President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has sent a sympathy message to President Goodluck Jonathan over the death of his Special Adviser on Strategy and Documentation as well as personal friend, Mr. Oronto Douglas.
In a condolence message to the President and made available to the media by Garba Shehu, the Director of Media and Publicity for the APC Presidential Campaign in Abuja, General Buhari said: “I received the news of the death of your long-standing and key Aide, Oronto Douglas with sadness.
“I appreciate how close he had worked with you and considers him (Oronto), a young and dynamic individual who still has a lot to offer our country as we build on our democracy.
“I urge you, Mr. President, to take heart and to convey my condolences to his immediate family as we pray for the repose of his humble soul.”
Meanwhile, President Jonathan personally visited the Abuja residence of late Oronto Douglas today to commiserate with his immediate family.
During the visit, described the death of his long-standing aide as quite a sad.
He narrated that he and Douglas are from the same local government in Bayelsa state and that he knew him first when he was doing his Ph. D research work at the time Oronto was environmental activist.
“I was doing some aspects of the ecology of the Niger Delta and my supervisor then was one Canadian, Professor Powell who introduced me to him and we met in his house.
“But when I came into politics as a Deputy Governor, he was the commissioner for information then and we were very close. He came with me as my adviser as vice president ‎on research, documentation and strategy, a post he held until this morning.
“He was a very dedicated young man: very committed. I was here last Saturday even though he knew, because the doctors told him in America that he was going to die in three weeks but he was still very passionate about his work. I have never seen such a person with such a strong will. “Oronto was a good man. He left us too early but God knows the best. I only pray that God should provide for the family and pray that his soul should rest in peace.”
Also Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo who accompanied the President to his residence said today is a very sad day for the government, adding: “we have lost a very good friend, a brother and a patriotic Nigerian.
“He is a person of integrity, a patriot and we pray to Almighty God that his soul shall rest in perfect peace. We pray that the family he left behind will have the fortitude to bear this great loss. “Nigeria has lost a very good man, a person that has contributed positively to the development of this country.”
Some of the early callers at Douglas’ house were former Bayelsa State governor, Dipreye Alamieyesigha‎, who described him as someone who never slacked in any assignments he was given.
“We have been praying and trusting God for miracle. There are a lot of things we did behind the scenes together to strengthen this government, he never slacked on any assignment given him. When he served as Commissioner for Information during my government, he was always meticulous and turned in his assignments on time.”
‎The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said Douglas was a great thinker, adding: “he was a great man whom we will miss. He was very celebral and respected in the entire international community. He was a great thinker a environmental rights activist‎.
Others who were at his residence were the Managing Director News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Ima Niboro, and prolific writer, Ike Okonta: Senator Nenadi Usman, Executive Secretary National Christian Pilgrims Board, Kennedy Opara‎.
His younger brother, Otonye Douglas, said the family will meet in Bayelsa as tradition demands to draw up the burial programmes.
In a statement, the Douglas family of Okoroba, Nembe Local Government of Bayelsa State, said he is survived  by a wife, two sons, family and friends.

[myad]

The death, early today, of Mr. Oronto Douglass has certainly unsettled President Goodluck Jonathan who as a loyal and dutiful aide during his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State and as Vice President, Acting President and finally President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Oronto Douglass died today at the age of 49, after battling with cancer for a long time while still serving as Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy.
The President described his deceased aide who served him for close to a decade as “one of the most distinguished who served his country, state and the Niger Delta region, passionately and diligently, during his very impactful years on earth.”
He said, in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, that he will continue to remember Oronto for his passion for work, excellence, inspiring creativity and outstanding commitment to his duties, believing that Oronto will remain a shining and worthy example for every young Nigerian who seeks a life of service and achievement.
President Jonathan prayed to God to grant Oronto’s soul eternal rest, and the Douglas family and everyone who knew him, the fortitude to bear the pain of his death,

[myad]

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has restrained Multi Choice Nigeria Limited, operators of the Digital Satellite Television, otherwise known as DStv, from implementing its new rates and increase in tariffs for its subscribers across board.

The restraining order was given by Justice C.J. Aneke sequel to a suit filed by two Lagos-based legal practitioners, Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji.

In the class action suit, with number FHC/L/CS/404/2015, Aneke granted the interim orders till the hearing of the Motion on Notice for Injunction on April 16, 2015.

He also ordered for the Suit and the Interim Injunction to be published in national newspapers.

Adebayo and Adeniji are challenging the arbitrary increase in tariffs.

The legal practitioners had begged the court to order the second defendant, the National Broadcasting Commission, to also implement Pay-Per-View where subscribers choose the programmes they want and pay as they watch, which is being implemented in some other parts of the world.

In the order given on Thursday, Aneke ruled: “That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the 1st defendant (Multichoice/DSTV) from giving effect or enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing or programmes bouquet, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“That an order is hereby granted certifying the plaintiffs’ claim as a class action for themselves as individual subscribers, other corporate subscribers, distributors and retailers of the 1st defendants’ services.

“That an order is hereby granted restraining any other person whether individual or corporate from instituting any other action as may be related to the action against the defendant to prevent multiplicity of lawsuits pursuant to the appointment of the plaintiffs in the class action but may instead opt in or out of this action.”

In March, MultiChoice, owners of DStv and GOtv, announced a 20 per cent price increase for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in Nigeria to take effect from April 1, 2015.

Thus, the subscription fee of DStv’s Premium, Compact plus, compact, access, Family and extra view bouquets were all set to increase, as is the price for GOtv Plus and GOtv bouquet.

MultiChoice explained that the price increase was necessary for it to continue offering the best in local and international entertainment to its subscribers. [myad]

The UmuadaNdi-Igbo in Diaspora,  an umbrella organization of Igbo women, abroad,  has handed out 11-poin agenda to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) even as the African Bar Association (ABA) identified eight critical areas that the new government must address when he takes the rein of power in Nigeria

In a congratulatory message signed by its Founder/National President, Grace Agude, the group advised the President-Elect to compose a cabinet of skilled, experienced and trusted men and women for a better Nigeria.

She said that the new government should take urgent steps to encourage women participation in government and national development, since women are mothers of the nation even as she made a case for re-organization and better funding of the Nigerian army so as to bring back the lost pride and glory of the country’s military that was once the pride of Africa.

She further called on the incoming Buhari government to take steps to wipe out Boko Haram insurgents currently terrorizing Nigeria, adding that it must also take all necessary steps to bring back our kidnapped Chibok girls.

The UmuadaNdi-Igbo leader said  that there is an urgent need to stamp out 419 and other forms of fraud in Nigeria, for Nigeria to attract both local and foreign investors.

The group is also pushing for improved funding for Nigerian universities, teaching hospitals, and other institutions, so as to encourage research and development.

“We want the incoming government to make plans to diversify the Nigerian economy. This way the Nigerian economy will not continue to rely heavily on oil like is currently the case.”

For the country to be one, she said that there is urgent need to unite the six geopolitical zones of the country so as to reduce tension among different ethnic groups.

She further urged the incoming government to encourage foreign investment which will go a long way in creating employment and growing the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

She gave assurance that UmuadaNdi-Igbo in Diaspora will give their unalloyed support for the new government to work, adding: “the People of Nigeria have spoken very loud and clear. We needed a change, and you are that change. Thank God, that much anticipated political change has come in the most peaceful manner ever imagined in our beloved country that has a long history of post-election violence. This victory was definitely not a smooth ride.

“However, you met the challenge with determination, strength, and total confidence. The people of Nigeria saw how determined you have been to provide solutions to the most troubling problems facing our great country widespread corruption, insecurity, poverty; deteriorating standards of education, healthcare delivery and non-existent utilities.

“It has simply been very difficult for Nigerians and the world at large to understand why there has been so much poverty and chaos in a country well blessed with abundance of natural and human resources.

“The proud and hard-working people of Nigeria have, through the ballot box, identified you as the man who can be trusted with bringing that much needed change to Nigeria , Africa’s last hope.

“There is no doubt that the task ahead is a huge one. However, with good focus, determination, hard work, dedication to office, and above all, with God’s guidance and blessings, it can be done. Yes, it can be done.”

And in a statement by its President, Hannibal Uwaifo , the ABA pledged  its support for the  incoming government “in the bid to deepen democratic values and ensure improved economic fortune for the citizenry.”

Top on the list of the issues, according to ABA is official corruption, which the association advised Buhari to decisively deal with by “setting up a code of conduct of government affairs and handling of public funds for public officials.”

The body also urged Buhari to review salaries of public officials “to reflect the poor purse of Nigeria and to make more finances available for social services.” The statement read in part: “Deliberately welfare policy must be put in place as a priority to cater for the vulnerable and less endowed in Nigeria. Unemployment of our youths must be tackled decisively.

”The rule of law must be strictly adhered to and extrajudicial activities of the security agencies must be checked and severely punished.

”True independence of the judiciary must be ensured and wrongdoings promptly and satisfactorily investigated and punished.

”Government and social services must be improved to deliberately bridge the gap between the zeal and determined quest to conduct a credible election exhibited by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and his team is very commendable and exemplary.

”Free enterprise must be encouraged though deliberate government policies and programmes, especially agricultural technology and small and medium scale business.” [myad]