More knocks for Jonathan over face-off with Buhari

By The Nation: Augustine AVWODE 

Jonathan and Buhari

More knocks came the way of President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday over his response to General Muhammadu Buhari's warning against rigging in the 2015 elections. 

Former President- General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, said Gen. Buhari was being unnecessarily vilified, noting that worse statements had been uttered by other people. This, he said, includes the "do or die" declaration by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. 

Ikedife said: "It is necessary that we speak the truth and face the fact. Buhari should be praised for having the courage to say it the way he saw it and to sound a note of caution. And I want us to take that note of caution seriously.

“It is important that we evaluate the message rather than kill the messenger. His words are not worse than the man who declared that 'this election is do or die'. I think what Buhari is saying is 'don't win by hook or crook and that they should allow the opinion of Nigerians to prevail. 

"Any person who faults that should tell us what he wants Nigeria to look like. It is absolutely necessary. If we want to entrench true and proper democracy, it should be one man, one vote. Every vote should count and be accounted for." 

Ikedife does not see Buhari as desperate for anything other than his yearning "for a peaceful Nigeria where true democracy thrives. And he should not be vilified." 

In the same vein, Second Republic governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa described the controversy generated by Buhari's statement as totally unnecessary, arguing that even President Jonathan had, in the past, made statements that have greater security implication for the country than Buhari's. 

He said the case of Buhari has attracted more attention only because he is a former head of state. Otherwise, he was merely saying what every other Nigerian has been saying in respect of rigging elections. 

He said: "The controversy is unnecessary for two reasons. First, what Buhari said is what every other Nigerian has been saying about the need for free and fair elections. But because Buhari is a former head of State, more people react to whatever he says. 

"Secondly, even President Jonathan had, in the past, made statements with far greater security implication than what we just heard. If a president said all public institutions have collapsed, isn't that a serious statement with greater security implication? 

"With regards to Boko Haram, if the President said Boko Haram has infiltrated all government agencies including the Presidency, is that not of greater security risk? 

"Buhari wanted us to be mindful of the implications of rigged elections. If people have forgotten, it was what led to the unrest in the South West and eventually, the coup of the First Republic in 1966. It was also what led to the coup of the Second Republic. So what is wrong in any Nigerian warning against the dangers of rigged elections? 

"All I can say is that there is a sinister motive behind the interpretation given to Buhari's warning by the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

"Finally, if people like Buhari and the media, who know more than we know; should keep quiet, what will happen to Nigeria? Won't the situation get worse?" 

But the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasehun, as he said   Buhari's statement cannot be justified by any parameter. 

He accused the former military ruler of trying to cause the disintegration of Nigeria by carrying himself as if he were above the laws of the land. 

He cautioned him not to teach Nigerians how to disintegrate. 

"I personally believe that Buhari can't be adjudged right by any parameter of reasoning. The statement is highly inflammatory and inciting,” he said.

"Buhari has continually carried himself as if he is above the laws of the land. That is why he says anything that comes to his mind without caring for the legal implication of such statements. In fact, I have been waiting for the security agencies to invite him and query him for such utterances that tend to teach Nigerians how to disintegrate. 

"The other day he was invited to the Oputa Panel, but he refused to show up and nothing was done to him. Obasanjo, as the president of the country then, was there at the Oputa Panel. Nigeria is greater than him. He should not teach us how to disintegrate. This country will be handed over to the person who will hold it together in unity and peace. Winning elections cannot be by force of violence. He must know that." 

Former President General of Ijaw National Congress (INC) Prof. Kimse Okoko, described Buhari's utterances as unstatesmanly. He wondered how a man of Gen Buhari's standing could allow his emotion to becloud his sense of judgment, saying Nigeria has witnessed too much bloodshed. 

"It is rather unfortunate on the part of General Buhari that he could allow his emotion to becloud his sense of judgment. He has not behaved as a statesman, a former Head of State and a presidential candidate of a leading party in this country before. 

"Already, there is too much bloodshed in the land.Of what need is his calling for more bloodshed. That statement is unstatesmanly. The truth of the matter is that Nigeria will not be ruled by anybody who is calling for bloodshed. He should be invited to explain whatever he meant. I don't want to believe that he is already training an army somewhere that he would unleash on the country in 2015. It is a very unsavoury statement." 

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Nigeria’s problem didn’t start with my government, says Jonathan

By The Nation: Chris Oji, Enugu

President Goodluck Jonathan  conceded yesterday that there must be a change in the country to rid it of the many vices impeding its growth.

  He said  something must have gone wrong with Nigeria since the 1914  amalgamation of the North and the South  and pleaded with the generality of Nigerians to work together to salvage the country.

 Jonathan spoke at the funeral mass for Mrs. Theresa Ekpeluchi Chime, mother of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State at  St.Theresa’s Catholic Church,Udi.

 The president  told the congregation that  Nigeria’s problems did not start with his administration but insisted that there must be a change to get rid of the  problems.

 He traced  Nigeria’s major problems to  the gross neglect of the upbringing of children by their parents who,according to him,often put their   businesses and careers above the  care of their  wards.

 He urged parents  to emulate the qualities of the late Madam Chime saying  the key role she played in bringing up her children made it possible for all of them, including Gov Chime, to be successful in their careers 

“From what I heard from the clergy and others, it was because of the kind of life she lived, that she was able to raise her children properly. And that is why he who comes close to the ocean and our party chairman who comes close to the desert are here today to pay her respects,”  he said.

 An elated Governor Chime told the congregation that he did not expect the president at the funeral yesterday, adding that his presence with his wife,Dame Patience, was a demonstration of their love  for him.

 He added: “It  is on record that before I could officially inform the president about my mother’s demise, he had  pre-empted me by sending me a surprise condolence.”

  The funeral mass was conducted by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Bishop Callistus Onaga. 

Present at the funeral were the national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; deputy Senate president, Ike Ekeremadu and wife; former vice-president Alex Ekwueme; former Senate president, Ken Nnamani; Governors Martin Elechi of Ebonyi state; Liyel Imoke of Cross River state; Theodore Orji of Abia state; Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers ; Gabriel Suswam of Benue;Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Peter Obi of Anambra . 

Also present  were the 2nd Republic  governor of the old Anambra state, Senator Jim Nwobodo; Ministers Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala ( Finance) ,Barth Nnaji ( Power); Stella Oduah ( Aviation); Emeka Wogu  (Labour); Onyebuchi Chukwu  (Health); and Viola Onwuluri ( Foreign Affairs).

Others include deputy governor of Anambra State, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Senator Ayogu Eze Senator Andy Uba, Senator Emma Agboti, Ambassador Fidelia Njeze; and  the Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma.

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Explosion rocks Port Harcourt

By Agency Reporter 

 

The charred remains of an 18-passenger Toyota Hiace bus,at the scene of the blast at Rumuokoro Roundabout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday. Photo: Bisi Olaniyi.

An explosion rocked an area of the Nigerian oil hub city of Port Harcourt on Thursday, a military spokesman said, but the cause and extent of damage remained unclear.
"There was actually an explosion around Rumuokoro area of Port Harcourt," Lieutenant Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu said of the city in southern Nigeria that is home to a number of oil firm offices.
"The details are still sketchy. A number of operatives have been dispatched to that area," which includes a bus station, he said.
A spokeswoman for the government in Rivers State, where Port Harcourt is located, also confirmed the explosion but could provide no further details.
AFP news agency reported that Nigeria's north has been hit by scores of bomb blasts blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram, but the country's south has so far not been hit by such attacks.
Prior to a 2009 amnesty deal, the crude-producing Niger Delta region, where Port Harcourt is a major city, was hit by unrest by militants claiming to be fighting for a fairer distribution of oil revenue.
The amnesty, however, led to a sharp decline in the unrest, which mainly targeted the oil industry.

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Jonathan Declares Air Expo Open

The Air Expo is an international event organized to exhibit Nigeria Air Force capabilities.

The event, which was held to also commemorate the 48th anniversary of the commencement Air Force operation in Nigeria, was held under a very tight security with soldiers, police and other security personnel drafted to all roads to ensure there was no attack by the Boko Haram sect that had in the past targeted military and security formations in the country.
Delivering his speech at the event Jonathan said in spite of the inability of the Federal Government to contain the dreaded Boko Haram insurgence ravaging the north, he assured of the readiness and commitment of his administration to ensure security as well as maintain law and order in country.
While accepting that the country is presently facing a serious security challenge, he promised it would soon be history as efforts have intensified to tackle the challenge.
The President commended the Air force and other military formations for their roles and efforts to provide security at what he termed “this trying period”.
After declaring the event open, the president together with Kaduna Governor, Patrick Yakowa, Emir of Zazzau and other dignitaries inspected the newly acquired fighter jets, aircraft and other weapons of war.
Men of the Airforce displayed their skills and Airforce capabilities to protect the country against any form of external aggression

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Nigeria broke; cannot pay Youth Corpers

Sources in several state governments as well as the Federal Ministry of Finance have disclosed to Sahara Reporters that Nigeria’s cash flow woes appear to be worsening. For the second month in a row, the Nigerian government was unable to meet the schedule for disbursing monthly allocations from the federation account to states.

Our sources accused President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of depleting the country’s foreign reserves and recklessly overspending budgeted funds.
One source revealed that the Federal Ministry of Finance has paid March monthly allocations only to some states. The allocations for April and May 2012 remain unpaid. As a result of what some of the sources described as a major cash flow crisis, many civil servants and National Youth Corps members have yet to receive their April salaries or allowances.
In addition, the meeting of the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has been postponed indefinitely after the secretariat said the earlier meeting scheduled for today and tomorrow was no longer feasible. SaharaReporters obtained a text message announcing the cancellation of the meeting. Sent by Philip K. Angulu, the terse message apologized to recipients for any inconveniences caused by the postponement.
SaharaReporters learnt that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has not been able to make regular payments to the federation accounts as oil marketers and corporation are now deducting their share of profit in offshore accounts to avoid dealing with local bureaucratic bottlenecks.

A source within the Presidency described Mr. Jonathan as a confused pawn in the hands of members of his security team who manipulate him to approve huge “security votes” for the so-called fight against terrorism. “Many of the president’s security advisers just keep deceiving him into releasing more and more cash to them – and they have nothing to show for it,” said the source.
Another source in the Central Bank told SaharaReporters that fuel marketers continue to defraud Nigerians with undocumented and fraudulent claims. “As we speak, I can tell you that the government has virtually spent this year’s budget for fuel subsidies – and we are only in the middle of May,” said the source. He added, “Nigerians are calling on President Jonathan to prosecute those who committed fraud in collecting fuel subsidies in the past. They don’t know that the fraud has actually increased this year.”
One of our sources accused Christopher Kolade, the chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment (SURE) Committee, of deliberately misleading Nigerians when he claimed that N60 billion has been saved for the implementation of the phantom palliative program put in place by Mr. Jonathan’s government to pacify Nigerians who thronged the streets of Nigerian and foreign cities in January to protest the removal of fuel subsidy. “Dr. Kolade knows that no such fund exists,” said the source, a ranking official in the federal government.

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Fed Govt is biggest Boko Haram, says Buhari

By The Nation: Tony Akowe, Kaduna

 

  General Muhammadu Buhari

Former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in last year’s presidential election, General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday described the Goodluck Jonathan administration as the biggest Boko Haram in the country.
Buhari said he would make up his mind on the 2015 presidential election when his party reorganises.
Addressing Niger State CPC members, who visited him in Kaduna, the former military leader noted that “since the leaders do not listen to anybody but does whatever they wish, there is nothing the North can do”. 
He added: “I will like to quote Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who said there are three Boko Harams, including the original one, led by Muhammed Yusufu, who was killed and his supporters tried to take revenge in attacking the law enforcement agencies and politicians.
“There is another developed Boko Haram of criminals, who steal and kill. The biggest Boko Haram is the Federal Government.” 
On his political future, Buhari said: “God willing, something will happen in 2015.”
Buhari said the government has two options to conduct free and fair elections in 2015 or face humiliation from the people. 
He said: “If what happens in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon will all be soaked in blood.”
The former Head of State said whether or not he contests the presidential election in 2015, the party should be well organised while he re-considers his stand.
Buhari said: “That’s what I told those who have visited me in the past, but the press wrote that I said I have changed my mind about re-contesting.”
The former Head of State noted that the Jonathan administration has destroyed the petroleum industry, saying what is happening in the industry can only happen under the type of the leadership Nigeria has now. 
He said: “There’s nowhere in the world where such things happen. There’s nowhere in the world where a government can increase the cost of petroleum product by more than 120 per cent. It is most insensitive. Besides the air people breathe, the next important thing to them is petroleum. 
“Unfortunately, I know more about the petroleum industry than others in the government, because I was there for over three years as a leader. We started with Port Harcourt refinery producing 60,000 barrels per day. It was upgraded to 100,000 barrels per day. Another one was built there, also in Port Harcourt, producing over 150,000 barrels, making a total of 250,000 barrels per day. These were slated purely on Nigeria’s crude oil. 
“I personally asked the owner to sign the contract for Warri and Kaduna refineries, 100,000 barrels each. There were more than 20 depots, more than 3,200 pipelines and there was even a time we were exporting 100,000 barrels per day of refined products. But the current leadership has destroyed the industry.”

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Mikel declares I'll give 100% to Nigeria

By Our Reporter

 

Mikel Obi

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has again declared 100% effort and commitment to Nigeria ahead of a hectic month of qualifiers.
Mikel told MTNFootball.com he will be available for all the Super Eagles qualifiers against Namibia, Malawi and Rwanda, if picked by coach Stephen Keshi.
Nigeria host Namibia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on June 3 in Calabar and a week later they are away in Malawi in continuation of the qualifying tournament. They will then welcome Rwanda in a second leg qualifying match for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on June 17 after both teams played out a 0-0 draw in Kigali in February.
Keshi has demanded for assurances from the Chelsea midfielder before he would be picked for these games.
"I am always happy to play for Nigeria and my commitment should never be in doubt,” said Mikel, who has yet to feature for the country under Keshi.
“I am 100% ready to play for Eagles under new manager Stephen Keshi, who has been doing well since he took charge.
“I am ready to honour all the call-ups and give my best on the pitch."
Mikel informed MTNFootball.com he was delighted to meet with president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Aminu Maigari in London recently.
"It was a great honour for me that my country’s federation president was in London to watch me play in the FA Cup final,” he said.
“We were together after the match, had a great time and discussed at length on how to move the Eagles forward so that we will return to the good, old days.
“I gave him my word that I will do my best to see that the Eagles are great again."
Mikel has also allayed fear surrounding his ankle injury, saying he will be fit and ready for Saturday’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
"I am okay now. I trained on Friday, so no cause for alarm. I will play the final of the Champions League," he told MTNFootball.com.

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Airport revenue: EFCC operatives move to arrest FAAN MD Uriesi

By The Nation: Yusuf Alli, and Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

 

EFCC Chairman Lamorde

•’It’s not true’

Some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday stormed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over the row between the agency and Maevis Nigeria Limited on collection of revenue at the nation’s airports. 
But the officials of the anti-graft agency however could not effect the arrest of the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi.
His whereabouts was unknown as of press time.
According to a source, who spoke in confidence, the EFCC team went to FAAN Headquarters following the refusal of Uriesi to appear before the anti-graft agency in connection with the ongoing face-off between FAAN and Maevis. 
The source said: “We got a petition from the MD of FAAN against Maevis and two banks but since we commenced investigation, he has refused to appear before the EFCC team. 
“At a point, we sent a letter of invitation to him and he did not honour it again. Yet as the petitioner, he needs to substantiate allegations tabled before the commission. 
“We also require some documents from FAAN to enable us get to the roots of the matter. But FAAN has not been forthcoming. 
“Our team then decided to visit FAAN to conduct some search but we could not locate the MD not to talk of effecting his arrest. We hope he will turn up at our headquarters in Abuja .” 
When contacted, the acting Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “Our operatives were at the FAAN headquarters on Monday over some issues.” 
The Federal Government had in March terminated Maevis concession contract which it secured in 2008 
FAAN alleged it is disadvantaged in the concession thus had to wield the big stick. It also said Maevis turned down all overtures to renegotiate the agreement.
FAAN immediately announced another service provider, Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques (SITA) to take over the revenue collection at $1.40 per passenger processed through airports hitherto managed by Maevis. 
It was however learnt that it was FAAN that had actually requested the ICPC and EFCC to investigate the activities of two banks used by Maevis Limited. 
It alleged the diversion of funds belonging to FAAN into the coffers of Maevis Limited during the same period.” 
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had some weeks ago quizzed a former Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun, a former Director of Finance and Accounts, Mrs Azuka Onyia and other management staff over the same row with MAEVIS on airport revenue. 
But FAAN has denied the planned arrest of its Managing Director. It said it was a rumour
Its spokesman Mr Akin Olukunle, said at no time did officials of the EFCC visit FAAN to arrest Mr Uriesi, describing the rumour as the handiwork of  mischief makers.
Olukunle urged those who are bent on distracting the efforts of FAAN management to engage themselves constructively, rather than spreading false information that will engender bitterness and disharmony in the system.

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French new president sworn in

  By Agency Reporter

 

France's outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) looks at newly-elected President Francois Hollande (R)shaking hands with the outgoing First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (C) on the steps of the Elysee Palace on Tuesday. Photo:Reuters

Francois Hollande became French president on Tuesday in an official handover ceremony that makes him the country's first Socialist leader since Francois Mitterrand.

Outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy greeted Hollande on the steps of the Elysee presidential palace, and took him inside to transfer nuclear codes and other secret files ahead of a short swearing-in ceremony attended by around 400 guests.

Reuters gathered that Hollande was due to fly to Berlin later in the day for his first meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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