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Tag: President Jonathan

  • 2015: Court promises accelerated hearing of suit against Jonathan

    2015: Court promises accelerated hearing of suit against Jonathan

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has agreed to an accelerated hearing of a suit seeking to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from participating in next year’s presidential election.

    Ruling on the ex parte application argued by plaintiffs’ lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), Monday, the judge held that the case will be heard on a weekly basis.

    Owonikoko had urged the court to fix hearing for “the earliest possible date” in line with the Supreme Court’s practice direction, which directs a quick determination of election-related cases.

    Justice Mohammed, though adjourned the matter to November 12, said the order of accelerated hearing will take effect after the mandatory 30 days within which the respondents were to respond to the suit.

    The judge, in the alternative, said the order of accelerated hearing could take effect earlier if the respondents are able to respond earlier.

    The respondents are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN).

    They were not represented at Monday’s proceedings.

    The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/662/2014 was filed by Adejumo Mansouru Ajagbe (who claimed to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State with membership card No: 9424103 and voter’s card: 90f5b23963295789969) and Olatoye Wahab (who claimed to be a member of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State with membership card no: 13951303 and voter’s card: 18767722.)

    The plaintiffs seek to restrain INEC and the AGF from allowing President Jonathan participate in the 2015 election on the ground that by the Constitution, the President having contested the presidential election twice, won and taken the oath of office and allegiance twice in respect of the same office, must no longer present himself for election to that office the third time.

  • Azura-Edo Power Plant, Benin commissioning

    Azura-Edo Power Plant, Benin commissioning

    From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Adams Eric Oshiomhole and Dr. David Ladipo Group Managing Director, Azura Power at the groundbreaking ceremony of the $1 billion Azura-Edo Power Plant in Benin City on Friday
    From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Adams Eric Oshiomhole and Dr. David Ladipo Group Managing Director, Azura Power at the groundbreaking ceremony of the $1 billion Azura-Edo Power Plant in Benin City on Friday
  • Jonathan tasks power firm on project completion

    Jonathan tasks power firm on project completion

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday charged sponsors of the Azura Power Holding to complete the Azura-Edo Independent Power Project in 2017 as projected.

    The $800million project is the first privately funded power project in the country.

    It is expected to generate 450 megawatt in the first phase.

    President Jonathan, who spoke shortly before laying the foundation stone, said the project demonstrated that his administration have laid a strong foundation for building a sound and sustainable electricity industry for the country.

    Jonathan said his administration is committed to reposition the Nigerian power sector as a pivot for the attainment of the nation’s developmental targets.

    According to the President, the government is maintaining a policy push for increased diversification of Nigeria’s  energy as well as expanding investments in large hydro power projects through public-private partnerships, and the provision of necessary support to accelerate the exploitation of the country’s coal resources.

    He assured that government would continue to ensure that the growth of the electricity industry becomes self-sustaining and sustainable.

    “My administration is fully committed to continuously improving the framework and enabling environment based on sound policy formulation, access to long-term low interest finance, and transparent and consistent regulatory guidelines.

    “Such a framework can only be robust when the private sector works in partnership with the public sector. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the government and good people of Edo State for fervently supporting this project,” the President said.

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole in a remark said the $800million investment showed that Nigeria remained the safest country in Africa.

     

  • Jonathan has performed – South-South Assembly

    Jonathan has performed – South-South Assembly

    The South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) has described President Goodluck Jonathan as the best performing President in the history of Nigeria.

    The Secretary, SSPA, Chief Ayakeme Whisky, said there was clear statistics to show that President Jonathan had outperformed his predecessors.

    He said for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the country’s economy was being diversified away from oil.

    He said: “No Nigerian President before him has performed as much as he had done. I say that without any apologies and there are clear statistics to prove that.

    “For the first time in this country, the Nigerian economy is shifting from monolithic focus to a multi-resource economy.

    “Before Jonathan, the desire for oil was over 90 per cent, but today there are other veritable contributors to our Gross Domestic Product including agriculture which is most viable sector with potential of reducing the nation’s unemployment rate.

    “I am not going to lay emphasis on rebasing the economy. The fact that we are moving away from oil-dependent economy to other resources clearly shows that we are making progress,” he said.

    Declaring that Jonathan deserved a reelection, he said Nigerians should consider the way and manner he pursued the privatisation in the power sector.

    “For Mr. President to have the courage, the will to break that monster by dismantling PHCN and also privatizing it is the best that has happened in this country,” Chief Whisky added.

    He named other achievements of the President in road infrastructure, railway transport, airports and others saying, “one good turn deserves another.”

  • Remi Oyo was exemplary, inspiring trail-blazer – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness at the death of one of the most eminent Nigerian female journalists and former managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dame Felicia Oluwaremilekun Oyo.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan extended condolences to her husband, Vincent, her children, Otome and Okiemuote, her surviving siblings and other relatives.

    He also commiserated with the Nigerian Guild of Editors who Dame Oyo served most admirably as a two-term president in the course of her trail-blazing journalism career, the management and staff of NAN as well as the many colleagues, friends and protégés she garnered in her very fulfilled life.

    President Jonathan also joined them in mourning Dame Oyo who having attained great success in a profession hitherto dominated by men, patriotically entered national service as Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 and served with great distinction as the first female Press Secretary to a Nigerian leader until 2007.

    The President believed that although she was already much honoured in life with accolades and awards including Officer of the Order of the Niger, Dame Oyo will always be remembered and continually honoured in posterity for her exemplary professional life, her inspiring leadership qualities, motherliness and generosity, her immense patriotism and her remarkable transformation of the News Agency of Nigeria during her tenure as the agency’s Managing Director.

     

  • Jonathan vows to boost Nigerians’ welfare

    Jonathan vows to boost Nigerians’ welfare

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday reassured that his administration will do everything possible to improve the welfare of Nigerians.

    He gave the assurance while receiving a delegation of the Anglican Communion led by Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The church conferred a ‘Primatial Award’ on the President during the visit.

    Jonathan pleaded for patience of Nigerians in delivering the goods, maintaining that meeting all the goals of his transformation agenda could not be done overnight.

    He said: “For me and the vice president as well as the federal government, by the grace of God and the willingness of Nigerians, we will do our best to improve the quality of lives of our people. We have our transformation agenda. It is not something we can do overnight even if you have all the money in the world. If you want to build a six-storey building, you must give yourself a period that must be a time for you to complete that project.

    “We have drawn our map and we have progressed. I believe we are progressing in the right direction. For you to really build a society, you need to do things that are critical and continue to do them well.

    “If we talk about economy, transport infrastructure, I mean those things that will improve on the economy. And if the government continues to do those things very well, it would not take a lifetime for this country to change. It would not take more than ten years. Within a space of ten years, you would see major changes.”

    Continuing, the President said: “We are totally committed to doing our best to improve on the quality of lives of our people. All what we require from you as spiritual fathers is to pray for us for God to give us the wisdom and mind to do what is right because it takes on God to lead.

    “Without the fear of God, nobody can lead well. We are all humans. We are pushed into all kinds of situations. But if God is with you, no matter the challenges, no matter the circumstances you find yourselves. My prayer everyday is for God to use me to improve this country positively. And I believe that is why I am here today.

    “My political journey is what nobody can tell. Without God, I wouldn’t have been here because most people know about it, but maybe when I leave office, that is when I will tell the true story of my journey. But I believe very clearly that it is God that made it possible. To even be a deputy governor in the first place, not to talk about being a president. I promise I will do my best.

    “I grew up as a member of the Anglican Church. As at that time, it was only Anglican Church that was at my tiny village. But now, I don’t know the number of churches that are there. Almost all the classrooms are churches now.

    “I have been a part of the church from the beginning. I attended Anglican Primary School as a pupil. So I have to be very grateful to the Anglican Church that brought me up. I am what I am today because of the Anglican Church.

    “I also use this opportunity to thank Christian and other religious bodies that constantly pray for this country. Our country is passing through challenges. The whole world is passing through challenges. Sometimes, when I listen to the news around the whole world, it reminds me about the Old Testament in days of fighting, fighting and fighting.”

    “And I always ask: Do we stop fighting? But God has a reason for everything. I believe whatever is happening to Nigeria will be very temporary. We will go through the challenges. With your prayers, we will go through the challenges.”

  • So what if PDP adopted President Jonathan?

    The National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party’s adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole candidate for the 2015 election did not come as a surprise. This is because from the outset, it has become obvious that the party would not field any candidate than the president.  It has become quite obvious that the PDP does not believe in playing real politics. What the PDP believes in was adoption and consensus in fielding its candidates for elective offices. How could one comprehend his sense to see how the party could not give other eminent Nigerians in the party to compete with President Jonathan a free and fair primaries rather than taking short cut to make him the sole candidate?

    The PDP, right from its formation, does not believe in internal democracy as most of its candidates for elective offices are either imposed or adopted without the inputs of the delegates, who are supposed to elect the candidates for elective offices especially governors and the president.

    What assurance did the party get, that with his adoption as the sole candidate he would coast home victorious this time around? Let it be known to the party that it would not be an easy ride for the president, especially in most of the states in the north. Therefore, the party is just deceiving itself with the adoption of the president.

    He is a hard material to be sold, especially in the northern states, and his adoption can be challenged by concerned party stake holders as Dr. Umar Ardo has clearly made it known to the world, that he would challenge the president over his ambition.                            The sycophants in the PDP and those enjoying the crumbs are the ones behind the adoption.

    The PDP is the laughing stock of the political parties in this country. No any serious politician is now in the PDP and that was why the NEC of the party tackled the decision to make him the sole candidate of the party. The party is heading for the rocks by this action taken by the NEC of the party.

     

    By Usman Santuraki,

    Jambutu Ward,

    Jimeta-Yola.

  • Claims on Jonathan’s 2015 bid outright lies – Clark

    Claims on Jonathan’s 2015 bid outright lies – Clark

    The prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on Thursday faulted one Umaru Ardo’s statement on President Goodluck Jonathan re-election bid, saying the President cannot be stopped from vying for re-election next year.

    Clark noted that the local and international cases cited by Ardo were not only half facts and make beliefs but outright lies.

    Ardo had approached the court to stop President Jonathan from contesting in the 2015 presidential election.

    But the former federal commissioner for information, who is a strong backer of the President, has insisted that there was no ground to stop him (Jonathan) from seeking re-election next year.

    Clark in his open letter to the Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Adamu Muazu ,said,  “After reading Umar Ardo’s open letter to you, on why he thinks President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, must not seek re-election for a second term in the 2015 presidential election, two very pertinent ideas came to my mind.  Firstly, let the writer be ignored, while Nigerians wait to see him in a court of law to canvas his argument to impede President Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015.

    “Secondly, X-ray his half facts, make beliefs and outright lies to the public and those who might be gullible enough to be hoodwinked by the devil’s advocate.  The need to unveil the truth behind his half facts and as well provide details for the many cases and instances he cited, both local and international, especially the United States of America, to buttress his argument and may be incite the public against Mr. President.

    “In his passionate attempt to convince readers in his argument, the writer muddled up issues by mentioning cases of several governors that had constitutional issues with their tenure, I mean issues brought about through impeachments, courts and election petition tribunal’s decisions.  The point he canvassed citing the governors’ cases is a complete digression and bears no semblance or correlation with President Jonathan serving the unexpired tenure of the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.

    “He mentioned Rashid Ladoja, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, Boni Haruna and a host of others.  What these governor cases have to do with the argument he puts forward beats the imagination.

    “In conclusion, the PDP National Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, the NWC, PDP Governors’ Forum, Stakeholders and the general public should discountenance Umar Ardo’s letter that was widely publicized in almost every major national newspapers.  The letter is ill motivated and sponsored by PDP detractors, who mean harm and would stop at nothing to heat up the polity unnecessarily and in fact even derail our growing democracy.”

  • 2015 elections will meet global best practices – Jonathan

    2015 elections will meet global best practices – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the international community that next year’s general election in Nigeria will be conducted in accordance with global best practices.

    He gave the assurance at separate meetings with the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban ki -Moon and the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, before leaving New York late Wednesday night.

    A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that President Jonathan reaffirmed his personal commitment to making elections in Nigeria progressively better, freer and more credible.

    In keeping with his administration’s dedication to openness and transparency in the conduct of public affairs, the President said that international observers will be allowed to freely monitor the 2015 elections in order to affirm that the elections are as free, fair and credible as promised by his administration.

    He thanked the UN chief and Mr. Cameron for their continuing support for Nigeria’s effort to curb terrorism, insurgency and violent extremism within its borders, saying the Federal Government will welcome even more assistance from Britain especially in the areas of intelligence sharing, anti- terrorism training and defence logistics.

    At a later meeting with the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan, President Jonathan expressed Nigeria’s appreciation of the support it received from WHO for the successful containment of the Ebola Virus Disease in the country.

    Affirming that Nigeria was now Ebola-free, he called for greater international support to ensure that the virus is also eradicated from other West Africa countries presently battling with it.

    He said: “Nigeria is free of the virus now, but we know that to be permanently free from it, we must remain vigilant and work with WHO and the international community to eradicate it completely from our sub-region and forestall the possibility of its re-emergence on our shores through migration.”

    President Jonathan also assured her that despite hindrances by insurgents, terrorists and violent extremists, the government is fully committed to eradicating polio from Nigeria in the shortest possible time.

  • Why PDP endorsed Jonathan for 2015 – Dickson

    Why PDP endorsed Jonathan for 2015 – Dickson

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has explained the reasons why the Peoples Democratic Party unanimously endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for the 2015 general election.

    He said the action of the party was to institutionalize the right of first refusal for any incumbent President.

    The governor said the PDP by the move has set a new precedent that will give any incumbent President the right to fly the party’s flag without undergoing an elective primary.

    Dickson said the new thinking would also reduce the huge cost and internal wraggling associated with a primary election.

    He spoke on Tuesday night during an interactive session with the members of the Federated Correspondent Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    Dickson expressed optimism that the right of first refusal given to President Jonathan would promote stability in the political system and unity among the party members.

    He insisted that the party’s gesture was being misconstrued in some quarters to mean a declaration of sole candidacy.

    The governor said, “It is not a declaration of sole candidacy. What we have done is to stabilise the political system.

    “What we have done is to say that we don’t want to subject our members to the costly and stressful experiences. What we have said is that once you are a President from a political party, you have a right of first refusal. It will reduce in-fighting and cost of lobbying and campaigns.

    “Whoever comes after Jonathan, will no longer have issues with intra-party conflicts But he will have right of first refusal. In the first term of an administration, there is much in-fighting.

    “If the right of first refusal had been institutionalized in the past, former President Olusegun Obasanjo wouldn’t have been subjected to such issues that came up before his re-election.”

    Dickson maintained that democracy should not be about conflicts and unnecessary intrigues but about the stability of institutions.

    “If President Goodluck Jonathan refuses, then the elective convention will be conducted. This decision is provided for by the electoral law,” he stated.