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Tag: President Goodluck Jonathan

  • Jonathan assures on stable power supply

    Jonathan assures on stable power supply

    President Goodluck Jonathan has restated his administration’s resolve to offer stable power supply.

    He pledged that the federal government is addressing bottlenecks such as gas pipeline vandalism and others militating against regular power supply.

    Jonathan spoke yesterday in Lagos when he inaugurated Egbin Power Plc’s unit six that generates 220 megawatts (MW).

    He said: “The facility is producing not just an improvement in the generation capacity of our nation but it is a clear representation of the next logical step in our aspiration for a reliable and qualitative power supply to our people.

    “We are committed to actualising the essence of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005, which strives to open up the sector and bring in private sector ownership, management and financing to the industry.

    “It is a fact that electricity will remain the catalyst for the growth of our economy and electricity supply stabilisation will ultimately improve the lives of millions of Nigerians.”

    The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said that the federal government plans to commence electronic monitoring of pipelines and other facilities channelling gas to power plants to curb incessant pipeline vandalism.

    Nebo blamed vandals for its inability to generate targeted capacities but assured that government is working to address the menace.

    He stated that the challenges, though not insurmountable, are worsened by the fact that 70 per cent of the total power generation comes from gas-fired turbine and 30 per cent hydro.

    He noted last week’s generation dropped to 3,600MW from 4,400MW due to the activities of vandals.

    The Chairman of Egbin Power Plc, Kola Adesina, said that the rehabilitated turbine, which generates 220MW, will boost electricity supply to over one million homes in Lagos.

    He stated that more residents will enjoy at least additional six hours supply per day of power.

  • Jonathan’s Southwest endorsements

    Jonathan’s Southwest endorsements

    President Goodluck Jonathan was in Lagos last week to commission four warships as well as meet various Southwest leaders over next month’s polls. To win the election, he will need a sizable support from the Yoruba states, after it emerged his support base in the North could no longer be guaranteed. To help the president, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State is pressing hard on Yoruba leaders, especially the Yoruba political organisation, Afenifere, to endorse the president. Some two weeks ago or so, Afenifere, tired of just being Dr Jonathan’s fanatical apologist, gave that endorsement lavishly and remorselessly as his leading southern eulogist. But since then a few things have happened, chief among which was the worldwide negative reaction to the postponement of the general elections, that shook Dr Jonathan’s confidence in his reelection chances. He thus apparently needed reassurance. That extra assurance was given him by the meeting convened by Dr Mimiko in Akure last week, a meeting presumably called to enable the Yoruba review the outcome of last year’s national conference.

    Presided over by Ayo Adebanjo, and attended by, among others, Frederick Fasehun and Gani Adams, the meeting once again enthusiastically endorsed Dr Jonathan in crassly political, divisive and bigoted terms that made many wince. They were obviously more preoccupied with the politics of Jonathan’s reelection than having a dispassionate review of the confab report. For instance, reacting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket, which has their son Yemi Osinbajo as running mate, the Afenifere leaders said a vote for the APC was a vote for disaster. “…We have openly identified with Jonathan in this presidential election because we do not want the Buhari experience again,” began Dr Fesehun incredulously with the ethnic triumphalism and vulgar logic most of us have sensibly outgrown. ‘‘Some people said they were born to rule but we want to let them understand that Yoruba people are born to lead and guide to the right path. Some people are showing Buhari as the guiding light but they don’t know what Buhari is. Four more years of Jonathan is acceptable than eight years of nightmare under Buhari…Jonathan is the only good thing available to Nigeria and I come out to say boldly that it is either Jonathan or nothing.” Boastful, sickening.

    Convinced in the words of Chief Adebanjo that voting APC presidential ticket would be a “mistake Nigeria cannot afford,” the Mimiko/PDP meeting reiterated its endorsement of Dr Jonathan and asked the Yoruba people to follow suit. Though Chief Adebanjo complained that the meeting was dominated by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful, he was not dissuaded by its partisan connotation to sign the communiqué of the meeting purporting to represent the feelings and aspirations of the Yoruba race. It is clear the Yoruba are divided, as they have been from time immemorial, and Afenifere is an unscrupulous faction in that division.

    The Afenifere endorsement is unlikely to amount to much, for most voters have already made up their minds whom to vote for: whether for Dr Jonathan in the case of those who stress his Christianity but discount the president’s appalling failings, lack of vision and irritating dubieties, or for Gen Buhari in the case of those who are sick and tired of the domestic and international ridicule the president has subjected Nigeria to, and of the general indiscipline, economic decline and constitutional infractions that hallmark his presidency. For an organisation that immodestly tried to prop up Dr Mimiko as the new Yoruba leader simply on account of his October 2012 electoral victory, it is not entirely implausible that its leaders, miscomprehending the fundamentals of leadership, are driven by private and base sentiments.

    Paradigms shifted when M.K.O. Abiola vied for the presidency in 1993. It became clear that anyone who hoped to win presidential election must appeal to both the North and South in sufficient percentages, must not be seen as an ethnic champion, and must be judged to be honest, fair-minded and ready to work for all. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo did not win in 1999 because he was a better thinker and politician than Olu Falae, but because he was seen as the politician with the broader appeal. Former president Umaru Yar’Adua was foisted on the country. On his own, let alone in combination with the previously unknown and undistinguished Dr Jonathan, there was no way he could have won. The question then is, does Dr Jonathan have the broad appeal, the discipline and the know-how to win in March, for which Afenifere has staked its future and whatever is left of its reputation?

    The Afenifere endorsement is unlikely to have been prompted by the national conference report, as they disingenuously said, for they are not so stupid to imagine that a superficial and disinterested Dr Jonathan could unilaterally push through the restructuring they imagine. Explanations must be sought elsewhere. Perhaps the place to begin is the division among the Yoruba, which has sadly appeared to ossify broadly along two main lines: for or against APC leaders. There is no chance of conciliation in the near future, for the factors that divide the Yoruba seem cast in granite and have very little to do with Dr Jonathan’s competence or otherwise, his promises which he breaks with disarming ease, his honesty or lack of it, national conference or no conference, or even his belated federal appointment palliatives to the Yoruba which were activated by reelection politics. Afenifere leaders actually see APC leaders as intransigent, grasping and illiberal; and APC leaders see Afenifere as anachronistic, ideologically vacuous and selfish. But at bottom, the competition is really about economic/financial power and political influence.

    Barely a few years after the inauguration of the Fourth Republic, APC leaders unceremoniously overthrew Afenifere hierarchs in a bloodless political coup d’etat that is still resented by the latter till today. That coup consigned Afenifere to the backbench of Yoruba politics from where they have growled and struggled to make their voices heard. The resentment will grow, and Afenifere leaders will continue to fight back, for they sense that the APC does not always have the best generals in the states they govern, or deploy the best tactics to win either elections or the hearts of the Yoruba. Poor strategies rather than poor ideas made APC to lose Ondo and Ekiti, and even the states currently under their control are only holding on by the skin of their teeth. To stand a chance at all, and under the circumstances enumerated, Afenifere has little choice but to throw in its lot with the PDP. But therein is the fatal paradox they must contend with: should the Afenifere/PDP combination overcome the APC, Afenifere would ineluctably disappear, for the logic of its existence within the PDP world would no longer be tenable.

    The economic/financial factor is a major issue among the Yoruba, and has always been. If they are to survive as a group, Afenifere leaders must seek alternative sources of empowerment. The only alternative available today is the Jonathan government, from which both Dr Fasehun and Otunba Adams, envying the likes of Niger Delta militants, are fighting tooth and nail to get pipeline protection contracts. Should Dr Jonathan win, both gentlemen, who have spoken vulgarly of a sense of entitlement, would be accommodated in Nigeria’s rent economy. Like Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti and Dr Mimiko, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) leaders have a foreboding of the cruel fate that awaits them should APC win the presidency.

    The division in the Southwest is only painted in grand and altruistic colours. In reality, however, it is a bitter and acrimonious struggle for life and sustenance. Afenifere and Dr Mimiko’s PDP group gave their endorsement not because they cared whether Dr Jonathan perished or Nigeria was restructured, but that APC should flounder and drown, by whatever agency that end could be procured. The endorsers do not mind being encumbered with the loathsome prejudices of the past, or that their enunciation of hatred for a section of the country could easily inspire crimes against humanity. Nor have they intelligently deconstructed the problems of Nigeria and examined the paradigms necessary for rebuilding and renewing the country. Nor do they bother, even if they appreciate the consequences, about the danger of the entire Yoruba endorsing one party, a pitfall the Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Muslim community have carefully tried to avoid.

    Centuries after the Yoruba generalissimo, Afonja, famously endorsed a rebellion against the larger and deeper interest of the empire he was assigned to protect, historians have continued to assess the consequences of his fateful action. There is nothing in their past and present to show that the Yoruba have learnt any lessons, or that in the continuing dynamics of nation-building they have the cultural fluidity and intellectual depth and elasticity to make adjustments for the future. Worse, as Afenifere’s disgruntlement and ethnic and religious hatred against the North have shown, and as the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) also displayed last week in their meeting in Lagos with Dr Jonathan, the Southwest has not wholeheartedly embraced the lofty principles and values upon which their progenitors founded and nurtured their great race, principles and values that are, alas, periodically betrayed sometimes by a whole generation.

  • The six-week Boko Haram war

    The six-week Boko Haram war

    President Goodluck Jonathan promised a six-week war against the Boko Haram sect to finish them off. Notwithstanding widespread doubts about the feasibility of ending the war at such a short duration, when it had lasted for all of five years and more, he seems set to accomplish his goal. He based the short duration of the final battles on the multinational force of about 8,000 troops from Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Nigeria, and the delivery of the war equipment he had been expecting. This expected final push made him support INEC’s postponement of the February 14 elections, he said. Going by his now famous reputation for dissembling and stretching his own side of the story, few believed him. But if Boko Haram is neutralised within the space of time he asked for, he will come across as altruistic in his request for election postponement, no matter what the truth is and whatever anyone might think.

    There is, however, no question that had the momentum of the campaigns favoured Dr Jonathan, the elections would have held in February, and he would have swept to victory. In all likelihood, Dr Jonathan secured the postponement in order to catch his breath and to restrategise to enable him win reelection. But as this column pointed out last week, and as a few international newspapers also suggested, whether he wins the war in the Northeast or not, the minds of north-easterners are pretty much made up whom to vote for. They showed it during the campaigns of Dr Jonathan and Gen Buhari. It is unlikely that anything, including the drastic restoration of peace in the region, will swing votes for the president. Too many things had gone wrong in the region for which they hold him largely responsible.

    They do not hold him responsible for the outbreak of the insurgency, but they are appalled by his handling of the revolt, which festered until it sucked in Nigeria’s lowly neighbours to the point where Cameroonian and Chadian armies were either succouring our troops and refugees or even liberating many of our towns, or as in the case of Niger Republic, even insulting our troops for cowardice. In addition, north-easterners have remained unimpressed by his lack of empathy, his contempt for the region’s elite, his wild accusations against the people of the region for conniving at the insurgency, and the scandal of mishandling the Chibok abductions, which is unlikely to be mitigated by the return of the kidnapped girls.

    Dr Jonathan has been in office for nearly six years, and Nigeria has rearmed and fought major ECOMOG wars since 1990, but he has consistently blamed the poor equipment of Nigerian troops on his predecessors, particularly Gen Buhari. The fact is that he misread the revolt, misjudged his capacity, and misdirected the war efforts until too much damage was done, and even now has not proved that he understands the political, cultural and economic dynamics of the revolt. It is for these that he will be held responsible, and for which there will be no electoral rewards for him, in this election or in a future account of the history of this unfortunately sanguinary period.

  • Soldiers storm Oyo as Jonathan visits Alaafin

    Soldiers storm Oyo as Jonathan visits Alaafin

    Anxiety gripped residents of Oyo town yesterday over the influx of soldiers who stormed the ancient city for President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit. The President who was in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Friday  for the  ommissioning of a power project, was also  scheduled to visit the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi111in his palace, as part of his electioneering campaign.

    As early as 8am, battle-ready soldiers stormed the ancient town in motorcade and blew sirens round major streets. Other security agencies like the Skannet police squad, Operation Burst, Special anti-robbery squad and anti-riot policemen were also not left out. For about an hour, the ever-busy Owode/Durbar road, along Oyo/ Ogbomoso highway, was closed to the traffic even when the presidential advance team was yet to arrive the town.The highway was later opened to the traffic amidst uproar from residents, including motorists and commercial motorcyclists who described action of the security agencies as ” overzealous”. At the palace, security was tight as residents in their hundreds who came to welcome the President, were maltreated by security personnel who condoned off the entire vicinity.

    Cross-section of the residents who spoke with our correspondent wondered why the town should be put under siege by security agencies, especially the soldiers, because of the President’s visit. ”We are not in banana republic where authoritarianism, autocracy and flagrant disregard to human dignity is the order of the day. The blaring of sirens and influx of soldiers has caused a lot of psychological trauma to us, even since Friday evening. Most of us are afraid to go to out for our means of livelihood due large presence of the soldiers as if we are at war.  This is serious”.

    Another resident, Waheed Oriola said ”this is really a show of intoxicating power. Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress [APC] came here to campaign around 930 pm and was welcomed with tumultuous crowd at the Alaafin’s palace without any security siege. Agreed that Jonathan must be well protected, but that is not the same thing as putting the entire town under the siege of battalions of soldiers just for the visit alone. What is he afraid of”.

  • ‘Finishing Strong’… Uduaghan showcases roads, other infrastructure

    ‘Finishing Strong’… Uduaghan showcases roads, other infrastructure

    Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, last week commenced a marathon project inauguration, ostensibly as part of his ‘Finishing Strong’ promise to the people of the state. the move was seen also as a strategy shore up support for the candidates of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming general election in the state.

    Speaking at TV phone-in programme last Friday, the governor explained that his decision to go on the ‘show-off’ was informed by the prevailing trend in Nigeria politics where only governors and public officeholders who ‘commission projects’ are deemed hardworking.

    “Normally, I believe that when a project is completed, it should be put to use. But some would not open classrooms to pupils until it has been commissioned,” he said at the programme, which was co-anchored by this reporter.

    It was against this backdrop that President Goodluck Jonathan, during his campaign/visit to the state inaugurated the multibillion naira, ultramodern Delta State Government House building in Asaba, the state capital. A visibly impressed President Jonathan remarked: ”I have being coming to Asaba, I have seen the Government House, the Presidential lodge and other places. Congratulations your Excellency, it is a great job and I commission it to the glory of God.”

    The President who observed that the administration of Governor Uduaghan has greatly transformed the state and improved the lives of Deltans, noted that it is one of best run states by a PDP-government and that would be used as reference point for the achievements of the PDP-led administration in the country.

    “Delta State is among the PDP states that the transformation agenda of my administration has touched and Governor Uduaghan wholeheartedly has keyed into this transformation agenda, as you can see Delta State is one of the fastest growing state in this nation; this mighty and beautiful edifice we are commissioning today shows the massive transformation going on in the state.”

    Former Governor of Anambra State Mr. Peter Obi also commended Governor Uduaghan for his programmes, especially the Micro-Credit scheme, the free maternal and childcare programme among others.

    He said, “Those of us who are neighbours to Delta State know that Governor Uduaghan has done a lot for Deltans. This is a state that has over the past three years being coming out first in micro finance, supporting small businesses and a lot of our own people are here doing their own businesses. It is one of the safest place and one of the best entrepreneurial places in this country today”.

    In continuation of the inauguration, Governor Uduaghan also inducted the 7.8-kilometer Umunede-Mbiri Road Rehabilitation, in the northern part of the state. He told guests, including traditional rulers, palace chiefs, political leaders and stakeholders, that “the road will improve inter-city road transportation, enhance urban growth, communication and reinvigorate commerce and social life in the area.”

    “We constructed this road to take people safely to their destination, when you are drunk, don’t drive, when you are feeling sleepy, don’t drive and when you take drugs, please don’t drive, by God’s grace this road will take us to our destination’’ Gov Uduaghan advised road users.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Funkekeme Solomon disclosed that project was awarded in October 2014 at a cost of N497.12 million and targeted to link Umunede, Mbiri town, Mbiri farm settlement and other communities in the state and neighbouring Edo State.

    The Obi of Mbiri, HRM Obi Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Alekwe II, who received Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan at his palace, thanked the governor for the project and commended the existing unity among traditional rulers in Delta State and urged their subjects to emulate them so that development can come to their areas.

    He said, ‘The presence of other traditional rulers shows the unity among traditional rulers, that is a lesson to all of us who are your subjects because if our royal fathers are united then of course the subjects become united and we have no cause to be divided’’.

    HRM, Obi Dr. Alekwe II commended Dr. Uduaghan for keeping his promise to rehabilitate and reseal the Umunede-Mbiri road and assured the governor of the support of his people as well as the protection of all government properties.

    The Governor also inaugurated nine internal road projects at Ovwor-Olomu in Ughelli South local government area of the state. He promised that his administration would be willing to accommodate genuine investors who would not become problems.

    He said, “We are ready to accept visitors who have genuine business in our state but our visitors should not be problem to us. Let me assure our farmers that government is doing a lot to secure our people, especially, farmers, we have never heard of cattle rearers carrying AK 47 rifles, we have never heard of cattle rearers raping women or even killing people in the bush, but, it is happening now and we must stop it.”

    The marathon project inauguration also took Governor Uduaghan to the Ndokwa areas of the state where he commissioned the 14.7-km Ashaka/Aboh road. The construction of the hitherto perennially treacherous road has made it easier for vehicles to get to Aboh, headquarters of Ndokwa East local government area of the state without hitch. Motorists going to the local council headquarters in the past had to wait for several hours for their vehicles to be ferried across a river using pontoons.

    In his address, the governor express joy that “one can now drive to Aboh”, stressing, “before 1999, when you mention Aboh, what comes to mind is pontoon and bad road. Aboh is a historic town.”

    The Governor, who had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Obi of Aboh, HRM Obi Imegwu II, commended the monarch for being a blessing to the people of Aboh. “When a blessed royal father is on the throne, good things come to his Kingdom, our royal father is blessed. In his reign, Aboh has opened up, it is now accessible, there is a general hospital, a polytechnic is under construction, among others; Aboh is developing fast.”

    Obi Imegwu II, who spoke through the Secretary of Aboh Traditional Council, Chief J.A. Ozegbe, thanked Governor Uduaghan’s administration for contributing immensely to the development of his kingdom.

    ”We wish to fervently appreciate you for appointing our sons and daughters to take care of strategic positions during your tenure, profoundly, we are overwhelmed and appreciative of your efforts on the completion of the Aboh/Ashaka road which is a master piece, solid road to link us together economically and socially with even neughbouring state – Rivers via Ndoni.”

    At Aradhe, Isoko North local government area, the Governor commissioned a 13 kilometer road valued at N1.9 billion. The road links Aradhe to Ushe and Ashakaý. The Governor also commissioned several internal roads in Ughelli and the redesigned and expanded Refinery Road in Effurun, Uvwie LGA.

     

  • 2015 Budget: Reps warn Jonathan against extra-budgetary spending

    • Lawmakers to focus on PIB, Electoral Act, Constitutional amendment

    The House of Representatives has sounded a note of warning to President Goodluck Jonathan to shun the temptation to embark on extra-budgetary spending pending the passage of the 2015 budget.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa, said yesterday in Abuja that the country  could witness a devastating deficit should the Presidency embark in any reckless expenditure.

    The lawmaker, who gave the advice against the background of the resumption of the National Assembly today, said though the constitution has given the President the authority to spend before budgets are approved, the present financial situation of the country occasioned by the fall in oil price calls for caution, lest the country be plunged into financial crisis.

    His words: “I am aware that the constitution allows Mr. President to spend an amount of money equivalent to the one that was spent in the preceding year pending the approval of the budget. But the snag we have is that last year’s budget was based on a crude oil price of over $100 per barrel but as we speak, the price is barely $50.

    “So, if Mr. President is to spend the equivalent of what was spent in a particular period last year, this year, we will run into trouble.

    “ I will advise that Mr. President to thread cautiosly and I call on legislators to expedite action on the budget and put it behind us before going for presidential and governorship elections”

    Sam-Tsokwa alleged that the Executive has violated the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), by failing to submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) six months before submitting the budget proposal, adding that the lawmaker said because of this infraction, both the MTEF and the budget are awaiting the approval of the National Assembly when in normal practice, the budget should be an offshoot of an approved MTEF.

    Section 82 (5) of the 1999 constitution as amended states:

    ”If the Appropriation Bill in respect of any financial year has not been passed into law by the beginning of the financial year, the President may authorise the withdrawal of monies in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the services of the Government of the Federation for a period not exceeding months or until the coming into operation of the Appropriate Act, whichever is the earlier:

    “Provided that the withdrawal in respect of any such period shall not exceed the amount authorised to be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation under the provisions of the Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly for the corresponding period in the immediately preceding financial year, being an amount proportionate to the total amount so authorised for the immediately preceding financial year”.

    Sam- Tsokwa said aside the 2015 budget, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the report of the constitutional amendments from the states, as well as the amendment of the Electoral Act are on the priority list of the House.

    He said:  “Also on the front burner is the issue of PIB, which we promised to pass before the 7th House lapses. We will accord a lot of attention to see what we can achieve before June six.

    “Also the constitutional amendment, the report of which has been received from the states just before we proceeded on christmas and New year break has been put together and the National Assembly will consider the report of the states on constitutional amendments and approve same as the situation demands.

    “Before we went on Christmas and New Year break, we had concluded work on the Electoral Act amendment bill; conference committee had been constituted and we are looking forward to receiving the report of the conference committee of both houses and give effect to it”

  • Afenifere backs Jonathan for second term

    Afenifere backs Jonathan for second term

    …Group seeks elections shift

    The Afenifere group yesterday in  Akure endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for second term.

    The group gave its endorsement at the residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, where President Jonathan and his entourage were received.

    National Secretary of Afenifere, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, said the endorsement was to allow President Jonathan to complete the transformation agenda and implement the decisions of the National Conference.

    He said: “Afenifere is a socio political association. We have always spoken out our minds on any matter that affects our country. We therefore want to say it loud and clear that after considering so many things, the Nigerian constitution inclusive, we see you for now as the best option to continue as the president of our dear country.”

    “Consequently, we call on all well-meaning Nigerians to join us,’’ he added

    The group spoke on the need for the government to tackle insecurity in the country and to ensure equal spread of amenities and key national offices.

    It thanked President Jonathan for making the Federal University of Technology Medical College , Akure, a reality and  for granting Ondo state a Federal Polytechnic.

    The group requested the President to appoint key officers of the state into the polytechnic for effective take-off.

    President Jonathan said he was committed to implementing the decisions of the national conference before the end of the first year of his second term, if re-elected.

    “We will not play politics with the report’’, he said.

    The president also said he would not relent in the fight against insurgency and would not transfer it to the next administration.

    The Yoruba race, he said, was key to Nigeria’s development and his administration would continue to work with the people for national development.

    The president said his administration recorded milestones in aviation, road construction, education and transportation and would do more.

    According to him, the administration completed 25,000 kilometres of roads, from the 5,000km it inherited and promised to complete the remaining 10,000km.

    He thanked the Afenifere for the endorsement which he described as novel in the activities of the group.

    “We will achieve more for Nigerians. All we want is the support of the people. We will not disappoint you.” He said.

    In attendance apart from the host, were Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Chief Kole Omololu and others.

    In a communique the group called for the shift of the elections.

    They also called on people in the South-West not to support candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election.

    The communique reads in Part: “The constitution says election should hold not earlier than 150 days to handover date and not later than 30 days. INEC has chosen February 14. For us, May 29 is sacrosanct, there is no controversy over this.

    “Within those days between February 14 and 30 days to May 29, INEC has a window to make sure that most voters are not disenfranchised. If INEC is able to give all registered voters their PVC before February 14, all well and good.

    “Meeting viewed with seriousness the sheer incompetence on the part of INEC. The INEC that wanted to create 30,000 polling units few weeks to the election has yet to distribute almost 30 million voter cards. When you look at the table INEC has given, what they tell us is that in each state, this is the PVC received, hiding the total number of registered voters.

    “As at today, over 15 million voters out of the one collected have not received their cards. This is 54 million. There are 14 million voter cards that are yet to arrive the country. If we put them together, it is almost half of the total electorate that are yet to collect their voter cards.

    “The assurance by the INEC chairman that he will distribute cards a day to the election is not reassuring. If you have failed to do it before now, what is the assurance that he is going to do it now?

    “We want to warn that any election conducted on the basis of disenfranchising almost half of the electorate, the outcome will not be credible or acceptable.”

  • President challenges critics of his economic policies

    President challenges critics of his economic policies

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday replied critics of his economic policies, challenging them to come out with facts and figures to contest the fact that the economy is Africa’s largest.

    Last year, the Jonathan administration rebased Nigeria’s economy and declared it the largest in Africa.

    The President said after the rebasing, the economy became the largest as recently attested to by the American Cable News Network (CNN).

    President Jonathan spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at a campaign rally.

    Said he: “The economy you all know has become the largest in Africa after the rebasing, it was not by chance. We worked with the private sector…. a few days ago, the CNN announced that Nigeria has joined other nations where the economy will blossom.

    “If CNN can say that who is the economist in Nigeria that says that what the world has seen about Nigeria…? Who is the economist that can tell me that he is superior to the World Bank; the economists in the World Bank?

    “Who is the economist in Nigeria that can tell me he is superior to the economist in the IMF? Who is the economist in Nigeria that can tell me that he’s sharper or better focused than the CNN? People should stop deceiving Nigerians. We are working hard to move this country forward and we will work with the people of Kwara State to move the state forward.”

    The President also flaunted his administration’s credentials in the rule of law, saying it is strictly adhered to.

    The President said: “We don’t want to run a government by intimidation; I signed the FoI Bill, and promised that every Nigerian will be free. I want every Nigerian to be free. We don’t want to intimidate anybody; we want you to have the ability to express yourself without any fear of intimidation.

    “We don’t encourage our leaders to intimidate the followers; where people will be living as if they are in the zoo and the lions and leopard are moving freely and all the other animals have to go into hiding; no. That is not a government, Nigeria is not a zoological garden. Nigeria is not a forest.

    “Nigeria is a country governed by laws and conventions, a country where citizens must be free and where every citizen must be able to grow to the level that he so desires.”

    On his agricultural reforms, Jonathan said: “We will use SMEs to grow the economy .We are no longer talking of agriculture as a rural dwellers’ occupation but agriculture as a means of creating wealth, agriculture as means of creating millions. So many people in Kwara have keyed into that project and we will work you. Agriculture will accelerate the economy of this country.

    “Also, SMEs; we are working hard with the CBN. Funds are being released to people who are in that sector. When you talk about Asian Tigers, they became strong because of SMEs and not necessarily because of large industries.

    We are working very hard to ensure that we encourage SMES in Kwara State and in Nigeria to be able to create wealth for themselves. That is why we started the YouWIN. The beneficiaries will not be job seekers but creators of jobs for themselves and for others.”

  • Ombatse killings: ‘Jonathan’s attitude lukewarm’

    Ombatse killings: ‘Jonathan’s attitude lukewarm’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan has displayed serious levity in handling the killing of over 100 policemen and members of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) in Nasarawa State in 2013.

    It accused the President of not showing enough seriousness about the welfare and safety of the nation’s security personnel.

    The council said Jonathan had demonstrated that he would trade the welfare and security of security personnel for political gains.

    In a statement in Abuja, the campaign council said it was for political exigency and the aim to carry on with his “gentleman’s image”, which would not hurt a fly that the President failed continuously as a commander-in-chief to mobilise the security forces and provide security personnel with the necessary leadership to accomplish their objective.

    The statement by the campaign’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, noted that the attitude of the Jonathan administration to the cruel fate that befell over 100 policemen and operatives of the Directorate of the State Security Services (DSS), who died on a mission to arrest the sSpiritual leader of the notorious Ombatse cult in Nasarawa State, last year, was the most glaring example of how callous and uncaring the government had become.

  • WHY JONATHAN MUST GO, BY CATHOLIC PRIEST, MBAKA

    WHY JONATHAN MUST GO, BY CATHOLIC PRIEST, MBAKA

    Renowned Enugu-based Catholic Priest, Rev Father Camillus Ejike Mbaka, noted for his crowd-pulling services at the Adoration Prayer Ground, Enugu, is as controversial as they come. His blistering attack on President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid on New Year day has set tongues wagging. Excerpts:

    n the year 2014, we had a lot of bloodshed in this country. People were dying like rats without anybody asking about them. This country suffered a lot of blood experience. Many of us witnessed that people were in tears. Just like the ancient world, the year 2014, the four in it had the queen in it, which had to do with death. Our leaders failed us with reckless abandon and nobody asked them questions.

    The so-called democracy was a hidden autocracy. It was deceptive and questionable quack miler. Nigerians suffered hunger unnecessarily. We heard about oil subsidy being removed and added. Whatever the jargon was nobody understood them. We heard about minimum wage, the civil servants suffered, the minimum wage was not paid and we were all calm. In 2015, Nigerians will not be calm again.

    Change is coming

    We need change. Whatever it will be, let it be. This is my golden message to my beloved country. What actually is happening (Ogini nne me?). The multitude of our youths, the quality young men, quality young women, brilliant youths, but nobody has plans for any of you. Our so-called leaders should come and apologize. In 2015, it shall not continue like that.

    By the grace of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are announcing spiritually, change! 2015 should not be a year of any hooligan maneuvering to hijack power. This is our New Year message.  Listen, when you go home, tell anybody you see that from the oracle of the Holy Spirit, we are announcing change. Can somebody help me to shout change in Jesus holy name.

    Look at what it’s like, as I’m yet to bless your families, bless your industries, bless your destinies. Come 2015, your plans are blessed, your visions are blessed, your locomotive society is blessed. I cover this year with the blood of Jesus. I seal this year with the blood of Jesus.

    My message is in two branches (folds). Number one branch: the theme of this first message to my fellow countrymen is from good luck to bad luck. Once upon a time, the whole countrymen was crying for a leader who would help us move forward with our economy, have an authentic democracy, give our unemployed youths jobs, enable our power to be steady, who would industrialize Nigerians, who would encourage mass education and agriculturalize Nigeria, having in view that oil price would soon drop, give us security at maximum level. By the grace of God, there emerged a Goodluck, all of us were happy. The Goodluck met Yar’ Adua and Yar’ Adua died. May the Holy Spirit help me as I utter this message, I know many will misunderstand it, but it will stand the test of time and you will know I’m speaking the truth.

    The Goodluck met Yar’Adua and Yar’Adua died. Before you know it, the Goodluck met our oil and the oil had a bad luck and poured away. Before we knew it, the Goodluck met our naira, our naira had a bad luck. Where are we going? What is the fate of this country? Shall we continue like this, we need change.

    As I’m speaking to you, most of our civil servants did not celebrate their Christmas. The Christmas season that should be a good luck time became a bad luck time for Nigerians, forgetting that very soon, from 3rd January, the children will go back to school and the parents are going to pay school fees. From where?  Are they going to use their urine to pay? But where is the good water even if they are going to use their urine. Are they going to use their stool to pay the school fees of their children? You have to eat well to defecate.

    Let Nigeria be

    What is the fate of our children? Tears fill my eyes when I see our young graduates hoping and walking our streets. What is the meaning of kidnapping? Kidnapping is the grandson of unemployment. Boko Haram is a grand great child of the same unemployment, mass looting, and poor governance.

    I’m not saying that Goodluck is a bad man. He is a good man. But he cannot lead Nigeria. As things stand right now, from the oracle of the Holy Spirit, Jonathan should honourably resign quietly and let Nigeria be. The destiny of Nigeria is greater than Goodluck Jonathan. The Goodluck in Jonathan has become a bad luck to Nigerians. Whatever brought him in should send him back and let Nigeria be.

    By this time in few months to come, many are going to lose their jobs and there is no alternative. During election, Jonathan will answer Azikiwe, Ebele and become an Igbo man and after election, the Ebele, the Azikiwe and Goodluck will vanish from his identity. Who is fooling whom actually?

    Look at our federal roads, we are not even asking for new ones, roads built by Buhari and Babangida – the so called Hausa people- cannot be maintained. Follow Enugu here to Onitsha, children born some years ago do not know that there was a lane along the other side of Isiagwu and we are all saying continue. The continuity of Jonathan means disaster to Nigeria.

    We need change. May the Holy Spirit help me to vocalize what he has shown to me while I was waiting on him to give me a message for my people? I’m worried about the future of you my children. Go to school, go to school, mention any government school functioning in Nigeria now? Our schools are dilapidated. Nigeria is like an egg about to break in the hands of Jonathan Goodluck and we cannot allow it to happen. It is so unfortunate that pastors are becoming vultures around the president. Pastors are becoming hawks around him, eating the porridge of Jacob and selling their prophetic rights. And anointing is being merchandised in Aso Rock, carrying our Naira, turning it to dollars and carrying it in jets moving out of the country.

    Listen, this is the voice on the pulpit: all these men of God, who are telling Jonathan to continue because they are benefitting one thing or the other, you should question your apostolic, prophetic anointing. What the Bible says is that Samson did not know that the Holy Spirit had left him. Let them watch if the Holy Spirit is still in them.

    Judas and Jesus

    Listen, they will begin to tell us this one is a Christian the other one is a Muslim. I don’t believe in that. Who is a Christian more than Judas? Did Judas not betray Jesus? Judas was not just a Christian, he was not just a mere apostle, he was a super apostle like a cardinal but at a time he messed up and Bible says his office, let another take. That is the normal thing.

    The way Nigeria is going right now, the office of Goodluck Jonathan let another take. I’m not campaigning for anybody. I’m filled with tears over what is happening in Nigeria. Some of us who have non-governmental organisations funding charity, I know what I’m suffering. The more they are looting our resources, the more they are rending you unemployed, the more some of us suffer the more. If I have been paying for the school fees of 500 people, it would now jack up to 3000, or more.

    What the government should do, individuals are struggling to achieve. When there is no road, no power, all this fake promises… where is the power? That Onitsha Bridge, has it now been built? No. After six years, and Goodluck has what it takes to do whatever. He surrounded himself with hooligans. By the time he comes down, he won’t have anybody to work with. He played himself into the hands of hooligans.

    My interest is about the wellness of this country. Nigeria must survive what we are passing through by the help of God. The same God who saved us from Ebola will save us from this bad luck season.

    Look at it, there was a time there was an argument about pension fund – such billions. Who is talking about it now? Billions and we were hearing it… from excess crude oil money, where is the impact of the excess crude oil money? Now from oil boom, it has met bad luck; it’s now oil doom. If my father will be my leader and my siblings will all die, let a stranger be my leader and let my family be. All I’m trying to tell you is that we have not entered into any covenant with anybody.

    Last time, the First Lady came here. We are not partisan, we welcomed her. We did a spiritual drama here. Lifted four birds to fly up, the main one that should fly up refused to go. I did everything possible and that one is the healthiest of them all but refused to fly and the spirit of God said, don’t disturb him.

    When God rejected Saul, David took over. Let me tell you: in the history of Nigeria, we have never experienced bloodshed as we have in the time of Goodluck. If Goodluck means bloodshed for Nigerians are you waiting until your own blood is shed? We need change, however God will do it. Look at the insecurity if you go to the northern part of Nigeria.

    My fellow priests, my fellow pastors, don’t just stand up to attack this message, because you have mouth. Think well before you put your mouth, the voice is beyond your own contribution. Listen, are you waiting for your own church to be bombed before you speak out? If you go to Maiduguri, some parishes have closed down. Go to Potiskum. People no longer go to church on Sundays in many parts of this country. Now imagine a scenario where a president cannot fight a simple insurgence. This is not an external country attack o. It is not like another country invaded Nigeria. It is an intra distraction. And many of us are claiming that it was because Buhari said that he was going to make Jonathan’s government ungovernable. Listen, let’s assume Buhari said something like that, even though it’s not Buhari who said it. So if you are the president and somebody says something like that, will you not arrest such a person?

     

    Rev. Father Camillus Ejike gave this New Year sermon to thousands of parishioners at the Adoration Prayer Ground in Enugu, Thursday.