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Tag: Jonathan

  • Atiku: what Jonathan and I discussed

    Atiku: what Jonathan and I discussed

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday recounted his weekend’s meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He spoke to Sahara Reporters.

    Atikuwas quoted as saying that he had retired to bed when he was woken up and told that President Jonathan had come to see him, adding that the president was already waiting in his living room.

    Denying that he was asked to head an interim government, the former vice president admitted that Dr. Jonathan tried to prevail on him to rejoin the PDP which he rejected.

    He said the president also discussed the ongoing war against Boko Haram, seeking his support for Nigerian troops. He said they also discussed the possibility of displaced Nigerians returning to the areas that have been recaptured from Boko Haram.

    Asked by Sahara Reporters whether he thought President Jonathan was interested in allowing elections to hold on March 28, the former vice president hesitated before stating that he would not wish to speculate, but he said the president’s body language did not reveal that he was interested in the polls which are less than two weeks to hold.

    Atiku said he had always been opposed to an interim government adding that he did so when former military President Ibrahim Babangida set up an interim national government in 1993. He said he was offered a position in the government through the late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua, which he rejected. The position, he said was given to Lagos politician Dapo Sarumi.

    Atiku said he advised President Jonathan to ensure that the elections were free and fair and devoid of the bloodshed that trailed the 2011 general elections

  • Jonathan deploys traditional rulers on nationwide campaign

    Jonathan deploys traditional rulers on nationwide campaign

    President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign has mobilised traditional rulers to start reaching out to the electorate on his behalf, it was learnt yesterday.

    The rulers will criss-cross the country before the election to campaign that its outcome should be accepted.

    But sources said the essence of such trips is more than that. They are believed to be on a campaign for the president.

    There are 11 teams on the mission.

    This may not be unconnected with the orchestrated campaigns in parts of the country for the removal of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega to make way for an INEC boss, who will do the bidding of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Team I, which is responsible for Sokoto and Kebbi states, comprises Major-General Felix Mujakperuo, Orhue 1, Orodje of Okpe; Oba S.O. Oyediran, Onipetu of Ipetuland; and Eze Elder Dr. Agom Eze.

    The task of this team is to reach out to Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shagari, Turakin Sokoto; Alhaji Muhd Sa’ad Abubakar 111, Sultan of Sokoto; Alhaji (Dr.) Mohammed I. Bashar, Emir of Gwandu; Alhaji Samalia Mohammed Mera, Emir of Argungu; Alhaji Zayyanu Abdullahi, Emir of Yauri; and Major-General Muhammadu Sani Sami, Emir of Zuru.

    Team II comprises Kevin Aliyu Danesi, Aidonogie of South Ibie; Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Olu of Ilaro and Oba Adebolu Fatunmishe, Iyanfoworogi-Ife.

    This team is to work on Alhaji Attahiru Muhammadu Anka, Emir of Zamfara; Justice Lawal H. Gunmi, Emir of Gumi; Alhaji Muhammadu K. Danbaba, Emir of Gusau; Alhaji Bello Mohammed Barmo, Emir of Talata Malafa; Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman, Emir of Katsina; and Alhaji Faruk Umar Dan Buram, Emir of Daura.

    Team III is assigned to Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna states. Its membership comprises His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, Obong of Calabar; Eze Dominic Aloh, Erimogwudu 111 of Amagu; and Oba Rufus A. Adejugbe Aladesanmi 11, Ewi of Ado Ekiti.

    This team is to reach out to Alhaji Muhammed Sanusi 11, Emir of Kano; Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maje Haruna, Emir of Hadejia; Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu, Emir of Kazaure; Alhaji Sayyad Mahmood, Emir of Ringim; Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Sanusi, Emir of Dutse; Alhaji Shehu Idris, Emir of Zazzau; Alhaji Mohammed Isa Muhammadu 11, Emir of Jama’a; Lt-Col. Paul Zakka Wyom (rtd), Kpop Gwong; Chief Ufuwai Bonet, Chief of Kagoro and Zubairu Jibril Maigwari, Emir of Birnin Gwari.

    Team IV is to cover Yobe and Borno states and Jonathan’s coordinators for this area are King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Amanyababo of Twon Brass; Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Alaayemore of Iddo Osun and Eze Eberechi Dick, Eze Udo 1 of Mgboko–Ngwa Amaise

    Dignitaries to be visited by this team are Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, Shehu of Borno; Alhaji Muhammed Ibn Mustafa El-Kanemi, Shehu of Dikwa; Alhaji Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi, Emir of Bama; Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa, Emir of Fika; Alhaji Shehu Hashimi Ibn Umar El-Kanemi, Emir of Damaturu; Alhaji  Bashir Al-Bashir B. Maimachina, Emir of Machina; and Alhaji Umaru Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya 11, Mai Pataskum.

    In team V are King Dr. Edmund M. Daukoru, Mingi  XII of Nembe; Oba Frederick Aroloye, Owa of Idanre,; Eze Eddy Brown Njoku; and Oba I.A.A. Omowole , Amapetu of Mahin.

    This team is to reach out to Dr. Alfred A. Torkula, Tor Tiv IV; AgabaIdu Elias Obekpa, Och Idoma; Alhaji Isa Muhammadu Agwai 1, Emir of Lafia; Alhaji Mohammed C. Yamussa 11, Emir of Keffi; Alhaji Hassan Ahmed 11, Emir of Nassarawa; Da Buba Gyang, Gbong Gwom Jos; Alhaji Mohammed Sambo Haruna, Emir of Wase; General Domkat Bali, Ponzhi Taroh; and Emmanuel Onyatikpo Elayo, Osana of Keana.

    Team VI is to cover Kogi, Niger and Kwara states. They comprise Emmanuel E. Sideso, Ovie of Uvwie; Eze U Iriele; and Oba James Adedapo Popoola, Oore of Moba Otun.

    They are assigned to work on Idakwo Ameh Oboni, Attah Igala; King Ado Ibrahim, Ohinoyi of Ebira; Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Emir of Ilorin; Alhaji Haliru Ndanusa Yahaya, Emir of Shonga; Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Etsu Nupe; Alhaji Sai’du Namaska, Emir of Kontagora; Dr. Umar Faruk Bahago, Emir of Minna; Oba Michael S. Olubayo, Obaro of Kabba; Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar, Etsu Pategi; and Mallam Muhammed Awwal Ibrahim, Emir of Suleja.

    Team VII are to work on dignitaries in Ekiti and Ondo states. Jonathan’s points men here are R.S.N. Ezeh, Etim Okon Edet, Paramont ruler of Bakassi and Eze J.O. Akaliro-Obassiukwu 11 of Umuabasiuku.

    Dignitaries to be worked on are Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, Osemawe of Ondo; Oba D.V. Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi 111, Olowo of Owo; Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, Olugbo of Ugbo; Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, Owa Ooye of Okemesi; Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Ewi of Ado-Ekiti; Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola, Onitajo of Itaji Ekiti; and Oba Sunday Owolabi Ajiboye, Onisan of Isan Ekiti.

    Team VIII is headed by Eze C.I. Ilomuanya, who is the Obi of Obinugwu. Their assignment is to lobby Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo, Alake of Egbaland; Oba Sikiru Adetona, Awujale of Ijebuland; Oba Michael Sonariwo, Akarigbo of Ermoland; Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu 1, Oba of Lagos; De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi 1, Akran of Badagry; Oba S.O.A Bamgbopa, Olu of Epe; Oba Kamila Oyedeji AkanniIsiba, Olu Agege of Agege; and Oba Tejuosho Adedapo Adewale, Osile of Oke-Ona Egbaland.

    Team IX has been assigned Oyo and Osun states and is led by King Dandeson Douglas Jaja-Jeki, Amanyanabo of Opobo.

    Dignitaries to be lobbied are Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse 11, Ooni of Ife; Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Ajagungbade Adeyemi 111, Alaafin of Oyo; Oba Odulana Odugade 1, Olubadan of Ibadan; Oba Jimoh O. Oyewumi Ajagungbade 111, Soun of Ogbomosho; and Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola Akindele 1, Eleruwa of Eruwa.

    Leading Team X, which covers Adamawa and Taraba states is Alhaji A.S. Momoh, Olukare of Ikare. The team also includes High Chief Nosakhare Isekhure and Eze Dr. Chinonye. They are assigned to work on and lobby Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, Lamido of Adamawa; Alhaji Abubakar Isa Ahamadu, Emir of Mubi; Colonel Homun Honest Irmiya Stephen (rtd), Hama Bachama; Dr. Shekarau Angyu MasaIbi Kuvyon 11, Aka Uka of Wukari; and Dr Danjuma Stephen D. Bayongo, Gara Donga.

    Team XI is made up of Malla Sasime, EbenibeIgwe Ambassador Agubuzu and Oba Ayodele Adetunji Ajayi, Arinjale of Ise.

    The dignitaries they are to lobby are Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, Emir of Bauchi; Dr. Muhammed Kabir Usman, Emir of Katagum; Alhaji Yunusa Muhammudu Danyaya, Emir of Ningi; Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, Emir of Gombe; Alhaji Saleh Muhammadu, Mai Kaltungo; and James Chahis, Nidu Grah Cham.

     

  • Presidential election: Opinion poll places Buhari ahead of Jonathan

    AN opinion poll conducted by Alliance for Credible Election (ACE) on the rescheduled presidential election has placed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Presenting the pre-election poll report yesterday, ACE said it was conducted through telephone interviews with 1,000 randomly selected Nigerians between February 23 and 27, 2015.

    Abdulwahab Ekehide, who presented the report, said Buhari got 44 per cent, while Jonathan got 36 per cent from the poll.

    “Respondents were asked which candidate they plan to vote for in the 2015 presidential elections, 44 per cent said Gen. Buhari, 36 per cent said President Jonathan and 19 per cent refused to give an answer to the question, while one per cent was undecided.

    “Across the geo-political zones, the highest proportion of respondents planning to vote for Gen. Buhari were in the Northwest, (56 per cent) and the lowest proportion in the Southeast (31 per cent).

    “For President Jonathan, the highest proportion was in the Southeast (57 per cent) and the lowest in the Northwest (25 per cent),” he said.

    Fielding questions from reporters, chairman of the occasion and Chairman, Partner for Electoral Reforms, Ezenwa Nwagwu, said: “All our engagements with electoral process is to improve and develop the nation.”

    On the use of 1,000 randomly selected Nigerians, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared that over 52 million voters were with the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), Nwagwu said: “Size does not have anything to do with the outcome.”

    He argued that the outcome of the poll would motivate the political parties to do more and work harder to improve their chances.

     

     

  • ‘No meeting with Jonathan’

    The Muslim community in Oyo State has said none of its members will attend a meeting convened by President Goodluck Jonathan in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    Jonathan, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is believed to have called the meeting to woo Muslims in the Southwest for the March 28 election.

    But the Muslim community in Oyo State has said it would not join the meeting– in line with the decision of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) not to meet with politicians until after the elections.

    A statement by the Chairman of the Muslim Community of Oyo State, Ishaq Kunle Sanni, reads: “It would be a betrayal of the Muslim Ummah in general for any Muslim group to disobey the order of these umbrella organisations.

    “Anybody who goes to Akure to meet the President is not representing the Muslim Community of Oyo State.

    “We urge people to vote according to their conscience and not be bamboozled by political demagogues masquerading as friends of the people. What these politicians are practising is nairatocracy and not democracy.”

  • Buhari in outing with Atiku, rules out debate with Jonathan

    Contrary to rumours of a split in the opposition, the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress( APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,  ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and top leaders of the party met with media executives in Abuja.

    At the session, Buhari ruled out any presidential debate with President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said there is nothing to debate after 16 years of misrule, especially the six years of bad governance under Jonathan.
    Buhari, who spoke at an interactive session with members of the Newspaper  Proprietors Association of Nigeria( NPAN) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors( NGE) in Abuja, said there was no basis for poll shift on February 14.

    He said: “To be fair to me and Mr. President, after 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and six years of his time, is there anything to debate about?

    “Very seriously, you know the condition we are in, we are all experiencing it, no matter who you are. So, what should I debate there?”

    On the general election, Buhari said the poll shift on February 14 was unnecessary.

    He said INEC made it clear that it was prepared for the general election.

    He gave insights into what INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega told the Council of State meeting and how the military differed.

    He said Nigerians were waiting to see whether  or not the military would have rid Adamawa, Borno and Yobe of Boko Haram insurgency.

    He said: “I will give you the latest. When INEC submitted a comprehensive document on February 14th election to the Council of State, a number of us made comments. INEC did a good job and they put it on record because after submitting a document, you cannot withdraw it.

    “They submitted a document on what they had been doing since 2011 including training of personnel, acquiring election materials and how they have been distributing them; and how they secured them.
    “They even said they were ready to conduct the election because they have achieved about 60 per cent distribution of the voters cards. In the previous elections, it had never been better than 45 per cent. But they were prepared.

    “Somehow, the military told them they cannot guarantee their security. Then six weeks were given and for Nigerians, those six weeks were within the perimeter allowed for the election. So, INEC said they should be allowed to give the military six weeks.”

    Buhari said Nigerians had been watching the military on how it will secure the remaining LGAs before the poll.

    He added: “The reasons given have exposed the inefficiency of the leadership because there were only 14 local government areas in the hands of Boko Haram. These were 10 in Borno, two in Yobe and two in Adamawa.

    “If Nigerian military cannot secure 14 LGAs in six years, how can they do it in six weeks. We are watching. We have only about 10 days to go in the six weeks. Let us see. In spite of the help of our generous neighbors, let us see whether the remaining LGAs can be secured.
    “So, those in favour of presidential debate have a lot to do to convince me to do it.”

    But the presence of Atiku at the session added flavour as it dispelled rumours of cracks in APC following a meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the ex-Vice President.

    Clad in a white Kaftan, Atiku, who sat on the high table with Buhari, was all smiles.

    A close aide said: “What happened was that Jonathan in his desperation visited Atiku at odd hours to seek his assistance to win the poll. There was no way the former VP can snub the nation’s leader. He only listened to him.

    “But the ex-VP will not back out of his support for Buhari. His presence at this briefing us a message that the game is up for Jonathan. Has he forgotten how he disgraced Atiku at the Eagle Square to secured the presidential ticket?”

  • Ex-Minister fault Jonathan’s achievement on 14 new Universities

    Ex-Minister fault Jonathan’s achievement on 14 new Universities

    Former Minister of Youths, Mallam Mobolaji Abdullahi ‎has expressed dissatisfaction on the consideration of the 14 new universities as an achievement by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Abdullahi said tackling rot in the education sector should be addressed holistically from the basics rather than the university level.

    He said if 70 per cent of students who wrote National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) performed woefully, there was need to refocus the education sector.

    The former Minister of Sport emphasised that about nine of the 14 universities were in the northern part of the country, yet 90 per cent of the students cannot read and write.

    He spoke during a lecture organised by Core Value Committee of the Northern Reawakening Forum (NRF) yesterday in Abuja. The lecture was titled ‘The Challenges of Youth Development in Northern Nigeria’.

    Abdullahi said the illiteracy rate was increasing while unemployment has become a serious threat to the nation due to poor education.

    ‎He decried lack of national qualification standards that enables Nigerians to export their skills.

    According to the former Minister, the nation currently spends about 6 per cent of its budget on education.

    He urged the government to do a massive investment in the quality of teachers and teaching processes.

    He stressed the need to focus on education in order to ‎address unemployment and inequality in the system.

    “You cannot tackle the challenges of youth in the northern Nigeria without redefining education. You cannot also develop higher education without visiting the basic education.

    “If we don’t do something about youth unemployment in the north, I tell you Boko Haram is the least thing we have experienced. It’s a time bomb waiting to explode,” he said.

    He also urged northern leaders to make use of the opportunity now that it’s appears that the country is winning the war against the sect to “begin to think of a special development programme that targets the North. This would not be an act of charity, but enlightened self-interest. If we not give people something to live for, someone would always give them something to die for.”

    He added; “now that the rest of the world is willing to assist us in combating this act of terrorism, we must include a purposely targeted development intervention as part of the package.”

    In his remarks, Chairman of the committee, Alh. Uba Seidu Malami said voters should make sure public officers are of the knowledge that they can be voted out of power if they perform below expectation.

    He called for true democracy to solve the lingering problems in the country.

  • Jonathan’s wife was in Ekiti to entertain – APC

    Jonathan’s wife was in Ekiti to entertain – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, said Monday’s campaign visit to Ekiti state by the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan was a mere entertainment and comical show rather than an opportunity to prove reasons the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deserves re-election

    The party said Mrs. Jonathan only showcased her theatrics prowess instead of a more robust and issue-based electioneering to list her husband’s achievements in Ekiti in the last four years and what are his plans for the state if he wins.

    The Ekiti APC tasked the First Lady to emulate the wife of its presidential candidate, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, who has shown class and panache in her campaign engagements, giving hope to Nigerians for a serious and purposeful leadership ‎that will take Nigeria back on track of development.

    In a statement on Tuesday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party regretted that the First Lady only came to Ekiti State to entertain the indigenes as people without aspirations for good life and development.

    He regretted that Mrs. Jonathan and host Governor Ayo Fayose treated Ekiti people and other Nigerians watching the event life on the television to insipid and dry comedy with their speeches lacking grace.

    Olatubosu pointed out that throughout the campaign programme, ‎Mrs. Jonathan created impression that what Ekiti people needed was entertainment and theatrics to quench their thirst for growth and development.

    He said: “Throughout her speech, she manifested an image of a village masquerade providing a momentary comic relief to a poverty ravaged community not in a hurry for socio-economic salvation.

    “You would have thought that the First Lady would list her husband’s achievements in Ekiti State and then give the people some hope that her husband would build upon those achievements.

    “But she engaged in a duet with her host and soul mate, Governor Ayo Fayose, in an empty campaign comedy to a thoroughly dazed enlightened Ekiti people.

    “It was a perfect duet by two comedians that one does not need any counsel‎ that Nigeria must be rescued from the captivity of the costumed ‘people of power’ without responsibility.”

    The APC spokesman berated Mrs. Jonathan ‎for relentless attacks on APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, saying her conduct betrayed a woman hit by failure of her ‘husband’s mandate to govern Nigeria along the path of development  but was now acting desperately in railroading Nigerians into accepting a visionless leadership as a fate that must be embraced.

    His words: “She was consistently painting Buhari as a man that would herd Nigerians into jail without committing any crime whereas Buhari only insisted that criminals during his coming administration would go to jail.

    “She said she was not ready to prepare food for Fayose in jail‎. Inadvertently, Mrs. Jonathan was telling Nigerians ‎that Fayose is a candidate for the prison if Buhari wins.”

    Olatubosun challenged the First Lady to tell Ekiti people the benefits of SURE-P ‎she flaunted at the rally, saying the programme was just a bazaar for a few selfish party leaders without any benefit for the entire citizenry.

    He also faulted her claim that women were appointed into government positions in Ekiti State by Fayose, saying this was a clear case of falsehood, which had become synonymous with Jonathan’s administration.

    “Fayose has a four-man cabinet running his government. Apart from the Secretary to the State Government, where are the other women Fayose has appointed?

    “Mrs. Jonathan only came to Ekiti to entertain in a political theatre full of deceits and false props constructed by Fayose for maximum personal profits,” Olatubosun explained.

    Stressing that Ekiti people had made up their minds to vote Buhari, he added that ‎they had become wiser and would not vote a regime that did not hold any promise for their future.

     

     

  • Senate endorses Jonathan’s $300m Diaspora bond request

    Senate endorses Jonathan’s $300m Diaspora bond request

    The Senate Tuesday gave President Goodluck Jonathan the nod to raised $300 million Diaspora Bond from the International Capital Market.

    The approval came over one year after President Jonathan sought the approval of the Senate to raise the fund.

    The presidency increased the bond request from initial $100 million to $300 million.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, presented the report of the joint Committee on Local and Foreign Debt and Finance which recommended that the Senate should approve the request.

    The joint Committee was mandated by the Senate to consider the request for the increase in the amount from $100 million to a maximum of $300 million to be raised through the Diaspora Bond from the International Capital Market.

    Uzamere said that the Senate at its sitting on 4th February, 2014 considered Executive Communication from Mr. President for an increase in the amount to be raised through the Diaspora Bon from the International Capital Market and referred same to the joint committee.

    He noted that the proposed increase in the Diaspora Bond is to fund critical infrastructure in the country.

    He added that the proposed increase is believed will accommodate a greater number of Nigerians in the Diaspora who have interest to invest in the development of the country.

    Uzamere informed the Senate that the provisions of Sections 41, 42, 44, and 47 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 prescribed conditions for borrowing and verification of compliance limit upon which approval of the National Assembly will be premised.

    He noted that based on the submissions by the Director General, Debt Management Office and several interactions the joint committee had, the committee observed as follows:

    That the $100million Diaspora Bond as passed in the Borrowing Plan 2012-2014 is too small considering the life of Nigerian Diaspora.

    That the larger and present amount of $300 million is consistent with the Public Debt Management Strategy.

    That with the dwindling revenue from crude oil sale, it has become necessary to diversify sources of funding for government.
    That the Diaspora Bond is necessary to create more space in the domestic market for other borrowers particularly, private firms.

    That the Federal Government plans to utilize the proceeds of the Diaspora Bond in the construction of key capital projects in priority sectors of the economy including the second Niger bridge, the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and infrastructure for the Abuja Medical City.

    The joint committee concluded that the concept of raising funds through Diaspora Bond has been employed by several countries over the years with tremendous success.

    The issuance of Diaspora Bond, the committee said, will afford the Diasporan the opportunity to invest in the development of the country while earning good returns for their investment.

    The committee also said that it believes that the projects the Federal Government has chosen to utilize the funds are critical infrastructure that will impact on the economy positively.

    When the Senate President, David Mark, put the question whether the Senate will approve the request, the endorsement of the request was overwhelming.

    Mark commended the joint committee for a job well done.

  • Jonathan meets security chiefs, Jega in Aso Rock

    Jonathan meets security chiefs, Jega in Aso Rock

    President Goodluck Jonathan is meeting  with security chiefs and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    In attendance at the meeting which started few minutes after 11a.m. are the Vice President, Namadi Sambo; National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim.

    Others are Chief of Staff to the President, Gen. Jones Arogbofa (retd.), Attorney-General of the Federation, Muhammed Adoke, Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan; Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali.

    The service chiefs in the meetinng are Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba; and the heads of the Department of State Security and the National Intelligence Agency.

    While the Security chiefs are expected to brief the meeting on the updates of the anti-terror war, Jega is also expected to brief the meeting on the commission’s preparedness for the March 28 and April 11 elections.

    Following his insistence on use of the card reader for the general election, there have been calls for Jega’s resignation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and some other groups.

    MOSSAB members protested against Jega in Enugu, Owerri and Abakaliki last weekend while the OPC went on rampage in Lagos on Monday.

    The INEC Chairman on Monday however said he will not proceed on terminal leave before the expiration of his tenure in June.

    He said his resignation will be tantamount to dis-service of the country, especially now with the election so close.

     

     

     

  • Jonathan pledges more funds for entertainment industry if re-elected

    Jonathan pledges more funds for entertainment industry if re-elected

    Sequel to the initial N3bn Project ACT-Nollywood grant given movie practitioners by the Federal Government, the sector can expect further boom, should President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration be voted back into power.

    That was the situation when in what was largely a campaign move, the president held an interactive session with stakeholders in the showbiz sector on Sunday, at the Eko Hotel, Lagos.

    Hosted by Richard Mofe-Damijo, the event tagged ‘The Showbiz Interactive’ had President Jonathan dialogue with entertainment stakeholders on the way forward.

    Fielding a question on whether the Federal Government intends to add more fund to the N3bn sovereign fund to the entertainment industry, Jonathan responded: “Definitely, if we must make the industry big, and of course, I’ve seen the potential in it. We’re talking about contributing 1.45 per cent to the GDP. Before, it was zero. So, we know there are potentials in the industry. The first three billion (Naira) was experimental. Now, we feel that it is quite successful. But, surely, we’ll do better.”

    During the session, the issue of piracy and how the government could curb it came up. And a vocal voice amongst those who preferred that rather than dole out money to practitioners, government should put in a place, structure where artistes could benefit from their works, was foremost comedian, Ali Baba.

    “I think a lot of our artistes believe that it is sovereign fund that is the only thing that is holding us back,” said Ali Baba. “It is not sovereign fund. What is holding us back is the dynamics and the machineries that will help us to create money for ourselves.”

    According to the comedian, while piracy is a big issue, the absence of a proper distribution channel was a greater problem.

    “What we need is a proper structure that can make us earn money from the films we put in the market,” he told the President. “The question I want to ask you now, I’m asking on behalf of Amaka Igwe. And she has asked this question in this forum before when you talked with us the last time. We asked this same question here: How are we going to deal with pirates so that we can put our products in the market and make money from it? Because if you give us five billion dollars to put a product out in the market, as soon as it is in the market and the pirates get one, it is over.”

    However, a flustered Jonathan could not promise a potent formula to combatting piracy.

    Responding, Jonathan, who views the entertainment industry as ‘a unifying factor’ just like sports, said: “In terms of combating the piracy which is just like armed robbery… armed robbers are being shot but people are still committing robbery.

    Advocating the “continuance of security efforts,” the president said, “it will be difficult to say we have a magic wand to wave to wipe out piracy but we can continue to suppress it and make other avenues of showing the films.

    “We need the private sector to get involved,” Jonathan said. “This time around, luckily, with your support, I’m going to win election and immediately we get back… we’ll set a small technical committee to strengthen the department of government and we’ll continue to fight it (piracy) until we reduce it to the barest minimal. At the same time, we’re exploiting other opportunities that could enhance the earnings of creative artistes.”

    Other people who asked questions at the parley include actor Adeniyi Johnson and former president of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), T-Mac Omatsola.

    Johnson had asked the possibility of moving the entertainment industry from the Ministry of Information to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to which Jonathan replied in the affirmative, saying, if it was the wishes of “this family”, referring to the entertainment industry.

    Despite romancing players in the entertainment industry, all has not been well with the sector which has been bedevilled by piracy and absence of proper distribution framework.

    “In the last thirty years, record companies and labels have gone under, what plans do you have to save the music industry because of piracy?” asked T-Mac.

    Accepting this situation poses a problem to the artiste, society and the government, Jonathan could, however, only offer a feeble way out.

    “If people must be in the industry and be creative, then, definitely, they should benefit,” Jonathan said.

    “While we have the copyright commission and other institutions that is supposed to control it, I think the criminals are always trying to beat us. We would work together.  I promised the industry before this time that we would strengthen our laws in the first place… First of all, we have to review the laws to make sure that the sanctions are commensurate to their offences. The punishments are quite light and we must take it very seriously.”

    Nigerian entertainment industry has seen tumultuous times, especially with the activities of pirates. However, not much success has been realised in tackling the menace.