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Tag: Jonathan

  • SWF instrumental to fiscal discipline, says Jonathan

    SWF instrumental to fiscal discipline, says Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is critical to maintaining fiscal discipline .

    Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, also inaugurated the governing council and board of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and issued shares certificates of contribution to the SWF to the 36 states.

    Issuing the certificates to the federal, state and local government for their contribution to the Fund before the commencement of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, the President said the inauguration of the governing council was an indication of the progress made so far in the running of the fund.

    He urged government officials to ensure that the objectives of the Fund is achieved through the commitment of their contribution.

    He listed the objectives of the NSIA to include: building a saving base for future generations of Nigeria, enhancing the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure and promoting fiscal stability for the country in times of economic stress.

    He said: “Sovereign Wealth Fund all over the world has been instrumental for t fiscal discipline and development of the countries in which they exist. Our collective furnishing of the fund is re-enforced by the presentation of certificates of contribution tofederal, state and local government and I urge all Nigerian officials at all levels of government to give their full support to the NSIA to ensure that the objectives are speedily realised for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

    I am happy to report that the board and management team of the NSIA has set about implementing robust governance and investment structures towards the achievement of its laudable objectives and the international community is already taking note of their efforts.

    “Also a number of other sovereign wealth fund and international investment institutions have expressed their readiness to partner with the NSIA in the execution of infrastructure projects in Nigeria. Given this, we should all be encouraged to remain steadfast in making contributions to the fund. While the initial $1 billion investment is not inconsequential and gives us credibility, the sustainability of our sovereign wealth fund depends on our continuous contributions.”

    “The NSIA makes investment with the expectations of profitable returns and in this vein, there as been significant progress in the stabilisation and future generation funds. The authority’s currently working hard to evaluate a number of infrastructure projects across the country. Some of the undertaking include second Niger Bridge, Gurara dam phase 2, sea ports investment and an aircraft leasing company to ease the financial burden in the airline industry and promote greater visibility in its operation. It is pertinent to say that the development of well-conceived infrastructure projects by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority will also provide a platform for our national pension funds to invest in credible undertakings.

    Members of the governing council include: the President, represented by the VP, will Chair the council, while the 36 governors, Attorney General of the Federation, minister of Finance, minister of National Planning, Central Bank Governors, Chief Economic Adviser to the President , Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission as members.

    A 12 non-statutory members of the council whose nominations are subject to the confirmation by the senate as stipulated by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority establishment Act of 2011, will join the council at a later date as members.

    Chairman of the board of directors of the NSIA Mahey Rasheed, said that the NSIA, which kicked off in February, is now fully operational and has commenced investment activities.

    He said: “We have gone far in investing the stabilisation and future generation funds. Also we are evaluating a number of investment opportunities in the nation’s infrastrucute relating to transportation, power, healthcare, and agriculture”.

    According to him, the NSIA has been significantly recognised as potential investment power house by global investment partners and is already in the top ranking chart of Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute.

    The Managing Director of the NSIA, Uche Orji, said they would do their best to attain the set objectives of the fund.

  • Nothing has changed

    Nothing has changed

    •Cabinet reshuffle by the President was informed more by partisan considerations

    In the run-up to the 2011 election, President Goodluck Jonathan had campaigned vigorously across the country, promising to implement a national transformation agenda if voted back into office. The high expectation engendered by this pledge was certainly one of the variables responsible for his consequent victory at the polls.

    Yet, when he constituted his cabinet, sceptics doubted if the team had the requisite quality to deliver on the President’s campaign promises. Political considerations rather than a track record of performance and the requisite experience seemed to have played a prime role in the appointment of most of the ministers. Despite the high marks he awarded himself during the presentation of his mid-term report, the prevalent view is that the Jonathan administration has underperformed abysmally and that no meaningful transition agenda is being undertaken in the country.

    This is one of the reasons why there had been persistent speculations for months, of an imminent cabinet reshuffle at the federal level. The assumption was that a President who is so obviously bent on serving a second term in office would fundamentally re-jig his team and enhance his capacity to deliver on his electoral promises, to brighten his chances of re-election. Unfortunately, when nine members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) were sacked on September 11, the action turned out to be a veritable anti-climax. The issue of performance was most certainly the last thing on the President’s mind in deciding which ministers to drop.

    There is also no indication that the performance Benchmark for the FEC, which the President got every minister to sign amidst wide publicity, played any significant role in his decision-making process on this matter. As mediocre as many of them may have been, the sacked ministers – Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs), Ruqqayatu Rufa’i (Education), Shamsudeen Usman (National Planning), Amal Pepple (Land and Urban Development), Hadiza Mailafia (Environment), Ita Ewa (Science and Technology), Olusola Obada (Minister of State for Defence), her counterparts in the power and agriculture ministries, respectively, Zainab Kuchi, and Tijani Bukur, were certainly not the worst performers in the cabinet.

    One of the most critical and important ministers in the cabinet, for instance, is Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Yet, under her watch the economy continues to stagnate and manifest the abnormality of growth in the midst of massive unemployment and pervasive poverty. Given the decrepit state of major highways across the country, it is difficult to understand why the minister of works, Mr Mike Onolememen, remains in office. There continues to be a wide hiatus between the soaring rhetoric of the minister of agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and the actual performance of the ministry as the country remains helplessly food- dependent.

    While one of the sacked ministers was alleged to have forced parastatals under the ministry to buy an SUV worth N17 million for personal use, the minister of petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke sits pretty in office despite more damaging allegations against her. Not only did the gargantuan fraud uncovered in the administration of the so-called fuel subsidy take place under her watch, the Crusaders for Good Governance (CGG) recently alleged that she wasted N2billion of public funds on chartered flights – an allegation she has not responded to.

    From all indications, the cabinet reshuffle was motivated largely by the on-going crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The move was instinctual and informed by panic rather than rigorous and methodical thinking. This is another clear indication of how partisan politicking has pushed governance to the backburner in the Jonathan administration, with elections still two years ahead. This is clearly no path to national transformation.

  • Abari: Jonathan’s largesse will ginger Okagbare, others

    Abari: Jonathan’s largesse will ginger Okagbare, others

    •Wants more input in athletes training 

    The recent thank you package handed Nigeria’s athletics sensation Blessing Okagbare by the Federal Government is sure to fire her and other athletes to greater heights.

    This was the prediction of Head of Coaching and Training National Institute for Sports (NIS), Solomon Abari in chat with Sportinglife.

    Recognising the efforts of an athlete on one hand and supporting the athlete financially and morally, according to him remain the fastest way of bringing out the best from any athlete. While giving President Goodluck Jonathan and Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan a pat on the back for appreciating Okagbare’s effort at the recently ended World Athletics Championship, Abari canvassed for more input, especially in the training of athletes to enable Nigeria occupy her rightful position at the international arena.

    The seasoned coach and sports administrator said experience over the years has shown that Nigeria had performed many times below expectation due mainly to poor preparation, late release of funds and sometimes lack of support.

    Athletes and coaches alike he further added are not magicians but can only achieve set target with maximum support not only from their countries but also from their families and well wishers alike.

    Okagbare ended Nigeria’s 14-year wait for a medal at the Athletics Championship in Moscow, winning a silver medal in the long jump event and also bronze in the 200m event.

    In the long jump event, she jumped 6.99m just 2cm short of claiming gold which went to America’s Brittney Reese. In appreciation of her effort, the President dished out N3million reward, even as her coach Daniel Esebinimo got N3.5million for his effort. Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan equally honoured her with cash and a parcel of land in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

  • Jonathan and challenge of leadership

    Like the Biblical King Nebuchadnezzar, intoxicated by power, equalled himself with God to the point of calling the bluff and disregarding danger warnings by some prophets in Israel and later paid heavily, I first noticed signs of arrogance in our President in the wake of the new petroleum price regime. Believing he was going for real consultation with the clerics and possibly consent to their genuine advice, President Jonathan bluntly told members of the National Council on Inter-Religious Affairs, (NIREC), who had gathered at his instance in Ilorin to deliberate on the planned increase in petroleum pump price, that he was ready to be stoned after the increase and would be glad to return home. I recall the clerics, including traditional rulers, told our President, albeit unanimously, that no matter the propriety of the increase, the timing was absurd. And, true to his words, the president went ahead to approve the new price regime and almost collapsed the nation, thereafter.

    To those who had seen him as an amenable leader, who would humbly accept sincere, though bitter truth and stand with the ordinary Nigerians, this was the first sign that the future was pregnant. Now, many years after, the same lack of tact in handling party affairs, has put the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in disarray. With the events of the last three weeks, particularly the emergence of the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led faction of the PDP, (nPDP), it would be a shock surprise to still find anyone pretending that all is well with the PDP, or, perhaps, that where there were issues, they would simply fade away with the passage of time.

    While one could possibly hazard a guess as to why things seemed to have come to a head in the face of the coercive rather than diplomatic leadership style of the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led National Executive Committee (NEC), it has remained a huge surprise to everyone in the know of goings on in the party that those who should know better, the presidency and PDP elders, for instance, are still acting as if all is well.

    Probably thinking everyone would swallow the morsel of uninspiring leadership provided by Tukur, without saying a word as often the case, the presidency, now, coming round this delusion, has began a high-octane all-out war. But if this exemplifies the lack of tact or visionary leadership by party leaders, their greatest undoing is the sustained needless and clever-by-half pillorying of real and imagined party members opposed to the 2015 plans, using the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other sundry agencies.

    Today, as they say, the cookies have terribly crumbled. As everyone could see, the poor handling of this supposed mere belly ache has helped it to grow without inhibition into a malignant cancer, delicate and potentially hard to handle, without eating the humble pie by first admitting mistakes of poor approach to a subject matter to which every party member has a right of opinion, good or bad. Or, a genuine reconciliatory move as opposed to the Greek handshake and fake smile that have characterized the much publicized peace overtures by the party leadership. Unfortunately, while the presidency has maintained that it had no hand or that it was not providing support to the apparent illegal ostracization of party members by the Tukur-led executive, or sparked off the fire of attrition in the party, evidences contrary to the position have gradually, but steadily been emerging in the last few months.

    Interestingly, the current balkanization of the party can very easily be traceable to the unbridled 2015 ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan. Shockingly too, even when presidency’s imprimatur are all too clear in the lingering crisis, it has continued to push on its 2015 agenda even when it obviously hurts unity in the party and economic development of the nation. Not only has the presidency equally cleverly spurned moves aimed at bringing peace in the party where it does not favour its plans, but also enjoyed the company of foxes, who only tell him what it wants to hear.

    Like Rivers’ Governor Rotimi Amaechi, whose crime Tukur leadership says included among others, an alleged vice presidential ambition and gutsy questioning of the president’s second term ambition, not a few Nigerians have expressed displeasure at the manner the presidency has handled issues in the last three years. But for excelling in no small measure in sustained media fireworks painting dreamy and illusionary achievements in a government that is yet to fix power supply, curtail corruption in public offices, heavily dependent on importation, failed in arresting deteriorating standard of education, encouraged lawlessness, among others, it has done well also by cupping up some ridiculous fantasies, simply wishing Nigerians were still living in the past where sweet-coated promises still made sense, as opposed to what eyes can see or what can be felt in money-worth road network, effective legal system, improved health sector and general public good.

    Curiously, while all these presented call to duty, the presidency, seemingly blinded by ambition, has continued to wage war against those who paved the way for peace resulting in the many smooth transitions that has taken place at the presidency after the death of former President Umaru Yar’Adua. Now, beyond the Rivers crisis, NGF and Boko Haram challenges, presidency is adding one form of battle or the other to its heavy list, everyday. Whether this is a tactics of those who currently enjoy good perks by the presidency to remain relevant in the scheme of things is anybody’s guess, but more than anything else, the presidency has shown it enjoys wielding the big and strong stick rather jaw-jawing with party stakeholders.

    Hurting as this obviously is, it would seem, the presidency has declared war on some party members even as it has used the court to shutdown the National Secretariat of the nPDP in Abuja and Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. With prominent members of the old PDP, possibly including the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambawal, about nine governors, and 57 Senators, including strategic party members identifying with the nPDP, presidency has let loose its attack dogs on its enemies of their 2015 programmes. Only recently, the president sacked the Minister of Youths and Social Development, Alhaji Adbul-kadir Inuwa because of his closeness to the governor of Sokoto State, who is opposed to his second term ambition. Ironically, it turned out as one of the most damaging public actions of the current administration. According to presidency sources, the minister was allegedly sacked because the former minister could not supervise a rancour-free election by the National Youth Council of Nigeria, a Non-Governmental organisation that is not an integral agency under the direct supervision of the former minister!

    But if Inuwa’s sack points to dictatorial vestiges in a supposed democratic regime, sending the EFCC and police after people like Senator Dr Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara State, Abubakar Baraje and others, is, perhaps, ambition taken too far. Like most inexplicable moves, not a few people were shocked that Saraki is being invited for questioning by EFCC on the same issues for which he had been cleared!

    While other political parties are joining ranks and reaching out to aggrieved members, PDP is busy demonizing and dividing its house. The Nigeria Police Force under the current dispensation is increasingly being converted to a mere ‘armed brigade’ for hunting down opponents and perceived enemies of the president’s second term project. Only last week, a few days after its illegal withdrawals of security details of Senator Saraki and Baraje, the Inspector General of Police contemptuously sent his boys to prevent Governor Amaechi and his visiting former speakers from entering into Government House.

    • Barakat writes from Lagos

  • Jonathan wants a third term from back door, says Baraje group

    Jonathan wants a third term from back door, says Baraje group

    DESPITE desperate moves to find peace, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be sinking deeper into crises.

    It is all about the 2015 presidential race – going by the position of the party’s Kawu Baraje faction, which said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan should be stopped from getting a third term in office.

    This was one of the issues tabled by the faction when Baraje and his team visited Senate President David Mark at the National Assembly.

    Baraje was accompanied by Governors Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) , Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

    Others in the delegation were factional National Secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Deputy National Chairman Sam Sam Jaja and National Youth Leader Timi Frank, among others.

    The group was first received by the 22 Senators supporting the New PDP and then Mark.

    Baraje urged Mark and the Senate to help find solution to the logjam in the party.

    He demanded, among other things, Amaechi’s recall from suspension and his recognition as the elected chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

    He also demanded “the reversal of the dissolution of the party executives in Rivers and Adamawa states, conduct of a fresh convention by the PDP due to the lapses in the recent one, removal of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman of the party, strict adherence to party constitution and total objection to third term for President Goodluck Jonathan from the back door”.

    President Jonathan was sworn in on May 6, 2010 to complete the tenure of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

    Jonathan won his election in 2011 and took an oath of office on May 29, 2011. There have been arguments over Dr. Jonathan’s eligibility for another term, with some saying since he has been sworn in twice, he can no longer run.

    Others say the President only completed the late President Yar’Adua’s tenure in the first instance.

    President Jonathan is yet to speak openly on his political future. He says he is concentrating on his current mandate.

    Baraje said: “I call on you and the Senate to look at all the steps we have taken with the aim of finding solution to the problems of impunity and injustice in the PDP.

    “We call on you and the Senate, as members of the ruling party that the issue of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has gone beyond the ordinary man on the street.

    “All the negotiations that have been carried out by ASUU and the Federal Government have yielded no result. Our students and our children are at home exposed to all sorts of dangers.

    “ I call on you and the Senate to please quickly intervene and ensure that our universities are reopened.

    “We can no longer keep these children at home. I also call on you and the Senate to ensure that the 2013 budget is faithfully implemented.”

    Mark told the group that he would continue to stand for justice, fairness and equity, notwithstanding the circumstances.

    He said: “Even if you have a knife to my head, I will stand for justice, fairness and equity.”

    He urged the warring groups to come together and uphold a strong and united party.

    Mark promised to remain in the PDP, saying he would not live to see a fallen Party.

    He pleaded with the group not to defect to another party.

    He said: “We are stronger and better as one big , strong and united party . We need to work together and make our democracy sustainable.”

    He urged the opposing groups to lay the cards on the table honestly and objectively to help find solution to the crisis rocking the party.

    Mark promised that the lawmakers elected on the platform of the party would remain united and cohesive.

    He said what makes for the good of the nation and her citizens would be their watchword.

    He stressed that the leadership of the National Assembly has no intention to declare the seats of Senators or House of Representatives members vacant on account of the crises.

    He expressed the hope that the issues would be resolved amicably soon.

    Mark said: “I will remain in PDP. All of us collectively, whether it is Baraje led or Bamanga led want to see our house stand and stand erect and stand in such a way so that it can stand the test of time.

    “The obvious problems that you have raised here have all been in the newspapers. I have had occasions to plead with our elders. You have also met with our elders led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “Both parties have presented their cases and I believe that the elders’ committee has also made a submission to Mr. President.

    “Subsequently, you have also met with Mr. President and from what I gathered there is progress. It is slow but the progress in any peace move is better than no progress at all. As long as there is dialogue, there must be progress.

    “The essence of our meeting from time to time is to exchange ideas, look at the areas where we have differences and try to iron them out.

    “My position on the crisis in the PDP has always been that whatever happens, we must keep the members of the PDP in the National Assembly united because that is the only thing that can stand the test of time.

    “Yes, we are a large family, there will be crisis but we should not translate that crisis to the floor of the Senate because once you do that then we are divided in the Senate.

    “The Senate remains one united family and I have not declared anybody’s seat vacant. I have no intention whatsoever of doing that because this is a crisis that we are working on and trying to resolve.

    “As long as we are trying to resolve this crisis, all the sides to it must be prepared o give and take.”

    Mark said: Having spoken with you, I am also going to discuss with the Bamanga group and we will all be very frank because if we don’t put all the cards on the table, then we are not going to find a solution.

    “We agree that there was a problem but it is a family problem and we will solve it. When we solve it, we will be stronger when we come out of it.”

    “We should not allow the crack to continue so that lizards and all sorts of reptiles don’t begin to get into the house. What we will do as elders is to make sure that where the crack is, we cover it.”

     

  • Rumpus threatens Jonathan, G-7 talks

    Rumpus threatens Jonathan, G-7 talks

    The rumpus in the House of Representatives may threaten the reconvening of peace talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and the G-7 governors/Kawu Baraje faction, it was learnt last night.

    It was also learnt that the Presidency opted for October 7 to resume talks with the aggrieved governors to buy time on its next line of action.

    Besides the booing of the governors and the factional National Chairman of PDP, Kawu Baraje, the Presidency might use the ceasefire period to deal with those behind the factionalisation of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    A source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “The rumpus in the House is a setback for peace talks between the President and the aggrieved governors. The G-7 /Kawu Baraje faction may not return to the peace table.

    “The crisis has also shown that the President and his team were not committed to the pact reached at the conciliatory talks on Sunday. They had been using the meetings to buy time to gauge the feelings of the governors and design the next line of action.

    “You will recall that barely 12 hours after the Sunday meeting, the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP raised a caretaker committee for PDP in Kano State.

    “The signs are there that the peace talks might be as good as dead. The reconvening on October 7 for further talks is slim.”

    Another source said it was apparent that the Pesidency haddecided to whip inot line the G-7 governors and their sponsors.

    The source added: “In the next two to three weeks, there might be a crackdown on the governors, members of the Kawu Baraje faction and all their backers.”

     

  • Stop celebrating ill-gotten wealth, Jonathan urges Nigerians

    Stop celebrating ill-gotten wealth, Jonathan urges Nigerians

    President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to stop celebrating ill-gotten wealth to discourage corrupt practices.

    The President spoke yesterday at the 54th annual conference of the Nigeria Economic Society in Abuja.

    He said: “For us as a nation to bring corruption down in Nigeria, it’s not just blaming the government or blaming the police. But all individuals must frown at people who have what they are not supposed to have; those who live in houses they are not supposed to live in; those who drive cars they are not supposed to drive and wear suits more expensive than they can afford.”

    Until Nigerians are able to do this, Jonathan said, the nation’s journey to greatness would be hampered.

    He said: “Invariably, we are all rewarding corruption. And until we stop that, I don’t think we will get to where we want to go.

    “If a young man, who just started a job and within six months or a year comes up with a car of N7 million to N15 million and you clap for him, then you are rewarding corruption.”

    The President stressed that if Nigerians collectively refuse to reward corruption and frown at it, “people would not be attracted to corrupt practices; but when we all reward corruption, then of course we will be tempted to go in that direction”.

    Jonathan said he desired a Nigerian society “where all of us will frown against people who come up with what they are not supposed to have”.

    According to him, his administration’s approach to fighting corruption includes building institutions with the capacity to overcome corrupt influences. “This approach uses the rule of law as a framework to fight corruption,” he said.

    His administration, Jonathan said, has repositioned the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) to ensure more effective, efficient and transparent ways of managing corruption and corrupt practices.

    The government’s effort at strengthening the capacity of state institutions at fighting corruption, the President said, “is not limited to granting independence to EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies”.

    He added: “It extends to developing affordable finance for housing, car ownership, among others, as we believe that taking measures to help realise aspirations to own their homes and fund those things that make life easier can also aid the fight against corruption.”

  • Jonathan submits 2014-2016 MTEF, FSP to Senate

    Jonathan submits 2014-2016 MTEF, FSP to Senate

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday submitted the 2014-2016 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) to the Senate for consideration and approval.

    Senate President David Mark read both documents yesterday.

    Jonathan, in a letter attached to the documents, noted that the submission of the MTEF and FSP was in line with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

    He said the development towards the preparation of the 2014 budget culminated in the 2014-2016 MTEF and FSP.

    Jonathan said: “Prepared against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty, the 2014-2016 MTEF and FSP reflect the reality of our circumstance. We will ensure that planned spending is set at prudent and sustainable levels consistent with government’s overall medium-term developmental objectives.”

    The President hailed the Senate for the cordial relationship between the Legislature and the Executive “in our collective efforts to transform the economy of our dear country”.

     

  • Jonathan to governors: I didn’t promise one term

    Jonathan to governors: I didn’t promise one term

    President makes concessions to end PDP crises

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi is to be recalled from suspension, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) source told The Nation yesterday.

    This is one of the four concessions made by President Goodluck Jonathan to the Group of Seven governors (G7) at a meeting on Sunday.

    But the President was said to have been adamant on 2015, insisting that he never said he would not seek re-election.

    He claimed that what he said in Ethiopia was that he would not be a party to tenure elongation.

    Despite the concessions, the G-7 governors and the Kawu Baraje-led New PDP are taking their case to the House of Representatives.

    They want to brief the leadership of the House on what led to the party’s factionalisation.

    According to sources, who spoke on the peace talks at the Presidential Villa, the meeting was “conciliatory”.

    One of the sources said: “For the first time, the meeting was conciliatory; there was no tension on all issues, unlike the case at the previous sessions.”

    The President came to the meeting with Vice-President Namadi Sambo; the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Obong Godswill Akpabio; the governors of Kogi and Cross River states, Capt Idris Wada and Liyel Imoke.

    On the side of the G-7 were the governors of Adamawa, Niger, Rivers, Kwara, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano

    “There were preliminary talks on why it is important to keep the party united. The President said his disposition was that ‘whatever is going on is a family fight which could be amicably resolved’. He spoke as a leader with national interest above all other considerations.

    “Everyone also spoke on the fact that the issues at stake could be well-managed,” the source said.

    All issues were reportedly treated one after the other. The President and his team made the following concessions:

    •immediate lifting of the suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi by the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP;

    •return of party structures to all the governors, including those of Rivers and Adamawa states;

    •raising a committee to visit Rivers State, like it was the case with Adamawa State, to build consensus and restore party structure to the governor; and the

    •the governors and party leaders should leave Jonathan to decide Tukur’s fate. One of the aggrived governors’ conditions for peace is Tukur’s removal

    On the 2015 poll, another source quoted the President as saying: ‘I did not give anybody any commitment that I won’t seek re-election.”

    The source said: “Jonathan clarified that what he said in Ethiopia was that as a democratic leader, he would not elongate his tenure under any guise. He said since the crisis in the party was basically on 2015, it is a matter that can be addressed later.

    “His body language suggested that he won’t compromise his ambition to contest in 2015. But it was not a major issue yet at the peace talks.”

    Responding to a question on the feasibility of the concessions, another source said: “The President appeared willing, except that when it came to the crisis in Rivers PDP, he said they were ready to return the executives of the party but they needed to set up a committee that will go to the state to reunite all the stakeholders.

    “The President was, however, straightforward on the recall of Amaechi from suspension when he said his team could ‘announce the lifting of the suspension right away’”

    Sensing the caveat on Rivers PDP, Amaechi simply said: “Don’t lift my suspension, until everything is settled,” it was learnt.

    On Tukur, the source added, the President did not make any categorical statement or commitment on Tukur, although he admitted that there was a sign of weakness on some issues on the part of Tukur.

    The aggrieved governors reportedly said Jonathan could bring anyone to lead the party, except Tukur. Amaechi is expected to withdraw all cases in court, respect the Presidency and party leadership. The media “war” should stop because the crisis is heating up the polity and inflammatory comments capable of dividing the country should be avoided, the meeting was said to have agreed.

    It was learnt that when the 2015 agenda came up, the President took on the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu.

    A source said he pointedly accused Aliyu of misleading Nigerians that he said he would not seek a second term in office.

    The source added: “At a stage, it became a matter between Jonathan and Aliyu at the meeting because the President felt bad that the governor had been hammering on one term in office for him.

    “There was silence when the two leaders tried to sort themselves out on the 2015 thing.

    “But the governor countered the President by saying he made the commitment at Ethiopia, United States, Expanded National Caucus Meeting and in the agreement he signed with PDP governors.

    “He said there was nothing bad in asking the President to stand by his words to allow power shift to the North in 2015.

    “The President said he did not at any time promise to spend one term in office.”

    The source quoted the President as saying” “I did not give anybody any commitment that I won’t seek re-election.”

    The source said: “Jonathan clarified that what he said in Ethiopia was that as a democratic leader, he would not elongate his tenure under any guise.

    “The President also reportedly told the session that on the events referred to by Babangida, there then an ongoing debate on a single term of six years for Nigeria’s President. And he told his audience that he would not seek a second term or elongate his tenure under any guise.

    “Jonathan said since the crisis in the party was basically on 2015, it is a matter that can be addressed later.

    “His body language suggested that he won’t compromise his ambition to contest in 2015. But it was not a major issue yet at the peace talks.”

    The source added: “At a stage, Governors Godswill Akpabio, Liyel Imoke and Idris Wada raised their voices against Aliyu, saying: ‘You cannot stampede the President to spend one term in office, you cannot do that.”

    The Niger State Governor, however, inisted: “2015 is central to whatever compromise the parties would reach and demanded that it should be properly addressed.

    “The issue might be addressed on October 7 when the groups reconvene. When the G-7 governors came out, they held a brief discussion and vowed to pursue one term for Jonathan.”

    The session was, however, not without its drama. The communiqué was drafted by Governor Liyel Imoke, who was part of the Jonathan team.

    The Jonathan team tried to sum up the session that the two warring groups had almost “resolved the issues”, Amaechi wanted the mood captured in a manner suggesting that “the two sides are still talking”.

    But Imoke went ahead to draft the communiqué and he gave the hand written copy to Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State to read.

    It was learnt that it was at the point of drafting the communiqué that Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso got to the meeting.

    Although Amaechi sustained his point but, Kwankwaso could not settle down enough to grasp the issue at stake.

    Only the state-owned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) was allowed to record the reading of the communiqué.

    Notwithstanding the outcome of the peace talks, the G-7 and the Baraje faction of PDP met behind closed doors yesterday.

    A source in the faction said: “The G-7 governors and the National Chairman of the New PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, may visit the leadership of the House of Representatives in Abuja today.

    “They want to brief members on the development in PDP. We hope the House leadership will receive them.”

    A principal officer of the House, who spoke with our correspondent last night, said: “We have been told that they want to visit us.”

  • ‘No one can cajole Jonathan not to contest 2015 election’

    ‘No one can cajole Jonathan not to contest 2015 election’

    Presidential adviser Ahmed Gulak said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan cannot be stopped from contesting in 2015 – if he decides to run.

    He told State House reporters that the President’s right to re-contest is guaranteed by the constitution.

    The decision to contest or not to contest, he said, is solely for him to take.

    The Political Affairs Adviser said: “I have said it before, that 2015, national chairman, EFCC, these are the three demands and we have to be guided by the Constitution. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, gives Mr. President the right to offer himself for second term, if he so chooses and nobody, either individual or group, can abridge his constitutional right.

    “If he decides not to contest let it be on his own volition, not because he is intimidated or cajoled into doing that.”

    On EFCC and the call for the sacking of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Bamanga Tukur, Gulak said: “Secondly, about EFCC, I have said it before and will say it again, Mr. President will never ask such an independent body not to carry out their job or statutory function. The third is about national chairman and I have said he emerged through the process of election and his removal is also guided by constitutional provisions.

    “The national chairman has no problem, he was elected and I always say that as there are processes for election, there are processes for removal or resignation. So nobody can cajole anybody to say the national chairman will not survive. Nobody is against the national chairman.”

    On the allegation that the treasurer of the New PDP was forced to resign, Gulak said: “I have never said there is a faction, I have always said they are aggrieved members. There was even no national treasurer as far as we are concerned. The National Treasurer of the party is Bala Buhari, that is the man we elected at the Eagle Square on August 31.”