Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper
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P6 P41 P7
www.thenationonlineng.net
VOL. 7, NO. 1951 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011
TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH
KOGI 2011
N150.00
•PDP is stockpiling arms, Akande alleges •NTP candidate unfolds agenda •AND MORE •PDP receives defectors at Ankpa
•COUNTDOWN TO THE DECEMBER 3 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN THE CONFLUENCE STATE
•PAGES 8 & 57
Subsidy: How House plans to stop Jonathan Presidency considers palliatives
Alex Ibru dies at 66 •Jonathan, NPAN, others mourn The Guardian publisher
From Yusuf Alli, Abuja
From Olukayode Thomas, Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja,
T
HE Federal Government may go ahead with the withdrawal of fuel subsidy without the National Assembly’s approval, The Nation learnt at the weekend. But the House of Representatives is said to be planning to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from using Executive Fiat to get the job done. The House may invoke its statutory powers in Sections 80-85 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to stop Dr. Jonathan from withdrawing fuel subsidy without recourse to the National Assembly. But the government is fine-tuning its palliative measures or safety nets ahead of the subsidy withdrawal. About 11 key palliative measures have been drawn up. The thinking in some presidential circles is that withdrawal of fuel subsidy should be purely an Executive decision and not a legislative matter. Those pushing this line of argument maintain that the President should not have conContinued on page 4
T
HE Nigerian media lost one of its leading lights yesterday. Alex Uruemu Ibru, publisher of The Guardian, died at 66. His death was announced in a statement by the newspaper, which did not state any cause. It said: “The passing on of Alexander Uruemu Ibru, Chairman and Publisher of The Guardian, flagship of the Nigeria press, has been announced. He died at about 2.30pm today (yesterday), November 20, while in the course of an illness. He was aged 66. “Ibru was born on March1, 1945, the youngest of the famous Ibru brothers who hailed from AgbharaOtor, in Delta State and whose entrepreneurship made the name almost synonymous with business in Nigeria. •The late Mr Ibru
SEE ALSO PAGE 5
Continued on page 4
•NCAA, BA, VIRGIN ATLANTIC BICKER OVER DAMNING REPORT P2&3