The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jonathan

  • OBJ’s Kaduna visit stirs Jonathan, Sambo tension

    OBJ’s Kaduna visit stirs Jonathan, Sambo tension

    In what could become a replay of what transpired between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his then deputy, Atiku Abubakar, between 2003 and 2007, culminating in a sharp division within the Presidency, there are strong indications that the cordial relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo may have turned frosty.

    Sources revealed that this development is the alleged aftermath of the recent visit of Obasanjo to Kaduna some days ago to commiserate with the people and government of the state on the death of former governor, Patrick Yakowa, in the helicopter crash which occurred in Bayelsa State last month.

    But according to security reports made available to the president, Obasanjo’s sympathy visit was a decoy to achieve another objective: mobilise influential traditional rulers in the state against the alleged second term ambition of the president and canvass support for the return of power to the north.

    What particularly peeved the president, sources said, is the alleged role played by the Vice President in facilitating the meeting between Obasanjo and traditional rulers without taking his boss into confidence.

    At the said meeting, the former president was alleged to have impressed it on the traditional rulers led by the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, on the imperative of ensuring that the presidency returns to the north in 2015, and the urgent need to start mobilising the people and major stakeholders to back the project.

    While he was alleged to have admitted to his audience that he supported the president to win the last general elections, sources privy to the outcome of the meeting said that Obasanjo told the traditional rulers that the ‘agreement’ he had with Jonathan was for the president to spend only one term in office.

    The former president reportedly told his hosts that his recent public criticism of the present administration was borne out of his findings that the president is allegedly bent on contesting for another term in office.

    Though The Nation could not confirm the response of the traditional rulers to Obasanjo’s speech it was, gathered that palpable unease currently reigns in the Presidency since the vice-president returned to the seat of power from Kaduna.

    All of these developments come as reports that the president may have decided to drop Sambo as his running mate for the 2015 presidential election in favour of an unnamed northern governor continue to gather steam within the political circles.

    This alleged plot, it was gathered, was a strategic move to polarise the rank of the northern governors, a few of whom are alleged to be interested in contesting the Presidency come 2015.

     

  • 2015: ‘It’s not Jonathan’s job to go after posters’ sponsors’

    2015: ‘It’s not Jonathan’s job to go after posters’ sponsors’

    The security agencies don’t need to wait for President Goodluck Jonathan’s directives before going after sponsors of re-election posters, the presidency said on Thursday.

    According to the President’s media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, such checks are part of the normal responsibilities of the security agencies.

    But, he said this is only when it is of public interest.

    Abati was reacting to questions on whether it is appropriate for the president to send security agencies after the sponsors of his re-election posters that surfaced in Abuja over the weekend.

    He said, “The security agencies have their jobs cut out for them. If they feel there is anything that is likely to disturb the polity, that is likely to affect the integrity of the state or they feel something has happened and they need information, that needs to be investigated, then of course they will do their jobs.

    “They don’t even need to wait for presidential directive. It is part of their normal duty to find out what is happening in the environment particularly if what has happened is a matter of public interest.”

    Abati insisted that the president has not launched any re-election campaign.

    “Our position remains that President Jonathan has not launched any campaign for re-election in 2015. He has not asked anybody to go and paste posters around Abuja. Whoever those people are, they are acting on their own. They are not President Jonathan’s agent. They are on to their own mischief.

    “The second leg is that the President has been consistent with the issue of 2015. In the last presidential media chat, he said he was not talking about 2015 as at this moment. He had been given assignment by the Nigerian people – to see through the transformation agenda and ensure the different changes he has promised in life and society. That is what he remains committed to,” he insisted.

    On why the President did not ordered the removal of the posters if truly he is not behind it, Abati said, it is not the job of the president to go after the sponsors of the posters as there are people whose job is to ensure that things went well within the Nigerian state.

     

  • Jonathan: Police HQ, UN House bomb suspects held

    Jonathan: Police HQ, UN House bomb suspects held

    Four Boko Haram ‘kingpins’ in custody

    The brains behind some bombings have been held, President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday.

    The suspects, who were not named, are being held for the bombing of the Police Headquarters, the UN Building and St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.

    Dr. Jonathan spoke yesterday at the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus Christ and New Year Service at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese of Abuja, All Saints’ Church, Zone 5, Wuse.

    The president was accompanied to the church by his wife, Dame Patience, his mother Eunice, some lawmakers, some members of the cabinet and senior aides.

    Also present were Minister of Police Affairs Caleb Olubolade and Minister of state, FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide.

    The president said: “It is the ambition to get rich overnight that leads to robbery, kidnapping and all sorts of crime”.

    “The church’s prayers have been helping us to stabilise the country at the time of our challenges. There was time the country was drifting and everyone thought the country will not endure but the prayers rescued us.

    “We have moved to another phase of terror, kidnapping and armed robbery but these are momentary challenges.

    “I receive constant briefings on security daily, though we don’t publish them. Most of the terror suspects have been arrested. People may not know what our men in uniform have been doing, they have been doing a lot to check the situation.

    The people who bombed the Police Headquarters, the United Nations Building and St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla have been arrested. We will continue to improve on our security architecture.

    “The new year will be better for the country. We have a huge population and we will continue to provide employment for our people and encourage entrepreneurship,” he said.

    In his sermon, titled: “circumcise your heart”, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, urged Nigerians to circumcise their hearts- the church, businessmen – civil servants and politicians at all levels.

    He also challenged teachers and academicians and their students who dress indecently on campuses to: “circumsize your hearts.”

    To the market women who sell fake products and transporters who hike prices in festive periods, kidnappers, armed robbers and members of the Boko Haram sect he said “circumcise your hearts”.

    To the young men who are in a haste to ride Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV), Rev. Okoh advised them to be patient.

    Rev. Okoh urged traditional rulers, university authorities who sell doctorate degrees and titles to those who are not worthy of them to also “circumsise your hearts.”

    He said:

    “To be regarded as uncircumcised means you are a godless person. Jesus demonstrated his circumcision by being obedient. We ought to be obedient to God’s laws.

    “Circumcision as it affects us today means cutting of sin, corruption, bitterness and so on and so forth.

    “As we enter the New Year, we should cut off certain things. I ask Nigerian clergy, business community who exploits people, civil servants who hide files, politicians at all levels, teachers who persecute girls for refusing to sleep with them, traders who sell substandard products, transporters who hike prices, petroleum product sellers who short change Nigerians, kidnappers, armed robbers and Boko Haram to circumcise their hearts.

    “This is important so that in the new year we will build a nation that our children will be proud of.

    “Those looking for opportunity to make money without working, young graduates seeking contracts instead of employment, who wants to ride a jeep. This is a deformity of the heart. It is a wrong lifestyle to start from the top. All of us Nigerians should circumcise our hearts.

    “The Name of Jesus Christ must not be joked with else when you need Him to work for you and you evoke the name, it will not work.

    “To the President, the year 2013 will come with challenges, and you need the Name Jesus and once you bind that name around you, your victory shall be sure.

    “Some of us limit our lives to just money while God can give you a name, a promotion that is bigger than money. Nigeria shall rise up and walk in 2013.

    “The year 2013 is a trackless sea, a desert. The guiding hand you have is that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The most important thing for those holding high, low and oversised responsibility in the nation is to bind Jesus to yourself and it shall be well.

    “God will be gracious to us as a people and to our nation Nigeria”.

    The First Lady took the Bible reading from Gen. 17: 9-16.

     

  • ACN to Jonathan: be serious this year

    ACN to Jonathan: be serious this year

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday urged the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Administration to shake off its “trade mark lethargy” and take governance more seriously this year to ease the hardship which his government has foisted on Nigerians.

    In a New Year message by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the AC N said since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999, last year ranked among the worst for Nigerians.

    It said having ambushed Nigerians on January 1, 2012 with a totally unnecessary and punitive fuel price hike, the Jonathan administration ensured that everything went downhill from that moment until the end of the year when Nigerians had to pay far above the official price for fuel, with its attendant bandwagon effect on the price of goods and services.

    ‘’Mr. President, that singular act of your administration helped to erode whatever trust Nigerians reposed in you. Since trust is a critical element between the government and governed, you must begin to rebuild trust by delivering on your promises, since trust can neither be decreed nor forced.

    ‘’Suffice it to say that Nigerians cannot and will not trust an administration that promises to fight corruption but has presided over the worst cases of corruption in the history of the country; Nigerians cannot and will not trust an administration that sets up committees after committees to probe the oil sector, only to shamelessly dump the reports of the committees in the garbage can! And Nigerians cannot and will not trust a spendthrift administration that wastes scarce resources on flimsy projects like banquet halls and mansions for a few government officials, when millions are jobless and homeless,’’ the ACN said.

    The party advised the President to drop his “amorphous Transformation Agenda” in favour of a compact programme that prioritises security, job creation, infrastructural development and the fight against corruption.

    It also advised the government to stop relying on “phantom statistics to give Nigerians the impression that it is delivering the dividends of democracy, when indeed the opposite is the case.

    ‘’The Jonathan administration trumpets economic growth figures with glee, but of what use is economic growth that has not translated to better lives for the people, create jobs, put food on the table and make our roads more motorable?

    ‘’Despite this so-called economic growth, the reality of the Nigerian situation is that more of our youths are daily meandering through traffic in our major cities selling toothpicks, rat poison and pure water. What does this so-called economic growth figures mean to them?

    ‘’In 2013, the Jonathan administration must jettison cooked-up economic growth figures and make a concerted effort to reverse the situation that has seen an estimated 11 million Nigerian children out of school, 46 per cent of our youths unemployed, made Nigeria a country with one of the highest rates of road crashes in the world, put the country’s life expectancy at a mere 51.9 years (compared with 62.7 for Gabon, 73.4 for Mauritius and 74 for Libya) and the indignity of annually seeing the country ranked among the most corrupt,’’ the ACN said

  • My 2013 plan, by Jonathan

    My 2013 plan, by Jonathan

    There’s hope, says Mark

    Nigerians have got from the President a message of hope – that this year will be better and a pledge – to work harder. But Dr. Goodluck Jonathan made a request – the citizens should play their role in making the country great.

    President Jonathan, in his New Year message, said the government would do more to improve security by further empowering the security agencies to stem terrorism and enhance the security of lives and property.

    Besides, in the new year, the Federal Government will be paying more attention to flood and erosion control, rehabilitation and expansion of roads, improved power supply as well as upgrading of the national rail network.

    Other areas listed for priority attention are employment generation and wealth creation.

    The President also urged Nigerians to make a commitment to do more this year to support the implementation of the Federal Government’s Agenda for National Transformation.

    President Jonathan noted that peace and security remain pre-requisite conditions for the full realisation of the government’s objectives.

    He said: “I have already given a clear indication of the Federal Government’s agenda for 2013 in recent pronouncements. Our objective for the year is to ensure by all possible means that more of the programmes and projects envisioned by this administration, and which are already being embarked upon, are further brought on stream within the next 12 months to meet the yearnings of our people, and raise the quality of life.

    “We have in the last year achieved a lot in terms of the positive transformation of vital sectors of our national life, such as public infrastructure, power supply, oil and gas, transportation, education, health and agricultural development. We will continue to work diligently in 2013 to ensure that our efforts in these areas are carried forward to full fruition in fulfillment of our promise of better public services and improved living conditions for all Nigerians.

    “We will give priority attention in the coming year to flood and erosion control, the rehabilitation and expansion of existing federal roads, improved power supply, as well as the continued rehabilitation, upgrading and reactivation of the national rail network.

    “Employment generation and wealth creation will also remain a primary objective of our socio-economic agenda for 2013. Creating more employment opportunities for our youth and graduates of our universities is an imperative that will continue to underpin our drive for massive economic growth, the rapid expansion of our manufacturing and industrial base, and the productive diversification of our national economy. In this regard, we will continue to provide the necessary enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.

    “As peace and security remain pre-requisite conditions for the full realisation of our objectives, we will also do more in 2013 to further empower our security agencies who are working in collaborative partnerships with our friends in the international community to stem the scourge of terrorism in our country and enhance the security of lives and property in all parts of Nigeria.”

    The president also assured Nigerians that the administration will nor be discouraged by it’s critics, stressing that the administration remains resolutely committed to the rule of law, due process and fair play in all circumstances.

    He also noted that the administration will continue to push forward and remain focused on the task of making the nation a much better place for present and future generations.

    “I also want to assure Nigerians that we will refuse to be discouraged by those who have taken it upon themselves to pick on every initiative and effort of this administration. We remain resolutely committed to the rule of law, due process and fair play in all circumstances. Our democracy continues to grow, and the scope for human freedom continues to expand. It is an achievement that we will continue to build upon.

    “I say it again, we are determined to continue to push forward. We will do more, not less. We will remain focused.

    “For your part, dear compatriots, I urge that you all include in your new year resolutions a commitment to do more this year to support the implementation of the Federal Government’s Agenda for National Transformation in every possible way. That is all I ask for.

    “The task of making our dear nation a much better place for present and future generations cannot be left to government alone. Leaders and followers alike have critical roles to play in our march towards the fulfillment of our great national potentials.”

    while wishing Nigerians a better year, the President also urged them to place national interest above all other considerations.

    “Let us all, therefore, resolve as we celebrate the new year to place the higher interests of national unity, peace, stability and progress above all other considerations and work harder in our particular fields of human endeavour to contribute more significantly to the attainment of our collective aspirations,” he said.

    President of the Senate David Mark also enjoined Nigerians to continue to partner with those in elected offices in order to take the country out of its grave challenges.

    Mark in a New Year message to Nigerians noted that Year 2012 was very challenging “but Nigerians resolved to remain in one indivisible nation.”

    Mark said: “We went through a very challenging year. But collectively we kept hope of a brighter tomorrow.

    “I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

    “Those in elected offices cannot bring forth this light alone.

    “Government alone, without the support of the citizenry, cannot build a society where everyone is free and safe without fear of any form of violence.

    “We must come together in unity to ensure a secure and progressive nation.

    “I can see our nation coming out of our current trials more peacefully and strongly united.

    “We must however not relent in our prayers as we continue to build a vibrant nation that will be a pride of all.”

    Senator Mark in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, also reiterated the resolve of the National Assembly to continue to provide the nation with legislations that would better the lots of Nigerians.

    He prayed for a joyous and prosperous New Year.

     

  • Attitude, not corruption, is Nigeria’s problem –Jonathan

    Attitude, not corruption, is Nigeria’s problem –Jonathan

    • Believes Nigeria will be better if 50% emulate Azazi
    • Rain of honours for former NSA at burial

    The virtues of the late former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Andrew Owoye Azazi re-echoed yesterday as he was laid to rest in Yenagoa with speaker after speaker lauding his patriotism,hard work, leadership qualities, fairness and friendly disposition to all and sundry.

    President Goodluck Jonathan, who made Azazi his NSA, said Nigeria would be far better than it is now if only 50 per cent of the citizens can emulate his fairness at all times.

    Going down memory lane,the President said when he had to appoint his first set of service chiefs after the death of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, it was Azazi he turned to for advice in view of his military background and that his assessment of each of the nominees for the different offices played a big role in the emergence of the appointees.

    He said all through that period,Azazi’s primary consideration was merit.

    The President, who was reacting to an earlier remark by one of the officiating cleargies at the funeral about corruption in Nigeria, said he does not agree that corruption is the cause of all of Nigeria’s problems and that if more Nigerians can emulate Azazi’s virtues of fairness,honesty and competence the country would be better than it is.

    “Corruption is not the cause of our problem, Nigeria has more institutions that fight corruption.Most of the issues we talk about are not corruption.If we do things properly, if we change our attitudes of doing things most of the thing we thinks are caused by corruption are not,” he said.

    “If Nigerians would change their attitude, you will realise that most of these issues being attributed to corruption are not caused by corruption.

    “Recently, I met with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps who told me that they had discovered that majority of the road accidents are recorded on good roads. “So you can see it is not a matter of corruption, it is an issue of the people’s attitude.

    “If we change our attitude to life , if all Nigerians do what is right, Nigeria will change”, he stressed,adding that if Azazi, from a minority group in the country could reach the height of his career on merit,others can also do the same.

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State described Azazi as one of Nigeria’s finest military officers and a great ambassador not only of the state but of the entire country.

    The governor who spent almost half of his time talking about his own achievements in office announced the intention of the state government to endow an award in a reputable institution in the country in honour of the deceased.

    An annual lecture is also to be sponsored by his government while a committee on Ijaw history has been mandated to document his life and times.

    He also said a befitting edifice would be named after him.

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, taking a cue from his Bayelsa State counterpart, said a major road now under construction in Port Harcourt will be renamed tomorrow in honour of Azazi.

    Azazi,he said “is a good man in the true sense of the word and a good Nigerian in the true sense of the word.

    “I had a private relationship with him.He called me his brother.I was the last to speak with him on phone before he boarded that day,” he said.

    The Chief of Army State,Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika called him a brillian officer who “ was outstanding in all the courses he attended and the overall best student at the War College.

    “He was very fair and transparent. He lived what he preached. He was detribulised, ever-forgiving and like water ‘he no get enemy.”

    Petroleum Resources Minister,Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke said of him: “He was our most thorough intelligence analyst.He had a great sense of humility and strength of character.”

    One of his predecessors in office as Chief of Army Staff,General Alexander Ogomudia said: “he was a great general. His performance spoke for him. I appointed him Director of Military Intelligence and we related well.”

    Gen Ogomudia said the helicopter crash that claimed Azazi’s life should not dampen Nigerians’ faith in the aviation sector and cited the example of Pakistan where one of the generals there perished in an air crash with his entire family.

    During the service, Mrs. Akpolade Okora-Azazi read the first lesson, and Owoye Azazi read the second lesson.

    The casket bearing his body was conveyed to its final resting place by an ambulance belonging to the Nigerian Navy at about 3.30 pm at the Ijaw Heroes Park in Yenagoa before it was lowered into the grave amidst military gun salute.

    The widow, Alero, the children and other family members performed the dust to dust rites.

    General Azubike spoke of Azazi’ s past and how he contributes to the army.

    Arch-Bishop Ogbebo said the prayers at the grave side.

    Present at the funeral were President Jonathan and his wife, Patience, governors Dickson (Bayelsa), Amaechi (Rivers) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Ministers, National and State legislators, former Bayelsa governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Military governor of the old Rivers State, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, Service Chiefs, National security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retired) President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritshejafor, former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, serving and retired military officers and traditional rulers.

    Also there were the wife of the Bayelsa State governor, Mrs Rachael Dickson; the wife of Rivers governor, Mrs Judith Amaechi; Rear Admiral John Kpokpogiri (rtd); , former NDDC Managing Director and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Timi Alaibe, former JTF commander in the Niger Delta, Major General Sarkin Yakin Bello (rtd); Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni (rtd), former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; Speaker of the Bayesa State House of Assembly, Benson Kombowei, Finance Minister, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Aviation Minister, Ms Stella Oduah;and Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe.

    President later left for his home town of Otueke.

    Azazi,the then governor of Kaduna State,Mr.Patrick Yakowa and four others died on December 15 at Okoroba, Bayelsa State when a Nigerian Navy, Augusta helicopter carrying them exploded shortly after take off.

    Azazi’s wife and children fought back tears as they performed the dust to dust rites for him after the funeral oration by the Bishop of Bomadi Vicariate, His Lordship, Most Revd Hyacinth Egbeboh.

  • ANPP to Jonathan: You are not genuine

    President Goodluck Jonathan came under fire yesterday over comment that his administration is slow because it does not want to make mistakes.

    The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) said Jonathan lacks creativity, adding that slow motion will destroy Nigeria’s democracy.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Emma Eneukwu said: “Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan, while addressing a Christian congregation during the Christmas celebration, said that his government is actually slow because it does not want to make mistakes.” According to him, ‘‘by human thinking, our administration is slow; I won’t say we are slow, but we need to think through things properly if we are to make lasting impact. “

    While decrying the parlous state of the economy occasioned by corruption at the highest level of government, the ANPP chieftain said the nation is in dire need of “a leadership that inspires, directs and gives hope at all times.”

  • Jonathan is target of assassination in 2013—Prophet Oluwasegun Isedowo

    Jonathan is target of assassination in 2013—Prophet Oluwasegun Isedowo

    Prophet Oluwasegun Isedowo, a fast rising healer and televangelist and leader of Ikotun-Egbe based C.A.C Calvary Cry & Miracle Ministry in Lagos, told news men yesterday that God has directed him to alert the nation to pray in order to avert a major catastrophe which may involve President Goodluck Jonathan in the year 2013. According to him, God has revealed that President Goodluck Jonathan has been marked for assassination in 2013.

    Saying that the specific month was also revealed through the spiritual message, he msintained this will not be publicized for security reasons and for the fact that God has given a directive, which must be obeyed by the president and all peace-loving Nigerian Christians in order to avert the impending catastrophe.

    Prophet Isedowo also said that it was revealed to him that enemies of the president have concluded their plan, which would come via a very insignificant bomb explosion. In his own words “ God the Omnipotent did reveal that the assassination could ONLY be averted if President Jonathan can fast for seven consecutive days in the first week of January 2013 with the support of all peace-loving Nigerians, especially, Christians, who must fast during the first three days of this same month.

    Warning concernedly that it is only through the recommended directive of God could be averted, the man who accurately predicted the capture of Laurent Gbagbo, former Ivorien president during a live telecast in Lagos, insisted that disobedience to the voice of God may spell doom for the Nigerian federation in this regard.

    Prophet Isedowo said, “should I be taken for an attention-seeking man of God and these warnings be unheeded, this could lead to the unfortunate balkanization of the country in spite of the preparations to mark one century of Nigeria as a nation in 2014”.

    In line with this spiritual revelation to him, the prophet maintained that “should this avoidable catastrophe be allowed to manifest, the balkanization of the country into three entities will be proceeded by an internal crisis and civil war of immense magnitude, which will negatively affect all Nigerians-home and abroad.

    Repeatedly, Mr. President is urged not to ignore the 7-day fasting as no amount of security beef-up around him might be adequate to deal with the evil designs of his enemies as only God in his infinite mercy, can terminate the plans of those bent in assassinating him.

    Apart from the specific message to President Jonathan, he revealed that God also sends him to all agents of evil spiritual deeds and ritualists, especially in the Christendom, in Nigeria that 2013 will be a year of severe judgment for them as they will be visited with sudden deaths unless they turn away from using their evil powers to spread diseases among the unsuspecting masses in Nigeria.

  • Senate to ‘override’ Jonathan’s veto on Budget

    Senate to ‘override’ Jonathan’s veto on Budget

    The Senate on Friday vowed to override President Goodluck Jonathan’s veto if he fails to assent to the 2013 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly within the next one month.

    Already there are fears that the Presidency may withhold assent to the N4.98 trillion budget passed by both arms of the National Assembly on December 20 following the increase in crude oil benchmark.

    The lawmakers had in a conference raised the oil benchmark from $75 to $79.

    The Senate said if the President refuses to sign the budget into law, they will invoke necessary constitutional provisions and pass the 2013 Appropriation Bill into law.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who spoke to our correspondent in Abuja on the row said the law was clear on what the National Assembly should do if the President decides to withhold assent to any Bill.

    Abaribe said: “The law will take its course. Yes. And what the law says is that any Bill that is not assented to by the President after one month, then the National Assembly will override the veto. The law is clear.

    “The National Assembly will follow the Constitution which says we can override the veto.

    “I mean, the matter is always very clear. It is not something that is subject to any other interpretation. We will follow the dictates of the Constitution.”

    On whether there will be option for a political solution between the National Assembly and the Presidency, Abaribe said: “Well, let me say that the agreement between the House and the Senate does not give room for any other maneuver because the rules of the National Assembly is that once you have a difference and you go to conference and you resolve that difference, you have no other room to bring it back again.

    “Except you now want us to review the whole document called the budget that has already been passed and I don’t think anybody is willing to do that.”

     

  • Jonathan gets wake-up call on terrorism, kidnapping

    Jonathan gets wake-up call on terrorism, kidnapping

    •Why govt is slow, by President

    President Goodluck Jonathan was yesterday admonished to banish the twin menace of terrorism and kidnapping next year.

    The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Nicholas Oko, urged the government to find a permanent solution to terrorism and kidnapping.

    He spoke at the Christmas Day Service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp in Abuja.

    President Jonathan, First Lady Dame Patience and members of the first family attended the service.

    Terrorism is rampant in the North where Boko Haram (western education is a sin), has been killing people. Kidnappers are on the rampage in the South, especially in the Southsouth and the Southeast.

    The rights group, Campaign for Democracy (Southeast), alleged that kidnappers make an average of N750 million weekly in the Southeast, making it the most “lucrative business”.

    Primate Okoh said: “If you look at this church environment, you will see so many security men on duty.

    “It is not everybody that can bear with this kind of situation; since the emergence of terrorists, many people no longer go to church and many select the day they go.

    “So, it is our duty and prayer that in the coming year, Nigeria will know perfect security and that men and women will return to normal life.

    “And nobody will stop anybody from visiting anywhere; if you want to go to Maiduguri or Kaura Namoda, you should be free to go.”

    The cleric also expressed concern that kidnapping was being fuelled by greed and “love of money’’.

    “This type of people, we cannot justify them by talking of unemployment; the kidnapper is not interested in employment because you cannot pay him.

    “They have become used to spending big money and if from one kidnapping he gets N50 million, tell me where you can employ such a person?’’

    The primate’s sermon was on the theme: ‘’Messiah’s presence in our midst’’. He drew his message from Isaiah, Chapter 9 and the gospel of John chapter 1.

    Rev. Okoh also prayed that in coming years, Nigeria will have perfect security, people will no longer have fear for personal security.

    According to him, “Jesus Christ has come to give us eternal salvation, shine his light in the darkness of the world. He has come as the Prince of Peace. He came down to lift up the poor.

    “The Lord came with the gospel of transformation and power that has transformed us from darkness to light. If you want to know God and his workings, then look at Jesus.

    “He has given us moral light to shun what is wrong and do the right thing.

    “We need to embrace peace in this country. We have of late been praying to have peace between man and man in our country. The Christian faith does not encourage tit for tat for the frequent killings because Christians are peace bearers. Irrespective of provocation, we must promote peace.

    “It also has the solution to the frequent tribalism that has affected us and caused chaos.

    “For all in leadership, traditional, religious, political, the emphasis of leadership is the poor, the down trodden. At all times, their welfare and relief must occupy the priority of the leaders.

    “We need to thank God for what the government is trying to do that we will no longer be slave to massive rice producers like Thailand.

    “Is difficult to understand why it took us so long to realise that if we produce our rice that we can eat and generate jobs for our people. Also we have started producing bread with local content and it is good news to the poor. It will be political miracle if we have constant power supply and it will be good news to the poor.

    “The development of the railway system and the construction of road also will be good news to the poor.

    “Following the story of incarnation, the government can continue to come down to the poor because God is interested in the affairs of the poor”.

    Prayers were said for the first family, government and the country.

    The First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan took the old testament lesson from Isaiah 9:2, 6&7.

    President Jonathan read the Epistle from the book of Hebrew 1:1-12.

    The President said his administration would fulfil its promises to the people.

    He said: “I want to reassure Nigerians that we are committed and will keep faith with our promises. At least what we are doing in agriculture, transportation and power has been noted by the Primate.

    “We have laid a solid foundation for power, agriculture and transport sectors and I can assure you we will not go back again.

    “By human thinking, our administration is slow, I won’t say we are slow but we need to think through things properly if we are to make a lasting impact. If we rush we will make mistakes and sometimes it is more difficult to correct those mistakes.

    “I want to assure Nigerians that any step we take, whether little or giant, we won’t go back. And where we need to act fast, we will do so; that we demonstrated with the flood disaster because it required immediate response.

    “Democracy must be dictated by ballot papers and I think we have achieved that with electoral reform. We will not go back but will continue to improve.

    “For our transformation to be sustained, we Nigerians must be reformed. We must not see our country as where we make money only and build walls and live as prisoners because of the criminal activities of a few”.

    The President also underscored the need for re-orientation in the country, noting that a situation where some criminal-minded Nigerians vandalise government property to sabotage the government’s effort must be condemned as such actions are tantamount to the transformation plan of the government.

    “People play politics with things that affect even their own lives. You wonder why a person go and cut down a conductor carrying cables that produce electricity because you want a government to fail. This happened somewhere in Enugu. You begin to wonder if they are humans. That is why we need to reform if we must transform.”

    The President also said the church has a critical role to play if democracy must be sustained.

    “The sermon today brought a number of things to lime light, our transformation in agriculture and others.

    “When we were planning for our campaign, we spent a whole day debating on what should be our theme and we settled for transformation. At the time, it sounded strange and many people even asked what are we transforming but I’m glad that today people are beginning to see the transformation.

    “The church has a great role to play if the transformation must succeed because you can’t transform without reformation and is the role of the church to do so.

    “I urge the church to come up with various programmes to talk about how we Nigerians can be reformed.”