The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jonathan

  • Jonathan: reports on rights abuses exaggerated

    Jonathan: reports on rights abuses exaggerated

    President Goodluck Jonathan has said reports on rights abuses by the country’s military and other security agencies were blown out of proportion by foreign rights groups.

    The President spoke yesterday in Abuja when he opened a three-day international workshop on civil-military cooperation at the National Defence College.

    He promised investigation into the reports.

    Amnesty International (AI) and other rights groups have accused the Nigerian military, the police and other security agencies of extensive right abuses, particularly in the counter-insurgency campaign in the Northeast.

    Jonathan said: “We have taken very seriously reports from some international organisations about perceived human right abuses by our security forces during military operations.

    “Findings have generally shown that these reports are indeed exaggerated. We know that there are issues, but the reports sometimes exaggerate the issues.

    “For me, maybe standing as a President of a country where we are fighting terror, if you make certain statements, people will begin to interpret them to mean that the President is trying to defend the Armed Forces.

    “Some may say the President is trying to protect himself from being dragged to the Hague; it is now common for Presidents to be dragged to the Hague. Some of these reports need to be properly investigated.”

  • Reports on rights’ abuses exaggerated – Jonathan

    Reports on rights’ abuses exaggerated – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has said reports on human rights abuses by the country’s military and other security agencies were being blown out of proportion by foreign based rights agencies.

    The President, who stated this in Abuja on Thursday while declaring open a three-day international workshop on civil-military cooperation at the National Defence College, promised investigation into the reports.

    Amnesty International and other rights groups have accused the Nigerian military, the police and other security agencies of extensive right abuses, particularly in the ongoing counter insurgency campaign.

    The President said: “We have taken very seriously reports from some international organisations about perceived human right abuses by our security forces during military operations.

    “Findings have generally shown that these reports are in the need exaggerated, we know that there are issues but the reports sometimes exaggerate the issues

    “For me, maybe standing as a President of a country where we are fighting terror, if you make certain statements people will begin to interpret it to mean that the President is trying to defend the armed forces.

    “Some may say the President is trying to protect himself from being dragged to the Hague; as it is now common for presidents to be dragged to the Hague. Some of these reports need to be properly investigated.”

    The President recalled a 1992 publication of photographs by a Port Harcourt based newspaper depicting Nigerian soldiers openly raping local girls in Choba community in Rivers State.

    He continued: “I can recount an incident that happened in 1992. I can say exactly, a newspaper one morning came out with photographs of soldiers raping girls on the street of a community called Chuba and we were all alarmed that soldiers were raping women in Chuba.

    “Choba incidentally is not a community that is hidden. That is where the University of Port-Harcourt is located. Investigation was made, even by civil societies; people asked questions and there was no incident like that at all.”

  • Pilgrimage: Jonathan leaves for Israel Friday

    Pilgrimage: Jonathan leaves for Israel Friday

    President Goodluck Jonathan will on Friday depart Lagos to undertake a brief pilgrimage to Israel.

    A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, said President Jonathan will be accompanied by the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba and his principal aides.

    Apart from visiting Christian Holy sites, he will join other Nigerian pilgrims in a prayer session for the well-being and progress of the country at an Inter-Denominational Service in Jerusalem on Sunday.

    He is expected back in Abuja on Monday.

    The statement reads: “Before leaving for Israel, President Jonathan will participate in the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Seme-Krake Joint Border Control Post on Friday morning.”

    “The President will be joined at the event by President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic and officials of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).”

    “The Seme-Krake Joint Border Control Post is being constructed under the ECOWAS Transport Facilitation Programme which has the objective of boosting trade and economic relations among member countries.”

  • 2015: Jonathan accepts PDP offer

    2015: Jonathan accepts PDP offer

    ... To make official declaration next month

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday accepted the sole candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to run for the 2015 Presidential election.

    All the organs of the party few weeks back had picked President Jonathan as their sole presidential candidate.

    Jonathan accepted the offer during a closed-door meeting with leaders of the party at House 7 in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Among the party men at the meeting are the Senate President, David Mark, Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anineh, and Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus.

    A reliable source in the Presidency said that Jonathan during the meeting thanked the party men and women for endorsing him for the election.

    The source, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said that Jonathan told them that he will pick the nomination form before the October 30 deadline.

    Jonathan, he said, is to declare between 7th and 15th next month and that he has already set up a declaration committee to work out the modalities.

    The source listed the chairman and members of the Presidential Declaration Committee to include: “Dr. Bello Halliru Mohammed (Chairman) from Kebbi, Sen. Ken Namani (Deputy Chairman), Enugu, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (Secretary), Ebonyi, Prof. Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali (member), Gombe, Julius Imagwe – SSA – Youth – (member), Edo, Dr. Baraka Sani (SSA -NSAP) – Kano, (member).”

    “Governors representing zones: Liyel Imoke, Cross River (South South), Theodore Orji, Abia (South East), Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo (South West), Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, Niger (North Central), Ibrahim Shema, Katsina (North West) and Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe (North East).”

    “National Assembly Representatives: Sen. Hosea Agbola , (Oyo), Sen. Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Hon. Bitrus Kaze (Plateau) and Hon. Salmas Badru (Ogun).”

    “Federal Executive Council Representatives: Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Allison-Madueke (Bayelsa), Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun), Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina (Adamawa), Minister of Federal Capital Territory and Sen. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).”

  • Insurgency: House approves $1bn loan for Jonathan

    Insurgency: House approves $1bn loan for Jonathan

    The coast is clear for President Goodluck Jonathan to obtain $1 billion loan to buy arms to bolster the fight against insurgency.

    The House of Representatives yesterday concurred with the Senate to approve the presidential request.

    The report of the Adeyinka Ajayi- headed Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management and the Committee on Finance, headed by Abdulmumin Jibrin, was tabled before the House for consideration.

    The report, which was laid on Tuesday and given accelerated hearing yesterday, urged the House to “approve the request of Mr. President on the need for his administration to borrow not more than $1 billion for the purpose of tackling the current national security challenge”.

    Members approved the four clauses in the report on the external borrowing.

    While approving the loan, the House requested Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to provide information on the source of funds, terms and conditions of the loan, details of the tenure and interest repayment.

    It also “requested the National Security Adviser (NSA) to provide the breakdown of allocations apportioned to the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Police and Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA).”

  • 2015: Jonathan, Sambo, Mark in crucial meeting with Muazu

    2015: Jonathan, Sambo, Mark in crucial meeting with Muazu

    There was anxiety yesterday following the recession into a closed door meeting by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo and President of the Senate, David Mark with National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Adamu Mu’azu.

    The Presidential delegation drove to Mu’azu’s residence in Asokoro District for the session.

    The meeting might be connected with the 2015 presidential poll of which the President was yet to make an official declaration.

    As at 8.36pm, all the leaders were still in Mu’azu’s residence for what a source described as a “crucial session.”

    Soldiers took over all the roads leading to Mu’azu’s residence.

  • Jonathan is easy to defeat, says Kwankwaso

    Jonathan is easy to defeat, says Kwankwaso

    Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has said President Goodluck Jonathan is “the easiest president in the world for any opposition party to defeat in an election”.

    Kwankwaso, who is a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), premised his argument on the “anger, general disillusionment and disenchantment against the Jonathan administration.

    Speaking with reporters on Tuesday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, he said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not last beyond 2015, having spent 16 years in power.

    The governor said Nigeria needs a leader who could instil discipline and effect needed changes, adding: “Jonathan is the easiest sitting president to defeat in an election because of the insecurity in the land. The foremost responsibility of any government is the security of the people.

    “You people are not in the front line and that is why you may not understand the gravity of the situation. As I speak with you, some people are on the hills, in the forest, under mountains taking refuge; they are internally displaced. Just yesterday (Monday), we sent seven trucks of relief materials to our people in refugee camps in Niger Republic.

    “Unfortunately, we have leaders in Nigeria who have divided the county along religious and ethnic lines. Other countries are making progress but here we are being fed with statistics that cannot be verified. I think Jonathan should be happy if we unseat him because it will help him to go and rest.

    “Change is possible once you get the right agent of change. What has happened in Kano State, for instance, has never happened and what made it possible was that the people had a new governor in 2011; it was that simple. We need people who are disciplined in Nigeria; people who mean what they say and stick to it.”

  • Reps approve $1bn loan for Jonathan to fight insurgency

    Reps approve $1bn loan for Jonathan to fight insurgency

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the $1 billion loan requested by President Goodluck Jonathan to tackle security challenges in the country.

    This was sequel to the consideration of the report of the Adeyinka Ajayi- headed Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management and the Committee on Finance headed by Abdulmumin Jibrin, tendered before the House.

    The report which was laid on Tuesday and given accelerated hearing on Wednesday urged the House to “approve the request of Mr. President on the need for his administration to borrow not more than $1 billion dollars to fight national security challenge.”

    Members subsequently approved the four clauses in the report on the external borrowing.

    The House while approving the loan requested the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to provide information on source of funds, terms and conditions of the loan.

    Details of the tenure and interest repayment were also requested from the minister.

    It also requested the National Security Adviser to provide the breakdown of allocations apportioned to the Nigerian Air force, Nigerian Navy, Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Police and Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA).”

     

  • Jonathan easiest sitting president to defeat in poll – Kwankwaso

    Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said President Goodluck Jonathan is the easiest sitting President in the world for any opposition party to defeat in an election.

    Kwankwaso, who is a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, premised his argument on the anger, general disillusionment and disenchantment against Jonathan’s administration.

    The governor while speaking with reporters on Tuesday night in Ilorin, Kwara State, predicted that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not last beyond 2015, having spent 16 years in power.

    He said: “Jonathan is the easiest sitting president to defeat in an election because of insecurity in the land. This is because the first and foremost responsibility of any government is security of the people.

    “You people are not in the front line and that is why you may not understand the gravity of the situation. As I speak with you some people are on the hills, in the forest, under mountains taking refuge; they are internally displaced. Just yesterday (Monday) we sent six trucks of relief materials to our people in refuge camps in Niger Republic.

    “Unfortunately we have leaders in this country who have divided the county along religious and ethnic lines.

    “All other countries are making progress but here we are being fed with statistics that cannot be verified. I think Jonathan should be happy if we unseat him because it will help him to go and rest.

    “Change is possible once you get the right agent of change. What has happened in Kano State for instance has never happened and what made it possible was that the people had a new governor in 2011. It was that simple.

    “We need people who are disciplined in Nigeria, people who mean what they say and stick to it.”

     

     

  • Jonathan and the barrage of awards

    On Wednesday last week, President Goodluck Jonathan received three awards in quick succession before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting.

    or being the first Nigerian President to declare to run for election and campaign on his Facebook Account, President Goodluck Jonathan was declared the first digital President of Nigeria and bestowed with the award of Grand Commander of ICT Promoters in Nigeria.

    The award, which was received on his behalf on October 7 by the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, was also given due to Jonathan’s recognition of the import of ICT to the Nigerian economy and the creation of the Ministry of Communication Technology.

    The award, which came from ITT Media Centre for Awards, also praised Jonathan for establishing the first national broadband on ICT roadmap and putting in place good policies that have enhanced the development of the country’s ICT sector.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Steve Oru, also presented the award he received on behalf of President Jonathan from Niger Delta youths who were trained on ICT, handsets, smart phones assembly, repairs and maintenance in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    The award was followed by the Lifetime African Leadership Achievement Prize Award received on behalf of Mr. President by Vice-President, Namadi Sambo in Uyo Akwa-Ibom State.