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Tag: Jonathan

  • Divided Southwest PDP endorses Jonathan for second term

    Divided Southwest PDP endorses Jonathan for second term

    The crisis-ridden Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term.

    It is the first to endorse the president for a second term among the six zonal chapters.

    The endorsement followed a motion moved by a PDP chieftain from Ogun State, Prince Kashamu Buruji and seconded by another chieftain, Chief Tola Odulaja.

    It was approved by a “yes vote” at the Southwest Stakeholders’ Forum held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

    The forum was presided over by the Zonal Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, a chieftain from Ekiti State.

    The meeting passed a vote-of-confidence in the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    Filani said the president deserved the endorsement because of his “leadership qualities and achievements”, adding that he is constitutionally entitled to two terms.

    He said Tukur should be applauded for his strict adherence to reconciliation, rebuilding and reconstruction.

    Prominent PDP leaders at the meeting, where a Stateholders Coordinating Council was set up, include former Osun State Governor Isiaka Adeleke; former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose; former Zonal Leader Senator Yinka Omilani; former Science and Technology Minister Senator Bode Olowoporoku; former Lagos State Deputy Governors Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo and Mrs. Kofoworola Bucknor; former Works Minister Senator Seye Ogunlewe; Board of Trustees (BoT) members Chief Dayo Okondo and Mrs. Aduke Maina; former Housing Minister Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo; Senator Ayo Arise; Prince Dayo Adeyeye; Mr. Bisi Kolawole; Chief Segun Adegoke; Mr. Bisi Omoyeni; Senator Lekan Balogun; Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi; Mrs. Salman Badru; Dr. Tayo Dairo and Dr. Yomi Finnih.

    Party chieftains loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, including the displaced PDP National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Zonal Leader Mr. Segun Oni; Senator Dipo Odujinrin; Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye; Commodore Bode George (rtd); Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Dr. Olusegun Agagu; Dr. Iyiola Omisore and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, were absent.

    There was a mild rancour at the meeting, following the non-inclusion of the former Education Minister, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, in the Stakeholders Council.

    Acknowledging the omission, Filani adjusted the list. He said following consultations, Obasanjo has been appointed the Grand Patron of the forum.

    Other patrons include Ajiroba Alaba Williams; Senator Martins Kuye; Chief Yekini Adeojo; Omilani, Osomo; Chief Alani Bankole; Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Mrs. Maina.

    The Stakeholders Council is chaired by Dr. Lekan Balogun.

    Members are Fayose, Olowoporoku, Finnih, Adegoke, Prof. Wale Oladipo, Comrade Kingsley Kuku, Adeleke, Omisore, Dr. Bimbo Ogunkelu and Chief Tunde Daramola.

     

     

     

     

  • Jonathan wants greater cooperation on anti-terrorism campaign

    Jonathan wants greater cooperation on anti-terrorism campaign

    President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Tuesday called for greater global co-operation and co-ordination in the war against terrorism.

    Jonathan made the call while receiving the new ambassadors of Israel, Russia, Greece, Algeria and Senegal who presented their letters of credence to him during separate visits to the Presidential Villa.

    He said Nigeria and other countries would benefit immensely from greater collaboration amongst their security agencies in efforts to combat domestic and international terrorism.

    “Nigeria will welcome increased co-operation with countries that are more experienced in such matters like the on-going operations against domestic terrorist groups,’’ the president told the ambassadors.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jonathan also told the new Israeli Ambassador, Mr. Uriel Palti that he looked forward to visiting Israel later in the year.

    He said the visit would afford him the opportunity of discussing ways of enhancing bilateral co-operation between Nigeria and Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    The other ambassadors received by the president were Mr. Alekos Oikonomopoulos from Greece, Mr. Nikolay Udovichenko from Russia, Mr. Belkacem Smaili from Algeria and Mr. Amadou Habibou from Senegal.

    Jonathan assured the ambassadors that the Federal Government would fully support their efforts to strengthen existing cordial relations between Nigeria and their countries.

    On their part, the new ambassadors all expressed their delight at being posted to Nigeria.

     

     

  • South West PDP endorses Jonathan for second term

    The South West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in 2015.

    This is contained in a communiqué signed by the Chairman, South West Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Chief Ishola Filani at the end of the committee’s meeting.

    The forum said it endorsed Jonathan because of his leadership qualities and transformation efforts.

    “After carefully x-raying the President’s qualities and in view of the fact that he is constitutionally qualified to seek re-election, the forum unanimously endorsed him for a second term in 2015,” the communiqué said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that it also passed a vote of confidence in the transformation agenda of Jonathan and the leadership role of the National Chairman of the PDP.

    The forum also passed same on the PDP National Working Committee, as well as its Zonal Caretaker Committee.

    The forum commended the President on the measures so far taken in combating the current security challenges in the country.

    The meeting agreed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo should be the grand patron of the PDP in the South West.

    It agreed to work as an entity for the success of the PDP in all forthcoming elections in Nigeria, starting with the 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun, to the presidential and general elections in 2015.

     

     

  • 19 governors boycott cash crisis talks with Jonathan

    19 governors boycott cash crisis talks with Jonathan

    President sets up panel to resolve FAAC row

    Amaechi won’t drop NGF mandate, says Kwankwaso

     

    A crisis meeting called last night by President Goodluck Jonathan over the stalling of last month’s revenue allocation was shunned by 19 governors.

    The meeting at House 7, State House, Abuja got underway at about 10pm, following the arrival of the President.

    Governors in the Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang’s faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), who had earlier met, were at the Villa meeting.

    All the 19 pro- Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi were not at the meeting.

    It was gathered that all the governors were in Abuja for the meeting and indeed wanted to attend until they reviewed their participation following some developments.

    Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said last night that at the end of the one-hour meeting, a committee of four governors was set up by the President to meet this morning with the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

    Members of the committee are: Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe).

    Jonathan, Abati said, felt there was no need to quarell because the money belongs to all.

    Only 16 governors attended yesterday’s meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) called by the Jonah Jang faction.

    Besides Jang, other governors at the meeting were: Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Theodore Orji (Abia); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Idris Wada (Kogi); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

    Others were: Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Peter Obi (Anambra); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); Umar Garba (Taraba); Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Steve Lawani (Benue Dep. Governor).

    Speaking briefly with newsmen after the meeting, Jang said he would not disclose discussions at the meeting, as according to him, the governors were still going to brief President Goodluck Jonathan later in the night.

    On the accusation of impersonation leveled against him by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Jang said: “Am I claiming to be governor of Rivers State?”

    On why only 16 governors attended the meeting, the Plateau Governor said he needed only 12 governors to form a quorum and that 16 is far above the number.

  • Jonathan must run, say Clark, Ebute

    Jonathan must run, say Clark, Ebute

    A group of Southsouth and Middle Belt leaders yesterday urged President Godluck Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015.

    They met with the President for two hours at the Presidential Villa under an association, the Congress for Equality and Change (CEC).

    The group is co-led by Chief Edwin Clark and former Senate President Ameh Ebute.

    Clark said they decided to support Jonathan because he is qualified to run. He lashed out at those who claim that Jonathan is not qualified to run for another term.

    He said: “But you know very well that I will never lead a group that will be opposed to 2015, not because Clark is saying so. It is written in the Constitution of Nigeria. So, you can count me out of any group that is coming to meet Mr President with a view that he should not contest in 2015.

    “The group I have brought is made up of elders who believe that Mr President should contest as the Constitution provides in 2015.”

    According to him, former Presidents Shehu Shagari and Olusegun Obasanjo enjoyed two terms and President Jonathan should not be deprived of his constitutional rights because he is from the minority area.

    Clark went on: “Shagari did so. Obasanjo did so. Shagari’s second term was taken over by a military man. Today, he wants to be President. He staged a coup in 1983. I was also a senator at that time.”

    “When it came to Obasanjo, he did eight years under the Constitution. And some of my northern friends have said all they said was a second term for Shagari. If Jonathan wants thereafter, he could do so. If Shagari was entitled to two terms, why not Jonathan? Is it because he is a minority?”

    He also explained that his group was already selling its position to others.

    “We are dialoguing with people to educate people. For the past 50 to 53 years, we have not ruled in this country. Are we not citizens of this country? Let us be fair to one another,” he said.

    On why the group is backing President Jonathan who has not decided to run for re-election, Clark said: “It is because some people have started to say that he is not qualified to contest election in 2015 and those of us who believe in it and the Constitution is there, educate them and that is what we are doing.”

    “Whatever the President said, that he will decide in 2014 does not affect those who believe that he has a right.”

    “This was the meeting of the elders of Middle belt and the Southsouth. You know middle belt is made up of northcentral and northeast meeting with the Southsouth.

    “All together they are19 states. We have an organisation known as Congress for Equality and Change. Everybody in Nigeria is equal to the other.”

    Some of the members of the group at the meeting were Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, Senator Roland Ovie, Senator Alex Kadiri, Senator Felix Ibru, Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Onoja, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman and former Senate President Ahmed Ebute.

    Ministers from the zones who attended the meeting included Water Resources Minister Mrs Sarah Ochekpe; Housing and Urban Development Minister Ms Amma Pepple; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke; Works Minister Mike Onelememen; Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Dieziani Allison-Madueke; Minister of State for Trade and Investments Dr Samuel Ortong; Minister of Information Mr Labaran Maku, and Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi. Also in attendance was the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs Mr. Ahmed Gulak.

    In a statement after the meeting, Presidential Spokesman Reuben Abati, said Dr. Jonathan told the visitors that his administration would never allow itself to be derailed from pursuing the Transformation Agenda to its logical conclusion.

    Abati said the President praised the elders for “working tirelessly to bring us to where we are today,” and for their continued support, promising that “as leaders, we will continue to do our best to justify the confidence you have reposed in us”.

    He also thanked the Middle Belt and South-South regions for their contributions to national unity, stressing that the unity of this country “depends on the cooperation of all”.

    The co-leader of the delegation and chairman of the Congress, Ebute, said the group is committed to promoting the equality of all Nigerians.

     

  • Britain to engage Jonathan on same-sex marriage bill

    Britain to engage Jonathan on same-sex marriage bill

    Britain will  engage Nigeria on the bill seeking to stop same-sex marriage, British Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday.

    He was speaking against the backdrop of the legislation already passed by the National Assembly prescribing 14 years imprisonment for same sex marriage offenders. The bill is waiting for presidential assent to become law.

    Cameron said yesterday “nothing should be off the table” when it comes to foreign aid and protecting equal rights. He spoke on a BBC programme.

    Cameron told the BBC that he would be raising the issue with Nigeria’s leaders.

    “With countries like Nigeria, where we have a very good relationship, a very strong relationship, nothing should be off the table”, the prime minister said.

    “So when we meet with Nigerian politicians and Nigerian leaders, we should be very clear about those things that we agree about and very clear where we disagree.”

    Mr Cameron said the UK has a “very good record on equal rights for lesbian and gay people”, adding: “we believe that’s right for every country in the world.”

    “The matter of your sexuality is something that shouldn’t be a disadvantage to you [just as] your religion, or your race, or the way you should choose your life “

    When asked if UK foreign aid should be docked from Nigeria, the prime minister said: “We will have to have some conversations with them, as I said nothing is off the table and we should have these conversations, but we also have some very important objectives with the Nigerians for instance to deal with the appalling rates of poverty in the north of Nigeria which [is] part of a problem that affects not just Nigeria but the rest of the world.”

    The PM added: “But as I said, nothing [is] off the table; always prepared to have these conversations, and my view very strongly is that we should have proper equality for lesbian and gay people and that should apply everywhere in the world.”

     

  • 2015: Pressure mounts on Jonathan to overhaul cabinet

    2015: Pressure mounts on Jonathan to overhaul cabinet

    Apparently worried by threats of massive electoral misfortune in the 2015 elections, some key stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been mounting pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to overhaul his cabinet.

    The sources viewed majority of members of the cabinet as apolitical and a good number of them with little electoral value. This, they said, could whittle down the influence of the party and its electoral fortunes.

    Also, the stakeholders have impressed it on the president, the need for surgical operation on the present leadership of the PDP.

    This is with the view to taking precautionary steps to avert legal entanglements in which some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) have found themselves ahead of nominations for the 2015 poll.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had questioned the process through which eight members of the party’s NWC emerged at the party’s March 2012 convention.

    INEC had withdrawn recognition from the eight officials who emerged through affirmation rather than election, a development that has put a question mark of the eligibility of the officials for their various positions.

    Some aggrieved members of the party have taken the PDP to court to challenge the continued retention of the eight officials in the party’s NWC.

    The implication of this is that candidature of contestants, emerging from conventions presided over by these officials could be voided should the aggrieved members have their way with the court process.

    A source in the hierarchy of the PDP who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity at the weekend, said it’s high time the president identified what he described as the friends and enemies within the party.

    According to him, “the president and PDP need to define their friends and identify their enemies. The debacle in the Governors’ Forum may not be bad for Jonathan after all. Now he knows who he can trust, who can deliver and those who can fight him till the end.

    “Even in identifying these enemies, the president needs to be careful so that he does not alienate potential friends and further dwindle his opinion poll rating in the process of rooting them out the enemies”, the source added.

    Also of great concern to the stakeholders is the challenge posed by the emerging All Progressives Alliance (APC) that is gaining ground in the Southwest and the Northwest geopolitical zones.

    The current face-off between President Jonathan and some PDP governors in the Northwest has similarly been identified as a major setback for the ruling party, a fallout of which the opposition APC could make a political capital of.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Jonathan removes Perm Sec over Dubai wedding

    Jonathan removes Perm Sec over Dubai wedding

    There were indications last night that President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the redeployment of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador AbdulAzeez Musa for giving out his daughter to the son of an oil magnate.

    Besides alleged expensive nature of the wedding, the President was said to have taken the decision following an alleged conflict of interest.

    But a source also alleged that the President acted against the Permanent Secretary because some key opposition figures were at the wedding.

    According to findings, the wedding was held in Dubai , United Arab Emirates last Saturday after an initial introduction ceremony in Abuja.

    The Permanent Secretary, who hails from Jigawa State, allowed her daughter to marry the son of the oil magnate who is a Christian from Kogi State.

    The Presidency has, however, directed the Permanent Secretary to report to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr.Abba Aji Goni, for redeployment.

    It was learnt that a senior director has been mandated to act as Permanent Secretary pending the reshuffling of permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

    A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The Permanent Secretary has been asked to report to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for redeployment. But he is currently on leave. The redeployment will take effect after he resumes.

    “The Presidency did not take kindly to the alleged expensive nature of the wedding in Dubai. It believes that a serving public officer should not have been involved in such.

    “The truth of the matter is that the redeployment has to do with an alleged conflict of interest because the father of the groom is a high net worth stakeholder in the petroleum industry.

    “Out of envy, some stakeholders decided to petition the Presidency that the Permanent Secretary might use his position to favour his in-law.

    “But the petitioners did not take cognizance of the fact that the Permanent Secretary was deployed in the ministry six months ago. There could not have been any conspiracy with the oil magnate.

    “The groom and the bride met in the UK about eight years ago without the knowledge of their parents and the Permanent Secretary had no knowledge that he would be posted to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    “Being inter-religious marriage, it took time before both parents consented to it. Some oil marketers were just determined to get at the father of the groom.”

    Another source, however, said what hastened the redeployment of the Permanent Secretary was the presence of some key opposition leaders at the wedding in Dubai.

    The source added: “I think some forces in the Presidency took exception to the presence of key opposition figures at the wedding in Dubai.

    “They are suspecting that the father of the groom might be romancing the opposition figures who they are desperate to deal with. And these forces were unhappy that a serving Permanent Secretary allowed opposition leaders to be at her daughter’s wedding.

    “But some government functionaries have a different opinion because the wedding was purely a social gathering and not a political type.

    “There was no political statement or campaign at the wedding. These opposition leaders are first and foremost Nigerians. They were not even invited by the Permanent Secretary.”

    When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Head of Service, Mr. Tope Ajakaiye, said he had no such information yet on the fate of the Permanent Secretary.

    He declined further comments because he had not been briefed.

    But a source close to the Permanent Secretary said: “Ambassador Musa was not sacked; he has only been redeployed but he is on leave.

    “Contrary to insinuations, the Permanent Secretary did not engage in lavish wedding for his daughter.”

  • Our society has failed, says Jonathan

    Our society has failed, says Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that the entire Nigerian society has failed hence the country is experiencing killings, kidnapping and cultism, among other crimes.

    “We have lost our moral values and principles,” the Preaident added.

    He spoke in Abuja at the official flag-off of the national Christian campaign on social transformation tagged ‘Be the Change You Want to See’. It was organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

    Jonathan said much has gone wrong in the family life, schools, churches and the society in general.

    “It would appear we have the society we deserve,” he said, adding that the teachings in some churches have turned the Bible upside down.

    Jonathan who was represented by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ama Pepple, expressed displeasure that schools have also failed with teachers not committed to teaching, sale of handouts by lecturers before students could pass examinations and asking favours from students to award them pass marks.

    His words: “Our priorities are misplaced. The values of hard work, respect for elders, truthfulness, contentment, humility, patience, compassion, fairness, love, justice, obedience, etc are all lost.

    “The whole society has failed. That is one reason we have incidents of cultism, armed robbery, murder, ritual killing, drugs, sale of babies, kidnapping, sexual immorality etc. Proverbs 22: 6 says train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Have we as parents done that? No! Proverbs 1:8-listen to your father’s instructions and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Do our children always listen to their parents? No!.

    “We therefore need both moral and spiritual transformation. We need to return to God, study and obey the word of God, which is able to cleanse us (1 John 15:3). There is a great responsibility placed on the church to lead this return to our values and morals and to bring about the much needed transformation in our society, so we can try to be like Jesus: meek, never spoke angry word, frequently in prayers and always doing good.”

    In his sermon, CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said it is a pity that Nigeria is in trouble and that the country is still finding its foot.

    Oritsejafor said Nigeria is a confused nation that needs God’s intervention.

    Corruption, he said, has been a way of life, which he said should not be.

    His words: “If God can change me, God can change Nigeria. If you look at Nigeria in the eyes of the spirit, you will see a great Nigeria. But if you look at Nigeria with natural eyes, you see a confused nation. Forgive my language, but that is the truth. We are yet to know who we are. Nigeria is in trouble, but God will bring us out of it.

    “There is a wrestling going on in Nigeria and a new dawn is coming. The wrestling will end very soon. In Nigeria today, we are deceiving ourselves. Pastors are deceiving their members while members are deceiving their pastors. Husbands deceiving their wives and wives deceiving their husbands. Parents deceiving their children, children deceiving their parents. We are all deceiving one another.”

  • Jonathan advises youths on tolerance

    Jonathan advises youths on tolerance

    President Goodluck Jonathan has advised Nigerian youths to use religion to foster peace and unity in the country, even as religious youth leaders blamed the spate of societal decadence, especially violence, on the failure of religious leaders to impact teachings geared towards tolerance, peace and national unity in their followers.

    Speaking in Abuja at the first Nigerian Inter-religious Youth Summit, President Jonathan, who noted that the summit could not have come at a better time than now, said religion should be more than going to churches or mosques every day.

    Jonathan, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Student Affairs, Jude Imagwe said:  “We have to be tolerant of others if we must move our society forward. When went wrong? There was a time in this country when we used to wait eagerly for exchange of gifts from our neighbours, Muslims and Christians during Sallah and Christmas. We have to start preaching peace, but to achieve peace, we must work for peace.”

    The convener of the summit, Timothy Ademola said the blame of the present rot should be directed at religious leaders, saying: “It has been argued that if religious teachers and scholars can come up with sacred identity constructs that outline more peaceful world views, the world will, to a large extent, be made much better.

    “Given the fact that youths constitute the most active segment of any religion when it comes to the implementation of its sacred identity constructs, it goes without saying that such constructs become more socially-accommodating and productive.

    “The youth that adopt the will become more socially accommodating and productive. At this level, religion actively becomes an instrument for youth empowerment and constructive change.”

    The President of Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Simon Dolly urged understanding between religious faiths.

    He said: “We need to understand each other, work together and build bridges. We should build on our strength rather than look at our weaknesses.”

    In his presentation, the National President of National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation (MACOMYO), Kamaldeen Akintunde regretted that hypocrisy on the part of religious leaders has contributed, in no small measures, to the spate of violence in the country.

    “Since religion, as a concept, means different things to different people, we should then strive to make it an agent of stability. This is more so because religious intolerance has cost the country so much in our socio-political and economic development.

    While he canvassed for constitutional regulation of religious activities, the youth leader urged political, religious and community leaders to be cautious when making comments on religious issues.

    The representative of Eckankar said the solution to violence in the country is peace.