Tag: Goodluck Jonathan
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Jonathan greets Adenuga at 60
President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated business mongol Otunba Michael Adenuga on his 60th birthday, tomorrow, Monday, April 29.
In a statement by Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, President Jonathan noted that Otunba Adenuga who was recently conferred with Nigeria’s second highest National Honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON will be celebrating 60 years of great achievements in business and philanthropy.
He described Otunba Adenuga as an embodiment of the ideals of “diligence, commitment, unmediated patriotism and selfless service”.
“Come Monday, April 29, 2013, you shall be celebrating 60 years of a remarkable life filled with monumental achievements in high entrepreneurship, philanthropy and dedicated service to God and country.
“On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I join your family, friends, protégés and well-wishers in thanking God for your exemplary life.
“It is my prayer that Almighty God continues to bless you with robust health and enduring happiness,” Jonathan said in the birthday message.
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Late Ekiti deputy governor buried
The remains of the late deputy governor of Ekiti State Olufunmilayo Olayinka were on Friday interred at the newly-constructed Heroes’ Park near the Government House after the funeral service held at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Okesa, Ado-Ekiti .
The body of the late Deputy Governor, who died on April 6th, was buried at exactly 1.21pm.
President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) said the late Olayinka made good use of the opportunities she had to serve the people of Ekiti State and Nigeria meritoriously, even though her potentials were yet to be fully harnessed before she died.
Jonathan added that the late Deputy Governor was a woman of substance known for her simplicity, diligence, respect and brilliance.
Governor Kayode Fayemi, while addressing the congregation, said her late Deputy lived a life of sacrifice, service, commitment to the people and dedication to God.
The Governor noted that Olayinka who was a lay reader in the Anglican church was faithful in all ways and did not take her faith lightly.
Fayemi who stated that her service to the State would not be allowed to go in vain said that the State Government would next week announce a project in the area of the ailment that claimed her life so as to permanently keep her memory alive.
“We shall continue to have mementoes in her memory so that others who come after her will know that it is good to be good and public service is the highest form of duty that one can render to one’s community. That’s why we have taken all the pains to ensure that we didn’t allow her to just go quietly but to see that she is celebrated and remembered, not just as a major positive influence on our state but also as an inspiration for younger women, public office holders to look up to in the future”, the Governor said.
Other dignitaries present the funeral were Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) and Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura represented by his deputy, Mr. Damishi Luka.
Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu was represented by Dr. Peter Sarki; Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Lekan Ogungbe, Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi was represented by his deputy, Mr. Emeka Sibeudu.
Former Governors at the funeral include Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Lagos), Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Aremo Olusegun Osoba (Ogun), Chief Adebisi Akande (Osun), Chief Segun Oni (Ekiti), Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua (old Ondo).
Deputy Governors were fully represented at the funeral to bid their colleague farewell. They included Prince Segun Adesegun (Ogun), Mr. Efiok Cobham (Cross River), Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (Lagos), Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo (Oyo), Chief Yomi Awoniyi (Kogi), Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori (Osun) and Alhaji Ali Olanusi (Ondo).
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Falana visits Jonathan at Villa
Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana on Friday visited President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Even though he did not give details of his visit, he told State House correspondents that it was a private visit.
According to him, he is a stakeholder in the Nigeria project and has the right to visit the Villa.
The brief encounter with journalists went thus:
Why are you here?
“It is a private visit, it is a private visit.”
You are a lawyer to Leadership newspaper, is there a negotiation going on?
“It has nothing to do with that at all, on a very serious note.”
Has it got anything to do with 2015?
“No, No, No, it was for the affairs of our country, am a stakeholder, you know that.”
Falana had recently declared that President Jonathan’s attack on the media was worse than experiences during the military era.
With the arrest of journalists of Leadership newspapers, he had maintained that the nation was witnessing the progressive proscription of free speech in spite of the much touted respect for the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
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Jonathan approves N5.7bn for victims of 2011 post-election violence
President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the release of a total sum of N5,747,694,780.00 to nine states of the federation for direct disbursement to those who suffered losses of properties, means of livelihood and places of worship in the post election violence of 2011.
Special Adviser (Media) to the President, Dr Reuben Abati said in a statement that the approval was based on the submission of the Sheik Ahmed Lemu’s panel and its adoption by the Federal Executive Council.
Following the post election violence and civil disturbances in some states after the April 2011 elections, President Jonathan set up a Panel of Enquiry headed by Sheik Ahmed Lemu to among other things, identify the spread and extent of losses suffered across the country.
The Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing was later mandated to assess the reported losses and damage to properties in all affected states.
Consequently, President Jonathan has approved the release of funds to nine of the 14 affected states as follows:
1. Bauchi – N1,574,879,000.00
2. Sokoto – N55,888,506.00
3. Zamfara – N93,253,485.00
4. Niger – N433,375,875.00
5. Jigawa – N208,667,634.00
6. Katsina – N1,973,209,440.00
7. Kano – N944,827,000.00
8. Adamawa – N420,089,840.00
9. Akwa Ibom – N43,504,000.00
Total – N5,747,694,780.00
President Jonathan has also directed that an Implementation Committee for the disbursement of the funds to beneficiaries in the nine states be constituted as follows:
1. Executive Governor or Deputy Governor – Chairman
2. Representative of State Government – Member
3. Secretary of the Sheik Lemu Panel – Member
4. Representative of the OSGF – Member
5. Representative of the FMLH&UD – Member
Inspection and assessment of damages and losses suffered are yet to be carried out in Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna and Nasarawa states as modalities and further instructions for the exercise are still being expected from the state governments.
Funds to cover the losses sustained by victims of the post election violence in theses five states will be approved and released at the conclusion of the assessment exercise.
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Presidency, Assembly not in supremacy battle, says Jonathan, Mark
President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday canvassed stronger collaboration between the Executive and Legislature in the country
Jonathan and Mark underscored the fact that the Executive and Legislative arms of government are not in any supremacy battle as erroneously assumed in some quarters.
Both spoke at a two-day conference on Executive-Legislature relations with the theme “Strengthening Executive-Legislature collaboration in governance.”
The conference was organized by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, in Abuja.
Jonathan who was represented at the event by the Vice President, Arch. Namadi Sambo noted that the conference was part of the effort in the advancement of good governance and development in the country.
He added that it underscored the need for harmony in political purpose between the Executive and the Legislature.
While Jonathan insisted that the executive and legislature are not in competition or in a battle for supremacy, Mark on his part said that there is no competition between the two arms of government.
Mark emphasized that both arms of government are on the same wavelength, the only difference being that sometimes, they view things from different perspectives.
He said that it is the minor difference that sometimes gives the impression that there is friction.
But the Senate President was quick to add that “this difference is necessary for democracy to survive because if you allow excess power in one direction, we all know the result; there would be tyranny, there would be misuse of power and abuse of power.”
Jonathan said that he looked forward to the conference because of its significance in his governance philosophy.
The President noted that he is a strong believer in consensus building and cordial relationship between difference arms of government.
The conference, he said, is another avenue to continue to promote the common agenda of transforming the country’s political, economic and social progress.
He noted that it is generally agreed that no perfect form of government exists for now, saying however that “there is no better alternative to democracy where people are allowed to freely elect their representatives through the ballot which gives democracy clear advantage over other forms of government.”
He said, “As elected representatives of the people of Nigeria, we hold power in trust for them and we must exercise this power responsibly and to their benefit.
“Power, I must emphasis, belongs to the people, not to those who the people elect.
“That is why no matter the form or level of power entrusted in us, we have a duty to put the people first in all that we do.
“We often talk about the principle of separation of power in order to emphasize that every arm of government is constitutionally independent of one another with accompanying concept of check and balances as required by the presidential system of government.
“My understanding is that while separation of power means every arm of government operates independently, checks and balances implies that the three arms of government are interdependent, they need one another to function optimally.
It is not about subjugation or subordinating one arm to the other. Rather, it is about being partners in progress.”
Jonathan noted it is gratifying that in a few years of the country’s democratic practice, Executive-Legislature relationship has made appreciable progress.
Though he recognized that there had been sour times and challenges he said the level of understanding, maturity and cooperation has certainly been on the rise.”
“I note that the relationship thrives when complementary, not when competitive and we just have to improve on this,” he said.
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Jonathan orders investigation of killing of 185 in Borno
Having received preliminary briefings from the Military High Command on the incident, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a full-scale investigation into reports of high civilian casualties in the confrontation between Nigerian soldiers and insurgents at Baga in Borno State at the weekend.
About 185 persons including women and children were over the weekend reportedly killed during a shoot out between mend of the Joint Task Force and Boko Harm insurgents. The victims died of gun shots during the face-off and fire which burnt major parts of the town.
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a statement noted that the preliminary briefings indicate that the casualty figures being reported by the foreign media may be grossly exaggerated but said President Jonathan has assured Nigerians and the global community that the Federal Government places the highest possible value on the lives of all citizens of the country.
He said the administration will continue to do everything possible to avoid the killing or injuring of innocent bystanders in security operations against terrorists and insurgents.
“Rules of engagement for the military and security agencies are already in place for this purpose and the investigation ordered by President Jonathan into the incident in Baga is to amongst other things, determine whether or not these rules were fully complied with.
“The President has also ordered the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and Federal health agencies to liaise with the Borno State Government and take urgent steps to provide immediate relief and medical support for all who suffered losses and injury in the fighting at Baga.
He commiserates with all those who have regrettably lost their lives in the fighting, including the soldiers who gallantly made the supreme sacrifice in the operation against terrorism, insurgency and insecurity in Nigeria.“The President is deeply pained by the continuance of these needless deaths and will continue to do all within his powers to achieve lasting peace, security and stability in all parts of the country.
“It is his hope and expectation that the National Committee which he will inaugurate on Wednesday for dialogue and the peaceful resolution of security challenges in the North will contribute significantly to ending the continuous loss of lives to wasteful violence. ” Abati stated.
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Jonathan faults U.S. reports on corruption in Nigeria
President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday in Abuja that claims of massive corruption in Nigeria were misplaced and “over-amplified’’.
He made the declaration at the presidential power reform transactions signing ceremony held at the Presidential Villa.
A recent report submitted to the U.S. Congress by the Secretary of State John Kerry had alleged massive corruption at all levels of the Nigerian government.
Jonathan said that contrary to such reports his administration had curtailed corruption and was working hard to carry on the fight against the menace.
“ Let me continue to assure Nigerians that yes there are issues of corruption in this country but somehow it has been over amplified.
“People should watch how we’ve been conducting government business. We’ve been bringing down the issues of corruption gradually.
“If you look at the fertiliser sector, you will agree with me that if government actors are interested we would have continued the same story of buying all kinds of things, awarding all kinds of contracts in the name of fertiliser. But, we are not doing that, we have sanitised that sector.
“Look at the power sector, when we started initially there were stories in the papers but at the end, even when I went to the U.S., companies from there that participated said publicly that the process was transparent and issues of corruption were not there.
“At least today we’ve also heard directly, that the process was transparent and that there were no issues of manipulations or corruption.
“I plead with Nigerians that the country belongs to all of us and we will all protect what belongs to us, what belongs to our children and what belongs to the generation yet unborn.
“We are committed to doing our best for this country and God willing, we will succeed.’’
The president said he was happy about the comments from the private sector that the process of privatisation of the power sector was transparent and devoid of corruption.
He reiterated government’s commitment to transparency and renewed emphasis on inclusiveness in core transactions in the power sector.
The president noted that the ceremony signaled a major step in the implementation of the power sector roadmap.
He re-assured of his administration’s commitment to ending inadequate power supply in the country.
“To fellow Nigerians, my dear brothers and sisters, this age-long problem of inadequate power supply will be brought to an end by God’s grace.
“We are dealing in a very dedicated way with much overdue infrastructural and corporate upgrades, and despite the challenges, we are making steady progress each day towards permanent and lasting correction.
“Nigerians must have electricity for domestic and industrial use and there is no turning back and there is no relenting.
“This government cares about you and will not rest until you can sleep well at night without the irritating noise of generators.
“Let me reassure all Nigerians, that working in concert with our partners, we will continue to pursue the reform of the power sector with intensity, vigour and determination; there is no shortcut.’’
President Jonathan also congratulated the signing parties for reaching the significant target in the privatisation process and commended them for their confidence in the economy.
“Your zeal and presence here today is an ample proof of your endorsement and confidence in the implementation and progress so far of our power reform agenda,’’ he said.
He reassured that government would not design the market structures for the electricity industry but continue to set the rules of the game and act as a responsible facilitator and regulator.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that government handed over 25 per cent payment certificate to five successful bidders to the five PHCN successive generating companies.
Similarly, the preferred bidders to the 10 of the PHCN successor distribution companies were also handed over their certificates of 25 per cent down payment. (NAN)
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Boko Haram: Committee will unmask the sect- Sheikh Lemu
Sheikh Ahmad Lemu has expressed optimism that the Presidential committee on the proposed amnesty for the dreaded Boko Haram sect set up on Thursday by President Goodluck Jonathan would unveil the membership of the sect.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television monitored in Minna, the respected Islamic cleric said that the lack of confidence in pervious government moves and fear of possible arrest and pesecution may have informed the leaders and members of the group going to hidden.
He however expressed hope that the insurgence being experienced in some northern states would soon come to an end, as committee intends to unveil the group and restore peace back to the region.
According to the Cleric, the setting up of the committee would help to enliven mutual trust between the government and the sect, stressing that the government action has created platform for sincere and geniune dialogue with the sect.
Lemu argued that dialogue and not force remains the only way out of the security challenges in the northern part.
Faulting the opposition of the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to federal government move to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram, Lemu said government’s olive branch to the dreaded sect was the best, insisting that the use of brute force will be counter productive.
”If amnesty was granted the Niger Delta militants in the South South, why not to Boko Haram in the north. The two groups committed same offence of killing and destruction. I think federal government amnesty plan for members of the sect was a right thing.
”The leadership of CAN is in the south and cannot appreciate what we are facing in the north but every Christians here in the north appreciate government gesture because we need peace here and there is no price too much to pay for it,” he stated.
On the withdrawal of Comrade Sani Shehu and Alhaji Ahmed Datti from the committee, Lemu said he was ever ready to serve the country in any capacity that would bring peace, unity and progress to the country.
Describing his appointment as a call to service, the former Grand Khadi of Niger State said President Jonathan need not consult with him before appointing him for any national service.
Hear him, ”I cannot reject to serve because President did not consult me before appointing me to serve. President Jonathan is the Allah’s chosen leader for this country now. I know it is Allah that appoints leaders, so I have no cause to reject or refuse to serve when called.”
The religious leader who headed a Presidential committee that probe the post-2011 election violence however expressed disappointment that the recommendations of his committee have not being implemented.
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Jonathan nominates non-executive members for CBN board
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday forwarded the names of four non-executive members of the board of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Senate for confirmation.
This is contained in a letter entitled “Request for the confirmation of the appointment of non-executive members of the board of the CBN.”
Those nominated for appointment as non-executive members of the CBN included Muhammad Musa Kafarati (North East), Collons Chike Chikelube (South East), Adaba Anthony Adeiza (North Central) and Ayuli Jemide (South South).
Jonathan noted in the letter read by Senate President, David Mark, that following the expiration of the statutory terms of appointment of some non-executive members of the board of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the vacancy occasioned when the member representing the South-South geo-political zone on the board vacated the position in 2009, it became necessary to forward the names for the consideration of the Senate in accordance with the provisions of the CBN Act 2007.