news Lagos 43
Thursday, January 1, 2015
N47.1bn: Appeal Court Strikes Out Charge Against Akingbola, Dada By Gbenga Soyele, Lagos
The Court of Appeal in Lagos yesterday struck out the N47.1 billion theft charge brought against former managing director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr Erastus Akingbola by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court in a unanimous decision held that the Lagos State
High Court where Akingbola and one of his associates, Bayo Dada are currently standing trial lacks the jurisdiction to conduct the trial. Specifically, the appellate court held that the subject matter of the alleged offences relates to banking operations and operations of capital issues which fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
The court came to the conclusion while ruling on an appeal filed by Akingbola and Dada challenging the ruling of Justice Lateef LawalAkapo of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja in which the lower court assumed jurisdiction over the matter. The two former bank chiefs had through their lawyers, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), filed two
separate applications, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the 22-count charge filed against them by the EFCC. But Justice Lawal-Akapo in his ruling delivered on May 2, 2014 dismissed the applications, holding that the charges preferred against the defendants were within the court's competence and purview to determine. Dissatisfied, the two men had
filed two separate appeals against the ruling and urged the Appeal Court to set it aside. The appellate court in its lead judgement delivered by Justice Amina Aguie (presiding) adopted by other members of the panel, Justice Samuel Oseji and Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo, held that the lower court judge took a narrow view of the matter when he assumed jurisdiction on the matter.
Lagos Seals Off Church For Detaining 2 Officials Lagos State government has sealed off Sunrise Cathedral Church located in Ikotun area of the state for detaining two of its environmental officers who went to the church to instruct the authorities to abate noise pollution from the church. Our correspondent learnt that the officials were detained on the orders of the pastor of church, while carrying out their official assignment after the residents of the area had written to the government to intervene in the nuisance constituted by the church. Following the visit of the officials to the church, they were detained for about three hours before a task force went to their rescue. The driver of the bus the government officials came in was said to have waited for hours outside the gate and had to call the office having noticed that the two staff were not coming out of the church. Piqued by this act, the church was shut down by the state government for detaining the officials and for failing to abate the nuisance. Confirming the incident, the Lagos commissioner for environment, Mr Tunji Bello said, “Upon the receipt of complaints on noise pollution from the church, our officers had gone to carry out monitoring exercise in the premises with a view to encouraging abatement of the nuisance. "However, the pastor of the church and his wife not only prevented them from doing this but also manhandled them and locked them up for up to three hours. “But for the wisdom of the driver who called and informed the office, these officers would have remained in the church custody. It took the intervention of the Task Force on Environmental Offences to secure their release.” Bello, who said the state government would not tolerate environmental abuses, urged all to carry out their businesses and activities with respect for the rights of others. He said the church would be made to respect the laws as no individual or organisation has the right to take the laws in their own hands. By George Okojie, Lagos
Consumers shopping for the New Year at Oshodi-Mafoluku road, Oshodi, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY BENEDICT UWALAKA.
2015: 'Year Of Total Liberation For Nigerian Masses' By Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, Lagos
The speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji has described this new year, 2015, as the year of total liberation for the suffering masses of Nigeria. In his New Year message signed by Mr Rotimi Adebayo, his chief press secretary, Ikuforiji declared: " To all Nigerians, who have suffered untold hardship under the strangulating rule of the PDP-controlled federal government in the past 16 years, it is with immense joy in my heart that I say a big congratulations, and welcome to this brand new year 2015, which promises to be the year of total liberation for our people." "As we all make it to this new year 2015, which would not have been possible but
for the grace of the Almighty God over us all, we all should give thanks to God for His abundant mercies over us despite the excruciating pains that our people have suffered. And then, we should all be ready to celebrate this year which I am sure will be the year of total liberation for all Nigerians from all the numerous ills that made life miserable for our people since the PDPled federal government came to power in 1999, " Ikuforiji said. "Now that the Almighty God has made it possible for us all to be alive to witness this new year, which incidentally turns out to be another general election year, what is expected of our people is for them to gird their loins and make up their minds to vote for for a completely new federal government in order to witness total change
at the top," he added. Continuing, Ikuforiji said, "What that move demands from all Nigerians is for them to vote massively for General Buhari and Prof Yemi Osinbajo, his running mate, and all the candidates of our political party, the All Progressives Congress, at all levels". He noted that this will amount to total liberation for the Nigerian masses from the massive corruption, abject poverty, lack, homelessness, worsening blackouts, over-dependence on imported petroleum products, massive youths' unemployment, worsening insecurity nationwide and crass impunity at the highest level of government in the land, which have continued to render Nigerians poorer and hopeless since 1999.
2015: We Need Govt That Caters For Workers – Union By Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, Lagos
The national president of the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), Comrade Lateef Oyelekan has said that the union will only support a government that will cater for Nigerian workers.
Speaking at the Delegates Conference of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Lagos, the union said that Nigerian workers should only cast their votes for those candidates that would make life better for them. "I want to say here that we are not partisan and have no allegiance to any party, but we would only support any party that distinguishes it-
self as a government of workers and anyone who will support workers to have food on their table", he said. Oyelekan, who noted that his union has supported government in its employment generation by providing jobs for almost 100 Nigerians, lamented that government, however, has not been supportive. He stated that the union with
its lean resources spends between N3million and N4millon every month to keep its businesses running. "It is government that should solve the electricity problem; we have played our part and if we in our small capacity are spending so much, I wonder how much the bigger players are spending".
44 news south-South south-East Bayelsa Assembly Rates Dickson High In Infrastructural Devt, Economic Policies The Bayelsa State House of Assembly yesterday reviewed the 2014 performance of the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson in the state, declaring that the present administration has performed well in the areas of proper economic management of state resources and massive infrastructural development. In a statement signed by the special assistant to the speaker on media, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, the House described 2014 as the most eventful year in the history of the state in which the people of the state have rediscovered hope through the restoration agenda of the Seriake Dickson-led administration. The statement said, “The year 2014 under review has attracted global attention through various platforms, ranging from the hosting of parliamentarians from Kenya on a study tour to the state’s legislature, the first African Regional Meeting on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, International Jazz Festival, World Fashion Organisation, African Fashion Week, the annual Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) and the first Bayelsa Investment and Economic Forum, among others.” By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa
Thursday, January 1, 2015
2015: Ebonyi Deputy Gov, Speaker, Others Seek Elechi’s Support
By Obinna Ogbonnaya, Abakaliki
The crisis rocking the Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday took another dimension at the Ebonyi State House of Assembly complex along Nkaliki road, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, as the state deputy governor and the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Dave Umahi, the embattled speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chukwuma Nwazunku and the other 11
lawmakers loyal to the speaker, for over three hours, pleaded with the state governor, Chief Martin Elechi to forgive them and support their political aspiration ahead of the 2015 general election. The state governor, his deputy, the speaker of the House of Assembly and the other 11 lawmakers out of the 24 in the House have been having a running battle over who controls the soul of the PDP in the state. While the state governor threw
his support behind the former minister of health as his preferred choice to succeed him, the deputy governor through the help of the national leadership of the party hijacked the party structure from the governor alongside other notable politicians in the state. The embattled speaker and the 11 lawmakers loyal to him plotted the impeachment of the state governor to pave way for his deputy to take over but the purported impeachment failed which subse-
quently prompted the speaker to write to President Goodluck Jonathan, urging him not to approve the N15billion bond the state government was seeking to complete some major projects in the state. The lingering trouble and the unacceptability of Chief Dave Umahi as the choice candidate of the state governor and those loyal to him led to the mass defection of the governor’s aide, council chairmen, federal lawmakers among other notable PDP members.
I Remain A Member Of PDP – Ndoma-Egba Leader of the Senate, Sen Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) has said that despite his loss at the recently concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial primaries in Cross River State, he remains a member of the party and will work tirelessly to deliver votes to it in 2015. This is just as he called on Nigerians to pray for the country, vote massively for the ruling PDP and protect their votes in the 2015 general polls. In a New Year statement released in Abuja yesterday, the Senate leader acknowledged that though there were pockets of dissensions in the party across the federation, the PDP is still the strongest party to deliver democracy dividends to Nigerians. He stated, “First and foremost, we thank God that despite all the challenges we encountered as a country in 2014, we are still standing strong. Secondly, I want Nigerians to know that there is no country that does not have challenges but what counts is that those challenges are surmounted. “There were reports last week that I was approached by an opposition. Well, the fact of the matter is that I remain in PDP and as a loyal party member, I will work to ensure the victory of my party at all levels in the 2015 polls. By Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
People waiting to withdraw cash from ATM at Mile 1 in Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN.
Strike: Edo Tertiary Institutions Promise To Resume By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City
Members of the Coalition of Edo State Union of Owned Tertiary Institutions yesterday threatened to resume their strike against the state government for non-payment of salaries to workers of colleges in the state and the alleged sacking of over 34 staff of the institutions. Workers of the College of Education, Ekiadolor, Institute
of Management Technology, Usen, College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, and College of Education, Igueben had last December suspended its protracted strike following an agreement reached between the state government and the institutions to meet the demands of their workers. However, indications emerged yesterday that staff of the affected institutions may not resume academic activities
over what they described as lack of insincerity on the part of the government in redeeming its earlier promise. Speaking on the matter, chairman of the union, Comrade Fred Omonuwa, alleged that workers of the affected institutions were being marginalised while some have been sacked on account of their agitation for better welfare for its members, adding that their families had to go begging to
celebrate the Christmas. He said, “The situation is pathetic as far as we are concerned; there is a war going on. We believe that the state government is waging war against workers of Edo State’s tertiary institutions. We have not received our salaries even when the state government came up with what is referred to as federal grant to pay the backlog of salaries management was owing and it is just that once”.
Edo To Create More Employment Opportunities In 2015
By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City
Edo State government has said that arrangements are being finalised to create hundreds of employment opportunities through foreign and local investors whose plans are being perfected to establish their businesses in the state. The state’s commissioner for foreign investment, Mr Denise Idahosa, made this disclosure when he feted youths of Iguobazuwa, near Benin in Ovia South
West local government area of Edo State yesterday. He listed the sectors investors have shown interest in to include renewable energy, agriculture, pharmaceutical companies, and service industries. While noting that the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole had over the years created thousands of employments especially for the youths, the commissioner said government alone cannot create the needed job op-
portunities. He said it was for this reason that the government approached these investors to come and take advantage of the window of opportunities that abound in the state. Idahosa noted that the move was not only to provide employments but also to boost the economy of the state as well as its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). He said, “We have positive development as regards the drive for
foreign investors, especially in the areas of agriculture, renewable energy and pharmaceutical companies. “We are working at getting the foreign as well as local investors to partner with the state government to boost the IGR, create employment opportunities and promote our economy and growth. “We have lots of proposals that we are actually working on and these companies will soon be coming for feasibility studies.”
news NATIONAL 45
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Ogun Assembly Passes N210bn Budget For 2015 Ogun State House of Assembly yesterday passed N210.354b appropriation bill for 2015 fiscal year. The bill had a slight adjustment in the budget of the State Ministry of Information and the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service Board. The budget of the Ministry of Information which has its revenue generation capacity increased from N3million to N4million, while that of the State Internal Revenue Service Board has a reduction of N1million from N36.774billion to N36.773billion). A breakdown of the appropriation bill shows N82.094billion allocated for recurrent, N10billion for consolidated revenue fund charges, including pensions and gratuities, while N118.260billion is meant for capital expenditure. By Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta
Okorocha Presents N141bn Budget Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday presented a total of N141,219,133,849 billion estimated budget to the state House of Assembly. In the budget he tagged “budget of total rescue and sustainability” proposed for the 2015 fiscal year, he stated that recurrent expenditure would be allotted 43 percent while 57 percent would be for capital projects. He further stated that the revenue projections for 2015 would be N119,698,633,849 for recurrent items and N21,520,500,000 for capital receipts. The budget is N3.5 billion higher than that of 2014. Okorocha said the reason for slight increase in recurrent expenditure was to take care of the welfare of workers in the state. By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Tukur Advocates Politics Of Decorum With barely two months to the 2015 general elections, former national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has cautioned the political elite to engage in politics with a sense of sanity and decorum. He further charged them to avoid the use of indecent or violent statements capable of overheating the polity. In a new year message to Nigerians, Tukur said that for peace and unity to reign supreme, politicians must play politics with decency, adding that what the nation needs most at the moment is effective political comportment and prayers. He remarked that with prayers, the economic plight of the nation and Nigerians will soon dbe a thing of the past. By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja
Nasarawa Guber: Maku Fails To Get APGA Ticket
By Millie Ibe, Abuja
Former minister of information Labaran Maku yesterday failed in his bid to secure the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to run for governor of Nasarawa State, after the holder of the ticket declared his resolve to run for the office. Maku had led a delegation of his supporters for discussions with APGA governorship candidate, Matthew Umbugaku, at the latter’s
office in Abuja, on the feasibility of Umbugaku handing over the party’s governorship ticket to Maku in the forthcoming general elections. However, in yesterday’s deliberations, the APGA flag bearer was said to have stated his intention to run for the office, insisting that he was not ready to relinquish his slot. Umbugaku’s spokesman, Mannix Ebhota, told reporters that the APGA candidate was ready to kickstart campaigns on januarry 5,
starting with sensitisation tour of communities and towns throughout the state. On his boss’ chances of winning, he noted that Umbugaku had a lot of developmental programmes which will be unveiled during the campaign, saying he is the best candidate for the state’s top job. Umbugaku is credited with establishing APGA in the state and was elected unopposed in the party’s governorship primary on De-
cember 9, 2014, while Maku lost the governorship ticket of his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), coming in second place. Since then, Maku has reportedly been seeking an alternative political platform to fulfil his ambition to govern his state, after resigning from President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet. He was said to have unsuccessfully tried to run on Labour Party’s platform.
short news
UPN Disowns ‘Youth Assembly’ The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has disowned the existence of Unity Party of Nigeria Youth Assembly and its Facebook account bearing the same name. The party’s national organizing secretary, Dr. Ola Olateju, in a statement issued yesterday said: “There is nothing of such in the Former information minister Labaran Maku (3rd right) visited the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Na- organisational arrangement of the sarawa State, Matthew Umbugaku (2nd left) for talks over Maku’s quest to contest for governor under APGA, yesterday in Abuja. party for now.” He therefore urged members of the public to disregard it, saying that “supporters of the party who want to propagate parties, they now understood that bring together, is now faced with By Igho Oyoyo, Abuja the ideals of the there was an effort to prevent them problems created by INEC to help UPN should do so Ahead of the 2015 general election, from providing this alternative po- the PDP to frustrate our intention. within the existing about 14 political parties under one litical party for the 2015 election. “These political parties are not structures.” platform called, Credible Alternative According to Balarabe Musa, connected with the PDP and APC; Olateju advised Alliance (CAA), have accused the In- INEC is deliberately creating diffi- they have decided to form a demthose behind the dependent National Electoral Com- culties for the emergence of the al- ocratic credible alliance under the group to desist mission (INEC) of conspiring with ternative polical party; by doing so, leadership of the Allied Congress from parading the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the commission is conspiring with Party of Nigeria (ACPN). themselves as an to frustrate the merger of another the PDP to make sure that they did “But, INEC which is on the face of organ of the UPN alternative political party. not contest the 2015 general elec- it, which is serving the interest of and to come in Former governor of Old Kaduna tion and also not to vote. the PDP, does not want to allow this through the official State and a co-chairman of CAA, AlHe said, “What I mean is that to happen. Therefore, they are crechannels or risk haji Balarabe Musa, who made this those political parties which includ- ating and supporting factionalizathe full weight of known in Abuja yesterday in a press ed the deregistered political parties, tion in the ACPN, so that there will the law. briefing, said in the process of per- which are coming together to merge not be chance for these political parBy onjewu fecting the merger of the political as one - which the CAA is trying to ties to perfect their planned alliance. Dickson, Abuja
2015: Parties Accuse INEC Of Conspiring With PDP To Frustrate Merger
Borno Guber: ‘Sheriff Can’t Impose Candidate On Us’
By Victor Okeke, Abuja
A union of Concerned Indigenes of Borno State in the Southwestern States of Nigeria has cautioned former Borno State Governor Modu Sheriff against imposing Alhaji Mohammed Imam whom he had earlier rejected as a son-in-law as the PDP governorship candidate in Borno.
At a press conference in Lagos yesterday, the group’s chairman, Alhaji Kachalla Bulama, said they are worried with what is happening in Borno State and its effect on every citizen of the state. He said, “As we speak today, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has imposed on the PDP a person that is not fit in any way to be a governor of Borno even in normal times not to talk
of the critical time Borno has found its self.” This political development, he said, has made them afraid for the future of the state. “We are not card carrying members of any party but we want the best candidates in the major political parties in Borno. In politics, anything can happen, no matter what expectations people have for
a particular person. This is why we prefer both APC and PDP to have credible candidates for the governorship so that in the event anyone of them wins, Borno State will have a good future. Imam was on December 24, 2014, chosen as the new candidate of the PDP in Borno State to replace Alhaji Gambo Lawan who was elected by party delegates in Abuja.
46 news NATIONAL US’ Prediction: Jonathan, Obasanjo By Abubakar salihi, Kano Should Prevent Disintegration – Kano State government is to spend N210.76billion in the Adegbenro 2015 fiscal year, the state gov-
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Kano Budgets N210.76bn For 2015 Fiscal Year
A Lagos- based entrepreneur and auto dealer, Adejare Adegbenro has called on President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo to work together to prevent the United States’ prediction of disintegration from coming to pass this year. Adegbenro, who is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), of Balmoral International Limited , in a chat with journalists in Lagos yesterday, expressed worry over seeming frosty relationship between the two leaders, saying that, “the duo have what it takes to stabilize the visibly troubled ship of Nigeria.” According to him, both Jonathan and Obasanjo will do this country a lot of good by deciding to come together to chart a way forward for the country, saying that , “posterity would not forget them if they did not prevent the US’ disintegration prophecy from coming to pass.” Adegbenro, who referred to Obasanjo as “my grandfather,” said, “unarguably, both Papa Obasanjo and President Jonathan love this country dearly and will not want any evil to befall her,” warning that, the duo should not turn themselves to the two fighting proverbial elephants that cause agony to the grasses.
ernor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has disclosed. The amount comprises N135.5billion, representing 64 per cent for capital expenditure and N75.2billion or 36 per cent for recurrent expenditure. The governor, who made this known while presenting the state 2015 Appropriation Bill to
the state House of Assembly yesterday, explained that the 2015 budget tagged “Budget of Celebration of Success”, is lower than that of the previous year by seven per cents. Shedding light on the estimated revenue for the budget, Governor Kwankwaso stated that it includes Internally Generated Revenue, N45.6billion, Statutory allocation, N 52.2billion, Value Added Tax, N10. 6billion, Other receipts, N5.4billion and total capital receipts, N 96.8bil-
lion. A breakdown of the sectoral allocations of the budget indicate that Infrastructure got the largest share of N86.03 billion, followed by Education, N18billion, Health, N4.95billion, Water supply, N3.66billion while Agriculture was allocated N2.86billion. Reiterating that despite the nationwide cash crunch his government would not take any loan to finance its mega projects, the governor stated that besides completing them, the
government plans to embark on new ones. They include power evacuation from Tiga and Challawa Gorge Dams at the cost of N5 billion, an Independent Power Project at Wasai Dam, Minjibir local government, N1.2 billion, the construction of Gadar Madobi-Yako-Kwanar Dangora road at the cost of N3 billion, dualisation of Sheikh Jafar road at the cost of N1.5 billion as well as an under-pass at Sharada-Panshekara road.
By George Okojie Lagos
Yero Flags-off Training For 2000 Graduate Interns In Kaduna
Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero yesterday flagged off the SURE-P Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) for selected 2000 graduates in Kaduna State. Governor Yero tasked all the beneficiaries to be serious and hard working during the course of the training which is expected to last for a year before they will be absolved into the civil service. According to him, the essence of the scheme of the federal government which the state has decided to key into is to engage some unemployed graduates and provide them with some level of work experience at various ministries , parastatals and private sectors in the state. While urging the beneficiaries to explore the opportunity provided by SURE-P at the federal and state levels, Governor Yero also promised to support another 10,000 graduates if federal government gives the go ahead. “ I urge you to make use of your brains to become useful to yourselves and the society at large. It is by so doing that you will encourage the federal and state governments to invest more in the programme for sustenance. By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna
Adamawa State PDP governorship candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, when he presented his running mate, Reverend Habila Istifanus (centre) to the party faithfuls in Yola, yesterday. PHOTO BY RIBADU MEDIA OFFICE
Ribadu Presents Istifanus As Running Mate By Mohammed Ismail, Yola
The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has presented former chairman of Ganye local government area, Rev. Habila Istifanus as his running mate in the February 2015 polls. Ribadu said the choice of Istifanus follows wide consultations with all party stakeholders across the state adding that Isti-
fanus is a man for all seasons and has the competency to assist him in bringing fast development to the state. “I am here to present the winning team for you. We are here to bring before you what we have been doing in the past couple of months. We hereby present to you this man of God,” he said. Ribadu who was accompanied by two out of the three senatorial candidates of the party as well as party executives noted that the
PDP team consists of people of proven integrity and track record whom if given the mandate will change the fortune of the state. “We promised to present to you competent running mate that will bring rapid transformation in the state. In the process of doing that we moved round the state and we finally arrived at what we believed was the best team for Adamawa State,” he said. Ribadu noted that the choice of
Istifanus follows his intimidating credentials and diligent record of service adding that he is a man of letters, a community organizer and manager of people. Istifanus hailed from Ganye Local Government, and married with 4 children and was an alumnus of University of Base, School of politics and international studies United Kingdom where he obtained masters of advanced studies and MA International Studies respectively.
Anambra Guber: Court Fixes Jan 5 For Suit Against Candidates List By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja
All the candidates seeking elective positions in Anambra State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have to wait on the Abuja High Court to hear and determine the plethora of applications filed by parties in the suit from the state. Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf yesterday fixed January 5, 2015 to hear the suit.
Three parallel executives emerged with different candidates for various positions in the 2015 general elections. The court issued an order stopping the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting the names of candidates from Anambra State pending the hearing and determination of the case. During yesterday’s proceedings, counsel to the PDP in the
matter, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) challenged the motion filed by Solomon Umoh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, seeking to vacate the order of the court which stopped INEC from accepting, publishing or recognising any list of candidate that may be submitted to it by the Anambra State executive of the party for the 2015 general elections. Umoh opposed Izinyon’s arguments and told the court that
having been served with multiple applications and a preliminary objection, he needed time to respond to them. Specifically, he said he needed time to respond to the issues raised by the national executive of the party as it affects the list of candidates in the state. After listening to the arguments from parties in the suit, the trial judge granted Umoh’s request and adjourned the case.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
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48 issues
Thursday, January 1, 2015
By Raphael Balenieri
Despite slowing economic growth across the country, Chinese internet companies experienced record revenue. Despite slowing economic growth, 2014 proved to be one of the most successful years for China’s online giants with several high-profile IPOs grabbing worldwide headlines throughout the year. The country’s internet companies posted record revenues fuelled by an increasing pool of web users in China and generated renewed excitement abroad among foreign investors. Although expected by analysts, the internet economic bonanza happened somewhat paradoxically amid China’s overall economic slowdown and President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign both taking heavy tolls on other sectors of the Chinese economy, including green energy, real estate, and luxury item sales. “2014 was probably one of the best years for China’s internet industry,” said Paul Gillis, codirector of the international MBA programme at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management. “You’d have to go back to 2007, which was sort of the previous peak. 2014 was so huge because of Alibaba, it kind of dwarfed everything else,” said Gillis, a longtime Beijing resident well-versed in China’s internet scene. Hangzhou-based e-commerce colossus Alibaba Group made history in September this year after it raised $25bn in New York in what became the world’s largest initial public offering ever recorded in the United States. Yet “China’s Amazon” was not the only Chinese internet media darling to list abroad in 2014. Other household names in China include JD.com, another e-commerce platform, which raised $1.78bn on the Nasdaq in May. The company carried its IPO only two months after Weibo Corp, “China’s Twitter”, raised $500m in March. “2014 has been a very hot year for China’s internet companies, this is not a surprise. The US stock market proved very good throughout the year. This gave them a window of opportunity,” said Will Tao, analysis director at iResearch, an internet consultancy.
China’s internet titans are not short on cash - and the irony is that this year’s wave of IPOs was not triggered by a need to land more financing
Timing is everything China’s internet titans are not short on cash - and the irony is that this year’s wave of IPOs was not triggered by a need to land more financing. “The companies actually didn’t need money,” said Gillis from Peking University. Rather, he said, overseas listings were meant to give an “exit” to the companies’ current investors - mostly foreign private equity and venture capital - and provide further room for start-up acquisitions. Acquisitions have become more and more important for China’s internet companies as the pool
Xi Jinping
2014: A Boom Year For China’s Tech Companies of web users expands and usage diversifies. By the end of June 2014, China had 632 million internet users, an increase of 14.4 million from last year, according to the China Internet Network Information Center, an official body set up in 1997 that provides regular statistical reports on online developments. More noticeable, however, is that for the first time mobile internet use (83.4 percent) overtook traditional PC (80.9 percent) usage in 2014. The number of mobile internet users reached a record 527 million, an increase of 27 million compared to the end of 2013. “This explains the success of China’s internet companies pretty much completely,” said Gillis. “They were at the right place at the right time.” Employees inside recordbreaking Internet giant Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China [EPA] Earliest entrants The biggest winners of 2014 were China’s three internet behemoths: Alibaba (e-commerce), Baidu (web-search), and Tencent (e-messaging apps). Among them, Alibaba enjoyed the highest growth. Total revenue for the third quarter of 2014, which ended on September 30,
reached $2.7bn after a 54 percent year-on-year rise. China’s number one search engine Baidu enjoyed similar success over the same period earning $2.2bn with a 52 percent rise, as did Tencent raking in $3.2bn while shooting up 28 percent, according to the latest data on their websites. Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent were the first to enter China’s promising internet market in the late 1990s. While modest at their beginnings, they eventually transformed into domestic empires while their founders, most often vision-driven entrepreneurs trained overseas, kept a tight rein on their company. But analysts said it should be a more quiet year for China’s internet companies in 2015. “I don’t expect there will be many IPOs next year. The best brands have already listed and those who haven’t yet are not ready,” said Tao from iResearch. However, 2015 will probably witness more industry consolidation. Analysts said they expect China’s internet companies to keep going beyond their core competency by buying out smaller Internet start-ups to get their foot in other fields such as mobile finance, online gaming or cultural content. Others will pursue international ambitions. Baidu, for instance,
generates 99.8 percent of its revenue in China and has only 96 employees working abroad out of a total of 40,500, according to its website. American dream Nevertheless, its co-founder and current CEO Robin Li - China’s second-richest man with a net worth of $16.3bn, according to Forbes magazine - has big global ambitions. Baidu announced earlier this year it would invest $300m in a new research-and-development centre in California dedicated to artificial intelligence. “I think he [Robin Li] definitely has international plans,” Clinton Cimring told Al Jazeera in a phone interview from his home in Florida. The South African engineer worked for two years with Li helping him set-up RankDex, a complex algorithm that is today Baidu’s backbone. “The point was to build a perfect search engine for the United States specifically. It was a complete surprise when he took it to China. I had no idea he was going to do something like that,” Cimring said. “With his patents, which no one else can copy, he could now launch in the US a search engine that would turn more sophisticated and more reliable results than Google.” — AlJazeera
issues 49
Thursday, January 1, 2015 By Steve Rosenberg, BBC News, Moscow
It was New Year’s Eve 1999. While Russians were preparing for the dawn of a new millennium, their president was preparing a surprise announcement. “I have contemplated this long and hard,” Boris Yeltsin announced on TV. “Today, on the last day of the outgoing century, I am stepping down.” The man Boris Yeltsin chose to succeed him was his Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin. On leaving the Kremlin, Yeltsin told Putin: “Take care of Russia”. So, has he? “Yeltsin should have told Putin: ‘Clean up my mess’,” believes the veteran Russian broadcaster Vladimir Pozner. “Russia was in a shambles by the time Yeltsin left. And, to a certain extent, Putin did clear things up. “The local governors are no longer fiefdoms that do whatever they want. “The movement was to more stability, to making people feel more sure they would have a job tomorrow.”
Despite Russia’s problems, he remains popular, with the kind of approval rating (85%) most Western politicians can only dream of
Stability and wealth After the chaotic 1990s, Vladimir Putin - a former KGB officer - brought more than just welcome stability. He delivered a degree of prosperity, too. “The four years we worked together was a period of reforms,” recalls former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. “Between 2000 and 2004 we managed to pull Russia out of the crisis to sustainable growth: a rate of GDP growth of 6-7% a year. People’s incomes were growing 15% a year. “The wealth of families, especially in big cities, is now much better. But that’s not because of Mr Putin. It’s the oil price that saved people.” During his first term as president, Vladimir Putin sought close ties with the West. In a BBC interview in 2000, he even refused to rule out Russia joining Nato. But in the years that followed, the Kremlin leader grew increasingly disillusioned with Russia’s Western “partners”, particularly with the US. He resented what he viewed as Western attempts to weaken Russia, to encroach on its “sphere of influence”. He accused the US state department of financing the anti-government street protests, which engulfed Moscow in 2011-2012. Those protests had a profound effect on Vladimir Putin. He felt betrayed. “Putin had made a deal with the middle classes: their loyalty
Putin
Has 15 Years Of Power Gone To Putin’s Head? in return for their personal freedom,” explains Russian writer Viktor Erofeyev. “Suddenly these people started to turn against him, like children against their parents. He was humiliated. “The West humiliated him, too, because it started to applaud these children. He was furious. “And when - from his perspective - the West started to ‘take’ Ukraine, he said no. What followed was a thunderstorm. Not of rain, but of blood.” Sanctions biting An economic storm, too. Western sanctions have helped push Russia to the verge of recession; these sanctions are the direct result of Vladimir Putin’s decision to annex the Crimea, and of Russia’s military intervention in eastern Ukraine. This month one Moscow newspaper suggested that recent events had damaged Vladimir Putin’s domestic image of the “all-powerful wizard”.
If President Putin is losing his “magic”, is it because all that power has gone to his head? “After 15 years, it would be strange if it hadn’t,” believes Vladimir Pozner. “When you’re a monarch, when you’re born into this, then it doesn’t go to your head. “But when you come from nowhere - and Putin comes from nowhere to a large degree - and you become a very successful president, and you’re on the cover of Time magazine, and you’re Number One on Forbes, and surrounded by sycophants who say you’re a genius, how can it not to go your head?” Under the Russian constitution, Vladimir Putin could run for president again in 2018 and stay in power until 2024. That cannot be ruled out. Popular in Russia Despite Russia’s problems, he remains popular, with the kind of approval rating (85%) most Western politicians can only dream of. But such sky-high success will be difficult to maintain in
a recession. “If there is a real economic catastrophe, it’s going to be blamed on Putin,” predicts Vladimir Pozner. “And he will fall from hero to zero.” And the fall could be quite sudden: “As far as we know from Russian history, changes will come - not through revolts or revolutions - but through a kind of conspiracy in or around the Kremlin,” says Viktor Erofeyev. “A conspiracy connected with the death of the leader, or weak health or a terrible crash in the economy.” Erofeyev believes it is too late for Vladimir Putin to change his policies or his personality. “I don’t think he could change. After the annexation of the Crimea and this bloody war in Ukraine, it is impossible for him to change. “No-one would believe him: neither the middle classes in Moscow, nor the West. “And, probably, not even himself.” — BBC News
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Thursday, January 1, 2015
NYSC And Safety Of Corps Members By James Mancha
Since the inception of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 41 years ago, a lot has happened to make people argue for and against its relevance and benefits to the Nigerian youth. The history of the NYSC is indeed replete with momentous events. For some of us, commenting on issues like this is more than just writing. It’s a way to wake up, to calm down, to spark an idea, and to share a story. And this is the story of the transformation going on right now in the NYSC. I recall when the present Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, assumed office, he clearly highlighted the path he wanted his administration to take. He gave a very brilliant four-point agenda aimed at increasing the impact and relevance of NYSC by improving the service content of the scheme, enhancing the welfare and safety of corps members and staff; expanding partnerships for greater impact, funding and support for the scheme; and increasing the visibility and relevance of the scheme. Pursuant of the second agenda, which is ensuring the welfare and safety of corps members, the D-G recently paid a visit to corps member Babatunde Oluwagbenga, with call-up number: NYSC/ LUT/2014/246634. According to news reports, Babatunde was involved in an auto accident alongside five of his colleagues on their way to the NYSC orientation camp in Bayelsa State. The visit by the D-G showed the premium placed on the lives of corps members. I gathered that the D-G was in Benin on his nationwide tour of orientation camps when he heard about the unfortunate incident.
Brigadier-General Olawumi
News reports said he made a detour to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital where the injured corps member was being treated. But that is not all there is to it. He actually ordered the payment of the victim’s medical bills, which he could have done by instruction and not necessarily visiting physically. He could have sent the Edo State coordinator of the NYSC to monitor the situation and report back to him. But no, he visited himself, which I think was exemplary. That in itself was a statement of two uncommon folds: translating words to action. Still on the issue of enhancing the welfare and safety of corps members and staff, I have it on good report that the D-G on numerous occasions has stated that the safety of corps members is paramount and non-negotiable. He has also said that the NYSC will continue to do everything to keep corps members safe and secure and to respond promptly to anyone of them who is in distress in any form.
Still on the issue of enhancing the welfare and safety of corps members and staff, I have it on good report that the D-G on numerous occasions has stated that the safety of corps members is paramount and non-negotiable
We were all witnesses to the unfortunate events of 2011 where some corps members in the north lost their lives in the postelection violence of that year. The memory isn’t something we can wish away easily. The nation mourned. And questions were asked. Answers were provided, even if not satisfactorily. I think the NYSC has realised that corps members are vulnerable to attacks hence the premium placed on their safety and welfare at all times. And the visit of the D-G to the injured corps member consolidates this view. I also understand that during the orientation exercise, all camps have had security personnel doubled with the military, police, SSS, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps collaborating to provide adequate security for corps members. The distress call centre can best be described as innovative. I gather it works this way: when corps members are deployed to their places of primary assignment, their full data such as names, phone number, states code, and places of primary assignment, and addresses of security agencies within that area are sent by the state coordinators to the NYSC headquarters. The information is then uploaded into the scheme’s database. In times of distress, when a corps member calls with the registered phone number, his or her data page will appear on the screen. Security operatives within the vicinity would then be notified immediately. However, it is comforting to know that more than ever before, the lives of corps members are more secured, and that their welfare is being given the utmost attention it deserves. – Mancha wrote in from Abuja
2015 And Politics Of Imposition by bala sani
As we step into the new year and get ready for the 2015 elections, it becomes pertinent to ask if Sen Danjuma Goje is a progressive. If indeed he is, why is he imposing unpopular candidates in order to favour his political sons? Sen. Goje imposed Alh Umaru Barambu,a three term member of the Gombe State House of Assembly who is less than two weeks in the party, in Akko federal constituency, as well as aspirants like Hon. Khamisu Mailantarki, Eng. Dankawu and Chiroma Bacciji from Gombe Kwami,Funa kaye federal constituency. This was a deliberate act aimed
at giving undue advantage to Samaila Hassan Kashere who is from the same village as Goje and who served him as commissioner for eight years, when he (Goje) was governor of the state between 2003 and 2011. Another favoured political son is Alh. Yau Muhammad Marafa Kwami (PDP candidate) who was GM of Cooperative Financing Agency as well as the MD of CFA Community Bank. It is clear that he is working for the PDP to secure the 35% votes for President Goodluck Jonathan. Therefore, history is about repeating itself. We all remember what transpired in 2011. He is in the APC to settle a personal fight because it gives
him the perfect vehicle and not because he is a progressive. His plans is first to remove Governor Dankwambo who has refused to do his bidding by initiating the withdrawal of corruption charges pending in a federal high court against him. Second, is to hide behind Buhari’s broom revolution to win back his senatorial seat. Let us assume that he succeeds in dislodging Gov. Dankwambo as the executive governor of the state; let us also assume that he succeeds in securing the 35% votes for President Goodluck Jonathan; does that mean his anointed APC candidates will jettison the litigation and acquit him over the corruption charges levelled against him by the EFCC?
Is it by imposing unpopular candidates under the APC platform in Gombe, Kwami, Funa-Kaye and Akko federal constituency to clear way for his political sons that he will be able to give President Jonathan the 35% he’s looking for in Gombe State? Gombe, Kwami, Funa-Kaye federal constituency has 450,000 registered voters, while Akko federal constituency has 250,000 registered voters.With a sum total of 700,000 registered voters in those two constituencies, it is now left for the people of these constituencies to take their destiny in their own hands. – Sani, a public commentator, wrote in from Gombe.
Inside Out
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Fake Negotiators, Failed Ceasefire
N
ew Year is here at last. We thank God for His mercies. But in counting our loses and successes, we need to be honest with how 2014 went. Here comes the apocalyptic 2015, when the global police, United States, predicted Nigeria will cease to be a peaceful united nation, as we have known it since 1914. Nothing worries the country more than the Boko Haram insurgency and its implications for the nation’s survival and the elections. The bizarre drama of absurd playing out in the lame war against terrorism in the country assumed an ignoble dimension penultimate Tuesday when the Department of State Service arrested an aide to Borno State governor, Junaid Khadi, and six other associates of the self-styled Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis. According to the SSS, the paraded men claimed to be Boko Haram commanders and organised a fake ceasefire negotiation with the federal government. The suspects allegedly collected millions of Naira from the federal government while giving the impression that they were members of the deadly sect interested in a ceasefire agreement. Parading the suspects on Tuesday in Abuja, the Deputy Director, Public Relations, DSS, Marilyn Ogar, explained that following allegations by Davis on August 29, 2014, that a former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, and a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika were sponsoring Boko Haram, the service initiated an in-depth investigation into the accusations and subsequently established that they were part of a well orchestrated plan to spread falsehood, undermine and discredit the efforts of the government to end terrorism in the country. It is surprising that it took the weird revelations of Davis in the media to rouse our security apparatchiks from their slumber. It is unbelievable that the intelligence community are yet to be proactive to a fundamentalist war that has claimed over 13,000 lives, gulped trillions of tax-payers money and rendered hundreds of thousands homeless over the past five years. If indeed, the Australian and his cohorts are a part of several local and international groups who were out to “make merchandise of the Boko Haram insurgency through concocted and fabricated stories,” what is our patently failed security system doing about the latest scam where senior government officials swindled the country via another ill-fated ceasefire through the Chadian government and some merchants of terror, who through false pretences “represented” Boko Haram? The ‘freedom’ of Sadiq Ogbeche, the repatriated suspected Nyanya bombing mastermind is a sad heartache. But the shadow boxing over Modu Sherrif, Idris Derby, Davis & co points to failure of intelligence. Our ultimate quest is to conquer these insurgents ravaging the north-eastern parts of the country. We are not unmindful of some partisan interests hugely benefitting from the misfortune of the country, using Boko Haram as decoy, politically and economically. I refuse to be persuaded by the tales of the DSS on Davis relationship with fake negotiators, because he was said to have been part of the negotiations with the Niger-Delta militants. Who recruited him previously or was he simply an international do-gooder that the SSS could not profile correctly?
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Thursday, January 1, 2015
To Al-Makura, Issues Are Sacred, Violence Is Alien by Yakubu Lamai
For many Nigerians our most fervent prayer in 2015 is that the political campaigns and elections should be hinged on issues rather than insults and violence. A quick flashback will remind us that the election in 2011 in Nasarawa State which swept Umaru Tanko AlMakura to power had the trappings of a revolution, but remarkably it proceeded without any form of violence. Once upon a time, the ordinary folk of Nasarawa were seen as docile, weak and without voice by the political elite but then in 2011, they rose against all odds to cast, escort and defend their votes thereby burying what they rightly felt was “the politics of false promises!” At that time, the will of the people was that change must come to Nasarawa State and they were resolute in their choice of Umaru Tanko Al-Makura who offered himself as the candidate who had broken away from the status quo to lead the march to positive change in the state. The masses believed and propelled him to send packing a sitting governor in the person of Aliyu Akwe Doma. Till date, the flight of Umaru Tanko Almakura to victory in 2011 has remained as jolting as it was revolutionary. A day after INEC announced him as governor, on Tuesday 27th April 2011, Umaru Tanko AlMakura declared: “May I use this opportunity to thank my fellow contestants most especially Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma for a very interesting and vibrant contest. There are no losers in this victory. It is a victory for the entire
people of Nasarawa State” From 2010 when he threw his hat into the ring to wrest Nasarawa State from stagnation, there was an evident sense of mission about Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. As at 2011 there was a corrosive level of infrastructural decay in the state and the near absence of facilities in urban and rural areas. There was no single asphalt road in Lafia. Some popularly referred to the capital city as a glorified village. Streets were locked in sand and no traffic light existed in the entire state. At the time of Al-Makura’s coming, doctors were on strike and teachers in the state polytechnic and Nasarawa State University were also on industrial action and inspite of the fact that the state was mired in staggering financial debt; the new minimum wage had not been implemented. The electoral victory of AlMakura became a symbolic expression of the courage and sacrifices of struggling people who were tired of being tired and the explosive spill-over of the pent up frustration of disaffected young men and women who were dissatisfied with the lacklustre performance of government in Nasarawa State. Undaunted by the task ahead, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura noted in his inaugural speech that Nasarawa State since its creation “has been held hostage to the excesses and folly of its rulers” and his ascendance represented “a decent burial to the politics of pettiness, division and false promises” that had plagued the body politic of the state. Consequently, in the three and a half years of stewardship that has since followed, Umaru Tanko
Al-Makura
Without being a magician and without borrowing loans, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has applied the most stringent economic approach to manage the little resources at his disposal and has affected a turnaround that will be permanently etched in the annals of history. Al-Makura took a clear stand to which he made no apology: the old order and the vested interests that sustained it had to be swept aside for the sake of conducting a people oriented style of governance where leadership must move decisively to change the face of Nasarawa State! This stance put Tanko AlMakura in direct firing line and confrontation with the elite, who were used to partaking in the spoils of power. Since its creation in 1976, the laws of Nasarawa State have not been compiled and documented until Al-Makura came. With the administration’s hands-on
approach, the state government procured and distributed earthmoving equipment to each of the three senatorial zones, for the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads. To boost the morale of workers, Governor Al-Makura was among the first to fully adopt and implement the national minimum wage of (N18, 900) and ensure that no child pays school fees in public schools, while government also took on the added responsibility to pay for NECO exams on behalf of all graduating students in secondary schools. Al-Makura has also revived
the moribund policy of paying scholarship allowance to all students of Nasarawa State origin in tertiary institutions and made medicine available to the poor through the long dead initiative of drug revolving scheme. Under the sterling leadership of Al-Makura, Nasarawa State has continued to set the pace by being the first to fully digitize its state-owned broadcast organisation, the first to employ its youth in a state owned security outfit christened NAYES and the first in a wide array of landmark achievements attained by his administration. In summary, Umaru Tanko AlMakura has within three-and-a half years changed the discourse about the flourishing of worthy political leadership in Nasarawa State. He has lifted the bar for development and set a new standard to which others who aspire to become governor cannot fall below. He has exposed the lie that government does not have enough money, means and resources to develop her state and better the lives of people. Without being a magician and without borrowing loans, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has applied the most stringent economic approach to manage the little resources at his disposal and has affected a turnaround that will be permanently etched in the annals of history. 2011 is gone and now we are at the doorstep of another cycle of elections in 2015 and as the storms gather; observers have paused to see if 2015 will turn out to become the second chapter in the “Umaru Tanko Al-Makura revolution”. – Lamai is chief press secretary to Governor Tanko Al-Makura
Time For INEC To Act On FRESH Party By Chinelo Obiorah
Once in every man and nations life comes the moment to decide, on the side of truth or falsehood, for the good or evil side”. – J. R. Lowell Early economists believed that the best public policy is that which produces the most happiness (a philosophy written into the US Declaration of Independence). Good governance is predicated on open, free and a democratic system of government, from national to state to local governments and all their agencies. However when there is a skew in the policy which denies some direct participation in the electoral process, then grounds are being laid for dissention amongst the people. That’s the issue on the INEC –FRESH party gridlock. After more than a year of legal and psychological war, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, led by Prof. Attahiru Jega, who once said that
people believe that the agency was being controlled by the executive arm of government, finally confirmed that this agency will stop Rev. Chris Okotie and his Fresh Democratic Party, FRESH, from participating in the coming general election. After giving the Hope Democratic Party, HDP, the green light to conduct its congresses and primaries, subsequent upon their victorious verdict upturning its deregistration, the Commission effectively sealed FRESH’s hopes of doing likewise, as it refused to follow through with its appeal of the verdict or withdraw it to allow the party pursue its mandate. Prof. Jega cannot extricate himself from this accusation, as it is now hard to refute this belief. This double standard in adherence to two similar judgments has shown so. This re-registration admonition given to FRESH in the wake of its court victory, followed curiously
with a notice of appeal by INEC, is a strange twist which speaks of the agency’s hidden desire to stop the party from participating in the 2015 general elections. There are rumours that INEC has re-certified the FRESH party, but it remains rumours because no concrete action has been taken by the agency to prove it. No letter has been received by the party from INEC, to allow it to contest the election, or signify that it will no longer pursue its appeal as originally intended. Belonging to the older parties is like having a gilt-edged qualification which confers them with aboriginal rights to power, but their feelings of invincibility and delusions of competence has gripped them. A dose of real world calibration is needed now- as competence cannot be assumed. In its continued grasp at straws, the ruling party, PDP and the clique around the President, who run the country from a sofa in their bedrooms and has engineered
impeachments and the putsch against opposition parties, did the obvious: it has named Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate for 2015 elections, despite the gross ineptitude and buck-passing that has characterised his government. That puts to rest the long expected declaration to contest, come 2015, by the incumbent president, albeit with a new curve which not even OBJ was obliged with: sole candidacy. The alien rule by our elites, which is far-removed from the real issues that affect the people, is getting even farther removed by the continuous assault on the fundamental rights of the people by actions and inactions of its appointees. The Commission needs to understand the numbers and implications of decisions in nationalistic terms. Irrespective of how good the agency’s hierarchy thinks it is, it must raise its game
now and allow the emergence of a crop of leaders who can checkmate cronyism and end the drift of the ship of state. What the masses want before any angst or pillowtalk sets in is a system that does not continue to hamstring them by acts that diminishe them and continues to frustrate their ambition to improve their lot. Martin Luther King Jnr said “We must accept finite disappointment, but never loose infinite hope”. That appears to be the position which FRESH may adopt, because, true to expectation, its trajectory has been short-circuited by the agency’s machinations in holding out till the congress, primaries and submission of candidates window close, and even with a release by the Commission at this time, it will be fool hardy to commence on any form of politicking less than two months to elections. – Obiorah wrote from Abia State
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Thursday, January 1, 2014
Liverpool Don’t Need Many New Players – Rodgers Brendan Rodgers does not expect there to be much transfer activity at Liverpool when the window opens for business on Saturday. After agonisingly losing out on the Premier League title by just two points last season, the Reds have found the going much tougher in the 2014-15 campaign. With half of the season gone, Rodgers’ side have already lost seven matches and they will
start 2015 against Leicester City on Thursday in eighth place - some 18 points adrift of leaders Chelsea. The Anfield outfit were expected to try and bolster their squad in the transfer window, with a goalkeeper thought to be a top priority due to question marks over the quality and form of Simon Mignolet and Brad Jones. However, Rodgers does not believe that January is the right
time to alter his team and stated he will only delve into the market if the right calibre of player becomes available. “There won’t be much if any transfer activity from us during the transfer window,” the Northern Irishman on Wednesday. “I don’t think January is a good time to spend. I’m happy with how the group is progressing after a tough start to the season.”
Reps Vow To Develop Other Sports In 2015 By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja
The House of Representatives has vowed to ensure that other sports get equal attention in 2015 to ensure all round development, against focusing on only football. Chairman, House Committee on Sports Godfrey Gaiya disclosed this while speaking to LEADERSHIP Sports in Abuja. According to him, football had always received the bulk of appropriation in the past, leaving other sports underfunded, a development he said would no longer be tolerated.
“We are expecting better results in sporting activities in 2015 because we would be making funds available for other sports so that talents will be discovered in other sports where we have some advantages. “As a parliament we have a role to play and we would ensure that we provide the sporting sector with an enabling environment through adequate funding. We have identified other federations which we hope one day will challenge football. “We are looking at athletics
where our golden girl, Blessing Okagbare did us proud internationally. We will also apply same to basketball were we have good potentials,” he explained. Gaiya also noted that handball will also benefit from good funds appropriation in 2015, alongside taekwondo, where Chukwumerije has been exceling internationally, to also discover talents from the grassroots. Speaking further, he was optimistic that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) bill which has been at the House since 2012 will hopefully be passed into law this year.
Gaiya
Man City Can’t Afford To Spend In January – Pellegrini Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini doubts that his side will do much business in the January transfer window as they “have restrictions on money”. The reigning Premier League champions have spent extensively in recent years since their acquisition by Abu Dhabi United Group but were sanctioned for breaches of Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules this year. “No, I don’t think we will be busy,” Pellegrini told reporters on Wednesday of his plans for the window. “We have restric-
Pellegrini
Musa Plays Down EPL Link
Nigeria international and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner Ahmed Musa has talked down speculation that he could be set to play in the English Premier League. The CSKA Moscow forward has been linked in the media with a move to Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United, but claims to know nothing about these rumours. “I don’t know anything about the reported interest of Tottenham and West Ham in signing me,” the 22-year-old told African Football. “My club and my agent haven’t told me anything of such. I am here enjoying my holiday,” he added.
tions on money.” One successful summer arrival was that of Frank Lampard on loan from New York City FC and the Chilean is hopeful of extending the former England international’s stay beyond its initially agreed end date of January, adding: “I hope [he will be with us] until the end of the season.” City could still sell one or two fringe players, with Pellegrini confirming that they would be willing to move on Matija Nastasic and Scott Sinclair if buyers come forward.
Musa
“If they have another option [in January] that is good for them and the club, we will see,” he said. Pellegrini’s side end 2014 three points behind league leaders Chelsea, with Sunderland their visitors on New Year’s Day, and the manager is keen to use that game as a springboard for an even better 2015. He continued: “I hope we start the New Year winning three points. [Sunderland are] a good team with a good manager. They have strong players.”
Serero Gutted By AFCON Snub Thulani Serero admits he was dejected to learn he had not made the final 23-man Bafana Bafana squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but feels it could be a blessing in disguise for his club career. The Ajax Amsterdam midfielder was a surprise omission from Shakes Mashaba’s team headed to next year’s Equatorial Guinea showpiece, which takes place from January 17 to February 8. And while Serero was disappointed to have missed out on Africa’s biggest tournament, the
winger is ready to knuckle down with Ajax as they look ahead to the secondhalf of the European campaign. “I am very sorry that I was not selected,” Serero told his club’s official website. “The African Nations Cup is a special tournament and I’d liked to have played for my country.” He continued: “Now I will flip the switch and focus entirely on Ajax. There are a number of important contests after the winter break and Serero I will give my full focus.” Follow these reports on leadership.ng/sports
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Thursday, January 1, 2014
I’m Not Leaving PSG For Roma – Ibrahimovic Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has rubbished a report that he is considering joining Roma. Swedish journalist Jennifer Wegerup claimed that the former Juventus, Inter and AC Milan forward was keen on a return to Serie A and was weighing up a move to the Stadio Olimpico. However, Ibrahimovic has unequivocally denied that he has any intention of leaving the Parc des Princes, or linking up with the Giallorossi. “I will not return to Serie A,”
the 33-year-old stated. “Someone has spoken about it, someone else has even announced it, but there’s no truth in it. “I’m fine in Paris and I still have a year left on my PSG contract. “Then, we’ll see what happens. But I repeat: I’m happy in Paris. Someone else has invented this story.” Ibrahimovic has previously suggested that he could retire when his current deal with PSG expires in 2016 but the exBarcelona attacker says he will only call it a day when he feels
he can no longer hack it at the top level. “I hope that the Zlatan of today is still the best Zlatan because I’m trying to improve myself every season,” he added. “As long as I can still progress, I want to play. But the day that no longer happens, then I’ll quit.” Ibrahimovic won a total of six Serie A titles during his time in Italy, though the two he won with Juve were revoked because of the club’s involvement in the ‘Calciopoli’ scandal.
Amaju Pinnick, NFF President
NNL: Atiba Utd Resume Camp January 2 By TAOFEEK LAWAL, Abuja
Newly promoted Oyo state flag bearer in the Nigeria National League (NNL), Atiba United FC will officially resume 2nd of January 2014, according to club media officer, Dayo Ojo. Atiba United finished behind Gray FC of Ede on 27points with 14goals advantage under the chairmanship of Prince Akeem Adeyemi fondly called ‘Skimeh’ who also double as the caretaker chairman of Atiba local government.
Ojo in arelease made available to newsmen confirmed January 2nd, 2015 as the resumption date for both old and new players ahead of the fast approaching Nigeria National League proposed March 7 kickoff date. The release further advised the players to resume at the FCE Special, Oyo by 7am where the final phase of the recruitment exercise will be conducted. Players are also advised to cater for their accommodation, feeding and training kits.
Smaller Sides Are More Difficult To Beat – David Silva Manchester City midfielder David Silva believes the sides at the foot of the Premier League are harder to beat than those around them in the table. The champions have lost just twice in the league so far this season, but did drop two points on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Burnley at the Etihad Stadium. Silva, 28, scored the opening goal against the Clarets, who came from 2-0 down to salvage a point, taking his tally to four goals in his last three games. “Some people have looked at our fixtures over the past
David Silva
few weeks and said that we should win them all, but football doesn’t work like that,” said the Spanish star. “It’s a cliché, sure, but as Burnley proved, every game is difficult in the Premier League and it is a very long season.” City could go level on points with leaders Chelsea on Thursday, if they can beat Sunderland, with Jose Mourinho’s side involved in the late kickoff when they face Tottenham. The Black Cats sit 14th in the table and have won just one of their last nine matches, but Silva is still expecting a challenge.
Ibrahimovic
‘Sturridge To Make Liverpool Return In January’ Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers expects Daniel Sturridge to make his long-awaited return to action by mid-to-late January. England striker Sturridge has been limited to just three Premier League appearances this season - the last of which came at Tottenham in August. Sturridge was originally sidelined by a thigh injury while on England duty in September but has since suffered two setbacks in his recovery. The 25-year-old has been undergoing treatment for the issue in Boston, but is set to return to Liverpool in the coming days to finalise his rehabilitation programme. “He will be back here to finalise his rehab in early January,” Rodgers said on Wednesday. “He should be back playing mid-to-late January.” A return for Sturridge, who scored 21 Premier League goals last season, would be a welcome boost for Rodgers - whose side have struggled to replicate the scintillating attacking displays that helped them to a secondplaced finish last term. The likes of Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert, who arrived in the last transfer window, have been unable to replicate the goal return provided by Sturridge and
Luis Suarez in 2013-14. Liverpool showed signs of being back to their best in Monday’s 4-1 win over Swansea City at Anfield, though, and Rodgers believes there have been plenty of positives over the last 12 months.
Sturridge
“It’s been another year of progress,” he added. “Over the course of 2014 we’ve made significant strides forward. “If you look at the points total over the course of 2014 only two clubs [Chelsea and Manchester City] sit above us.”
54 sports
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Hazard Can Easily Win You A Game - Luis
Nasri
We Won Chase Before – Nasri Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has warned rivals Chelsea that his side have the experience to chase them down in the race for the English Premier League title. Manuel Pellegrini’s City trail Jose Mourinho’s league leaders by three points as they prepare to host mid-table Sunderland on New Year’s Day. City won the title last season despite having trailed both Arsenal and Liverpool for long periods during the campaign and Nasri believes that knowhow gives City an advantage in the current title race. “Everyone is stronger,” said the Frenchman. “We get older, we get
more mature and stronger mentally. You learn to deal with different situations. At this club we’ve been through all the different situations. We know how to deal with the pressure. We know we are good at being second and chasing someone. We’ve done it before. We know how to deal with every situation and we are ready for it.” City spurned a good opportunity to cut Chelsea’s lead to one point on Sunday when they squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with struggling Burnley after the London club were held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton.
Eden Hazard is on course to becoming one of the world’s top players, according to Chelsea team-mate Filipe Luis as the Blues travel to White Hart Lane. Jose Mourinho’s side will attempt to respond to Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton by claiming victory at Tottenham Hotspur to guarantee they retain their place at the head of the Premier League table. And left-back Luis believes winger Hazard will be one of the key figures as the Blues attempt to extend their tengame unbeaten run against their London rivals. The Brazil defender said: “Eden Hazard can easily win a game for you and open a closed defence, and he can be in the top three in the world in the next few years because he has a lot of quality and ambition to be there. I am really happy to be his team-mate because he is one of the greatest players I have played with.” Chelsea remain three points clear despite dropping points at St Mary’s Stadium thanks to Manchester City’s unexpected failure to beat struggling Burnley at home in a 2-2 draw. And Luis believes there were enough signs in the performance at Southampton
to suggest the Blues can continue to fend off all challengers during the second half of the campaign. “We know that we lost two points in a difficult stadium but the team did really well in the second half, and if we play like we did in the second half we can be in this situation until the end and keep going at the top of the league,” he told the club’s official website. He is one of the greatest players I have played with. “It is going to be really difficult because when you are top, everybody wants to take you off there and play like Southampton did because they played really well, but we did enough to win this game. If we play like this, of course we can win things. We are still top of the league and the first half of the season is over now. “The second half of the competition is the more difficult one and we have to keep the level really high because we know it is going to be really difficult, but we are happy because it is not easy being top of the league for the whole competition until now. We feel that if we keep playing in the second half [of the season] like we are playing now we can be there
at the top of the league at the end.” Luis is being eased into his first season in England and could make way for Cesar Azpilicueta after starting at Southampton while Oscar could return in place of John Obi Mikel. Tottenham are beginning to find their feet under new manager Mauricio Pochettino and Sunday’s scoreless draw with Manchester United consolidated their standing in seventh, two points off fourth place. Pochettino’s side are keen to avenge the one-sided 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in early December and winger Nacer Chadli is convinced the outcome could be different this time around. Speaking to the club’s official website, the Belgium winger said: “Manchester United was a difficult game. We showed patience and we had some chances but we have to be realistic also United had the bigger chances in the first half and they played well. “In the end we did our best and we got one point, but I think we put on a good performance. “I think we have a lot of confidence at this moment, we had a good draw on Sunday and we have been winning games as well.”
I Love Life At Real – Bale Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has expressed his desire to stay at the club after rumours circulated that Manchester United were lining up a summer move for the Welshman. Bale won the UEFA Champions League with Los Blancos last season and has been a key figure in the Real side which have won their last 22 competitive matches. Real president Florentino Perez on Tuesday warned off any potential bids for the 25-yearold, who joined Real from Tottenham Hotspur 16 months ago in a world-record £85.3m deal, saying: ‘’We would never listen to any offer for Bale, no matter what the fee.’’ And Bale, who is currently
Bale
with his team-mates in Dubai on a mid-season tour, is more than happy to stay in the Spanish capital. “Go to Manchester United? I am very happy in Madrid, a city, a climate and a club that I love,” he told Dubai TV. “My contract ends in 2019 and I could sign a renewal. I am very happy at Madrid and I hope to win many more titles in the future. “It has been a fantastic year for me. I wanted to come to Real Madrid to win titles and work alongside the best players and that is exactly what I have done in a single year. I hope that we keep improving, winning more titles and that I can keep giving my all.”
Hazard (centre) with team mates
Southampton Considering Buying A Forward – Koeman Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is eager to bolster his squad in the January transfer window, with forward options a particular priority. Koeman was active during the most recent window, as he brought in the likes of Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Toby Alderweireld to help cover a mass exodus during the close-season. Southampton have coped well since that hectic summer and currently sit fourth in the top flight. However, with Jay Rodriguez injured and Emmanuel Mayuka and Sadio
Mane due to represent their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, the boss feels that there is a need for reinforcements. Having already agreed the loan arrival of Eljero Elia from Werder Bremen, Koeman is also eager to tie up the futures of fellow loanees Alderweireld and Ryan Bertrand. “I think only to bring in players, not to lose players,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “We spoke inside with everyone about the team, the positions. If we need another player it will be an attacker.”
Koeman
sports 55
Thursday, January 1, 2015
New Year Day EPL Preview
Harry Redknapp
QPR Hoping To Create More Breathing Space
Chelsea Will Attempt To Pull Further Away Chelsea will attempt to pull further away from the chasing pack when they make the short journey to London rivals Tottenham on New Year’s Day. Jose Mourinho’s table toppers sit three points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the halfway stage of the 2014/15 campaign, having lost just once in their opening 19 games. The Blues were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton on Sunday, but City failed to capitalise on that slip as they too dropped
points following a 2-2 stalemate against Burnley. The west London giants are unbeaten in four outings, having won three on the trot prior to drawing with the Saints, while Spurs have gone five matches without defeat to sit seventh in the standings on 31 points, tied with West Ham in sixth. The hosts welcome back Nabil Bentaleb for the London derby, with the midfielder having sat out the goalless draw against Manchester United last time
out due to illness. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has reported no new injury concerns and could rotate his squad once more to battle to hectic festive period. Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Erik Lamela and Aaron Lennon are also in contention to return to the starting line-up. Visiting manager Mourinho has a fully-fit squad at his disposal, with everyone having taken part in the final training session ahead of Thursday’s derby showdown.
Queens Park Rangers will be hoping to create more breathing space between themselves and the drop zone with a positive result against Swansea at Loftus Road today. QPR head into the match on the back of a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, having won two of their past five games to move out of the relegation zone and up to 15th position. With 18 points, they are two points clear of the bottom-three. The Swans, meanwhile. will be hoping to erase memories of a 4-1 reverse to Liverpool on Monday with a second win in a month over Harry Redknapp’s men, following a 2-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium on Decem-
ber 2. Garry Monk’s side go into today’s showdown in ninth position on 28 points, after an inconsistent month which has yielded three wins and three defeats. Rangers will be without injured quartet Yun Suk-Young, Alejandro Faurlin, Adel Taraabt and Sandro, with Redknapp expected to field a very similar XI to the one that did battle with Palace. The visitors will again miss injured winger Jefferson Montero, who has been so influential this season. Youngster Modou Barrow is also sidelined, but other than that, Monk is expected to have a clean bill of health for the clash.
West Ham Hope To End Consecutive Defeats
Crystal Palace players celebrate a goal
Palace Will Attempt To Climb Out Of Relegation Zone Sam Allardyce
High-flying West Ham will be determined to put to an end a run of two consecutive defeats when they host West Brom at Upton Park on Thursday. The Hammers have won just one of their last four matches, and head into the New Year’s Day clash looking to avoid a hat-trick of defeats after losing to Arsenal and Chelsea recently. Sam Allardyce’s side are, however, in sixth position, still very much in sight of a Champions
League finish, sitting just two points behind fourth-placed Southampton. The east Londoners will go into the match without the suspended James Tomkins, with his place expected to be taken by the experienced James Collins. On-loan full-back Carl Jenkinson will also be back in the mix after having found himself ineligible for selection against parent club Arsenal. The Baggies will certainly be
underdogs for the tie in the capital, having slipped to just two places and a single point above the relegation zone after three consecutive defeats. A 2-0 loss to Stoke on December 28 meant the end of the road for manager Alan Irvine, who was sacked two days later. Albion have been strongly linked with former Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis, who could be in the stands at Upton Park today if a deal is concluded.
Managerless Crystal Palace will attempt to climb out of the relegation zone when they make the journey to Aston Villa on New Year’s Day. The Eagles parted ways with Neil Warnock in the wake of their Boxing Day defeat to Southampton, which extended the team’s winless run in the Premier League to six matches. Palace subsequently managed a goalless draw with fellow strugglers Queens Park
Rangers on Sunday, but the point was not enough to lift them out of the bottom-three. The south London outfit occupy 18th position in the standings, although they are tied on 16 points with 17thplaced Hull, while Villa are five points better off in 13th at the halfway stage of the season. Paul Lambert’s men have also endured a dip in form of late, with Sunday’s 0-0 draw to Sunderland stretching their winless streak to four outings.
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01.01.15 www.leadership.ng
The Thursday Column
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
No. 2,320
P
If Goodluck Jonathan wants his fortunes and the fortunes of his party to change and if he wants peace to return to our shores he simply has to do twelve things
N150
From Pastor Popoola To The Presidency (1) 08052407030 (SMS only) abba@leadership.ng
Abba Mahmood
astor Gabriel Popoola posted this interesting article which I want to share with you. My dear reader; Happy reading: A couple of days ago, the nation became agog with the news that Presidential aide, Dr. Doyin Okupe, likened his principal, President Goodluck Jonathan, to Jesus Christ. In his attempt to ensure that Nigerians see more than enough reasons to support and vote for the PDP in the coming elections, Dr. Okupe simply redefined sycophancy, took servility to a new height, and introduced a new interpretation of groveling ingratiation. Before pointing out Dr. Okupe’s obvious wrongness in his labour of thralldom, which peaked days ago in his imprudent testimonial of President Jonathan being comparable to the Lord Jesus Christ, it is important to say a few words about this man who, for reasons beyond human explanation, has intentionally refused to grow into a man that he ought to be. It is the nature of a child to go with just anyone, including a stranger, who holds a jar of candy or chocolates in their hands, even if that stranger is the number one enemy of the child’s father, and one who seeks to destroy the child’s life. The kid’s concern, against all judgement, is just to grab and enjoy the offer. This is Dr. Doyin Okupe’s manner of living, in a nutshell. Listening to Dr. Okupe as he goes about his business of trying to justify his pay, an essential revelation about him stares one in the face – he is a child, wearing an old man’s body. I’m aware that in the enterprise of politics, partisanship is a must and political actors often do foolish things. But as it has been observed all over the place, their foolish acts are often covered in inviting and enticing robes of choice words and appealing gestures; but not Dr. Okupe. He goes about his business totally naked and striped of all forms of decorum. If he is not abusing crit-
THURSDAY
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ics of Mr. President, he is asking Nigerians to rename him Bastard if the APC, the opposition political party, does not go into extinction within its first year of existence. This is tragic. To support his infantile spectacle of repulsive jabs, Dr. Okupe claims he is a firm believer in certain ideals espoused by Mr. President. This is total poppycock. Recall that when President Obasanjo held sway, Dr. Okupe was everywhere praising the former president to high heavens. At that time, OBJ was the best thing to have happened to Nigeria. What ideals did Okupe believe in at that time? Now that President Jonathan is in power, Okupe has shifted his loyalty to Jonathan, claiming rather ridiculously that President Jonathan is the best president Nigeria has ever had! Really? That must be some great news! The truth is that Dr. Okupe is not governed by any ideology, philosophy or creed. If he has any motivation in life at all, it is filthy lucre! He is ruled by money! I believe in loyalty. The Bible teaches it. It is a good virtue – one that grows the follower into a leader, and causes the master to give all manner of support to the loyal disciple. But loyalty and foolishness are not spelt the same way; neither do they mean the same thing. Okupe totally misapprehends the concept of loyalty. Loyalty is determined devotion to a course or an individual for a good end; it is an attachment to something or someone with a view to enhancing, promoting and securing the success of the thing or person. As it can be clearly seen, this is not what Dr. Okupe is engaged in. He seems set to destroy whatever remains of his principal’s diminished goodwill. If Dr. Okupe must know, he is President Jonathan’s number one foe. His garrulousness, tactless effusiveness, and unabashed loquaciousness are atypical. But then, it is this open show of witless chattiness that has come to define his
humanity; the person who takes all, not just much, of the entire blame is Mr. President himself. Truth be told, President Jonathan’s ability to hobnob with, entertain, and accommodate men of base character is more than legendary. Think about Okupe’s partner in shame, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Months ago, Femi Fani-Kayode wrote to viciously lampoon President Jonathan. In the damning article, he stated, among other things that, “If Goodluck Jonathan wants his fortunes and the fortunes of his party to change and if he wants peace to return to our shores he simply has to do twelve things. Firstly, he has to resign as President forthwith and undertake to stay out of Nigerian politics for the next ten years and confine himself to fishing in Otuoke. Secondly, if he cannot step down, he must give a public undertaking to the Nigerian people that he will not run for re-election in 2015 and tell them that if he changes his mind and decides to do so at the last minute they should stone him. Thirdly, he must go and prostrate flat on the floor with his face touching the ground before seven of the most respected and distinguished men in this country and tell them that he is very sorry for the mess he has created and he must refuse to get up until they swear by the Holy Bible or Holy Koran that they have truly forgiven him for destroying our country. Those men are President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, General TY Danjuma, General Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Fourthly, he must write an open letter of apology to the 36 Governors of the Federation, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House and the Chief Justice of the Federation for his manipulative ways and the gross incompetence and ineptitude that he has
displayed whilst running the affairs of this country over the last three years”. Please observe that one of those respected and distinguished men that, according to Femi Fani-Kayode, President Jonathan must prostrate flat on the floor with his face touching the ground before and tell them that he is very sorry for the mess he has created is General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB). Today however, Femi Fani-Kayode is singing a new song; essentially because he must curry the favour of the man in power. He now wants us to believe that the same man he described as being manipulative, just months ago, is now a thoroughly refurbished man that Nigerians must wholly embrace again. To think that such an unstable man is in the embrace of a President who wants to succeed is utterly terrifying! These two unconscionable and extreme souls – Dr. Doyin Okupe and Chief Femi Fani-Kayode – are part of the reasons why Nigeria is what it is today. They help to further divide the country along ethnic and religious lines, all in an attempt to create some political advantage for their principal, and then to guarantee the continuous inflow of their own income.
GHANA MUST GO Nigerian governments are corrupt — Justice Akanbi
You can’t name names?
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