I read online the question a lady asked. 

The question is how can Buhari who earns over 300million naira yearly claim that he can not afford to pay 27million naira for the APC presidential form. I became interested and decided to investigate. 

I went to the ministry of Finance where I discovered that it is true that all former Presidents and Head of states actually get 23million naira monthly. 

But I found out that General Buhari actually wrote the minister of Finance to reject the 23million monthly pay. 

He said in his letter that he will only accept 10percent of that amount which is 2.3million and that is what he has been taking. This is just to clear the air. 

What a Nigerian! What class of integrity! Rev4mation's world

No electricity tariff increase for now —Nebo

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo

 

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has ruled out any increase in electricity tariff until power supply increases. He also said that efforts were being made to curb estimated billing in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.

Nebo, who spoke at the Power Nigeria 2014 Conference in Lagos on Tuesday, said electricity supply would improve in the next few months.

“We don’t want to see any increase in tariff until power generation and distribution increase, because people want to see electricity. We are talking of megawatts, the person in the village doesn’t care about megawatts. 

 What he or she cares about is electricity,” he said.

Power generation as of Monday, October 27, stood at 3,747.08MW, while 3,667.46MW was sent out, according to data obtained from the Power ministry.

Generation capacity was said to have recently dropped by 1,000MW as a result of sabotage of two major gas plants.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission had in May approved a new electricity tariff, which came into effect on June 1, with an increase in energy cost and reduction in fixed charges.

One of the major indices for the minor review was “available generation capacity,” NERC had said, adding that the gross available capacity from the grid as of the March 21, 2014 review date was 4,306MW, well below the 9,061MW that it had projected

The commission is currently carrying out the second phase of the yearly review of the electricity tariff, which is expected to be concluded soon.

“Yes, there will be adjustment if electricity stabilises and it is stabilising, and if we are able to go beyond what we are doing now, and it will in the next couple of months. And then, we will look at the whole thing and see what cost is reflective enough,” Nebo added.

The minister, however, said NERC would never allow any tariff that would be punitive against the customers.

“NERC will never do that. We just want a measurable tariff that will give a little bit of comfort to investors so that they can recoup their investments, make a little profit and continue to expand. But nobody is in a hurry to adjust the tariff at this moment,” he said.

Commenting on the issue of estimated billing, the minister noted that the metering gap in the country was so wide, with about eight million meters said to be needed in the next one or two years in order to bridge the gap.

 

2015: Kwankwaso declares, says Jonathan incompetent

 L-R: A former Governor of Kogi State, Abukakar Audu; Chief Audu Ogbeh; Kano State Governor, Musa Kwankwaso; and Senator Bukar Abba, during the declaration of Kwankwaso to run for the 2015 presidential election at the old parade ground, in Abuja

 

The Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Tuesday formally declared his interest in vying for the

Presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress.

At a rally held at the Old Parade Ground, in Abuja, the Presidential aspirant during the occasion, cast aspersions on the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party administration, describing it as incompetent.

He observed that Nigerians were today exposed to unimaginable hardship which, he said, was due to the failure of leadership at the highest levels.

Kwankwaso noted that the looting of public funds had gone on unabated because those saddled with the responsibility of watching over the nation’s wealth were busy stealing it.

He also expressed sadness that the welfare of women and children as well as the most vulnerable in society had not been given its pride of place in the scheme of things.

The aspirant commended Nigerian youths for being angry. He said anger in today’s Nigeria was a virtue because those saddled with the responsibility of providing a conducive atmosphere for citizens to achieve their life’s goals had failed in their responsibilities.

The governor hailed the APC for being the only party which had internal democracy.

Kwankwaso said, “The call to save our dear country has never been louder, clearer and more unambiguous than now. Every facet of our national life is deteriorating. Governance has been reduced to mediocrity, incompetence and impunity. I have no doubt in my mind that this journey is difficult.”

He also said no matter how difficult, the journey was worth embanking on because the nation was in dire need of salvation.

Kwankwaso said should he get the job, he would concentrate on the restoration of peace and security to the country by defeating the Boko Haram sect.

He said, “Lives and properties of our citizens must be protected and secured. Boko Haram and all forms of insurgency must be defeated. As a government, we cannot afford to live in denial. Insecurity is escalating at an alarming rate.

“Little wonder rag-tag insurgents are taking over cities and towns in the North-East. My experiences as Nigeria’s Defence Minister and as a Special Adviser on war-torn Darfur and Somalia have shown me that securing a nation and fighting and defeating armed insurgents is only achievable if the forces are professionally mobilised, properly kitted and equipped, highly spirited and correctly armed with intelligence and ammunition. My experiences have shown me that technology must be deployed in addition to mobilising and cultivating the support of local communities.”

The aspirant said relegating the welfare of the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police Force to the background would only help in compounding the phenomenon.

He maintained that the APC as a party understood all these very well. That was why it was requesting Nigerians to come together and vote for the party.

“Our journey to economic prosperity will always be imperiled if the peace and security of movements of persons and goods cannot be guaranteed. Stopping these menaces does not require rocket science,” he added.

Kwankwaso also promised to give priority to the war against corruption by running a transparent and an all-inclusive government.

He noted that the impunity with which corruption was being perpetrated, promoted, and protected by the present PDP administration left no patriotic Nigerian in doubt that the government was working deliberately and with determination to impoverish Nigerians.

Nigerians, he said, had a duty to stop such people to save our country.

He also promised to build strong institutions which would take on the anti-graft war without minding whose ox is gored. He reeled out his achievements in various public offices he had held and promised to do better if given the chance.

He also promised to restore Nigeria’s global image through the overhaul of the nation’s foreign policy.

When contacted, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo, referred our correspondent to the party’s national publicity secretary.

Calls put through to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, were neither picked nor replied.

A response to a text message sent to him was being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

After collecting their N24m, PDP rejects two presidential aspirants

 Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa

A fresh crisis is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party over the insistence of some of its members to contest its presidential primary with President Goodluck Jonathan.

But the national leadership of the party has refused to sell its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms to two other presidential aspirants.

Two of the aspirants, Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa and Prof. Akasoba Duke-Abiola, were at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Tuesday to purchase the forms, but they were turned back.

First to arrive was Tafawa-Balewa, who hails from Bauchi State. He is also the son of Nigeria’s First Republic Prime Minister, the late Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa.

It will be recalled that all the caucuses of the party, including the National Executive Council had endorsed President Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate.

Tafawa-Balewa had on September 21 condemned the action, which he said was a plot by the leadership of the party to frustrate other presidential aspirants.

He insisted that he would not be intimidated by such a decision and vowed not to be cowed.

He wondered the type of democracy that was being practised by the PDP.

He had asked, “What type of democracy do we have? Is the PDP a communist party? Where is the place of internal democracy?”

On Tuesday, Tafawa-Balewa stormed the party’s national secretariat with his supporters and bank tellers, with which he had hoped to purchase the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms.

The bank tellers indicated that he deposited N22m into the account of the party with Zenith Bank.

The breakdown of the fees showed that he paid N20m as nomination fee and another N2m for the expression of interest form.

He paid the money into the party’s account Number 1012436478 with the Zenith Bank.

Rather than being issued his forms, the aspirant claimed that he was told by officials of the party that the forms were not ready.

The party is expected to stop the selling of forms to all the aspirants on Thursday (tomorrow).

Tafawa-Balewa said he was told that all other forms were on sale except the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms.

He said, “I have paid for my forms. I was however told that they don’t have the forms ready. No matter, I am still here. I will send some of my people here on Thursday to come and pick the forms.”

He said he went to the office of the Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, and the National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, but was denied the forms.

Asked whether he was not aware that all the party organs had endorsed the President, Tafawa-Balewa said those organs were mere little organs of the party and were not superior to its Constitution.

Speaking on the refusal of the party to present her with her forms, Duke-Abiola, who is one of the widows of the late Chief MKO Abiola, described the action of the party as questionable.

Displaying the Diamond Bank Teller with which she paid her N2m to the party’s bank account, Duke-Abiola wondered why the party would issue her receipts and refused to sell the forms to her.

Female aspirants, like her, are expected to pay just N2m for the expression of interest form while the nomination form is free for them.

The party claimed it took the decision to encourage female aspirants to run for elective offices.

The presidential aspirant said she was told by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and Mustapha that the party printed only one form.

She said, “I have the receipt from the party after paying my money. But they said they printed only one presidential nomination form, even though the guidelines do not say that.

“The NOS and the National Chairman said the party printed only one form. I asked that they should give the one they printed to me since I was there. They laughed and said whether I didn’t know who they printed it for. This is a fraud.”

She said that she would not ask for a refund of her money, but that the party must sell the forms to her, having paid for them since she said there was vacancy in Aso Rock.

In his reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said he was not aware that the aspirants came.

He said he would need to find out from Mustapha before he could react to the allegations.

Asked if the party would sell presidential forms to other aspirants, he said he would also consult Mustapha.

“I will have to find out from the national Organising secretary, because I’m not directly involved in the selling of that forms. I’m only involved in the management of the image of the party,” he said.

NLC boss slams Buhari, Obasanjo over Muslim-Muslim ticket row

 

Fomer Head of State, Maj-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd.)

Vice-President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu, has said it was wrong for a former Head of State and a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to have said that he would not mind a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

He also said that it was inappropriate for a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a to have warned against a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Aremu spoke in an interview with journalists during the 26th Annual National Education Conference of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria and the Nigeria Textile, Garment and Tailoring Employers’ Association in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday.

He said that religion should not be a consideration or a factor in choosing candidates in the 2015 elections.

According to him, using religion as a basis for choosing candidates could lead to further problem as there are different groups or sects in Islam and Christianity.

Aremu said only the constitutional provision should be adopted in choosing candidates.

He said, “It is wrong for both former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Muhammadu Buhari to have mentioned Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket for the 2015 presidential elections. It is a wrong mindset, just like Obasanjo was wrong to say we need Muslim-Christian balance. The balance Nigeria is looking for is good governance balance. We are looking for a president as defined in Nigeria’s Constitution regardless of religious background, who is willing to guarantee the welfare and security of Nigerians.

“The problem of their age as well as the bankruptcy of the age of their ideas; modern Nigerians are ordinary people who settle everywhere to work anywhere. For example the way Obasanjo became head of state in the unfortunate coup of 1976 nobody looked at religious issue, we just moved on as he was the next in command to the late General Murtala Mohammed.”

“If it were today’s Nigeria people would be reading double meaning into it and they would put the country in jeopardy. In this country, the late Moshood Abiola never saw his presidential ticket with that of Baba Gana Kingibe as Muslim-Muslim stuff and the whole country voted for them. In fact, Abiola had votes almost 90 percent in largely Christian dominated area of Akwa Ibom State. People followed Abiola because of his avid commitment to good governance and ability to say farewell to poverty. For me that is the issue and I want to say let’s change the debate from that unhelpful narrow religious divide to serious issue of constitution.

“The two Generals’ comments clearly show lack of civility. Whoever will drive our democracy must be strong civilians who have civil outlook. We are tired of these Generals who will heat up the polity. Their language is not civil. No serious civilian will be talking of North-South candidates or Muslim-Christian candidates. Civilians fought for our independence for us, not soldiers. So if civilians fought for independence for us they should run it for us.”

‘Akinjide sold Ladoja to Patience Jonathan’

Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide.

A political group in support of the return of a former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, in 2015 on Tuesday alleged that the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, was behind the move to ensure that another former governor, Rashidi Ladoja, emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party candidate.

Ladoja is the National Leader of the Accord Party and the party’s governorship candidate. Rev4mation's world reported on Monday that Patience Jonathan had reportedly tried to persuade a PDP leader in Oyo State, Yekini Adeojo, as well as some governorship aspirants, including Alao-Akala and Teslim Folarin, to accommodate Ladoja in the party during a meeting at Aso Rock in Abuja.

The group, Team Akala, said Akinjide was taking advantage of her relationship with the wife of the President to sell Ladoja to the PDP.

It said, “The information being circulated by loyalists of Senator Rasheed Ladoja is not true. The outcome of the two meetings held with both the First Lady and Senate President, David Mark did not in any way pick Ladoja as the flag bearer of the PDP.

“The meeting with the President’s wife was precipitated on the attempt by the Minister of State for FCT, Chief Jumoke Akinjide, to force the Presidency to adopt Ladoja. The meeting was informed that Ladoja is the National Leader of Accord Party and the governorship candidate of the party in the state for 2015 election and the move to lure him in was rejected.

“The meeting concluded that the former governor, who contributed to the loss of PDP in 2011, should return to the party through the normal process and vie for the ticket.

“The party was advised to either reduce the number of its governorship aspirants to two or three or agree on a consensus candidate, whose political structure is strong enough to win in 2015. We are of the strong opinion that Alao-Akala is the man that can do that perfectly.”

 Zambian president ‘King Cobra’ dies in UK

Zambian President Michael Sata

Zambian President Michael Sata, who was nicknamed “King Cobra” for his fiery tongue and larger-than-life personality, has died, the country’s national radio said Wednesday morning.
He was 77.

Officials did not disclose a cause of death. But Sata had traveled to London for unspecified medical treatment last week.

He died in a hospital there Tuesday evening, the government-owned Zambia Daily Mail said.
Sata took office in September 2011 after the incumbent President tearfully conceded in a televised speech, a rare moment in a continent known for volatile elections and leaders fighting their defeat tooth-and-nail.

Analysts hailed his election as an example of an African nation with a vibrant democracy. But not too long after he took office, speculation swirled over his lack of visibility — which especially stood out for a man who loves the spotlight.

Aides said his absence was a result of private international visits, and maintained those trips had nothing to do with medical treatment.

The nation’s bloggers have frequently criticized what they describe as “absence of leadership,” leading him to make a surprise appearance in parliament last month and declare that he was not dead.
Sata was born in the Zambian town of Mpika in 1936, and worked as police officer during the colonial administration. He later trained as a pilot in Russia before returning home and helping develop housing projects in the nation.

During Zambia’s struggle for independence from Britain, he jumped into politics, and later founded the Patriotic Front — then an opposition party. His campaign events electrified crowds drawn to his extroverted nature and fight for the average man.

Sata, who narrowly lost to his predecessor Rupiah Banda in 2008, was a major critic of Chinese investment in the nation’s copper industry. He especially targeted foreign companies that mistreat Zambian workers, making him popular among the nation’s miners who accused the Chinese of deplorable work conditions.

While in office, he warned foreign companies that while their investment is crucial to his nation, they must abide by the labor laws.
The veteran politician has served in other positions, including city council, member of parliament and cabinet minister for local government.
Before his election, the tiny, copper-rich nation in southern Africa had been ruled by the same party for decades.

Finally, Tambuwal defects to APC  

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on Tuesday in Abuja defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tambuwal announced his defection shortly after the House Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP-Oyo) moved a motion for the house to adjourn sitting till Dec. 3.
“In pursuit of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and in view of the political developments in my state, I wish to formally inform you of my membership of the APC .
“This is in continuation of the great sacrifice and also the need to ensure development of constitutional democracy,” Tambuwal said.
Meanwhile members of APC caucus in the house, in a swift reaction, told newsmen that the development was a historic one.

Leader of the APC caucus, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) said that the move was consistent with the law, adding that “the APC members would continue to support the current leadership”.
Similarly, Rep. Samson Osagie (APC-Edo) said that the house, which adjourned till Dec 3, was to enable the lawmakers to consult with their constituents and promote their political interest ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Osagie, however, ruled out possible counter move by the PDP against the leadership of the house.

According to him, “there is unity in this house and that is the kind of unity we want to be replicated in every part of this country”.

He further described Tambuwal as a bridge builder who had united the house in spite of different political affiliations of members of the parliament.
NAN recalls that Tambuwal became the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the platform of PDP in 2011.

 President Goodluck Jonathan

Barring any change in plan, President Goodluck Jonathan will on Wednesday pick his presidential nomination form at the Peoples Democratic Party national secretariat, Abuja.

Our correspondent learnt that the leadership of the party had been informed of this and that words had been sent to all members of the National Working Committee to be present on that day.

President Jonathan is expected to present to the party a bank draft of N22m as payment for the nomination form.

He is expected to be accompanied to the party secretariat by some governors of the party, ministers and aides.

The National Executive Committee of the party and other caucuses of the party had endorsed the President as the sole candidate of the party for the 2015 presidential election.

Attempt by a group, the Niger Delta Youth for Jonathan, to buy the form for the President was frustrated by the party.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the group, Benjamin Egbunike, said the group’s demand to buy a bank draft was also turned down by a bank(name withheld).

Meanwhile, the deal the PDP had with its governorship aspirants in Adamawa State might have crumbled as the Governor of the state, Mr. James Ngilari, had picked the nomination form.

The form was said to have been picked on his behalf by two of his aides in Abuja.

Ngilari, a former deputy governor of the state, was not among those that bought form few months ago and the party asked them to step down till 2015.

The party had promised those that stepped down then that they would be the ones to contest its primary in the state this November.

But a court ruling, which nullified his resignation as the deputy governor to the impeached Governor of the state, Murtala Nyako, was said to have cancelled all agreements in the state.

Before the court ruling, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and seven other governorship aspirants agreed to step down after a meeting at the Presidential Villa before the party had its governorship primary that produced Umaru Fintiri as the PDP candidate.

Those who attended the meeting included the PDP National Vice Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus, and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Rufai Alkali.

Also at the meeting were two governors, Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).

Apart from Ribadu, others that stepped down after the discussions at the meeting included Auwal Tukur; Aliyu Idi Hong, Andrawus Sawa; James Barka; Gen. Aliyu Kama; Markus Gundiri; and Abubakar Girei.

Those who took part in the primary were Jerry Kumdisi, Ahmed Gulak, Buba Marwa, Dr. Umaru Ardo, Ahmed Modibbo and Fintiri.

With the buying of the nomination form, it was not clear if the PDP would allow Ngilari to join these governorship aspirants to vie for the party’s sole ticket in November.

Meanwhile, a former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Terhemen Tarzoor, has said that there are only two aspirants in the Benue State governorship election. These, he said, was all the other aspirants and himself.

Pornography finds home at motor parks

Pornographic materials on display

There is no dull moment at Obalende Motor Park. Almost every time of the day, there is a beehive of activities at the park.

Voices from rickety loud speakers mounted on commercial buses alternate between lewd music and frenetic calls for passengers. But the first gains go to roving petty traders who hawk chilled soft drinks and other edibles they sell to commuters.

Near the bus terminus are more established ‘ad hoc’ activities. This sub-sector is replete with cobblers, ‘vulcanisers’, food and compact disc vendors and others who contribute, in no small measure, to the economy of the park. They make less fuss about their wares yet they command the attention of passengers and commuters.

Last Friday was no exception. By noon, two young men dealing in compact disc sales had set up wares and were already attending to customers. With the rippling muscles and six packs of boxers on the jackets of some of the discs, the setting seemed normal at first. But a closer look revealed differently. Nude women and men posing in different erotic postures were on the jackets of many of the compact discs. It was obvious that the majority of his products displayed so openly are pornographic.

Our correspondent who had watched the men from inside a commercial vehicle alighted to get a copy. Sitting by the side of the stall was an old man printing tickets to people who seemed oblivious to the ‘wares’ displayed beside them. While some passengers streaming into the terminus stared openly, others abruptly averted their gaze, refusing to make further eye contact with the materials.

Pointing to one of the CD, the journalist haggled with him over the cost and   probed him on the appropriateness of his business. The products cost a token N150 each.

“Make u dey hide dis thing nah. If task force catch u, na wahala be that’, she started.

“Which task force? Na before bi dat o. Once you settle, you are okay,’ he said.

“Dem dey collect money? Dis country don spoil’’

“Before nko? Dem no get their price?

Later, our correspondent made a detour out of the terminus to the other side, where she met one of the unit officials of the National Union of Road Transport Union. Behind her, business activities continued, not missing a beat. Efforts to speak with the chairman of the unit were not successful as it was learnt that he and other key officials had gone to Onikan Stadium for the declaration of a governorship aspirant, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode.

However, findings by our correspondent showed that sales of pornographic materials are a norm in many motor parks in the state. From the popular Okokomaiko park, Agege motor park to those in Iyana-ipaja and some others, sales and display of pornographic materials unfold with varying degrees. While some hide the materials, others care less, flaunting erotic pictures on posters.

While the state’s new traffic law does not overtly address issues of pornographic and decency in motor parks, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje, told our correspondent that Governor Babtunde Fashola in 2010 signed an executive order proscribing the sales, broadcast and display of pornographic materials in open places, including motor parks. In addition, he pointed to sections 149 and 150 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State which prohibits the publication of obscene matters and performance of obscene plays.

“The government has provided the law to regulate such morally offensive activities in our parks and bus stops, it is now left for the police to ensure that violators are arrested and prosecuted before the appropriate courts.

“But if the police choose to look the other way, you can’t blame Fashola. You can’t blame the chief judge. 

But the environmental taskforce who are busy arresting people who indiscriminately cross the road at Ojota should also keep the society free of this morally-provocative business. If we don’t care about our own moral as adults, shouldn’t we care about the moral upbringing of our children? This is why the government must not stop at merely criminalising such things at parks, it should go further and see to it that the laws are implemented and offenders punished,’’ he said.

According to the Faculty Director, Soar and Heritage, Mr. Sola Adeyiga, location still plays a role in the viability of any business venture. He said this business tenet was understood by many players no matter the legal status of their trade.

Adeyiga added that the primary business of bus terminuses make them attractive to petty traders who may not be able to pay exorbitant fees for lock-up shops in the metropolis. He however, noted that this was not an excuse for government agencies to allow illegality.

Efforts by our correspondent to reach the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, on Monday were not successful as he neither picked his calls nor responded to a text message sent to him.

However, in a telephone interview on Monday, the Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State chapter, Dr. Matthew Oloko, said he was not aware of such activity at motor parks.

“I don’t know anything about sales of pornographic materials at the parks. This is the first time I will hear such a thing and it has not been reported by any of our unit chairmen,” he said.

Redknapp disagrees with Mourinho on Mikel

 

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has questioned Jose Mourinho’s decision to bring on John Obi Mikel against Manchester United on Sunday, insisting that the Chelsea boss should have learned his lesson from the game against Manchester City.

The Blues travelled to Old Trafford on Sunday looking to continue their unbeaten run this season and it seemed like that would be made even sweeter, as Didier Drogba gave them a second-half lead.

Mourinho decided to shut up shop with roughly 20 minutes left and sent on midfield enforcer Mikel to nullify United’s attacking threat. However, that move backfired and a stoppage-time goal from Robin van Persie stole a point for the hosts.

Mourinho did the exact thing at the Etihad last month when a late goal from Frank Lampard earned a point for City, which Redknapp believes Mourinho should have learned from.

The former Spurs man told Daily Mail, “That’s twice now – against City and United – Chelsea have been 1-0 up, brought on Jon Obi Mikel and conceded late on. It’s not him as a player, it’s the message of the manager.

“Jose is a safety first boss but when you make that switch, it tells the team to sit back and defend. Unfortunately for him, it’s not working.”

Oyo PDP crisis: Party leaders, aspirants battle Patience Jonathan

 

Patience Jonathan

Some Peoples Democratic Party leaders in Oyo State have kicked against a request by the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, for a former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, to be “accommodated” in the PDP.

Mrs. Jonathan was said to have made the request during a meeting she had with the state PDP leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja nine days ago.

Rev4mation's world learnt on Sunday night that some of the leaders in attendance were another   former governor of the state,   Adebayo Alao-Akala; the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory,   Jumoke Akinjide; a former Senate Leader, Sen. Teslim Folarin, and Chief Yekini Adeojo.

Ladoja, a former member of the PDP and now the National Leader of the Accord Party, is nursing a governorship ambition. He was also present at the villa meeting.

A PDP source, who attended the meeting disclosed to Rev4mation's world on Monday that most of those in attendance were stunned when the President’s wife suggested that Ladoja should be supported to realise his ambition.

He added that   they did not only kick against her proposal , they also rejected her suggestion to share party offices in the state with Ladjola.

The source   said, “The President’s wife asked that we should accommodate someone who is not a member of the party. How do we do this?

“She was tactically telling us to support his governorship ambition because she was saying she knew that Ladoja has the capacity to win election and defeat the All Progressives Congress in the state.

“But we disagreed and told her so. That was what happened, but she promised to convey another meeting soon where the issue would be further discussed.

“But I can tell you that we are not pleased with her activities in our party. We don’t understand where she derives the power to interfere in running of the PDP. In fact, most of us may not attend any other meeting summoned by her because she is not our leader.

She should keep off because if we field a wrong person, we may not defeat the APC in our state during the governorship election.”

Alao-Akala said it was true that the meeting with the First Lady was held, but he said he   was not asked to step down for Ladoja.

He told our correspondent on the telephone on Sunday night that the First Lady merely asked them to “accommodate” Ladoja in the PDP.

The former governor   also confirmed that majority of those in attendance disagreed with Mrs Jonathan on the grounds that Ladoja had yet to dump the AP for the PDP.

Alao-Akala said, “Yes, it is true that the First Lady met us. But she didn’t ask me to step down. She said we should accommodate Ladoja in our party and we said it would be difficult to do so because he is not a member of the PDP. That was what happened.”

A Media Assistant to the President’s wife, Mr. Ayo Adewuyi, told Rev4mation's world in Abuja that he was not aware of the meeting.

Ladoja’s media aide,   Lanre Latinwo, had said in a statement that his boss was not on his way to joining any party.

“Accord party in Oyo State remains one united entity and will continue to grow in leaps and bounds due to the sincerity of leaders of the party and the genuine love of the people.

“We urge members of the party and the general public to disregard the insinuation in all its entirety asserting that the Accord Party at the moment is not involved in any alliance talk.”

A member of the NWC who, also spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We appreciate her concern for the party, but she’s over doing it.

“We will appreciate it if she can stay off our party affairs. Her actions are making some members to feel that she’s controling her husband and all that.”

Mrs. Jonathan is known to be rooting for a former Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike and ex-Diamond Bank Managing Director, Alex Otti, for the PDP tickets in Rivers and Abia states respectively.

Some of the PDP leaders in the two states, who did not want their names in print, warned that if her activities were not checked, the PDP might not win the   states.

Mrs. Jonathan   described Wike as a listening and respectful politician who   obeyed her when she asked him to drop his senatorial aspiration in 2011.

“You listened to me and dropped your senatorial aspiration. I pray God to protect you, lead you.   Please go on with your aspiration, ” Mrs Jonathan had said when she visited the former minister in Abuja five days ago.

“I have handed you (Wike) over to our father, Dr. Peter Odili, and the people of Rivers State. You are going to Rivers State for the betterment of all of us and to wipe our tears,” she   added.

After her speech, she symbolically handed Wike over to Odili, who was part of her entourage.

Speaking on the endorsement in Abuja on Monday, another PDP governorship aspirant,   Mr. Tamunosisi Jaja, said though as a native of the state, Mrs. Jonathan had the right to endorse anyone. But he added that such aspirant needed the blessing of God.

He said, “I wouldn’t want to react to that endorsement by Dame Jonathan, who incidentally, by the Grace of God, is the First Lady   and is an indigene of Rivers State.

“By virtue of the fact that she’s from Rivers State, she has every right to express her support for anybody.

“But of utmost importance to any seeker of public office is the fact that the most important endorsement is the endorsement of the Almighty God.

“As a Christian, my Bible tells me power comes from God and when God says yes, no one can say no.

“I think that what we are praying for is the Grace of God and even whoever she has endorsed needs the Grace of God, that’s the most important thing.”

A PDP chieftain in the state, who pleaded not to be named for fear of victimisation, said the endorsement of Wike by Mrs Jonathan was a personal thing.

“She has only expressed her personal desire. But I am worried, just like my colleagues who are not speaking out that she should not get directly involved in our party affairs. Her activities are not good for our party. They may have a boomerang effect on our performance in the governorship race.

“I know that our national leadership are also worried by her meddlesomeness.”

In Abia,   Mrs Jonathan is said to be rooting for the former Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti, while the governor of the state Chief Theodore Orji prefers Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

“Her support was what   made the man (Oti) to resign from his lucrative job, “ a source close to the President’s wife claimed.

He however feared that a clash between Orji and Mrs Jonathan over who would fly the PDP governorship flag in the state could give an edge to opposition parties in the state like the APC and the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Otti, who was at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Monday where he bought his nomination form, has said he would create a Ministry for Aba Affairs to transform the popular Aba market.

Boko Haram raped, beat us – Abducted girls

Abducted Chibok girls

He soon began to threaten me with a knife to have sex with him and when I refused, he brought out his gun, warning that he would kill me if I shouted.

“Then he   began to rape me every night … I had never had sex before; it was very painful and I cried bitterly because I was bleeding afterwards.”

These were the words of a 15-year-old girl, who was abducted by Boko Haram and forcibly married to one of its commanders in a camp in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State.

The girl, according to a report by Human Rights Watch, was abducted in 2013 but she escaped after four weeks in captivity.

The teenager is one of the five girls that personally recounted their ordeals in the publication which was made public on Monday. She said that after her marriage to the commander who was in his early 30s, she was ordered to live with him in cave.

The experiences of three others who   suffered sexual violence were narrated by witnesses in the 63-page HRW report titled, Those Terrible Weeks in Their Camp: Boko Haram Violence against Women and Girls in North-East Nigeria.’

The publication provides details of how hundreds of girls and women aged between 15 and 22 were being made to suffer other forms of abuses and used for ambushes.

The HRW said in the report that it spoke to 47 witnesses and victims, including some of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped from their hostel in April this year.

The group also described how some of the Christian abductees were ordered to convert to Islam or be executed.

It claimed that four of the eight sexual assaults it recorded occurred after the girls and women were forced to marry   Boko Haram combatants.

According to the HRW, before “marriage,” the commanders appeared to make some efforts to protect the women and girls from sexual assault.

It said that in two cases, the insurgents   took advantage of the absence of a commander and sexually abused abductees who had yet to be “married.”

An 18-year-old victim also described how an insurgent sexually abused her when she went to use the bathroom.

She said, “I did not know he followed me when I walked a short distance away from the tree under which we slept. He grabbed me from behind, roughly fondling me while trying to take off his pants. I screamed in fright and he hurriedly left me as I continued to shout for help.”

Another woman, who was raped in 2013 in one of the militants’ camps near Gwoza, described how a commander’s wife seemed to encourage the crime.

“I was lying down in the cave pretending to be ill because I did not want the marriage the commander planned to conduct for me with another insurgent on his return from the Sambisa camp. When the insurgent who had paid my dowry came in to force himself on me, the commander’s wife blocked the cave entrance and watched as the man raped me.”

Another woman aged 19,   who was married and had children, described how she and one other woman were raped after having been abducted   in April 2014.

She said, “When we arrived at the camp, they left us under a tree. I managed to sleep. I was exhausted and afraid. Late in the night, two insurgents woke me and another woman, saying their leader wanted to see us.

“We had no choice but to follow them; but as soon as we moved deep into the bush, one of them dragged me away, while his partner took the other woman to another direction.

“I guessed what they had in mind and I began to cry. I begged him, telling him I was a married woman. He ignored my pleas, flung me on the ground, and raped me. I could not tell anyone what happened, not even my husband.

“I still feel so ashamed and cheated. The other woman told me she was also raped but vowed never to speak of it   as she was single and believes that news of her rape would foreclose her chances of marriage.”

The HRW had previously documented the widespread abuses carried out by the Nigerian security forces in responding to the attacks by Boko Haram.

However, the rights organisation asserted that few members of the security forces implicated in “serious violations of humanitarian and human rights law, including violations against girls and women, have been prosecuted.”

It advised that “to ensure accountability, Nigerian authorities should investigate and prosecute, based on international fair trial standards, those who committed serious crimes in violation of national and international laws during the conflict, including members of Boko Haram, security forces, and pro-government vigilante groups.”

The group said that “in addition, the government should provide adequate measures to protect schools and the right to education, and ensure access to medical and mental health services to victims of abduction and other violence.

“The government should also ensure that hospitals and clinics treating civilian victims are equipped with medical supplies to treat survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.”