The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jonathan

  • Jonathan yet to decide on 2015, says Abati

    Jonathan yet to decide on 2015, says Abati

    The Presidency said yesterday President Goodluck Jonathan has not decided on whether or not to contest the 2015 presidential election.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, spoke on a Raypower FM programme, Fact File.

    Abati was reacting to the allegation that the President’s 2015 ambition was heating up the polity.

    The presidential aide said Dr Jonathan was focusing on how to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians, adding that some people were distracting him.

    He said the Jonathan administration was doing well on the mandate Nigerians gave the President.

    According to him, nobody has disputed the mid-term report the administration presented to Nigerians.

    Abati said: “To the best of my knowledge, the President has never at any time discussed 2015. He has never at any time said this is his position on 2015. His position has been consistent and straightforward. The President has been saying: ‘Look, let’s focus on governance’.

    “If Nigerians have given you an assignment, it’s your duty to deliver and move the country forward. That is what we want to focus on; that’s the statement about the mid-term report that was publicly presented.

    “Two years down the line, the President presented to Nigerians the scorecard of what he had been able to do. He said: ‘I took over and now two years down the line, I have moved the country forward. This is the evidence.’ Nobody has been able to dispute the evidence. So, we must be able to make a distinction between politicking, facts and reality.

    “The President stands on the side of truthfulness, of fact, of reality. So, he wants to be engaged at the level of his performance. I will continue to tell Nigerians that this Presidency will remain focused.

    “He is doing the job that Nigerians have given him and he is making progress. He has provided evidence that he is making progress. People who concentrate on politics want to distract Mr. President.”

    The presidential aide also said Dr Jonathan should be praised for intervening in the political crisis in Rivers State.

    He said: “The first thing Nigerians must know is that President Jonathan is not just the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He is also the premier political leader of the country. What that means, of course, is that he has the responsibility to ensure the security and well-being of all Nigerians. In that case, he, as the No. One person in the country, will not and will never at any time stand by while there are issues within the polity that could overheat the polity.

    “It was within that context that he made the point when he met with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) leadership that he has the primary responsibility to end the political excesses that seem to be overheating the polity.

    “I think the President should be commended for being sensitive and for being fully aware of his primary responsibility, not just as Head of State but also as head of government and as head of the political process and as a citizen and a patriot.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Jonathan, Amaechi invited

    The Akasoba of Kalabari and Chair, Akasoba Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ACPCR), Queen Akasoba Duke-Abiola, has invited President Goodluck Jonathan, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and some politicians for a peace meeting.

    A statement by the ACPCR Secretary, Dr. Jen Clarence, said other invitees include ex-Head of State Dr. Yakubu Gowon, first Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda and former United Nations Secretary-General Boutrous Boutrous Ghali.

    She said: “In view of the seemingly intractable socio-political problems presently besieging our beloved Rivers State and taking into consideration the need for reason and moderation in these trying times, we need to have a meeting.

    “The meeting, which will take place at the ACPCR Centre, Kula, Ekulama, in River State on Saturday, will focus on the restoration of peace and progress in Rivers State, the need for creation of more states, and the need to continue to maintain the indissolubility of Nigeria.

    “I have been involved in peace efforts and conflict resolution around the world, it is therefore necessary that we deploy some vital strategic appurtenances and modus operandi designed to bring lasting peace to Rivers State, the Niger Delta and Nigeria.”

     

  • Almajiris will begin school by September, says Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said urchins, popularly called Almajiris, will be taken off the streets and enrolled in schools by September.

    Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, spoke in Lafia, theNasarawa State capital, at the inauguration of the Ta’al Model Primary School, built by the state government.

    He said of the 143 Almajiri model schools being built in the North, 120 had been completed.

    “We agreed at the last Economic Council meeting that by September, we would have all the less-privileged children participating and learning in all these schools,” the President said.

    Jonathan hailed Governor Umaru al-Makura for his commitment to the education sector in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

    He said Nigeria had about 9.5 million less privileged children without the opportunity to go to school, hence the government was committed to give them the opportunity to attend school.

    The President stressed that besides providing the infrastructure in the schools, the Federal Government had approved the provision of free textbooks and uniforms to all the pupils.

    Dr Jonathan said the government would also provide laboratory and other teaching and learning aids in the schools.

    He assured Nasarawa State of the Federal Government’s continuous partnership through the provision of counterpart fund under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme.

    al-Makura said the inauguration of the model school marked the commencement of the new UBE-ICT Education Policy in the state’s primary and junior secondary schools.

    “I believe that this will accelerate the acquisition of computer literacy in our schools and lay the foundation for the turn-around of the fortunes and prosperity of basic education,” he said.

     

  • Alaafin tasks Jonathan, NASS on true federalism

    Alaafin tasks Jonathan, NASS on true federalism

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has warned that the only thing that can save Nigeria and guarantee its future indivisible entity is to revert to true federal system of government.

    Oba Adeyemi who said this in his palace while breaking fast with members of the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its chairman, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun, urged President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the National Assembly to work together to save the country from collapse.

    According to him, with too many powers at the centre and the states going cap in hand every month to beg for money, there will not be meaningful development.
    The monarch said if states are allowed to control their resources, they will grow at their own pace while it will ease the tension of politicians scrambling to take over power at the federal level.

    Similarly, Oba Adeyemi called for constitutional roles for traditional rulers to be guaranteed in order for them to contribute their quota meaningfully towards making Nigeria great as envisaged by its founding fathers.

    While kicking against those working against giving roles to the royal fathers especially in decision making and advisory roles, he said the development amounts to postponing the evil day for the nation’s corporate and peaceful co-existence.
    According to him, “There is nowhere in the world where an important and vital segment of a society would be excluded from the administration and survive. We are just wasting our time. The Clifford constitution of 1922 tried to find a role for the traditional rulers in the legislative council.
    The British in their wisdom included the Obas although purely on advisory capacity – it worked. Remember that what we have today is federal system of government. The essence of federalism is that we are different people, different nation, customs, religion, administration, history, culture, language.
    “When you have diversity of culture, diversity of religion, way of life, the best form of contribution would be federal system. If you don’t take into cognisance all these and you are running away from essence and the social element of that diversity, you must formulate a policy that would go in line and unison to what people want.”

  • Jonathan ‘yet to decide’ on 2015 presidential election

    Jonathan ‘yet to decide’ on 2015 presidential election

    The Presidency on Monday maintained that President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to decide whether to run for the 2015 Presidential election or not.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, made the remark while speaking on a radio programme, Factfile on Raypower.

    He was reacting to the allegation that President Jonathan’s 2015 ambition is heating up the polity.

    According to him, the President is focusing on delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians while some people who are concentrating on politics are bent on distracting him.

    Stressing that the Jonathan’s administration is doing well on the mandate given to him by Nigerians, he said that nobody has been able to dispute the mid-term report presented to Nigerians.

    On 2015, he said: “Well to the best of my knowledge the President has never at any time discussed 2015. He has never at any time say this is his position on 2015. His position has been consistent and straight forward and that has been the president saying look let’s focus on governance.”

    “If the Nigerian people have given you an assignment, it is your duty to deliver and move the country forward, that is what we want to focus on. And that was the statement about the mid -term report that was publicly presented.”

    He continued: “Two years down the line the President presented to the Nigerian people scorecard of what they have been able to do. He said I took over and now two years down the line I have moved the country forward, this is the evidence. Nobody has been able to dispute the evidence. So we must be able to make a distinction between politicking, the fact and reality.”

     

  • Rivers crisis: Jonathan, Amaechi in secret talks

    Rivers crisis: Jonathan, Amaechi in secret talks

    After several months of mutual suspicion, distrust and sometimes snubbing and resentment, President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi, sat together on Friday night to talk peace.

    The setting was the Presidential Villa, Abuja, which less than 24 hours later, hosted another peace meeting, this time between President Jonathan and five northern governors.

    Only a week ago the governors – Sule Lamido (Jigawa State), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), and Rabiu Kwankwaso ( Kano ) – were locked in a hide and seek game with the President in Abeokuta where they had gone to seek the intervention of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in the crisis rocking the PDP.

    Jonathan was in the town to commiserate with his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on the death of his mother, and seized the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on Obasanjo.

    The governors, who had arrived Abeokuta at about the same time as Jonathan, decided to avoid him and diverted somewhere else to allow the President depart Obasanjo’s before going there.

    A few days later, the governors took their case to former military rulers, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    Friday’s meeting between the President and Governor Amaechi was brief after the Rivers Governor said he would prefer a lengthy discussion only if his colleagues from the north were in attendance having facilitated his meeting with the president, in the first instance.

    The President obliged him and an appointment was fixed for yesterday.

    The five northern governors who were on their way to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah (Lesser Hajj) consequently postponed their journey to enable them be at yesterday’s meeting with the President.

    The Jonathan/Amaechi meeting, according to a reliable source, reviewed the crisis in Rivers State and explored how to resolve it.

    The source said the talks took place in a ‘large-hearted manner’.

    Said the source: “Following the advice of the five northern governors, Amaechi accepted to meet with the President on the security and political situation in Rivers State

    “I think there is peace in sight because the President hosted Amaechi on Friday night in an atmosphere devoid of security intimidation when the Rivers Governor attended a dinner a few weeks ago at the Villa.

    “The mood between the President and Amaechi was reconciliatory. But Amaechi asked the President to allow the five Northern governors, who are brokering the peace talks, to be part of a meaningful discussion or reconciliation plan to resolve the crisis in Rivers State.

    “The President obliged the governor’s request to pave the way for another round of peace session on Saturday.”

    Investigation revealed that before Amaechi went for the audience with the President, he had met with the five northern governors on Friday night in Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge for debriefing on their intervention.

    There were speculations that Amaechi also confided in the five governors on his terms for peace.

    A governor said: “It is true that Amaechi had a preliminary session with the five governors at the Sokoto Lodge before going to the Villa. As a matter of fact, some of the governors postponed their trip to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj).”

    But a governor said: “Some statesmen and the five northern governors have set the agenda for peace. They wanted the differences between the President and Amaechi handled beyond trading blames.

    “They believe that an outright solution to the crisis would be better than addressing sentiments that had dominated the political space in the last two months. Once they are able to secure the commitment of President to peace, other stakeholders would be brought into the deal.”

    Yesterday’s meeting with the five northern governors was also attended by Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State and his Borno State counterpart, Kashim Shettima.

    Nine governors from across the country, on a solidarity visit to Amaechi on July 18, had advised him to seek audience with the President for the purpose of briefing him on the political crisis in the state especially the role of the Police Command.

    On the trip were Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), and deputy governors of Imo, Nasarawa and Zamfara.

    They were preceded two days earlier by Governors Kwankwaso, Wamakko, Nyako and Lamido.

    They were pelted with stones by thugs on their arrival at the Port Harcourt Airport.

  • 2015: Why I’m not sticking out my neck for Jonathan yet, by Amaechi

    2015: Why I’m not sticking out my neck for Jonathan yet, by Amaechi

    •Says: ‘It’s early to say I’ll contest’

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State said yesterday that it will be futile for him to start supporting President Goodluck Jonathan now for re-election in 2015. This he said was because the President has not told him yet of his plan to contest.

    He said it is also too early for him (Amaechi) or any one for that matter to start talking now about contesting the 2015 Presidential elections.

    The governor is currently locked in a bitter battle with President Jonathan over what Presidency officials see as his (Amaechi’s) threat to the ambition of the President to return to office in 2015.

    Amaechi, who is from the Southsouth as President Jonathan, is allegedly being tipped as running mate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.

    The suspicion is seen as the major cause of the crisis in Rivers State where the State Assembly is sharply divided between 27-pro-Amaechi members and five pro-Presidency/Wike members.

    Amaechi himself admitted on the Hausa Service of the BBC yesterday that the crisis in his state is all about 2015.

    The interview came 24 hours after he met with the President in Abuja and on a day the five northern governors backing him (Amaechi) also met with the President over the crisis rocking the PDP.

    But Amaechi said those accusing him of constituting a threat to Jonathan’s re-election are missing the point because as he put it: “Has Goodluck Jonathan told you that he wants to run? If he wants to contest, he will call me and inform me. And then we will look at it.”

    Asked by his interviewer whether there was any reason why he might not want to support the president having come from the same geo-political zone, Amaechi retorted: “I don’t understand what you mean by I come from the same zone as the president and if there is any reason why I cannot support him. I’ve told you that the President is yet to say whether he wants to run or not.”

    The interviewer persisted and told the governor whether he did not think his refusal to answer the question was responsible for his problem with the Presidency.

    Amaechi snapped back, saying: “What makes the question simple? You want me to become a prophet and determine that the president will contest? Assuming I say today that I will support the President and tomorrow the President says he is not contesting. Let the President inform me that he wants to contest. Don’t accuse the president of doing something that he is not responsible for. If he decides to contest, he will call those that he wants to support him. That would be the time that we will discuss the issue.”

    On whether he wants to be a presidential running mate in 2015, he retorted, “Why won’t you wait till 2015? My focus for now is how to govern Rivers State and ensure that the people benefit from my administration.”

    On whether he may defect from PDP especially now that he has been suspended, he said, “I am not; I am in court with the PDP because I don’t think they followed the process in taking that decision against me. I want the court to determine whether what they did was right.”

    On the allegation that he is fraternising with the opposition

    “How did they know that? Have they seen me in any opposition meeting? Because I hold different views from the leaders of the party, then they will say I am in the opposition?”

    On alleged moves by him and some northern governors to float a party

    “I don’t know. I have no idea about any group. All I know is that there are some of us who don’t like the way things are being done. There is the need to address these issues.”

    On the specifics of their disagreement with the leadership of the PDP

    “It is all muddled up. You won’t talk about governance without talking about the party. The party needs to look at the direction the government is going…If we want victory at the polls, we have to correct these things. The party is not consulting enough; it seems as if the party wants to undermine the governors. What you see in the NGF is a deliberate attempt to cause confusion and division among the governors.”

    On whether he was suggesting that the PDP is weak

    “No, I didn’t say that. Just that there are some disagreements in the party and they are affecting the internal cohesion of the party. It is the responsibility of the leaders of the party to address the problems.”

    On how the leadership should handle the planned national convention

    “That will not solve the problem. First and foremost they shouldn’t continue with a mini convention without arresting the situation. They have to arrest the current situation of things in the party because if that is not done, the problems will continue within the different camps.”

     

  • Obi, Jonathan’s aide reconcile Church, community

    The traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu, had more than he bargained for yesterday when he was booed by members of Umudioka Community of the town at a meeting attended by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and Sen. Ben Ndi Obi.

    The meeting held at Umudioka town hall in Awka, the Anambra State capital, which was called by the governor, was aimed at resolving the problem between the community and the Catholic Church on the issue of dust to dust by women during burial of their husbands.

    The fracas that ensued on Wednesday in Awka between the Catholic Church and the community claimed many casualties, while over 30 of them were hospitalised, with several buildings and other properties destroyed.

    During the meeting, Hon. Ejike Onuorah, the traditional prime minister of the Kingdom, Ozo Austine Ndigwe and the youth, blamed the traditional ruler of Awka for his failure to address the issue before it got out of hand.

    When the monarch tried to defend himself, he was shouted down by his subjects. But the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Sen. Ben Obi, pleaded with the crowd to give him a chance.

    When the dust settled, Obi Gibson Nwosu said he was unable to do anything on the crisis, because according to him, the police allegedly claimed it would charge the first matter to court.

    He, however, assured the community that he would abide by any decision taken at the meeting.

    On his part, Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, frowned at the petition written by the Catholic Church, where it alleged that a retired Lt. General of the Nigerian Army, Isaac Obiakor, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Celestine Okoye, who both hail from the community are kidnappers.

    While suing for peace, Obi said, “What I don’t want is for anybody or group to drag the names of these distinguished sons of Awka to the mud. There is no problem that does not have a solution; what we want in this area and indeed Anambra State is peace.

    “What we have on our hands is a problem that prompted this meeting. It is not only in Awka, I have solved this kind of problem in over 30 communities in this State. The only thing that does not have solution is death and that is why I have come to plead with you.”

    The governor said that he would also meet with the Catholic Bishop and Priests in order to ensure that the issue was resolved amicably.

    Meanwhile, members of the community had pleaded with Obi to appeal to the appropriate authorities in the Catholic Church to transfer two priests in the area, Rev, Fr. Patrick Chukwuma and Rev. Fr. Obiorah, who they alleged are the brains behind the problem in the community.

  • How $1bn Malabu Oil deal was struck

    •Abacha, Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan connections revealed

    • US, UK envoys get details of the agreements

     

    Federal Government’s inconsistency in the allocation and revocation of Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL 245) between 1998 and 2001 is largely responsible for the controversy surrounding the payment of $1.092 billion to Malabu Oil, according to fresh details of the deal obtained yesterday.

    The payment to the company owned by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete, bordered on violation of agreement.

    Though the contract was first awarded by the late General Sani Abacha, it has been a recurring decimal through the subsequent administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

    The Resolution Agreements signed by the Federal Government with Malabu Oil, Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep Limited, (SNUD) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Limited (SNEPCO) were approved by President Jonathan in 2011 following the amicable settlement of suits relating to OPL at the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICISD Arbitration).

    Signatories to the Malabu and SNUD Resolution Agreements, based on an April 29, 2011 presidential directive, were the then Minister of Finance, Mr. Olusegun Aganga ( now Minister of Trade and Investment); Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke ( SAN); Vice-Chairman /Managing Director and Company Secretary of SNUD; and the then Group Managing Director of NNPC, Austin Oniwon and Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser, Director and Secretary of SNEPCO.

    In its Claimant’s Memorial before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, Shell Ultra Deep Limited named those who were involved or intervened at various stages in the OPL 245 dispute with Malabu Oil and Gas as Obasanjo; ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Edmund Daukoru; Ex-NNPC GMD, Gaius Obaseki; former DG of SSS, Col. Kayode Are; Special Assistant to the President on Petroleum Matters, Mr. Funsho Kupolokun; NAPIMS; JP Morgan; a board member of Royal Dutch Shell, Mr. Malcom Brinded; the then Director of DPR, Mr. Macaulay Ofurhe; and Assistant Director of DPR, Mr. Andrew Obaje

    It was gathered last night that copies of the Malabu Oil Agreements had been forwarded by government to the British High Commissioner in Abuja and the US Ambassador.

    The British Police had indicated interest in probing the deal.

    Besides, principal officers of the National Assembly have been served copies of the agreements to enable them understand what a source described as reasons for the decision of government to resolve the disputes over OPL 245 instead of allowing the oil block lie fallow.

    An introductory note on the controversy gave insight into how Malabu Oil and Gas became a stakeholder in the petroleum sector.

    It said: “Records indicate that Malabu, an indigenous Oil and Gas company was allocated OPL 245 in April 1998 by the FGN in furtherance of its Indigenous Exploration Programme Policy introduced in the early 1990s to encourage effective development of indigenous capability in the upstream factor of the oil industry.

    “Malabu and other indigenous Oil and Gas companies were accordingly allocated Oil Blocks which they were expected to develop in partnership with international oil companies as Technical Partners.

    “Malabu had in accordance with the terms of the grant, appointed Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Limited (SNUD) as its Technical Partner.”

    One of the agreements, shedding light on how the deal was struck, said: “Whereas on the 29th of April 1998, the Federal Government of granted an Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL 245) over oil block 245(Block 245 to Malabu.

    “On 30th March 2001, Malabu and Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Limited (SNUD) entered into a Farm-in Agreement, and a Deed of Assignment under which Malabu assigned 40 per cent equity interest in OPL 245 to SNUD.

    “On the 2nd July 2001, FGN revoked OPL 245. By a letter dated the 23rd May 2002, the then Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, on behalf of FGN awarded Block 245 to SNUD on the basis of a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) following a competitive bid with another international oil company, on the invitation of the FGN.

    “On 22nd December 2003, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) executed a PSC with SNUD (hereinafter referred to as the 2003 PSC ) granting SNUD the right to exclusively operate Block 245 as contractor for a term of 30 years.

    “Subsequent to the revocation referred to in paragraph C above and the execution of the 2003 PSC, various law suits involving FGN, Malabu, and SNUD, were filed to determine disputes arising from the revocation of OPL 245 by the FGN, the termination of the agreements between Malabu and SNUD and the execution of the 2003 PSC in respect thereof, with SNUD.

    “On 30th November 2006, the FGN executed a settlement agreement with Malabu wherein the FGN, without admission of liability for any alleged wrongful, unlawful, unjust or any like conduct agreed to re-allocate Block 245 to Malabu in consideration of Malabu discharging and releasing the FGN from all claims and suits filed by Malabu against the FGN in connection with the revocation of Malabu’s interest on 2nd July 2001.

    “As a result of the execution of the settlement agreement, a number of dispute resolution proceedings were initiated by SNUD against FGN and/ or Malabu, including Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) arbitration No. ARB/07/8 pending at the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes ( ICSD Arbitration) to enforce SNUD’s rights to exclusively operate Block 245 as Contractor on the basis of the2003 PSC beaten NNPC and SNUD.

    “The cases remaining between FGN, Malabu and SNUD are (I) CA/A/25M/ 2003- SNUD vs. The House of Representatives and Malabu ; (ii ) ICC No. 12136 MS(C12137 MS) SNUD vs. Malabu ( Arbitration with resulting award in favour of SNUD delivered on 20th December 2004 and costs of $2.735million awarded against Malabu; iii FHC/NRJ/ 01/2009-SNUD vs. Malabu, by which the ICC Award was registered on 29 March 2010, making it enforceable in Nigeria; iv ICSD Case No. ARB/07/18-Bilateral Investment Treaty arbitration between SNUD and the FGN (Ruling pending).

    “On 2nd July 2010, FGN again issued a letter to Malabu, re-allocating Block 245 to Malabu. FGN has decided to resolve its differences with Malabu amicably with respect to Block 245.

    “Pursuant to paragraphs above and with the full concurrence and agreement of Malabu, FGN is willing to reallocate Block 245 to Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) and Shell Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCO) in accordance with the terms of a reallocation agreement of even date to be entered into between FGN, SNUD, SNEPCO, NAE AND NNPC (Reallocation Agreement).

    “Now therefore, FGN and Malabu have agreed as follows with respect to Block 245:

    “All existing, claimed, asserted or disputed rights and privileges of Malabu, contracts and arrangements arising from or pursuant to Blick 245 whether such rights and privileges existed, are claimed, asserted or disputed among themselves, or against the whole world ( including SNUD or any party claiming through SNUD) shall at the Execution Date, be substituted by the following arrangement.

    “FGN agrees to pay to Malabu subject to Clause 2 and 3, the sum of US $1.092,040,000 in full and final settlement of any and all claims, interests or rights relating to or in connection with Block 245.

    “Malabu, as stipulated in Clause 4 herein settles and waives any and all claims, interests, or rights relating to or in connection with Block 245 and hereby consents to the reallocation of the interests in Block by the FGN as granted in Clause 1.3 herein.”

  • Jonathan tasks youths on nation-building

    President Goodluck Jonathan has enjoined Nigerian youth in Kano to channel their energies toward the promotion of peace, progress and national unity.

    He also pledged his administration’s resolve to always carry them along in his determination to build a great nation.

    Jonathan spoke through his Special Senior Assistant on Youth and Student Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe, during an interactive session and Ramadan Iftar with university students and leaders of youth groups in the North West Region yesterday in Kano.

    While commending Muslims for the religious journey so far accomplished, Jonathan reminded them that the holy month of Ramadan represents an opportunity to reconcile with Allah.

    He charged them to preserve and extend their spiritual cleansing beyond the period of Ramadan and assured them that the Christian community in Nigeria is joining them in prayers in this all-important month of Ramadan.

    Also, he noted that,” I have come to you on behalf of the President to specifically thank you for the support that you have extended to him during the first half of the administration and intimate you that he needs more of your support in the second half of his administration than in the first.”

    While admitting that there are a number of challenges confronting youths in the country, the President solicited for understanding and cooperation, noting that some of these challenges had been existing since the nation’s independence.

    According to Jonathan: “What we are undergoing now is the building of a foundation that would withstand the test of time: A total transformation in all sectors.

    “Transformation that even without the president in office tomorrow, whosoever that would pilot the affairs of this country, would know that a foundation had been laid.”

    He assured them that ASUU’s strike would soon be over, explaining that the Federal Government is working assiduously to find a lasting solution to the industrial dispute in the nation’s universities.