Opposition Is Out To Rig Out PDP, Governor Akpabio Cries Out

January 6, 2015

Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio has alerted Nigerians that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is determined to rig out the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the presidential level in the February election.
Governor Akpbio who answred reporters’ questions shortly after conferring with Preisdent Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today did not however give detail of such rigging proposal by APC.
He said that PDP would not have any problem in winning the election for President Jonathan to continue for his second term in office but that APC is determined to do anything dirty to stop him.
Akpabio noted that the scanty crowd that attended the APC Presidential campaign launch in his state capital today cannot win lead any party to victory, adding that those who attended the launching were imported from Katsina, Ibadan, Sokoto and other states.
The governor said that APC invented insecurity which it intends to use to discredit the government of Jonathan so that it would win the election.
“We will not allow the opposition to take credit for the insecurity they initiated and unleash on the nation. PDP’s will win the February election based on its highly acknowledged achievements.” [myad]

Group Defends President Jonathan’s Economic Portfolio Against Obasanjo’s Attack

Greenbarge Reporters

January 6, 2015

An Abuja-based group, the Society for One Nigeria has defended Present Goodluck Jonathan’s administration over the allegation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that Nigeria is facing economic problems due to the failure of the present administration to plan for a rainy day.
Obasanjo had, Monday, told women leaders in the South-West who visited him in his Otta country home that the Jonathan administration crashed the nation’s economy by depleting its foreign reserves.
In a statement today, signed by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Danladi, it argued that the fall in Nigeria’s foreign reserves and the depreciation of the exchange rate are both related to what it called “exogenous global factors,” the factors which the country could not control by itself.
Danladi said that Obasanjo to boasted that he left $43.17billion in reserves, but did not mention that his ability to do so was simply as a result of his luck with rising oil prices during his tenure.
The statement read: “As at May 1999 when Obasanjo became President, oil prices were $14.74 per barrel. By May 2007 when he left office, oil prices were $68.75 per barrel, representing an increase of more than 350 percent.
“This increase in oil prices enabled the Obasanjo administration to increase our foreign reserves to about $43.17billion in 2007.
“In contrast, President Jonathan assumed office in May 2011 when oil prices were $117.18 with Foreign Reserves at $32.1billion.
“Since mid-2014, global oil prices have been falling precipitously from a peak of $116 per barrel in January 2014 to about $58 per barrel in January 2015.
“Despite this significant fall in global prices coupled with rising incidence of oil bunkering and sabotage of oil facilities, the country has managed to maintain $34.4billion in Foreign Reserves, a level that is higher than the $32.1billion which President Jonathan met when he assumed office.”
According to Danladi, Nigeria is undergoing significant pressures from spillovers resulting from three factors that no single country has control over.
He listed the factors as end of Quantitative Easing by the United States Federal Reserve which implied that the monthly injection of about $85billion into the global economy suddenly ended; the sustained fall in oil prices from a peak of $116 per barrel in January 2014 to about $58 per barrel in January 2015; and subsisting sanctions against Russia for its alleged role in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
He said that given Nigeria’s interrelatedness with the global economy as well as the nation’s dependence on crude oil proceeds, the economy had been affected like other economies.
He listed some emerging market countries that have experienced a drop in their foreign reserves as a result of drop in global oil prices as Chile, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ghana, Hungary, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco and Russia among others.
He added that while some countries like Russia has depleted their reserves by nearly $75billion during 2014, Nigeria lost $9.2billion in reserves from the reduction in the price of crude oil.
He said although the average depreciation in exchange rate for the countries under consideration was about 11 percent, Nigeria’s exchange rate depreciated by eight percent. [myad]

Barcelona Sacks Director Of Football

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2015

Barcelona has sacked 53 year old sports director, Andoni Zubizarreta, just days after the Court of Arbitration for Sport backed a one year transfer ban against the Spanish club.

Former captain Carles Puyol, who had been his assistant since retiring last year, also left his post on Monday.

“The FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu has decided to terminate as of today the contract of the Club’s Director of Football, Andoni Zubizarreta,” Barca said in a statement.

“The President, in the name of the Club, thanks Andoni Zubizarreta for his contribution, dedication and professionalism over the last four years in his role at the head of the Club’s football area.”

Zubizarreta kept goal for Barca between 1986 and 1994 and has 126 caps for Spain. He joined the Catalan side as its sporting director in 2010. His contract was not set to expire until 2016.

The announcement comes after the Switzerland-based court dismissed a Barcelona appeal against the FIFA ban imposed in April for breaching rules on signing players aged under 18.

Barcelona cannot buy players during the transfer window that opens on January 1 and for the summer transfer period before the 2015-16 season. They can only open the cheque book again in January 2016.

Barcelona acknowledged making “errors” but said these were caused by “conflict between FIFA regulations and Spanish legislation.”

The board was scheduled to meet on Monday evening and Bartomeu will appear at a press conference on Wednesday to explain the club’s decision to fire Zubizarreta.

Under Zubizarreta’s watch as sporting director, Barcelona won the Spanish league title twice – in 2011 and 2013 – as well the Champions League in 2011.

But last year, Barcelona won no major silverware and several major signings carried out by Zubizarreta have not produced the hoped for results, sparking criticism from fans and Spain’s sports media.

Barcelona signed Brazilian right-back Douglas Pereira from Sao Paulo in August 2014 but he has failed to find his place in the squad.

Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen, signed in August from Premier League side Arsenal, underwent surgery last month on his troublesome right hamstring and will be sidelined for four months.

Barcelona crashed 1-0 away to Real Sociedad on Sunday with the Catalan side paying the price for leaving both Lionel Messi and Neymar among more than $350 million of talent on the bench, putting more pressure on coach and former player Luis Enrique.

A third league defeat of the season means Barca remain a point behind leaders Real Madrid having also played a game more than the European champions. [myad]

Jonathan Grieves Over Loss Of Sister, Shifts Inauguration Of His Campaign Organization

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan, grieved over the death, on Sunday, of his younger sister, Mrs. Nancy Jonathan Olei, ordered the postponement of the inauguration his Campaign Organisation scheduled for Monday.

Political Adviser to the president, Professor Rufai Alkali who announced the postponement to newsmen confirmed that it was as a result of the death of the President’s younger sister.

Alkali said at the Legacy House, Abuja, where dignitaries had already taken their seats for the commencement of the inauguration ceremony: “as you are all aware, His Excellency lost his sister, Mrs. Nancy Jonathan-Olei, yesterday (Sunday).

“In view of this, he has decided to suspend this inauguration for today until tomorrow at 11 a.m.

“Mr. President has asked me to convey his apologies for the inconveniences this postponement has caused, and to tell you it was due to circumstances beyond our control.” [myad]

How President Jonathan Crashed Nigeria’s Economy, Obasanjo Lectures South-West Women Leaders

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2015

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said the country is currently facing economic crisis due to the failure of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to plan for difficult times.

Obasanjo, who addressed the Iyalodes (women leaders) and eminent women of the South-West at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta during the courtesy visit today Said: “when I was leaving office about eight years ago, I left a very huge reserve after we had paid all our debts.

“Almost $25bn was kept in what they called Excess Crude (oil) Account; the excess from the budget we were saving as reserve for the rainy days.

“When we left in May, 2007, the reserve was said to have been raised to $35bn; but today, that reserve has been depleted. Our debts was about $40bn, that is including debt forgiveness. The remaining debt was not more than $3bn.

“Our reserve after we had paid off this debt was about $45bn. As I said, they continued till the end of 2007, I heard that the reserve increased to almost $67bn before the end of the year.

“Our reserve now, I learnt is left with around only $30bn.”

The former president, who was responding to a call by the women for him to once more lend his voice to the socio-economic crises rocking the country, said the country did not deserve the situation it currently found itself.

The ex-president said that the price of crude has fallen, but that anyone who is wise enough should know that since we depend on just one mineral resource and since we have no control over its pricing, we should be planning for this type of situation and the way out of it.

“Our inability to have reserve has brought us into this economic quagmire. A leader must be forward looking and plan ahead.

“At the beginning of last year, the budget was based on $78 per barrel. That year, the government spent more on recurrent expenditure and a little on capital expenditure.”

Obasanjo pointed out that the devaluation of the Naira unleashed other consequences on the economy, adding: “that is why the Naira has been falling against the dollar. What would now happen? I learnt if you want to buy a dollar now, it’s about N192 or N195. What it means is this, what you have been buying at N150 to a dollar, now you need N192 or N195 to buy it.

“That is the real situation. Is there any remedy? There is, but it does not come overnight because it means we have to give up all the bad things we have been doing.”

The women delegation was led by the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson, and the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo. [myad]

Aminu Masari Did Not Forge Certificate, APC Lawyer Replies Festus Keyamo

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2015

The All Progressives Congress (APC), has put a lie to a Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo who accused its governorship candidate for Katsina state in the February election, Aminu Masari, of certificate forgery.
Keyamo had petitioned claiming that Masari presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the February election.
Masari emerged the APC gubernatorial candidate in Katsina after polling about 50 per cent of total votes cast to defeat three other aspirants during the primary election held in the state last year.
He was former speaker of the House of Representatives. As speaker between 2003 and 2007, he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In his petition dated December 17, Keyamo said that if the APC fields the former Speaker in the 2015 general elections, those claims could earn him a disqualification from INEC, or if he wins, a removal from the governorship seat.
“Kindly note, that in the year 2011, the subject of this petition, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari contested for the office of Governor of Katsina State under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.
“In filling Form CF-001 (Personal Particulars of Candidate), he alleged that he has a Post-Graduate Diploma. As evidence of this, he attached a Certificate in ‘Postgraduate Diploma in Water Quality Control and Management’ from Middlesex Polytechnic, United Kingdom.”
Keyamo filed the petition on behalf of five APC members in Katsina State – Ibrahim Yadullah, Kabir Mamman, Aminu Hashirmu, Falalu Sale and Ya’u Sule.
An inquiry that was made in the said polytechnic, according to Keyamo, showed that no such course was offered by the school in the said year.
But the APC replied the lawyer through its National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire, clearing Masari of certificate forgery.
In a letter dated December 29, APC said thhat it has conducted its own investigations on the matter and did not find the issues raised meritorious.
“Please be informed that the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party has considered your letter with particular reference to the said allegations and do not find the allegations raised therein meritorious,” the party said.
“It is based on the foregoing that we are unable to reverse the nomination of Hon. Aminu Bello Masari as our gubernatorial candidate for Katsina state general election schedule to come up in February 2014,” the party said.
APC however thanked Keyamo for having the time to write the petition. [myad]

February Election Is Time-Bomb For Nigeria, Pastor Bakare Laments, Calls For Postponement

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2015

Founding Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare has said that the February 14 Presidential election will throw Nigeria into more crisis even as he called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to activate the constitutional provisions for the suspension of the elections.
Pastor Bakare, who was General Muhammadu Buhari running mate in the 2011 Presidential election on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), made it clear that whichever way the outcome of the coming election between the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, a Northerner and the incumbent President, Dr. Jonathan from the South-South goes, “it is certain the country will erupt in crisis.
“If the election favours Jonathan, the North will raise the issue of incumbent sentiment to forment trouble and if otherwise, the Niger Delta region would also react.”
In his message titled: “The Gathering Storm and Avoidable Shipwreck: How To Avoid Catastrophic Euroclydon” delivered in his church at Ogba, Lagos yesterday, Pastor Bakare quoted Section 135 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that if the federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of four years mentioned in sub-section (2) of this section from time to time; but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.
“The argument against this would be the notion that the country is not at war. If indeed the country is not at war, how can one explain the invasion and annexation of Nigerian territory by insurgents launching attacks from our borders and neighbouring countries?”
The cleric said that Nigerians should not forget that on May 14, 2013, while declaring a state of emergency in three states, President Goodluck Jonathan said of the activities of terrorists: “These actions amount to a declaration of war and a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the Nigerian state and threaten its territorial integrity. As a responsible government, we will not tolerate this.”
Pastor Bakare said that records indicate that since that Presidential declaration, the situation has worsened, adding that the proposal for suspension of elections is not with a view to giving President Jonathan an avenue for undue tenure elongation “but for the purpose of building a coalition that will bring lasting solutions to our problems.”
The Pastor wanted transitional government to be constituted from May when the President is supposed to hand over to the new President, but that Jonathan must not act with the intention to seek re-election.
According to him, President Jonathan should, within the period, commit himself to building a non-partisan coalition comprising of major stakeholders and competent statesmen from each geo-political zone.
“This coalition, headed by the President, will constitute a combined force that will tackle terrorism and address what I have earlier referred to as the fundamentals, within a time-frame of two years or less.”
Pastor Bakare called for immediate implementation of the report, or part thereof, of the 2014 National Conference, especially as it relates to:
– Restructuring with a view to achieving true federalism under zonal commissions as well as fiscal federalism;
– Ensuring as proposed by the report of the National Conference that adequate allocation is given to a Solid Minerals Development Fund in addition to other recommendations geared towards economic diversification;
– Achieving national reconciliation and integration by adopting, constitutionalising and propagating the national charter for reconciliation and integration;
– Conducting accurate census;
– Establishing a truly independent electoral body;
– Creating a true people’s constitution that will reflect the aforementioned features; and
– Conducting free, fair and credible elections in the consensually accepted constitutional arrangement. [myad]

Catholic, Anglican Clash Over Presidential Jonathan’s 2015 Presidential Ambition

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2015

Facts are emerging to show that President Goodluck Jonathan’s ambition to contest the February Presidential election for second term is tearing off Christians of the Catholic and Anglican denominations.
It was gathered that for some time now, the Catholic community has been nursing grudges against the president following insinuations that he has been parleying with the Anglican Church, while neglecting the Roman Catholic Church. President Jonathan is said to be an Anglican.
It was gathered that the leadership of the Catholic Church had to choose the fiery Catholic priest and founder of the highly regarded Enugu-based Adoration Ministries, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka to speak negatively about President Jonathan and his government. He had made statements fearlessly against oppressive regimes in the past, which nearly cost him his life during the administration of former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, after assassins shot him at close range.
It was also gathered that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), had sent a powerful delegation to Enugu on December 31, 2014, to woo Father Mbaka to support his presidential ambition and that his negative speech against Jonathan came few hours following the meeting with Buhari’s delegation.
It would be recalled that when recently President Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience, worshipped at the Adoration Ministries ground located at Ijineke Emene in Enugu East local government area, Father Mbaka urged Ndigbo to support the second term bid of her husband.
It was gathered that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church was rankled over Father Mbaka’s advice to Ndigbo to vote for the PDP presidential candidate; hence he was allegedly ordered by the leadership of the Catholic community to warn the electorate that voting for the incumbent president would spell disaster for Nigeria.
On the basis of this, Father Mbaka last week, warned the electorate not to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan, prophesying that the re-election of President Jonathan would spell disaster for the
country.
Delivering a message entitled, “From Goodluck to Bad Luck” at the Adoration Ministries ground on New Year’s Eve, Mbaka said that when the first lady Dame Patience Jonathan visited the Adoration Ground recently, he had conducted a spiritual exercise by lifting four birds to fly, but the fourth and most healthy of the birds refused to fly.
Mbaka revealed that he did everything to make the fourth bird to fly but it refused to fly, and God ministered to him not to worry the bird any further.
The cleric expressed regret that in the annals of Nigeria’s history, there has not been a time the country recorded so much bloodshed like the current administration.
Mbaka recalled that the whole country had looked forward for a leader who would give jobs to the teeming unemployed youths, provide mass education, electricity and maximum security and industrialize Nigeria in anticipation that oil will one day melt away.
“There emerged a Goodluck and Goodluck met face to face with Yar’Adua and Yar’Adua died. When Goodluck met Yar’Adua, Yar’Adua had bad luck and died. Goodluck met our oil; our oil had bad luck and melted away. He met our Naira, our Naira had bad luck.
“Where are we? What is the fate of this country? Do we continue with bad luck? Many civil servants did not go home with December salary. What did they use to celebrate Christmas?
“By December 5, the children will go back to school. The parents are expected to pay their school fees. Are they going to use their urine to pay? Are they going to use stool to pay school fees.”
The fiery Catholic priest during his ministration on December 31, 2014 called on all prophetic voices in the country to speak up, saying that even those who have been bought over should speak up because of the destiny of our children.
“What is kidnapping? Kidnapping is the grandson of unemployment. Boko Haram is the grandson of unemployment, mass looting and corruption. As it stands now, Jonathan should resign. The Goodluck of Jonathan has become bad luck to Nigeria.
“In few months to come, many people are going to lose their jobs.
“During elections, Jonathan will answer Azikiwe and Ebele to become an Igboman. After election, the Azikiwe and Ebele will vanish. Look at our federal roads built by Buhari and Babangida. The continuity of Jonathan means disaster to Nigeria. We need change.”
Mbaka had expressed worry about the future of the children, adding that they are being admonished to go to school and yet the government schools are not functional.
He warned that Nigeria is like an egg waiting to be broken in the hands of President Jonathan, but said such would not be allowed it to happen.
Mbaka lamented that pastors have become vultures and hawks around Jonathan, eating the porridge of Jacob and selling their prophetic rights, adding that some are turning Naira into dollars and flying them out of the country in private jets.
He noted that anointing is now merchandise in Aso Rock, saying that the men of God telling Jonathan to continue should question their prophetic anointing.
“When a man is eating well and his children are hungry, is that man still a father. When a mother is dressing well and eating well and her children are naked and hungry, will you say
she is still a mother?
“Any moment from now, they will start telling us that this person is a Christian, this person is a Muslim. I am not campaigning for anybody. I am filled with tears over what is happening in Nigeria.
The way Nigeria is going now, Goodluck’s office, let another take.”[myad]

Okonjo-Iweala Bags ‘Unsung Hero’ Of 2014 From Global Business Policy Council

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2015

The Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has bagged the title of “Unsung Leaders of 2014” from the Global Business Policy Council of A.T Kearney, a top global management consulting firm. She was picked as number one on the list of five people selected.
Chairman of the Council, Mr. Paul Laudicina said in Forbes magazine that Okonjo-Iweala the and four other distinguished leaders stood out for demonstrating “capability, reliability and authenticity” in the discharge of their duties at different levels.
He lauded Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman finance minister of Nigeria, the world’s seventh largest country, for fighting endemic corruption and helping to refurbish Nigeria’s image and economic prospects.
The management expert said that while there is a tendency to focus on the negative and on leaders who fail to live up to expectation, “maybe we have not looked long or hard enough to find the real leaders right under our gaze.
“We all know intuitively that none of our institutions would be working at all if there weren’t committed, capable, reliable and authentic leaders delivering on their promises day in and out, and adding value to the lives of the people they serve.
“We also know the difference a respected leader can make in inspiring broader support for noble humanitarian, peacekeeping, or governmental missions.”
Others on list are: Pope Francis’ right-hand man and Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, Indian-born engineer, Arati Prabhakar, who is the Director of the US Department of Defence’s Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the brother of Jordan’s King, Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Prince Feisal, and former President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon. [myad]

Nigeria Judicial Workers Shut Down Courts, Send Judges Home

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2015

Judicial workers in Nigeria, today, shut down all the courts across the country in compliance with the industrial action their union embarked on.
Our correspondents in the states of the federation reported that judges who arrived at the courts could not carry out their jobs just as litigants and lawyers were prevented from gaining access into the court premises.
The judges had to return home as officials of JUSUN barricaded the entrances to the courts.
It was reported that in a few courts where the registrars were found, the judges and other workers were absent.
The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), which had been having a running battle with the Federal Government over issues that bother on their welfare, had announced an indefinite strike beginning today, to protest the non-implementation of the 13th January, 2014 judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The union said it would only allow its members return to work after its demands are met, especially as the stakeholders had flouted the Memorandum of Understanding in which it was agreed that the financial autonomy of the judiciary as ordered by the court would be given effect from December 2014. [myad]

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