The Nation June 29 2011

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Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News Tension in Osogbo over judgment on Ataoja stool P9 Business French woman Largarde is IMF chief executive P11 News Buhari: Why I won’t attend Council of State’s meetings P4 http://www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 6, NO. 1805 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

N150.00

Jonathan drops governors choices after PDP pressure SOME NOMINEES AND THE LIKELY QUESTIONS

Unity Govt idea shaky as APGA, LP lose out Orubebe, Adoke, eight others to face screening today

Diezani Alison-Madueke •Award of oil blocks •State of health of the NNPC •N1.2b counterpart funds for a PPP Project in Ministry of Transportation in 2007 •N27 billion PPP concession project to construct 2nd Benue River Bridge at Guto-Bagana Mohammed Adoke: •Rule of law and human rights

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HE President may have dumped his plan to form a Government of National Unity with the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Labour Party (LP). In line with the disposition of Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the nominees of Governors Peter Obi (Anambra) and Dr. Segun Mimiko (Ondo) have been struck off the list of cabinet members. The list was sent to the Senate yesterday. For supporting his election in April, Jonathan has offered

•State of anti-corruption war •Trial of high-profile suspects Ruqayyat Rufai: •Mass failure in WASCE/NECO •Varsities placement for school leavers •Why more than 15 million children are out of school •Lack of facilities in varsities •Huge allocations to ministry Bala Mohammed •Congestion in the Federal Capital

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

APGA two ambassadorial and two Special Adviser slots. Besides, Senator Joy Emordi is to be Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters. LP will get one ambassadorial post and a Special Adviser. Jonathan has conveyed his change of mind to Obi and Mimiko, it was learnt. Obi nominated a former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, as APGA candidate. Mimiko nominated Mrs. Omobola Olubusola

Territory •Overstretching of facilities in Abuja •Land allocation in the FCT •Disruption of Abuja masterplan Onyebuchi Chukwu •State of hospitals •Nigerians’ Craze for overseas medical attention

Johnson, who is said to be a daughter of an Ondo Kingdom chief, Bayo Akinnola. But, following pressure on the President by PDP leaders, the GNU game plan changed overnight. The President was said to have appreciated the governors’ roles in his victory, but claimed that the PDP was “not favourably disposed to a Government of National Unity.” “The PDP has chosen to bear full responsibility for its success and failure in government between now and 2015,” a source quoted the

President as telling the governors, adding: “Some top members of the party also felt that a GNU will prevent PDP from effectively challenging APGA and LP during the governorship election in Anambra and Ondo states in 2012. And neither of the governors is prepared to join the PDP.” “The position of PDP leaders is that the two states are naturally PDP enclaves and the 2012 poll is significant to recapture the two states. “Also, the pressure to retain Continued on page 2

Boko Haram: Senate invites security chiefs

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HE Edo State Government is to amend the law on kidnapping from life imprisonment to death sentence, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said. Oshiomhole spoke yesterday when Edo North Traditional Rulers Forum visited him. He said kidnappers have ‘no right to life’. NEWS Page 10

Falcons set for German rivals

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IGERIA’s Super Falcons say they are confident they can withstand the anticipated fireworks of Germany women’s team

and unleash some of their own in Thursday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Group A clash in Frankfurt. The host nation is hot favourite to take the three points in the encounter on current form and pedigree ...

From Bisi Olaniyi, Clarice Azuatalam (Port Harcourt) and Dele Anofi, (Abuja)

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N a day the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) expressed deep concerns over the spate of bombings in some parts of Nigeria, the Senate yesterday summoned the heads of all security agencies. The security chiefs are to brief the upper legislative chamber on the bombings for which the controversial Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has been claiming responsibility.

Sports Page 24

PDP won’t share posts with ACPN

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Continued on page 2

INSIDE: A SPECIAL REPORT ON •LAGOS-ORE-BENIN ROAD •OWO-AKURE-IFE-ILESAIBADAN ROAD

Kidnappers to die in Edo

•HONOUR: Ghanaian Vice President John Dramani Mahama (right) and Rev. Gideon Titi-Ofei giving the African Servant Leadership award by the Graduate School of Leadership Governance, Accra to former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at a ceremony in the Ghanaian capital ... last night.

HE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State will not share political appointments with the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), members, its Chairman, Ishola Balogun-Fulani, said yesterday. Reacting to the rumour that it had reserved ... News Page 7

•POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •LIFE P29 •MONEY P43 •INVESTORS P45


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