The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PRESIDENCY

  • Presidency: it’s blackmail

    Presidency: it’s blackmail

    The Presidency responded swiftly yesterday to the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s position on the state of the nation’s  security.

    Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati issued a statement, saying: “We consider it most unfortunate that the chairman of the APC will use the opportunity of the situation in the country namely the abduction of the girls of GSSC, Chibok to engage in partisan blackmail.

    “The issue of national security should go beyond partisan politics. This is a very serious moment requiring seriousness. But to reduce all of that to partisan politics is in bad taste, it is irresponsible one-upmanship.

    “One, Nigeria is not on auto pilot. There is a government in place; there is a President who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He is doing his very best to provide quality leadership and to reassure Nigerians that government stands ready always to defend their best interest.

    “‘We are on top of the situation’ that Chief Akande referred to is an English idiom and indeed, the government is on top of the situation. Government’s primary responsibility is to ensure that when issues come up, it stands firm to do its very best to protect the people.

    “This administration has continually showed courage and commitment in the face of whatever challenge that may arise.

    “To give the impression that the President is doing nothing is dishonest. This government is not mouthing meaningless phrases; this government is not engaging in blame game. This government has a job to do and it is doing the job.

    “They cannot say that government is on auto pilot in the face of all the achievements of this administration in the rail sector, health, aviation, foreign relations, transportation, trade and investment and in every sector.

    “If Chief Akande wants to be honest with himself; he will say the truth and the truth will be that this country has been moved forward by President Jonathan, that we are not at the level we were at the time President Jonathan assumed office  in 2011,

    “So to say the country is on auto pilot is unpatriotic because it is a lie.

    “Chief Akande has made a number of recommendations. This administration welcomes suggestions and recommendations. If he had limited his contributions to just making these recommendations, he would have sounded like a statesman.

    “But let him be informed that even those recommendations that he has made are things that are already in place. These are steps that had already been taken by this administration. So there is nothing original in his recommendations that is unknown to the administration.

    “But he went beyond making recommendations to begin to engage in politics. We will like to advise people like him that where national interest is involved, we should come together and work hand-in-hand with the government.

    “This is not the occasion for politicking, campaigning about 2015 and trying to run down the country.

    “In fact, it is people like him who run down their country that are creating problems for the country.

  • Presidency flaunts Jonathan’s achievements

    Presidency flaunts Jonathan’s achievements

    THE Presidency at the weekend flaunted the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    It was at the presentation of the second volume of Sure & Steady Transformation: Progress Report of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, which details Jonathan’s achievements in various ministries in Lagos.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas, urged a shift from politics to performance as the basis of assessment of the administration.

    Douglas said politicking in the country has blinded the people to the progress being made by the President and his team, adding that a lot of transformation is on-going.

    He said: “When it is time for politics, we should play politics. But there is no need to play politics with development. It is wrong for anybody to say this administration has done nothing. In this publication, you will see evidence that this administration has performed more than any other in record time. Pictures can’t lie and pictures tell stories better than a thousand words.

    “I challenge us to go and verify the facts in this publication and then report back to the public. What this administration has done is unprecedented. We must give credit when due and not allow politics to cover facts about development.”

    He added that Jonathan would not play politics with the Transformation Agenda.

    “This administration is serious about development and will not play politics with development,” he said.

    The Volume I of the publication was presented in 2012. It covered achievements in all ministries.

    The Volume II, however, focuses on the major strides in agriculture, aviation, health, petroleum resources and works. Other ministries, Douglas said, will be featured in subsequent volumes.

    In agriculture, the administration listed its achievements to include: ending four decades of corruption in fertiliser and seed distribution, there by saving government N25 billion in 2012 alone; raising combined production of dry season and main season paddy rice to 1.76 million metric tonnes; reducing food import bill from N1.1 trillion in 2011 to N648 billion in 2012; increasing silo capacity by over 300 per cent; and kick-starting dry season production through irrigation in 10 Northern states, among others.

    Some of the 23 achievements of the Ministry of Works are: reconstruction of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Benin-Ore Shagamu Highway and Enugu Port Harcourt dual carriage way; ongoing reconstruction and expansion of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; construction or rehablitation of a total of 200 kilometres of road as the end of 2013; and increasing length of safe and motorable Federal roads from 17.72km to 28,320km.

    The publication listed 25 key projects done by the Ministry of Aviation. They include: installation of cutting-edge navigation aids and Instruments Landing Systems (ILS); remodeling of all 22 federally-owned aiports; replacement and upgrading of obsolete power infrastructure in major airports; and simultaneous construction of five modern international passenger terminals, among others.

    In health, 19 key achievements were highlighted and 18 were highlighted for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

  • Presidency faults Shettima on Boko Haram

    Presidency faults Shettima on Boko Haram

    … .Says, sect not better armed than military

    The Presidency has faulted comments by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, who said the Boko Haram insurgents are better armed that the Nigerian military.

    Similarly, the Presidency also dismissed the governor’s position that the country is at war, saying what the country is experiencing is a guerrilla warfare from the insurgents.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyen Okupe, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, said it was wrong for anyone to say that the Nigerian military cannot defeat the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Governor Shetiima spoke against the backdrop of the incessant killing of innocent and unarmed villagers by the sect members in various settlements in Borno State.

    Okupe said, “We are certainly not involved in conventional warfare but are rather engaged in guerrilla warfare with all its unpredictability.

    “However, it is heartwarming that our military, which has participated in numerous international peace keeping operations where they helped to quell insurgencies, had acquired the sophistication and necessary capacity to adapt to the ever changing modus operandi of the insurgents.

    “It is therefore wrong for anyone, Nigerian or foreigner, to assert that our armed forces cannot defeat the Boko Haram insurgents or to insinuate that the insurgents are better armed.

    “We believe strongly that the statement made by the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, that the insurgents are better armed than our military is based purely on a civilian perception of the situation at hand.

    “It is clear that Governor Shettima does not have the expertise to categorize or classify the effectiveness of any weapon.

    “We state categorically that the Nigerian military is one of the best equipped in Africa and that in 2014, the Federal Government made budgetary provision in excess of N1 trillion for the military and other security agencies, an amount, which is about 22 percent of our entire national budget for this year.

    “This definitely belies the suggestion in certain quarters that the Federal Government is not doing the needful in prosecuting this war.”

    The President’s publicist also disagreed with the opinion in certain quarters that the morale of the military is low and that there is lack of motivation for members of the Armed Forces.

    According to him, the Nigerian Armed Forces are spurred by patriotic sense of duty, national pride and strict adherence to professional ethics.

    On the other hand, Okupe said the insurgents are motivated by ideological fanaticism.

     

  • Warming up for presidency

    Warming up for presidency

    Ahead of 2015 general elections, presidential contenders under the All Progressives Congress (APC) are warming up. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the antecedents of the aspirants and issues that may shape the proposed primaries.

    The challenges are overwhelming: the poor economy, failed budgets, insecurity, energy crisis, bad roads, rot in the aviation sector, soaring unemployment and corruption. Who will fix Nigeria in 2015?

    In 1999, hope became the elixir of life for the country. But, today, cries of despondency are on the increase. Under the first Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, efforts were made to lay a good foundation in the post-military era. But, as from 2003, the Presidency derailed. President Olusegun Obasanjo’s successor, the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, was also distracted by protracted illness, which ultimately claimed his life. It is believed that his successor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has not got it right since then. The future appears bleak. The Federal Government’s transformation agenda is beautiful on paper, but its faulty implementation has led to a disaster. Fourteen years after, eyes are on the main opposition party. Can the All Progressives Congress (APC) seize the storm?

    There is no scarcity of presidential materials in the APC. The party parades heavyweights and credible politicians across the six geo-political zones. However, there are indications that the opposition party will zone the slot to the North. The aspirants are warming up for the selection process.

    A party chieftain from the North disclosed that eyes are on six chieftains as the party prepares for its inaugural primaries, which will be heralded by the national convention. “We know that the Southwest, the Southeast and the Southsouth are out of the primaries. Although the guidelines are not yet out, but there is this understanding that the presidential slot would be zoned to the three zones -Northwestm Northeast and Northcentral. But, the cooperation of other zones will ensure the emergence of a credible candidate”, he said.

    Some of the aspirants are former military Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, former governor of Kwara State Senator Bukola Saraki, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso, presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and publisher of the Leadership Newspaper Sam Nda-Isaiah. At the weekend, it was also learnt that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may revive his presidential ambition on the APC platform. He defected to the party yesterday. In the last few weeks, he has been on tour of the country for consultations with his supporters. The name of a leading federal legislator from the Northwest has also come up, although he has not defected from the ruling party. One of his colleagues from Lagos State said the House of Representatives member may be the last key defector. In this season of the realignment of forces, there are some legislators in the PDP who are staying back for strategic reasons. Their souls are in the APC,” he added.

    In the APC, there are two strands of opinion that may shape the presidential nomination. A section of the party is pushing for generational shift, claiming that presidential activities nowadays are very rigorous. They believe that young, dynamic, brilliant, credible and fertile minds are better equipped for the rigour. But, another section is of the view that the criteria should exclude age, adding that merit, antecedents, credibility and public record of an aspirant should be considered.

    In 2015, three factors are also important. For political expediency, the parties will be responding to pressures and constraints imposed by religion, ethnicity and contradiction within the parties. It is gradually becoming a norm that, if a Muslim from the North is the presidential candidate of any major party, his running mate will be a Christian from the South and vice versa. This, analysts contend, has become a stumbling block to merit. Instructively, pairing two people from the religious divides together for presidential elections is not a guarantor of good governance. The potency of religious balance is also debatable. In 1993, the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) Muslim/Muslim ticket of the late Alhaji Moshood Abiola and Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe defeated the national Republican Convention (NRC) Muslim/ Christian ticket of Alhaji Othma Tofa and Sylvester Ugoh.

    Observers are raising concern over the neglect of internal democracy. But, it appears that critics and party leaders have divergent views about what constitutes internal democracy. In the PDP, the President is likely to intimidate other aspirants at the primaries. In the APC, it is not yet clear how this vexed issue will be handled, until the release of the nomination guidelines after the national convention. But, a party source said that, judging by the antecedents of its founding fathers, the APC leaders will be ready to give concessions, build consensus, strive at an accord and work for concord within the organisation.

     

    Aspirants:

    Buhari

     

    One quarter of the history of Nigeria is about General Buhari, former military Head of State. He is an experienced politician, a statesman and an incorruptible figure in a society that has produced many soldiers of fortune. Buhari fought gallantly on the federal side during the civil war. Shortly, after the war, he became the governor of the defunct Northeastern State. When the late Gen. Muritala Muhammed became the Head of State, Buhari was appointed as the Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources and Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). In the Second Republic, he was the General officer Commanding (GOC), Third Armoured Division, Jos. On December 31, 1983, Buhari became the Head of State.

    The former Head of State had a mission. He wanted to get rid of corruption. He also wanted to restore public discipline. Thus, he stepped on toes. Buhari presided over an administration that intended to return Nigeria to his glorious past. He paid the national debt and ensure that the nation did not incur a new debt. Many corrupt politicians were tried for graft. He also restore national security, which had been threatened by the rising wave of armed robbery. In running the country, he was assisted by a diligent deputy, the late Gen. Tunde Idiagbon. Although the regime was accused of high handedness, it was undeterred in its focus and mission to enforce discipline and public morality. However, he was toppled in August 1985. Buhari was in detention for almost two years. In retirement, he led a quite life. When he became the Chairman of the Petroleum Tax Fund (PTF), he fought infrastructure battle nationwide without enriching himself.

    The Daura-born soldier-turned politician is a veteran presidential candidate. In 2003, Buhari joined the fray. Obasanjo government had started to drift. He contested for the Presidency in that year under the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Congress (ANPP). He lost his deposit. In 2007, he also contested against Yar’Adua, but without success. But, the former President later confessed that the poll was severely flawed. In 2011, Buhari also tried his luck on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He lost to President Jonathan. However, owing to his influence, voters voted out the PDP in Kano, Nasarawa states. Buhari has a mass appeal. Many look up to the General for leadership in the North.

    Reality had dawned on Buhari that, unless the opposition figures work together to change the government, the ruling party will continue to mismanage the affairs of the country. Therefore, his party, the CPC, the ACN, the ANPP and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) merged together in the APC. It was a great sacrifice made in the national interest.

    Buhari has not jettisoned his ambition to return to power. But, for him, it is not a do or die affair. His primary goal, according to his associates, is the repositioning of the country. To him, the PDP has failed to make impact 14 years after. “It is not about me, it is about the nation. We need change in 2015. APC will rule this country and bring that change”, he said.

     

    Kwakwanso

     

    Kwankwano made history in the Third Republic when he emerged as the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. A grassroots operator, has remained a household name in Kano State for three decades. In 1999, he became the governor of the state. But, he was defeated by his rival, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau of the defunct ANPP, who ruled for eight years. Between 2003 and 2007, Kwankwaso served as the Minister of Defence. But, he bounced back in 2011, when he was re-elected as the governor. It is believed that the governor has performed in his state and there were indications that he was being encouraged to declare a presidential interest before he called it quits with the PDP.

    Kwankwaso is among the five PDP governors, who recently defected to the APC. The fact that many big wigs, including state and federal legislators, followed him to the new party showed that he has a large following. He is today a national leader of the party.

     

    Ribadu

     

    Ribadu’s service to the nation as the anti-graft curator is legendary. He was the first Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Under his leadership, the agency recorded some achievements. The fear of the EFCC became the beginning of wisdom for many corrupt politicians.

    A police officer and lawyer, Ribadu approached his duties with patriotism. He stepped on toes. Many convicted public officers perceived him as personal foes. As the head of a controversial organisation, his career was also embroiled in controversy. There were allegations that the power that be was using the EFCC to witch hunt perceived foes. Ribadu also became a victim of jealousy in the police. His ouster as the anti-graft boss was dramatic. He was promoted to the position of the Assistant Inspector General of Police. But, he was also asked to proceed on study leave at the Nigerian Institute of Strategic Studies (NISS), Kuru, Jos. His days as the EFCC Chairman were numbered. When his life was in danger, he fled the country.

    In 2011, he returned to fly the flag of the defunct ACN at the presidential election. He lost to President Jonathan at the poll. Thos who believe in him point out that age is on his side and he has integrity. Ribadu’s associates confided that the retired police officer is interested in the presidential race. he is trying to revive his structure. He is also holding consultation across the zones.

     

    Saraki

     

    Senator Bukola Saraki is a medical doctor and inheritor of the gigantic political structure of his illustrious father, the late Waziri of Ilorin, Dr. Olusola Saraki. Between 1999 and 2003, he was a Senior Special Assistant on Food Security to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. As the governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011, he performed creditably. His feats across the sectors were visible. Saraki was the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). In 2011, he joined the presidential race in the PDP. But, the Northern establishment did not pick him. A group of Northern Elders selected Atiku Abubakar, who was defeated by Dr. Jonathan at the primaries. Supporters of Saraki believe that he will be the bridge between the North and South, if selected as the APC presidential candidate.

     

    Abubakar

     

    Abubakar is another veteran presidential aspirant. He had contested for the exalted seat in 2007 and 2011, but lost his deposit. Had he thrown his hat into the ring in 2003, may be, the story would have been different. But, he deferred to his boss, Obasanjo, hoping to succeed him in 2007. The marriage had turned sour before the poll.

    In 2003, the Turaki Adamawa emerged as the arrowhead of the progressives. He was the presidential flag bearer of the ACN. But, shortly after the election, he retraced his steps to the PDP. The move infuriated the ACN family. Following his return to the PDP, he visited Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in a fence-mending move, but there was no real renewal of political contact between the former President and his deputy. Last year, the former President castigated him at a public lecture in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. He also explained why he refused to hand over to him. In the PDP, Abubakar has been deliberately sidelined. He was among the aggrieved PDP chieftains who stormed out of the party’s rancorous convention in Abuja last year to form the ‘New PDP. Many believe that Abubakar has a towering political stature. A detribalised Nigerian, he has many friends across the country.

     

    Nda-Isaiah

     

    Nda-Isaiah is the publisher of the Leadership Newspaper. He is the only aspirant who has declared his ambition in the public.

  • Governors fault Presidency over NEC cancellation

    Governors fault Presidency over NEC cancellation

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Rotimi Amaechi , on Thursday faulted the Presidency’s frequent cancellation of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting without valid reasons.

    That was part of the resolutions of the meeting which started on Wednesday and ended in the early hours of Thursday at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

    The governors said that cancellation of such meetings, which would allow issues of urgent and utmost national importance to be discussed, is embarrassing to state governors.

    As the NEC meeting was earlier scheduled to hold on Thursday, the governors moved to Abuja to plot strategies and their positions to be presented to NEC only to be informed that the meeting has been postponed.

    They also pointed out that they were not able to contribute their input to the 2014 budget before the National Assembly due to the frequent cancellation of the meeting.

    Reading the communiqué, Amaechi said: “It has become embarrassing that governors are invited to Abuja for NEC meetings only to be told of their cancellation after their arrival without any tangible reason, yet there are issues of urgent and utmost national importance that ought to have been addressed at such meetings.

    “Consequently, we have a 2014 national budget without input from the states resulting in a lack of sense of ownership of the budget process.”

    The forum also reiterated its stance on the allegedly missing $48.9 billion from the account of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) even as the governor of the Central Bank of NIgeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who initially raised the allegation has since recanted.

    “In furtherance of the issues raised above, the forum reiterates that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Ministry of Finance should brief the governors formally on the non-remittance of $49.8bn into the Federation Account.”

    “In the absence of NEC meetings, the platform for resolving these issues becomes non-existent,” he added.

     

  • Presidency: Jonathan not aware of confab committee’s minority report

    Presidency: Jonathan not aware of confab committee’s minority report

    The Presidency has said President Goodluck Jonathan was not aware of a minority report when the Presidential Advisory Committee on the proposed National Conference submitted its report.

    Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Okey Wali, on Wednesday, alleged that Dr Jonathan refused to receive the minority report from the committee.

    In a statement yesterday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Presidency said the allegation was false and incorrect.

    The statement reads: “The allegation reportedly made by the President of the NBA, Mr. Okey Wali …in Abuja that President Jonathan refused to receive a minority report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the proposed National Conference is untrue and incorrect.

    “In fact, President Jonathan is unaware of the existence of a minority report supposedly prepared by a member of the committee, Chief Solomon Asemota.”

    “It is also a verifiable fact that Chief Asemota himself was present at the submission of the committee’s report to the President on December 18, 2013, when the Chairman, Senator Femi Okurounmu, spoke as follows in his address to President Jonathan: ‘Before concluding my address, Mr. President, I want to make one or two comments about some newspaper reports to the effect that there is a minority report of our committee. We have so far refrained from commenting on these reports because we consider it politically indiscreet and a grave violation of protocol for anyone to be commenting on a report that is yet to be formally submitted. Now that our report is before you, Mr President, I say quite emphatically, that we have no minority report.’”

    According to the statement, Asemota did not raise any objection to Okurounmu’s comment, neither did he make any effort to present a dissenting minority report to the President.

    It added: “There was, therefore, never any issue of President Jonathan refusing to receive such a minority report from Chief Asemota, and the Presidency is completely unaware of any factual basis for the claim by the NBA President to that effect.

    “Mr Wali’s castigation of President Jonathan’s purported rejection of a minority report is consequently unfair, based, as it is, on a wrong premise.”

    The Presidency stressed that Dr Jonathan did not interfere in the committee’s assignment.

    Also, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Dialogue, Mr. Tony Uranta, has said Wali (SAN) and Asemota (SAN) were not truthful in their allegation that the Presidency refused to accept a minority report.

    In a statement yesterday, Uranta said he was surprised by the claim that President Jonathan refused to receive a minority report, whereas there was nothing like that.

    Uranta said: “One is appalled at Okey Wali’s loose use of words in the body’s statement regarding the imminent National Conference, because it is a lie that President Jonathan refused to receive a much-touted phantom minority report when the PACND submitted its report.

    “No other report, than the PACND’s, was offered the President. Wali is a lawyer. Can he educate us on how you can refuse/reject something you were never offered?

    “It is even more disappointing that a respected lawyer of Mr Asemota’s standing could go about bandying falsehood …that he was denied the opportunity to freely air his views on issues of representation and legal framework for the National Conference.

    “He voted along with every other member on every issue and he was, in fact, the Chairman of the PACND’s Sub-Committee on Legal Frameworks!”

  • Govt won’t sell refineries, says Presidency

    Govt won’t sell refineries, says Presidency

    The Presidency yesterday ruled out the planned sale of refineries.

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said yesterday in Abuja that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had no such plan and had not authorised it.

    According to him, if the alleged plan to sell the refineries was the basis on which the oil workers unions – the Petroleun and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) plans to go on strike, government will not dialogue with the unions because there is no basis.

    Abati’s statement contradicts the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke who said in an interview with Bloomberg TV Africa in London that the refineries would be sold.

    She said: “We would like to see major infrastructure entities, such as refineries, moving out of government hands into the private sector. Government does not want to be in the business of running major infrastructure entities and we haven’t done a very good job at it over the years”

    The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) had also said it was preparing the guidelines for the privatisation of the four refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt 1 and Port Harcourt 2.

    Abati said yeterday: “Government is not going to sell any refineries. There is no such plan and there is no presidential approval for such. Nobody, not even the minister of petroleum has the powers to sell any government property”

    It will be recalled that a presidential audit team on the refineries led by a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, recommended the sale of the refineries due to inadequate government funding and “sub-optimal performance.”

    The four refineries have a combined capacity of 445,000 barrel per day (bpd).

    Though former President Olusegun Obasanjo tried to sell the Kaduna and Warri refineries, it was reversed by the government of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

  • Presidency and its letter battles

    What appeared as rumour a few months back has now blown into the open. The feud between President Goodluck Jonathan and the former President Olusegun Obasanjo is no longer the stuff of hearsay.

    When it started a few months back with media reports indicating disagreements between them, either to deceive or mislead Nigerians, you would hear the following day of the former President either attending church service at the Aso Villa Chapel or having breakfast or in closed-door meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa.

    But that is now history as the reality of their disagreement is now in the public domain in black and white and Nigerians now know better. The former President wrote an 18-page open letter which also necessitated an open response by the incumbent in black and white.

    In the 18- page letter dated December 2, 2013, which was released to the media about two weeks later, Obasanjo had levelled some weighty allegations against Jonathan.

    Among the accusations was that Jonathan was training snipers and has put over 1,000 perceived opponents on watch list ahead of the 2015 elections. He was also accused of not fighting corruption well and poorly handling the war against terrorism in the country.

    Stressing that Jonathan committed himself to a single term in office when seeking his party’s nomination, Obasanjo maintained that Jonathan would be “fatally flawed” if he contest in 2015 Presidential election.

    After Obasanjo’s letter was made public some Nigerians were divided as to whether Jonathan should reply such a letter.

    While some believed that it was best to keep silent over the allegations, other Nigerians felt that Jonathan not replying the letter will give the impression that Obasanjo’s allegations were true.

    Obasanjo’s rushing to Jonathan’s hotel in Nairobi to have breakfast with him during the 50th Independence Anniversary celebration of Kenya, a day after the 18-page letter was released to the media, however did not stop Jonathan from replying the letter, also in black and white.

    Three days to Christmas, Jonathan hit back by first ensuring his letter was received by the former President before releasing it to media houses.

    Giving ten reasons why he had to openly reply Obasanjo’s letter, Jonathan denied the allegations levelled against him and his administration and also challenged Obasanjo to provide concrete evidence to back up his claims.

    Maintaining that Obasanjo’s letter amount to threat to National security, Jonathan also accused Obasanjo of granting questionable signature bonuses waivers and poorly handling the Odi, Bayelsa invasion under his tenure as President, among other counter-accusations.

    But Obasanjo said that he would keep his fingers crossed and continue to watch developments as they unfold and that he will not respond to Jonathan’s reply.

    To prove to the whole world that Obasanjo’s allegations were false, Jonathan has also directed security agencies and requested the National Human Rights Commission to carry out thorough investigations of the criminal allegations in Obasanjo’s letter and publish their findings.

    Not relenting, Jonathan on Christmas day at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in LifeCamp, Abuja also pointed out that no politician or group of politicians own Nigeria and that it belongs to all Nigerians.

    He said: “For us at this time especially we the politicians that we think we own this country begin to think about next election and doing what we ought not to do, making statement we ought not to make, writing letters we suppose not to write.”

    “I call on clergymen and statesmen who really own this country because this country belongs to our statesmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, our men, our women, our youth. Nigeria does not belong to any politician or group of politicians. So we continue to urge you to pray for this country.” He added

    Jonathan, at the church service, also asserted that the position of President he is occupying was given to him by God and not any man.

    “I also thank the religious leaders of this country, they have been praying and I believe God has been hearing our prayers. We will do our best within the period that God has asked us to occupy the positions we are occupying.” He said

    To end the feud between Jonathan and Obasanjo, it was gathered that some eminent leaders in the country including ex-Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, ex-President Shehu Shagari, former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan are making moves to reconcile them.

    When two elephants fight, surely the grass suffers and in this case, Nigerians. It is hoped that these issues will be urgently tackled in the interest of the nation and Nigerians because Nigeria must surely move forward.

     

  • Presidency prayers

    Thanks to an observant newspaper correspondent who covers activities at Aso Rock, the hallowed seat of the presidency, Nigerians now have an idea of the quality of prayers that the country’s leaders and their sycophantic crowd send out to Almighty God. In the first place, it is reassuring that these creatures of comfort still recognise the supremacy of the divine. Although judging by the manner in which they routinely behave, particularly their passionate worship of mammon, many of their disadvantaged compatriots outside the power loop had long concluded that their hearts were far from heaven. So self-absorbed and distant from the very people they were elected to serve, they were no examples of godliness. Apart from these, they were noticeably used to playing God and throwing their weight around in obscene exhibitions of crude power.

    So what a pleasant surprise it was to learn of the existence of a publication called “Prayer Guide for Nigeria”, which is reportedly used for “intercessory prayers” at the Aso Villa Chapel. The identity of the publisher is unclear, said Olalekan Adetayo of PUNCH, who reported that the booklet “is being used to pray there with free copies made available to worshippers.” The reporter gave a revealing insight into the contents of the December 2013 edition of the prayer guide. By the way, it may be important to note that President Goodluck Jonathan is a Christian.

    Disappointingly, among the prayer points listed for Monday, December 2, according to the source, was this extremely self-serving one : “Pray that the crises rocking the ruling party, the PDP, will not mar the party’s chances of victory in the 2015 general elections to enable the present administration to continue the transformation agenda (Zechariah 4 :9)” Isn’t it amusing that a so-called transformation agenda that is high on talk but low on deeds could be mistaken for the divine wish for the country’s underprivileged multitude? It seems that this prayer point is deceitfully worded. Precisely, it would appear that this was more about continuing the agenda of moving on to multiplication of personal wealth.

    Two other prayer points taken from the guide show the pattern of supplication in government. Consider this: “Thank God for the approval of the $100 million loan from the Indian Import-Export Bank for Cross River, Enugu and Kaduna states to address power infrastructure by the Federal Executive Council.” Then this: “Thank God for the $300 million loan from the International Development Association to boost the country’s mortgage sector as approved by the Federal Executive Council.”

    Of course, it is good to express thanks to God for provision, but the Nigerian experience sadly demonstrates that it is never certain that a major part of the funds won’t end up fraudulently in private pockets. Such reality, unfortunately, continues to hamper the country’s development and progress.

    The truth is that if the powerful were sincerely in tune with the dictates of the divine, with all the implications of selfless service, honest and dedicated attention to social needs, non-violent conduct and the pursuit of peace, among others, this country would not be stagnating in incredible under-development.

    Given the pervasive and intense religious competition across the land, it won’t be surprising to learn that Muslims in government also have their own version of “Prayer Guide for Nigeria.” Vice President Namadi Sambo is a Muslim, after all. Perhaps if the indigenous religions also enjoyed the limelight, there would be similar programmes in their spheres.

    The situation can be defined thus: So much religionism; but so little righteousness. How fruitful it would have been if the reverse were the case. Well, there is no harm in praying for “transformation”, is there?

  • Presidency, PDP governors in a fix over Tukur

    Presidency, PDP governors in a fix over Tukur

    In the last few days, calls for the removal of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, assumed a new height, with the Presidency and some of the party’s governors singing discordant tunes on the issue, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    Despite his stoic mien, suggesting that all is well, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur seems to be ruing the day he agreed to take the job of the National Chairman of the self-acclaimed largest political party in Africa.

    Like most of his predecessors who were eased out of the exalted office principally due to the complex internal dynamics in the party, Tukur’s reign as the party’s supremo may soon come to an abrupt end if the feelers and body languages of PDP governors and party stalwarts are anything to go by.

    Hours before the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, travelled to South Africa a few days ago to witness the burial of the country’s former President, Nelson Mandela, he presided over a flurry of meetings, which sources say were ostensibly aimed at stemming the seemingly intractable crisis in the party.

    One of such meetings had the President making a last ditch effort to convince two of the former PDP-elected governors, Aliyu Wammako and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to the party. But to the President’s consternation, the two governors reportedly vowed never to return to PDP.

    For the President and some of the party’s bigwigs, including his deputy, Namadi Sambo; Board of Trustees (BOT) boss, Chief Anthony Anenih and about 15 governors in attendance, anxiety and frustration quickly set in of what future awaits the party in the run-down to the 2015 general elections.

    To halt the party’s descent into further crisis, a large number of its governors, The Nation reliably gathered, are secretly working on a plan to ease Tukur out. This opinion, according to sources, bodes well with Chief Anenih, who was once alleged to have broached the idea with the President.

    Some months ago, Anenih had, after having embarked on a fence mending tour across some troubled PDP-controlled states, reportedly advised the President to ask Tukur to resign as a way of putting an end to the crisis in the party.

    While the President was said to be non-committal on the advice, the development, it was learnt, created a crisis of confidence between Tukur and Anenih, with the former reportedly confiding in some of his associates that the BOT chairman was aiming at supplanting him from his position.

    A source quipped, “Anenih pointedly told the President that Tukur’s continued stay as the National Chairman will spell doom for the PDP. That was the feelers he got from the aggrieved governors who have now left the party. But it was apparent that the President had other ideas.”

    Findings also revealed that shortly before the parley between the President, Wammako and Kwankwaso, governors under the aegis of the PDP Governors Forum (PDPGF) met at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge at the Asokoro area where the preponderance of opinion among those present suggests clearly that Tukur must step aside for peace to reign in the party.

    Quoting Governor Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the meeting, the source said, “It is obvious that the National Chairman (Tukur) has to leave in the interest of our party. But how do we convince the President to agree to this?”

    Other governors who spoke strongly on the matter included Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta and an unnamed South East governor. They were said to be of the opinion that with Tukur remaining on the saddle, the PDP risks the exodus of more of its prominent members in the next few months.

    Curiously, while most of the Southern governors called for Tukur’s exit, The Nation gathered that their Northern counterparts, including the Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda; Katsina State’s Ibrahim Shema and Gombe State’s Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, tactically kept silent on the heated subject.

    The governors, sources disclosed, are calling for an emergency session of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) where it is expected that crucial decisions affecting the party, particularly Tukur’s fate, can be resolved once and for all.

    But the governors are in a dilemma of sorts. None of them has had the courage to tell the President to his face on why Tukur should be eased out without further delay. And the reason, according to sources, is not far-fetched. “They (governors) are aware that the President is not presently in the best of mood and are wary of how he will react to any suggestion of that nature.”

    To find a way around this challenge, the governors are alleged to have penciled down Anenih; the Senate President, David Mark and one of the President’s most trusted aides, Oronto Douglas, to convince the President on the urgent imperative of dealing with the “Tukur challenge.”

    Jonathan may rebuff pressure

    Pending his return from South Africa, strong indications have emerged that the President may not yield to the request of his party men to get rid of Tukur.

    Jonathan’s reason to stick with the embattled PDP National Chairman is two-folds. One, Tukur’s alleged dictatorial actions, which most of the party members are up against, received his tacit backing; and second, the likely tortuous process to find a loyal and trustworthy replacement that will cover the President’s back at all times.

    The President, according to sources, is also mindful of the fact that his opponents in the party are not really after Tukur per se, but rather him (Jonathan) and that sticking to Tukur against all odds is in his best interests both in the short and long term.

    “If Tukur is removed today, I can bet that the President’s opponents will still not be satisfied, so why not stick to a man who has proved his unquestionable loyalty to the President,” said a source.

    Old names still coming up

    However, those who want Tukur out are not giving up after all. Already, several names that were touted in the past as aspirants for the PDP National Chairmanship are being mentioned within the political circles to fill the void if the President unexpectedly accedes to the demand for Tukur’s removal.

    One of the most recurring is that of Alhaji Hassan Adamu, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United States and Borno State-born Alhaji Gambo Lawan.

    While Adamu has not indicated interest in the job, those backing him argue that the fact that he comes from Adamawa State like Tukur will placate certain offended interests, the Presidency is, however, not thinking in his (Adamu) direction.

    But whatever decision the President finally takes, what is not in doubt is that tough times still lay ahead the ruling party.