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Tag: Jonathan

  • Parallel govt allegation: Arewa chair Coomassie, Ango Abdullahi tackle Jonathan

    Parallel govt allegation: Arewa chair Coomassie, Ango Abdullahi tackle Jonathan

    •Presidency has no moral right to accuse APC of wrongdoing, says Coomassie
    •Ango to Buhari: sign documents with caution
    •South South Assembly backs President

    Prominent northerners yesterday lashed out  at President Goodluck Jonathan  for accusing President-elect Muhammadu Buhari  of running a parallel government following the outcome of the March 28 election.

    The Federal Executive Council,rising from its meeting on Wednesday, had said the Jonathan Administration was not comfortable with some  terms of reference of the incoming government’s transition committee which tend to create a parallel government.

    National Planning Minister Suleiman Abubakar said  government took exception to “some  utterances, to some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated.”

    But reacting to the government’s position yesterday, the Chairman of the apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji  Ibrahim Coomassie,  said there was  nothing wrong in Buhari’s approach and that the government itself had been making  some questionable  appointments  at the twilight of its tenure.

    He said: “They are sacking incumbents and making new appointments at this period of transition.That is very wrong too.”

    He cited no instance,but President Jonathan has, within the last two weeks, appointed an acting Inspector General of Police and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) after sacking the incumbents.

    Coomassie advised  the government and the incoming administration to  “leave the blame game and allow a peaceful and successful transition to enable Nigeria move forward.”

    Also reacting,the  Secretary of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi,  dismissed the Federal Government’s  allegation against Buhari as an attempt to force the incoming President to sign dubious  documents.

    Professor Abdullahi, a one-time Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), said: “The allegation of attempting to run a parallel government is the most pedestrian accusation  I have ever heard.

    “ One thing is fundamental: If you are leaving office and handing over to another person, it is paramount that you leave a proper handover note to enable the new government take off properly.

    “It is expected that  the incoming government will be asking for a sound and complete handover note or document as the case maybe. So, I expect the outgoing government to provide that.

    “But as it is, what it seems the Jonathan government is telling Buhari is that he should investigate wherever he is not happy with. Certainly, I will not expect Buhari to sign any document where facts are incomplete.

    “Of course, he will take over the government, but it means the people leaving government are open for questioning.

    “So, I think the whole  thing is to force  the incoming President to sign documents that are suspicious because when it boomerangs, people will fault the new government that  ‘were you sleeping when you signed it?’ “

    Similarly, human rights lawyer and  a member of the APC in the transition committee, Mr. Solomon Dalong, insists that  the Buhari camp has  not requested for too must to warrant the accusation of running a parallel government.

    He pointed out that  if  the transition committee had not delved into such government’s functions as generation  and expending of resources, the power to arrest and prosecute, it could not be said to be running a parallel government.

    Dalong said  the accusation  was  laughable and a mere distraction to prevent the committee from doing a thorough job.

     

    Meanwhile, the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) said   that the Federal Government was right to  warn  the transition committee of the President-elect  against forming a parallel government.

    The National Secretary of the organisation, Chief Ayakeme Whisky, said  government must have uncovered tendencies of the Buhari’s committee to take over the role of the incumbent before issuing the warning.

    He asked the incoming government to wait for its inauguration before seeking sensitive information from ministries, parastatals and agencies.

    “Whatever information the incoming government needs should wait till the end of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration,” he said.

    “They should only begin to act when they come on board. If they want to conduct probes, they can’t do that now until they are inaugurated. So, the Federal Government is right to have warned against a parallel government.”

    Whisky also condemned the criticisms trailing last-minute appointments being made by the President.

    He said: “It is an affront on the executive authority for anybody to question the appointments made by a president whose tenure has not expired.

    “This administration has a lifespan and it terminates on May 29 after the formal handover to the incoming government. So, people should respect the constitutional rights of the government.”

    He said the President could not have woken up to fire the officials and appointed new ones.

    “It is a normal cause of business of government. Those crying blue are just heating up the polity. It is a display of rascality for anybody to question the appointments. There is nothing wrong in them”, he said.

    It was gathered that  President Jonathan’s anger at the transition committee stemmed from  its request  for an overview of  some government agencies such as the Central Bank, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Customs and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged on  Thursday that Jonathan’s accusation that Buhari was running a parallel government was part of a grand plan to hinder a smooth handover.

    The party also said the outgoing government was set to blackmail its successor.

    It spoke of  an act of hostility, a patently misplaced aggression and  unnecessary  vituperations against the incoming Buhari  administration by the Federal Government “ostensibly because of the terms of reference  of the Buhari Transition Committie, but in reality part of an orchestrated plot to sabotage the transition.”

  • Jonathan: we ‘ll liberate territory from Boko Haram

    Jonathan: we ‘ll liberate territory from Boko Haram

    President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged that he will do all within his powers to ensure that all Nigerian territory still held by terrorists and insurgents are totally liberated before May 29.

    He spoke when a delegation of Heads of Customs from the West and Central African Region of the World Customs Organisation led by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, visited him.

    Jonathan said he was determined to hand over a country completely free of terrorist strongholds to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

    The President said that ongoing military operations in the Northeast had already recorded huge successes, with two states completely free from the control of terrorists, while operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage.

    “We can now say two states are completely free from terrorist control, while in the third state, it is only in one local government area that they are still present. That is in the Sambisa Forest,” he said.

    Jonathan noted that the military had already moved into the forest to seize the remaining camps of the terrorists, adding that the recent rescue of about 300 abducted girls and women was further evidence of the success being achieved in the ongoing operation.

    On his decision to concede victory to the President-elect before all the results of the presidential elections were announced, he said elections must be approached from a nationalistic point of view.

  • PDP ‘ll bounce back in 2019, says President

    PDP ‘ll bounce back in 2019, says President

    President Goodluck Jonathan declared yesterday in Abuja that if members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) remain committed to the vision of its founding fathers and work very hard, the party will return to power at the Federal level in 2019.

    Speaking after receiving the report of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation at the Presidential Villa, Jonathan said that the party already had all that it will require to win the 2019 elections, but needed to return to the drawing board to  re-strategise for the future.

    “Whatever happened was like a slip. You don’t need to travel to America to know how power moves from the Republicans to the Democrats and from the Democrats to the Republicans.

    “You can even go to Ghana that is very close to us. The present administration lost some  years back and of course they came back, and won the elections. So, the problem is not whether we lost or won elections, which is already history, but how we can reconsolidate our party.

    “If we are committed and we work hard, definitely the PDP will spring back,” President Jonathan told members of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation.

    Noting that the outcome of future elections will be determined by the party’s preparedness, President Jonathan urged members to be more united and remain loyal to the party.

    “We must continue to be united as a party. And continue to work hard so that as we move towards subsequent elections in 2019 and 2023, PDP will come out stronger.

    “Let’s not judge PDP by the results of the presidential elections, because in some of the states where we saw the PDP score so low, it was probably due to problems within the PDP.

    “The party will come back stronger. PDP is still the most organized party. PDP is still the party that nobody owns. PDP is still the party that whoever you are, you can get to any level that you aspire to through competence. I encourage members of our party to remain faithful and not be disillusioned,’’ the President said.

     In his remarks, the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Sen. Ahmadu Ali, praised President Jonathan for putting the nation before his personal ambition.

    “Our great party will emerge from this debacle stronger, wiser and prouder. Even in defeat, we are able to impart some valuable lessons to the Nigerian electorate.

    “This is the first time in the history of this country that a sitting Government has handed over power peacefully to an opposition party after an election. We are proud of you,’’ he told President Jonathan.

  • I’ll hand over Nigeria totally liberated from terrorists, says Jonathan 

    I’ll hand over Nigeria totally liberated from terrorists, says Jonathan 

    President Goodluck Jonathan pledged yesterday in Abuja that he will do all within his powers to ensure that all Nigerian territories still held by terrorists and insurgents are totally liberated before May 29.

    Receiving a delegation of Heads of Customs from the West and Central African Region of the World Customs Organisation led by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, President Jonathan said that he was determined to hand over a country completely free of terrorist strongholds to the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

    The President said that ongoing military operations in the Northeast had already recorded huge successes, with two states completely free from the control of terrorists, while operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage.

    “We can now say two states are completely free from terrorist control, while in the third state, it is only in one local government area that they are still present. That is in the Sambisa Forest,” he said.

     Jonathan noted that the military had already moved into the forest to seize the remaining camps of the terrorists, adding that the recent rescue of about 300 abducted girls and women was further evidence of the success being achieved in the ongoing operation.

    On his decision to concede victory to the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, before all the results of the presidential elections were announced, President Jonathan said that elections must be approached from a nationalistic point of view.

    “Our elections should be about where Nigeria is going. If Nigeria is moving forward, it is for the good of all Nigerians. My children and grandchildren will live and grow in this country and contribute to it.

    “I always tell my colleagues to leave office when their time is up. We are trying to encourage African leaders not to remain in power as kings until death,’’ he said.

  • Jonathan condoles with Yuguda over mother’s death

    Jonathan condoles with Yuguda over mother’s death

    President Goodluck Jonathan has condoled with Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda and members of his family on the death of his mother, Hajiya Hauwa Yuguda.

    The President said he joined the governor and the Yuguda family in mourning Hajiya Hauwa, “whose modest, cheerful and compassionate disposition and lifestyle will remain a source of inspiration for her offspring and all who knew her”.

    A statement in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Dr Reuben Abati, said Jonathan expressed the belief that Yuguda, his siblings, members of their families and all others whose lives were positively touched by Hajiya Hauwa “will forever treasure the memories of her exemplary motherliness as well as her benevolence to the less privileged”.

    The President prayed Almighty Allah to receive Hajiya Hauwa’s soul and grant her eternal rest.

  • PDP defectors will return with empty stomach, says Jonathan

    PDP defectors will return with empty stomach, says Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday predicted that those decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to other parties will return with empty stomach. 

    He made the remark while receiving the PDP campaign report from its Director General, Ahmadu Ali at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

    Stressing that PDP is the dominant party despite the loss of the Presidential election, he said that the party will remain strong in subsequent elections if members are committed and hard working.  

    The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih noted that the party did not win the presidential election but won peace for the country. 

    He said: “We didn’t win the elections but we have a leader who made us to win peace. Without peace there cannot be development.” 

    “There is a lot to be done. We need a very strong and vibrant party to be put in place now. I believe we are on the right path. Let us put behind us those who have betrayed the party and move forward.”  

    The Chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu was conspicuously absent at the event.  

  • Jonathan angry as Buhari seeks reports on agencies

    Jonathan angry as Buhari seeks reports on agencies

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday scolded  the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration, accusing it of trying to set up a parallel government.

    Dr. Jonathan’s anger was obviously over the terms of reference of the transition committee set up by Gen. Buhari. He told the committee to give him an overview of some government agencies, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Customs and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), The Nation learnt last night, will reply the Presidential comments today.

    Minister of National Planning Suleiman Abubakar, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Dr. Jonathan, insisted that Jonathan is still in charge till 29th of May, 2015.

    Speaking as a member of the Transition Committee, he said that the Jonathan administration was not comfortable with some terms of reference of the incoming government’s transition committee, which tend to create a parallel government.

    To this end, he said that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) have been directed to follow the terms of reference of the present government and not those of the incoming administration.

    He also claimed that the magnanimity of President Jonathan does not amount to cowardice.

    The Minister also urged members of the Council to continue to do their work without any intimidation.

    He said: “I’m speaking as member and chairman of sub-committee of transition committee. Council discussed the state of the transition programme and as chairman of sub-committee of transition committee, we were asked to update council on the progress report.”

    “We did receive from in-coming government the transition committee some terms of reference which we looked at critically. And ýcouncil did agree that the Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan remains the current government of this country.”

    “The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government while the government is still on. We take exceptions to some utterances, to some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated.”

    Continuing, he said: “Council frowned at ýmost of the statements, most of the provisions and council members are advised to work in line with the terms of reference of the current government.”

    “Council members are also told that the terms of reference as formatted by our transition committee should be strictly complied with.”

    “When the incoming government takes over government they can come out with their programmes, they can come out with their own ýagenda, they can decide to come out with policies with the way they feel like.”

    “This government remains resolute to the various programmes and projects ýit is pursuing and the government will continue to do that until the morning of May 29th.”

    Abubakar said that the Council also enjoined members to be steadfast and come out with programmes, projects to be commissioned, and those that need to be inspected.

    The Minister also said that they were asked to continue to work as government and perform their work without intimidation.

    He said: “Government, especially civil servants, directors, directors-general should see this government as the current government and not to do anything that will rock the boat so as not to put this country in a bad light. These are issues before the transition committee, these are are issues that were raised on the transition programme.”

    “The magnanimity of Mr. President should not be taken to be cowardice and that is why Mr. President and indeed council members enjoined Nigerian people to see the olive branch extended to Nigerians and international community as a way of keeping this country intact, as a way of ensuring peace in Nigeria and, as such, whatever the outcome of the election, what is important is Nigeria’s national interest.”

    “And that national interest should be protected, enhanced and promoted at whatever level we are. These are issues that bother on transition programme discussed in council.”

    But Abubakar noted that the chairman of the incoming transition committee, Mallam Ahmed Joda, had a very robust discussion with the chairman of the transition committee of the current government, Vice President Namadi Sambo, on Tuesday.

    “They are working together as a family and I want to believe for the good of this country things will work,” he said

    He said that as at 28th April, almost all the MDAs that ýwere advised to submit briefs, handing over notes have compiled, except for one or two ministries.

    Said the minister: “The committee is having on ground right now two versions of presentations; we have the executive summaries of all the MDAs handover notes ýand the entire handover notes from almost all the MDAs.”

    “The transition process is on course in terms of handover notes and briefs; we have covered almost 80 per cent of our assignments,” he said.

  • Jonathan swears-in two commissioners

    Jonathan swears-in two commissioners

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday swore in two federal commissioners.

    They are Amb. Toye Olofintuyi from Ekiti state sworn in as Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission, representing Ekiti, Edo and Ondo states and Amb. Toye Olofintuyi from Zamfara State sworn in as Commissioner, Federal Character Commission.

    In his remarks, President Jonathan charged the two commissioners to bring their wealth of experience to bear in their new assignment.

    According to him, the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Federal Character Commission are in place to stabilize the country.

    According to him, the civil service commission employs and disciplines the civil servants in terms of implementation of government services and programmes.

    He charged the Federal Character commission to do very well by encouraging and enhancing the unity of  the nation and make all Nigerians belief that they belong to the country.

  • Jonathan warns against formation of parallel government

    Jonathan warns against formation of parallel government

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday warned against the establishment of a parallel government by the incoming administration before May 29.

    The Minister of National Planning, Suleiman Abubakar, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Jonathan, insisted that Jonathan is still in charge till May 29.

    Speaking as a member of the Transition Committee, he said the Jonathan administration is not comfortable with some terms of reference of the incoming government’s transition committee, which tend to create a parallel government.

    To this end, he said that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) have been directed to follow the terms of reference of the present government and not those of the incoming administration.

    He also claimed that the magnanimity of President Jonathan does not amount to cowardice.

    The minister also urged members of the Council to continue to do their work without any intimidation.

    He said: “I’m speaking as member and chairman of sub-committee of transition committee. Council discussed the state of the transition programme and as chairman of sub-committee of transition committee, we were asked to update council on the progress report.

    “We did receive from the in-coming government transition committee some terms of reference which we looked at critically. And ‎council did agree that the Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan remains the current President of this country.

    “The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government while the government is still on. We take exceptions to some utterances to some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated.”

    Continuing, he said: “Council frowned at ‎most of the statements, most of the provisions and council members are advised to work in line with the terms of reference of the current government.

     

    “Council members are also told that the terms of reference as formatted by our transition committee should be strictly complied with.

    “When the incoming government take over government they can come out with their programmes, they can come out with their own ‎agenda, they can decide to come out with policies with the way they feel like.

    “This government remains resolute to the various programmes and projects ‎it is pursuing and the government will continue to do that until the morning of May 29.”

    He said the Council also enjoined members to be steadfast and come out with programmes, projects to be commissioned, and those that need to be inspected.

     

  • Jonathan suspends permanent secretary

    Jonathan suspends permanent secretary

    •Zuma for Buhari’s inauguration

    THE Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni, has been suspended for his alleged role in the controversy over the invitation of Nigeria’s envoys from South Africa.

    Media reports at the weekend claimed that Nigeria had recalled its envoys from South Africa over the xenophobic attacks in the country.

    The South African government has already reacted to the action, describing it as unnecessary.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Monday, maintained that there was no truth in the report.

    Claiming that there was a mix up and misinformation on the matter, he said that Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires to South Africa was invited for consultation.

    But, a reliable source, who craved anonymity, said that a query has already been issued to Sheni by the Head of Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, on the order of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The source said Sheni’s offence was that he did not get clearance from the president before inviting the country’s envoys for consultation.

    The President, he said, was miffed that the ministry embarrassed him again, a few weeks after the diplomatic row between Nigeria and Morocco on issue of telephone conversation between Jonathan and King Mohammed VI.

    He said that Sheni would have been dismissed, if not for the civil service rule.

    He said: “The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been suspended and queried for embarrassing the President by not clearing from him before inviting the Charge d’Affaires.

    “The President on Monday directed the Head of Service to query him and he has 24 hours to respond to the query.

    “You will recall that that was the second embarrassment, this one came shortly after the Morocco saga.

    “The permanent secretary was to be dismissed immediately, but for the civil service rule. Even at that, there will still be further consequence.

    “As at now, a new permanent secretary has been redeployed to the ministry to replace him.”

    South Africa has, however, insisted that it still has cordial relations with the Nigeria despite the latter withdrawing its high commissioner in protest against xenophobic violence.

    Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe yesterday led a media briefing of the inter-ministerial committee that has been set up in the wake of attacks on foreign nationals during the past two weeks.

    Radebe was careful to point out that President Jacob Zuma would attend the inauguration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, and that South Africa companies still enjoyed investment opportunities in the West African country.

    Radebe mentioned MTN, Shoprite and Standard Bank.

    He noted that Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote was building a cement factory in the country’s North West Province.

    “SA still has very cordial relations with the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Radebe repeated at least three times during the media briefing.

    He emphasised that SA had amicable relations with all the members of the African Union (AU).

    In the list of victims of the xenophobic violence provided by Radebe, it showed that of the seven people killed, one was Ethiopian, one was Zimbabwean, one Mozambican, one from Bangladesh, and three were South Africans.

    The list also showed that foreigners being repatriated were from Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

    The Office of International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) Prosecutor has signified its intention to probe the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African citizens in South Africa.

    This followed a petition from Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) alleging hate speech by the Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini.

    SERAP’s Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni said this yesterday in a statement.