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Tag: Jonathan

  • Group mobilises for protest in US against Jonathan

    Group mobilises for protest in US against Jonathan

    A group yesterday called on Nigerians in Diaspora to prepare for a protest against President Goodluck Jonathan in Washington DC.

    The Executive Director, Gatekeepers Foundation, Blessing Agbomhere, made the call in a statement in Abuja.

    Agbomhere said the protest became necessary due to the inability of the  Jonathan’s administration to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.

    He said the protest was meant to demand immediate rescue of the over 200 girls in Boko Haram’s captivity since April and the recovery of the $20billion oil revenue unaccounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    The statement, entitled: “President Goodluck’s visit to the US: A call for massive protests”, reads in part: “This is calling on all patriotic Nigerians and Gatekeepers Foundation Volunteers in the United State of America with committed interest in the growth and development of our country to come out enmasse to protest rallies holding in Washington DC to demand that President Goodluck Jonathan Bring Back Our Girls Alive and bring back our US$20billion or resign.

    “The protest has become necessary as a result of the insincerity of the Jonathan-led government in providing security of lives and property in the country, while deliberately perpetuating and protecting corruption and corrupt government officials.

    “Therefore, we call on Nigerians in Diaspora, especially in the US, to come out with their placards to occupy the streets of Washington DC until President Goodluck is ready to Bring Back Our Girls Alive and Our US$20 Billion or resign.”

  • APC asks Jonathan to probe assassination attempt on Buhari

    APC asks Jonathan to probe assassination attempt on Buhari

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) demanded yesterday a probe of the botched suicide attempt on a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    To the APC, there seems to be more to the suicide mission than meets the eye. There must be a “believable and credible enquiry”, it said.

    APC Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun made the demand in a statement and during an interaction with reporters after a visit by the party’s National Executive Committee to the Catholic Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan.

    He said: “The APC condemns in strongest terms the abominable spate of bomb blast and almost obvious attempt to take the life of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, (rtd). We understand that the unassuming, peaceful and humble General was on his way to his village, Daura, when a vehicle trailed him.

    “We are grateful to God that Gen. Buhari’s life was spared. Three of his aides were, however, injured in the incident and have been discharged after treatment.

    “We urgently appeal to his supporters nationwide to please remain calm in the face of what seems obvious provocation but strongly urge Mr. President to speedily set up a high-powered probe to unravel those behind the suspicious bomb blast.

    “This incident must not be treated as one of the usual Boko Haram atrocities as there seems to be more to it than meets the eye.”

    The party expressed “heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives in the first bomb blast which claimed scores of lives in Kaduna”.

    It said: “We join their families in praying to Almighty God for the repose of the souls of the dead and speedy recovery of the injured.

    “We want to reiterate, once again, that because of the innocent lives being lost on daily basis, we committed our great part to full cooperation with the Jonathan administration in seeking solutions to the insurgency.

    “But Jonathan is more intent on politicising the issue to the extent of hiring propagandists from as far away as Russia and United States.”

    The APC, for the umpteenth time urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take the protection of Nigerian lives more seriously and to prudently utilise the “huge” amounts budgeted for security to upgrade our security infrastructure.

    “In addition his administration should fully cooperate with the international community in order to crush the Boko Haram insurgency.”

    Responding to questions from reporters after meeting with Cardinal Onaiyekan, the APC National Chairman said: “What is critical at this time is that we have made a passionate appeal to all the supporters of Buhari to please maintain the peace and not allow this provocation make them do things to the benefit of enemies of this nation.

    “Secondly, particularly to you members of the press, you have noticed recently the tendency of the PDP to want to say that the APC is sponsoring Boko Haram. They have hired people as far away as Russia.  Russians have become security experts who can tell what is happening in Nigeria. Americans have become security experts who can pronounce who is supporting Boko Haram in Nigeria. At least, one member of the British Parliament has also been told to call for an enquiry into this.

    “But yesterday because of the desperation of the ruling party, an attempt was made on one of the key leaders or goal-getters of the APC and it ought to have been clear to all concerned by now that the major states principally affected are APC states.

    “Does somebody set fire on his own house to prove any point? Won’t that be the height of stupidity? And now, the leader of our party is targeted and yet they are still blaming us, telling the world, telling the nation that the APC is a supporter and financier of Boko Haram. Gentlemen, Nigerians are not idiots. Whoever is doing that thinks Nigerians have taken leave of their reasoning ability.

    “It is clear that you do not prove bravery by stabbing yourself. So, the APC cannot prove that it does not like Jonathan by setting APC states on fire. Does that make any sense? So I don’t want to say whose hand is in this pie, whatever the apologists think, let them work. They are the ones who control the security forces.

    “They have spent over $20 billion in the last few years for supposedly providing infrastructure for the security forces. Yet, today, there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever. We are on top of the struggle against Boko Haram. So whose finger is in this pie? I think it is fairly obvious.

    “Well, we have called for an investigation, that is clear. Two things we did – we appealed to his teeming followers and followers of the APC to please maintain the peace. And for peace to reign, we also called on the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately institute a believable and credible enquiry to unearth what is in fact going on. Why do they want to target Gen. Buhari? And indeed, why Boko Haram?”

    Asked if APC believes that the incident was an assassination attempt on Gen. Buhari, said: “We have no doubt in our mind and we thank God. Bini people say if you are not evil, you won’t die an evil death. Gen. Buhari is one of the most upright human beings we have in this country and God, the Allah he serves has not destined an evil death for him, no matter the machinations of people in government today who seem to have taken all leave of rational thought.

    “If they can hire propagandists, cheap Russians, cheap Americans to say that APC is not beyond Boko Haram, has there been an investigation? If a child dies in the morning after the witch flies over at night, isn’t there a connection? Or are they going to tell us that they don’t know what is happening in this country? We are not government; we have the right to think what we think because government is not delivering on its path of the bargain. They are in charge of security and protecting our lives.

    Asked of the connection between the peace which APC is suing for and the allegation of assassination attempt on Gen. Buhari’s life by some forces, Odigie-Oyegun said the link was obvious.

    He added: “No, I think it is really straightforward. Maintain peace doesn’t mean you do not know what is going on. What they wanted to provoke, we are telling our members not to fall for these dastardly temptation because if our 10 million supporters, particularly in this part of the country go to town in anger, then this nation will be in trouble. So the connection is very clear.”

    Some of those on the entourage of the APC delegation were the Deputy National Chairman, Senator Lawal Shuaib, Senator Chris Ngige, National Treasurer, Alhaji Mohammed Bala, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, and others.

  • APC governors: hold Jonathan responsible for attempt on Buhari

    APC governors: hold Jonathan responsible for attempt on Buhari

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan should be held responsible for the attempt on the life of one of its national leaders and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari.

    The governors, in a statement titled: PGF Condemns Attempt on Buhari, Holds Jonathan Responsible, noted that the incident happened two days after Gen. Buhari urged Jonathan to stop waging war on Nigerians but to devote more time to the war on terrorism.

    The governors condemned the attack, adding that “the double bomb explosions in Kaduna, the loss of innocent lives and what was clearly an attempt to assassinate former Head of State and leader of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari”, were not coincidences.

    The PGF restated General Buhari’s statement to President Jonathan that it is unwise and against the spirit of social democracy that many innocent people were being killed in the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) quest to demobilise the APC and retain power at all cost.

    The governors said the Federal Government had failed in its fundamental responsibility of providing security for Nigerians, yet accusing the opposition in order to shift the blame for the low-intensity war going on in parts of the country.

    The statement reads: “Particularly worrisome is the statement credited to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, that soldiers were deserting the Army for fear of Boko Haram. Our question is: what happened to the vast sums of money devoted to security and defence in the last four years of the Jonathan presidency? Is the desertion of soldiers linked to the theft of money meant for military equipment?

    “We call on the Federal Government to take urgent and radial steps to investigate the assassination attempt and make its finding public. In the meantime, we urge President Jonathan to manage his obsession with power and work for the citizens of this country.

    “It is a great shame that Nigeria, under President Jonathan, has become the most dangerous place in the world in terms of deadly terrorist attacks. While we rejoice with General Buhari and others who narrowly escaped death, we commiserate with the families who have lost loved ones in the explosions and other attacks across the country – whether by terrorists or nameless, faceless assassins.”

  • Jonathan’s re-election tears Ogun LP apart

    Jonathan’s re-election tears Ogun LP apart

    •’Daniel can’t speak for us’

    The second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan has deepened the crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party (LP).

    A faction of the party, led by Mr Bode Simeon, said yesterday that former Governor Gbenga Daniel cannot speak for it.

    In a statement, the party said: “Daniel is neither a party executive member in the state nor a national leader and as such, he is unqualified to arrange or midwife an alliance between LP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding 2015 general elections.”

    The faction said the issue of forming any alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to work for President Goodluck Jonathan could only be taken by Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu.

    Simeon said: “The issues of support for the 2nd term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 remain the prerogative of the national political head and the national leadership of labour party.

    “Otunba Gbenga Daniel  neither has the authorisation of the national leadership nor mine  as the chairman, before making the misguided statements.

    He is not qualified to speak, arrange, midwife, represent or make pronouncement on issues that are the sacrosanct duties of the national leadership of labour party.

    “It is not only criminal but absurd for anyone to parade themselves as officers of Ogun Labour Party. Therefore, the only executive recognised by the constitution of labour party and the national leadership is Comrade Bode Simeon lead executives.

    “Since there is still a subsisting  court injunction that the status quo be maintained in the dispute that arose over the Labour Party structure, any one parading himself or herself as officers of Ogun Labour Party  is an attempt  to subvert the constitution of Nigeria.”

  • Jonathan advised to allow free, fair poll

    Jonathan advised to allow free, fair poll

    A member of the Aregbesola Campaign Organisation (ACO), Prince Solagbade Amodeni, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to allow free and fair election on August 9.

    He observed that the desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to capture Osun State at all costs without minding its repercussions would not augur well for the nation’s nascent democracy.

    Amodeni, a former Commissioner in Ondo State, said Governor Rauf Aregbesola had used his acumen to transform the state through physical and infrastructural development, stressing that people were ready to show appreciation to him through massive votes.

    Besides, he said the governor had surpassed any other past governors in the state by allowing all citizenry to practise their religion to the best of their abilities.

    Speaking to The Nation in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Amodeni said the Christian Praying Ground under construction in Osun State is unprecedented in the history of any state in Nigeria.

    According to him, “During the burial ceremony of Prophet Timothy Obadare, not only he was there personally, his whole cabinet members were there and the state’s financial contribution to the successful burial of the famous religious leader was unrivalled.

    Amodeni recalled that when Aregbesola campaign was launched in Ile-Ife, the opposition said the surging crowd that attended the rally were rented. The blackmail, he said, later stopped when they saw subsequent mega rallies becoming huge by the day.

    He said: “There is no way you can compare Ekiti election to that of Osun because the personalities involved are different and its people are different. Ekiti people were caught unaware and APC left the election for Governor Fayemi alone either through omission or commission.

    The former commissioner noted that though Aregbesola and his team could win the election single-handedly in Osun State, but said: “People are not taking things for granted. We are fully prepared for the political abracadabra and antics of PDP during the election.”

    “We will do everything possible to ensure that the integrity of the ballot papers shall be tested during the poll and the whole world will know APC members are ready for any eventuality during the election.

    Amodeni argued that under free and fair election devoid of any malpractices or using of Federal apparatus, “the PDP candidate, Iyiola Omisore, would not score more than 10 percent,” saying he would only come in distant third  because according to him, his party had no crowd in Osun State.

    His words: “We are fully prepared for the contest, if PDP has anything to show, they will not resort to violence and visible destruction of APC’s candidate billboards and posters.”

    The politician noted that in his 30 years of active politicking, Aregbesola would be the first candidate that would not “use his personal money to purchase campaign materials like billboards, posters, vests, key holders and even pay for radio and television jingles.”

    He disclosed that all materials for Aregbesola’s political campaigns were donated through friends, including himself and numerous political associates.

  • Jonathan meets Nasarawa Speaker

    Jonathan meets Nasarawa Speaker

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with the Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Musa Mohammed, and the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    The Nasarawa House of Assembly dominated by the PDP with 20 members to All Progressives Congress (APC’s) four members have been pushing for the impeachment of Governor Tanko Al-Makura (APC).

    There have been street protests by some youths in the state, following the Assembly’s impeachment move.

    The lawmakers listed 16 charges of gross abuse of public office against the governor.

    Speaking with reporters after the meeting with the President, Speaker Mohammed, who was accompanied by some principal officers of the House, declined to give details of the meeting.

    He said: “It is a private visit. I don’t have the mandate of the Assembly to brief the press.

    “The Chairman of the  Committee on Information has the mandate to speak to the press on anything concerning impeachment.”

    Secondus, who emerged from the President’s office, a few minutes later, also declined to give details of the discussion at the meeting.

    “It’s consultation. I can’t say whatever now. We are consulting,” he stated.

    Governor Al-Makura told his supporters to resist any attempt to remove him from office by the lawmakers.

    The governor spoke at the Government House in Lafia, when some protesters visited him.

    “The resistance is based on the fact that the present government in the state was democratically put in place by the Nasarawa electorate through a transparent election.

    He added: “The APC administration in the state is transparent and adherence to due process.

    What happened yesterday at the House of Assembly was a true violation of rule of law and APC is set to march on them, and when it starts to march on the plot against APC by the frustrated PDPmembers, the world would come to know the true situation.”

    APC Chairman in the North Central Zone Zakari Edeh said theAssembly is plotting to impeach the governor because “they are afraid of meeting the governor at the poll during the 2015 governorship race.”

    He urged the people to collectively resolve not to allow the assembly ruin the state as according to him, “the arrangement Al-Makura had with Nasarawa electorate was to complete his tenure and add another four years.”

  • Jonathan’s handling of security embarrassing, poor – Sylva

    Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, on Thursday frowned at President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of security situation in Nigeria.

    Sylva lambasted President Jonathan, describing his approach to security issues as poor, embarrassing and partisan.

    The former governor, who is also a leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Duofie Buokoribo, condemned the bloody attack on the convoy of the APC National Leader and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Sylva described “the apparent assassination attempt on Buhari” as “a spineless assault on the voice of conscience in Nigeria by bigoted terrorists and their political sponsors seeking evil attention.”

    Noting that Nigerians, by their traditions and religions, are naturally peaceful people, Sylva said persons promoting “this campaign of death and destruction” would surely be punished by God and men.

    He insisted that Nigerians were frustrated with the way the Federal Government was handling the menace of insurgency.

    He said: “The terrorists appear to have been left to ride roughshod on the country and its citizens by a federal government that chooses extreme partisanship over proactive measures to secure life and property.

    “We are embarrassed by President Jonathan’s poor handling of the security problem and a situation where the government has allowed its sense of partisanship to overshadow the needed political, economic, and social will to tackle the insurgency.”

    According to Sylva, in civilised societies, opposition leaders enjoy more protection from the government than even those in government.

    “Murder is the worst form of censorship and this government has become increasingly notorious for attempting to permanently silence voices of opposition,” he lamented.

     

  • Jonathan orders arrest of perpetrators

    Jonathan orders arrest of perpetrators

    President Goodluck Jonathan directed yesterday the police and security agencies to apprehend the perpetrator of yesterday’s attack on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna.

    The President’s directive was announced in a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati.

    The statement said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan condemns the bombings in Kaduna today which appeared to have targeted former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi.

    “President Jonathan denounces the dastardly targeting of the prominent political and religious leaders by terrorists and enemies of the nation in an odious attempt to inflame passions and exacerbate disquiet, fear, insecurity and sectional divisions in the country.

    “While thanking God Almighty for sparing the lives of General Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, the President extends sincere condolences to the families of those who were sadly killed by the bomb blasts.

    “President Jonathan also commiserates with all those who were injured in the twin bombings in this Holy Month of Ramadan which defy the tenets of Islam, and provide further proof that the terrorists are nothing but blood-thirsty extremists bent on undermining the unity and progress of the nation.

    “The President assures residents of Kaduna and all other Nigerians that the Federal Government will continue and further intensify its ongoing efforts to effectively curb the menace of terrorism in the country.

    “He has specifically directed the Police and other national security agencies to take all necessary actions to apprehend the perpetrators of today’s attacks on Kaduna and urges all residents of the city to give them the fullest possible cooperation and support as they work to bring the terrorists to justice.”

  • Jonathan swears in Chidoka as Aviation Minister

    ‘I won’t tamper with Aviation master plan’

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday swore in two ministers and deployed the former Corp Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corp, Osita Chidoka (Anambra) as the new Minister of Aviation.

    Abubakar Suleiman (Kwara) became the Minister of National Planning and Deputy Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC).

    One of the former Deputy Corp Marshalls, Boboye Oyeyemi, was named the new FRSC Corp Marshall. President Jonathan urged the ministers to bring their wealth of experiences to impact positively on their new assignments.

    He said: “We expect that as you join the team at this time, this is an injury time, like in a soccer match, when you are brought in at that time you are expected to score goals or to give very solid defence.

    “So, Nigerians are expecting much from you… The issues facing us – of course, most of African countries – is the issue of governance.

    “We expect you to bring to bear your wealth of experience so that wherever you are deployed, you will make impact.”

    On the new FRSC chief, the President said: “We are appointing Deputy Corp Marshall Oyeyemi as the Corp Marshall. We will expect that you will do a very good job there.

    “I believe you will work with your colleagues and make sure that you don’t just maintain what Osita (Chidoka) has done but that you will also improve on that.”

    Chidoka promised yesterday not to start anything different from the existing Aviation master plan.

    Few hours after his appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan, the new minister met with workers of the Aviation Ministry. He urged them to deliver quality service to Nigerians.

    Chidoka, who spoke at the SGF Conference Hall in Abuja, wore a Southeast (Igbo) attire comprising an embroidered grey caphtan over a white round neck shirt and  a red cap.

    The Supervising Minister in the ministry, Dr. Samuel Ortom, was absent at the ceremony. This pushed the handover ceremony till today.

    Chidoka hailed his predecessor, Ms Stella Oduah, for transforming the aviation industry.

    He said: “I want us to deliver service to Nigerians. We sometimes forget that the ultimate measure of our work is delivering to the people.

    “We sometimes forget that we are here because of people and we bring in our own issues. So, I believe that in the next few weeks, I will get presentations from everybody and get ideas on different areas. We will then create a straight line that we will work with. I beg all of you to feel free to say your minds because I know most civil servants will say, ‘Let’s study his body language’. But I am urging all of you to feel free.”

    Chidoka promised to build on the existing master plan.

    “We are not going to do anything different, but we will build on what already exists, in line with the Aviation master plan. We will measure where we are and take further step from there. I hope we will have a fruitful working experience and, most importantly, deliver service to Nigerians.”

  • Chibok abduction: Jonathan has failed, says NANS

    Chibok abduction: Jonathan has failed, says NANS

    •Govt refusing assistance bad for rescue efforts’

    Exactly 100 days after over 200 pupils were abducted from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for his “indolent and incompetent” leadership over the incident.

    In a statement yesterday by NANS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Comrade Victor Olaogun, the students’ body decried the further collapse of the Education sector since the Jonathan administration took over.

    It noted that besides the suffering from insecurity, Nigerian students suffered the President’s “incompetence” more than any other Nigerian.

    Olaogun said since the Boko Haram insurgents started their killings and destruction of property, over 800 students had been killed, especially at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; the Adamawa State University; the School of Hygiene in Kano; the College of Agriculture in Damaturu, Yobe State, among others.

    Olaogun said: “Or, do we talk about the killing of innocent National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members whose blood politicians have continued to march on to power?

    “We cannot but imagine the harrowing experiences of these innocent girls, who may have been subjected to terrible experiences in the last 100 days in captivity. There is hardly any nation where this could happen and the President would still have the temerity to stage a political campaign and dance Alanta, as our own President did in Kano few hours after the Iyanya bombing. It was a huge display of insensitivity and gross misconduct.

    “Also, I am a polytechnic student. With my mates in almost all the polytechnics across the federation and the colleges of education, we have been idle for over 10 months and somebody would tell me we have a government in place? We should recall also that the university education was put on hold for over six months before our colleagues could return to their various campuses. These are not only unacceptable but also condemnable.”

    The students’ leader also condemned the $1 billion (about N165 billion) loan request by the President.

    He said students would be mobilised for a protest to the National Assembly, if the lawmakers approve “the fraudulent request”.

    Olaogun said: “Let me warn all the senators and the members of the House of Representatives that if they want to return to their constituencies without being stoned, they should not even consider the loan request, not to talk of approving it. We are aware that the President and his clique of wanted elements …are busy piling up our commonwealth to fight their way back to Aso Rock in 2015. We will fight it and make life more difficult for them.”

    Also, a group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has said the failure of the Goodluck Jonathan administration to genuinely seek and accept assistance from other states and international organisations is a major reason the over 200 pupils of Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, have not been rescued.

    The schoolgirls were abducted 100 days ago by Boko Haram insurgents and have remained in the sect’s captivity since.

    In a statement yesterday by its Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP said: “It is 100 days today that the girls were taken away from their families. The question Nigerians are asking is why this government has not admitted that it cannot do it alone. It is now time for the government to genuinely and proactively seek help and international assistance to obtain the badly needed intelligence, logistics and other support so that the schoolgirls can return to their families without further delay.

    “At this point, seeking such assistance will not breach Nigeria’s sovereignty. As a matter of fact, SERAP believes that Nigeria has a duty, under international law, not only to seek international assistance but also to accept any such assistance when offered. This is the basis of the principle of international cooperation for the protection of human rights. “