Ebonyi PDP Crisis Deepens, Governor Elechi Plans Protest In Abuja

November 24, 2014

As the crisis rocking the Ebonyi state chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to deepen, there are feelers that the embattled Governor of the state, Chief Martins Elechi is mobilizing his aides and appointed local government administrators for a protest at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja tomorrow, Tuesday.
This development is believed to be the fallout of the crisis in Ebonyi following the decision of the governor to anoint a former minister from the state as his successor, come 2015.
It would be recalled that major stakeholders in the state have been at loggerheads with the governor, following accusations of high handedness.
This has also led to the complete boycott of a pro-Jonathan rally organized by Governor Elechi over the weekend by all the major stakeholders in the state.
The podium was occupied by only the Governor, his wife, Mrs. Josephine Elechi and the chairman of the occasion Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo.
This is in spite of the fact that the governor had earlier ordered all local government chairmen and loyalists to bring people to the event and to also be personally present.
An infuriated Elechi was said to have been constrained to use the occasion to attack his opponents, rather than drum up support for Jonathan, or tell the people of the state what he had so far achieved as governor of the state.
It would also be recalled that a court of competent jurisdiction has upheld the results of the Ebonyi party primaries and quashed the objections of Elechi and his supported.
Coming against the background of the recent decision of the State House of Assembly not to allow the governor to take a loan of N15 billion without first accounting for some N16 billion borrowed earlier, it seems Elechi’s hold on power and relevance have waned irretrievably.
With a letter of protest to President Jonathan from major stakeholders in the state, many watchers believe that tomorrow’s planned protest at the party headquarters is a last effort by the embattled Ebony governor to reclaim his lost relevance in the party affairs of the state. [myad]

US Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel Quits

Greenbarge Reporters

November 24, 2014

The United States Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel, has thrown in the towel even as President Barack Obama has accepted his resignation.

According to US media, Hagel was pressured by Obama to quit, as Pentagon embarks on a new strategy to deal with the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL).

Announcing the resignation today at the White House, Obama, who was flanked by Hagel and Vice President Joe Biden, praised the outgoing defence secretary, who he described as “exemplary.”

“When I asked Chuck to serve as secretary of defence we were entering a significant period of transition: the drawdown in Afghanistan, the need to prepare our forces for future missions and tough fiscal choices to keep our military strong and ready,” Obama said.

Hagel, who was the sole Republican on the US national security team, struggled to improve his ties with Congress after a contentious 2013 confirmation hearing. He submitted his resignation letter after lengthy discussions with Obama that began in October, officials said.

“It’s been the greatest privilege of my life to lead, and most important, to serve with the men and women of the Defence Department and support their families. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished during this time,” Hagel said.

He will remain in his post until his successor is appointed by the US Senate.

The move suggested that Obama is paying heed to criticism over the handling of the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) threat in the Middle East.

“Officials are saying that the Pentagon needs an approach different from the one Hagel would bring” if he had stayed, our correspondent said, adding that the Pentagon chief was seen as “timid and a bit confused.”

Hagel had raised questions about Obama’s strategy towards Syria in a two-page internal policy memo he wrote that leaked. In it, he warned that Obama’s policy was in jeopardy due to its failure to clarify its intentions towards Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Obama has insisted that the United States can go after ISIL fighters without addressing Assad, who the United States would like to leave power.

Officials said Obama wanted fresh leadership during the final two years of his administration.

“What I can tell you is there are no policy differences in the background of this decision,” a senior US defence official said.

“The secretary is not resigning in protest and he’s not being ‘fired’,” the official said.

Top potential candidates to replace Hagel include Michele Flournoy, a former under secretary of defence, and Ashton Carter, a former deputy secretary of defence, who were rumoured to be contenders for Hagel’s job before he was named. [myad]

War Against Insurgence: Jonathan re-Iterates Call For Cooperation Between Nigeria And Its Neighbours

Greenbarge Reporters

November 24, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated the need for Nigeria and her neighbours to intensify joint actions and cooperation to win the war against terrorism and insurgency.
Speaking to reporters at the Presidential Palace in N’Djamena
after a closed-door meeting with his Chadian counterpart, President Idris Deby Itno on Monday, President Jonathan said that their talks focused mainly on security and economic cooperation.
He said that Boko Haram has a lot of external influence from outside Africa and that it has become even more imperative for all countries in the region to work together to overcome terrorism and other criminal activities across their borders.
“If you look at the economies of Nigeria and Chad both are linked. The Boko haram people don’t take permission to move from Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria.
“If the countries do not cooperate, we will not find it easy to win the war, because when the heat is strong in one country, the criminals and terrorists will go to another one and hide.
“So we must work together and we are discussing along that line.”
President Jonathan recalled that his visit to Chad was the second in the last one month and that it underscored the importance of building a “robust relationship” between both countries to improve trade, economic and security ties.
He said that discussions between both countries on cooperation in the ICT sector were ongoing and expressed optimism that more proficient use of modern technology will help greatly to address economic and security challenges in the region.
President Jonathan who was accompanied on the one-day official visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali and the Director-General the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke has returned to Abuja. [myad]

Students Of Jos Varsity Boycott Exams Over Development Levy

Greenbarge Reporters

November 24, 2014

Students of the University of Jos, today, boycotted their second semester examinations and embarked on protest against the imposition of N10,000 development levy by the school authorities.

The students, had, as early as 8am, barricaded all the roads leading in and out of the campus, wearing black attires and chanting war songs.

The police had a hectic time trying to control the students as the protest caused a gridlock along the popular Bauchi road.

President of the Students Union Government, Mr. Abel Nok, said he tried to pacify the students and begged them to write their examination, but that they refused.

“I met with the school authorities and we resolved to ask the student s to sit their examinations pending the resolution of the dispute, but they were adamant.”

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Hayward Mafuyai, who spoke on the issue, wondered why the students should protest as the levy had been there for a long time

“The development and acceptance levy have been there for a long time and have been fully embraced by all the stakeholders and I wonder why the protest at this time.” [myad]

Enyimba Defeats Dolphins 2-1 To Keep Nigeria Federation Cup

Greenbarge Reporters

November 23, 2014

Enyimba today, defeated Dolphins 2-1 in the final played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos to retain the 2014 Federation Cup. This is Enyimba’s fourth cup triumph having won it also in 2005, 2009 and 2013.

Enyimba will represent Nigeria in the 2015 CAF Champions League after they finished runners-up in the league, while Dolphins will feature in the Confederation Cup as beaten cup finalists.

‘The Peoples Elephant’ got the opening goal through the Nigeria league all-time record goal scorer Mfon Udoh, who powered home a canon from the 30 yards to beat Rotimi Sunday in goal for Dolphins in the 52nd minute.

Chinonso Okonkwo made it 2-0 for Enyimba in the 73rd minute after Udoh stole the ball from Dolphin defender Victor Ezuruike..

Emem Eduok gave Dolphins a lifeline in the 80th minute, when he connected Ifenyi Egwim’s pass to take the scores to 2-1.

Omo Johnson missed a chance to equalise for Dolphins in the added time as he fired wide after he had beaten Ugwu Uwadiegwu.

Dolphins Rotimi Sunday denied Chinonso Okonkwo a brace in the 90+3 minute as he made a save off good counter attack that involved Mfon Udoh and Kingsley Sokari.

The first half belonged to Dolphins, while in the second period Enyimba asserted themselves in the game.

Dolphins top scorer in the season Emem Eduok was denied a goal in the 13th minute after his effort was cleared off the line by Chinedu Udoji.

Udoji was on hand again in the 42th minute to clear Tijani Adamu cross before it would be connected.

In the 44th minute, Ebube Okpokwu dangerous cross misses everybody in Enyimba’s box. [myad]

No Government Performed More Than Jonathan Since 1960, Says Dr. Okupe

Greenbarge Reporters

November 23, 2014

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe has said that no government performed more than President Goodluck Jonathan since the nation’s independence in 1960.

Reacting to observation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the administration of President Jonathan is under-performing, Dr. Okupe said that the claims of under-performance are untrue and misleading, stressing that Jonathan performed better than Obasanjo.

The former President had at an event over the weekend declared that he rated the President Goodluck Jonathan administration “below average”, but the

In a statement today, Dr. Okupe said: “We aver that Chief Obasanjo’s comments are untrue, misleading and clearly do not tally with the facts on the ground.

“We therefore wish to assert without equivocation that in terms of performance and achievements, no administration since 1960 when Nigeria gained independence from Britain has done as much as that of President Jonathan. Every discerning and unbiased Nigerian will definitely attest to this fact as the evidence stares all of us in the face.” [myad]

Nigeria’s Federal Capital Minister Says Nyanya Is A Notorious Slum That Must Go

Greenbarge Reporters

November 23, 2014

The Minister of the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed has described Nyanya Labour Camp, a suburb of Abuja, as a notorious slum that is habouring dangerous criminals operating around the capital city. He vowed that the slum will soon be cleared of the hoodlums and moved to Gidan Daya.
The Minister who was speaking during an interactive session with some newsmen at the weekend in his office in Area 11, Garki District, Abuja, said that the present condition of Nyanya was an eyesore and not befitting.
Nyanya, located less than 10 kilometers from the Abuja city centre, was built about 30 years ago for early construction workers that were involved in the building of the new Federal Capital City.
Senator Bala recalled that the builders of the camp planned it as a temporary camp, which symbolized the kind of structures that were erected in the area.
According to the minister, the current security challenges in the country caused by Boko Haram have made the relocation of the Nyanya Labour Camp even more compelling.
He said that the FCT Administration has taken several measures recently such as demolition of some buildings to enhance security and environmental sanity in Nyanya, adding that the situation can be salvaged without relocation.
The Minister said that Gidan Daya, the chosen relocation site for Nyanya is a new district located within the same Abuja Municipal Area Council on the Karshi axis.
He said that his administration is committed to the provision of affordable and decent housing for Nigerian workers and that the recent flag off of the construction of 40,000 housing units for workers in Abuja is part of such move.
The minister said that the land swap policy which he introduced in FCT about two years ago has helped to accelerate development with the opening, in the next four years, of over 10 districts.
He said that in addition to the acceleration of physical development, other benefits of the land swap initiative to include the curtailing of sharp practices in land transactions, creation of jobs and employment opportunities for thousands of youths, solving of resettlement and compensation challenges and elimination of the problem of land freezing among others.
He said that the administration is considering the option of funding the Gitata-Abuja road project through land swap system, and that with such system, contractor would be given land in exchange for road construction.
The road, when completed, he added, would help to reduce pressure on the ever busy Abuja-Nyanya-Keffi express road by serving as a diversion. [myad]

Ex INEC Boss, Prof. Iwu, Identifies 2015 Election Pitfalls

Greenbarge Reporters

November 23, 2014

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu has listed pitfalls that need to be avoided if the 2015 elections must be held without hitchs.
Professor Iwu, in a statement today by RealNews magazine, was quoted as saying at the second anniversary lecture of the online news magazine in Lagos that the 2015 doomsday predictors need to be put to shame by all means.
The former INEC boss, who was the guest lecturer at the event, expressed confidence that those who predicted Nigeria’s collapse in 2015 will fail but that it is not good enough for the country not to take urgent steps to address such issues as electoral violence, influence of money politics, the negative mindset of Nigerians, internal democracy within the political parties and the reluctance of women to participate in politics and elections.
Professor Iwu insisted that everything must be done to ensure that violence does not mar the elections, even as he observed that already, there are signs that some Nigerians who are desperate for power at all costs would do just anything in the bid to achieve their aims.
He said such people are those giving the doomsday prediction that Nigeria would break up in 2015 more grounds to spread.
He said that following closely on the heels of the issue of violence is the mindset of Nigerians that the country can never do anything right.
According to him, such a negative mindset does not even enable Nigerians to celebrate the feats that were achieved by the country in the past.
He cited the 2007 elections that culminated in the transition from one democratic government to another as a major watershed that was not valued by Nigerians.
He noted that when Pakistan achieved similar feat, the country celebrated it, while Nigerians rubbished it.
“INEC is made up of human being. They can make mistakes.
“We should encourage the correction of those mistakes rather than throwing the system into chaos.”
Professor Iwu wanted the influence of money in politics to be curbed, even as he wanted discipline internal democracy in parties to flourish.
According to him, it is with such political behavours that those with great ideas who are not moneybags can freely partake in the political process.
He said that the multiplicity and jumping of parties in Nigeria was because politicians believe that they cannot get justice in one party or the other.
On the involvement of few women in politics, Professor Iwu said that Nigeria cannot make the giant leap forward until more women are involved in the political process.
He said that if the environment becomes right, there would be very little need for the involvement of the police and military in the electoral process.
“Political parties are becoming the preserve of an exclusive few. We exclude our best and brightest and this should not be so.
“The electoral environment has its own peculiarities, which must be addressed. The prospect for future elections are very bright.
“We should have faith in ourselves, but note that mistakes must be made.”
The Managing Director of Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Roberts Orya, said that Nigeria must continue to improve on its leadership.
Orya, who spoke on the topic: “Economics implications of getting the right leadership” noted that leaders leverage on the quality of people around them, adding that good leaders are those who are capable of managing the people and resources available to them.
He said that it is better for leaders to make a decision that is unpopular than not to make one, adding that the notion that a leader must know it all is wrong.
The Publisher and Editor of RealNews, Maureen Chigbo, described the lecture as the online portal’s contribution to the development of Nigeria.
Chigbo said the magazine hopes to do more in the years ahead. [myad]

Flood Threatens Britain Tomorrow

Greenbarge Reporters

November 22, 2014

Britain has been placed on alert on 10 days worth of rain that is set to fall in the next 24 hours before widespread frost and freezing fog threatens Monday’s rush-hour.

The Met Office, the official British weather expert, has issued a yellow weather warning for the South East of England as ‘persistent and locally heavy’ rain is expected to cause surface water flooding and travel disruption.

London, Surrey and Kent are among the areas on high alert as up to an inch of rain – 10 days’ worth – is predicted to fall over the next 24 hours.

The ‘be aware’ warning is from 3am to 9pm on Sunday and could also affect West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Medway and East Sussex.

‘A waving front will lie across the area for much of the day, with more than 20 mm expected in places. Given the wetter than average weather of late, these totals bring the risk of surface water,’ according to the Met Office. [myad]

Fatima From Tunisia Wins 2014 Muslim Women Beauty Contest

Greenbarge Reporters

November 22, 2014

A 25 year-old Computer scientist from Tunisia, Fatma Ben Guefrache has won the 2014 Muslim women beauty contest in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and received a prize, which includes a gold watch, a gold dinar, and mini pilgrimage to Mecca.

The pageant, which was exclusively for Muslims, seen as a riposte to Western beauty contests, had 18 finalists, who include a doctor and a computer scientist. They paraded in glittering dresses against the backdrop of world-renowned ancient temples for the contest in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

The winner, Fatma Ben Guefrache, had as her runner up, Nazreen Ali of India and Miss Muslimah 2013 Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola.

An eclectic mix of women from around the world competed in the final of a pageant

Fatima said after she was announced the winner: “May almighty Allah help me in this mission, and free Palestine, please, please, free Palestine and the Syrian people,” the tearful beauty woman said.

The 18 finalists were required to wear the Muslim headscarf and judged not only on their appearance, but also on how well they recite verses from the Koran and their views on Islam in the modern world.

“We want to see that they understand everything about the Islamic way of life — from what they eat, what they wear, how they live their lives,” said Jameyah Sheriff, one of the organisers.

The World Muslimah Award first drew global attention in 2013 when organisers presented it as a peaceful protest to Miss World, which was taking place around the same time on the resort island of Bali.

While it remains popular in some countries, British-run Miss World has faced frequent accusations that it is degrading to women, and a round in which contestants pose in bikinis has been a lightning rod for criticism.

In an effort to appease hardliners, Miss World organisers axed the bikini round for the Bali edition, but the event still sparked demonstrations from Islamic radicals who dubbed it a “whore contest”.

British contestant Dina Torkia said she hoped this year’s World Muslimah Award would not only provide a contrast to Western beauty pageants, but would also dispel prejudices against Islam.

“I think the most important thing is to show that we are really normal girls, we are not married to terrorists. This scarf on my head isn’t scary,” she told AFP.

However the 2014 pageant has faced challenges, with seven finalists dropping out and others struggling with Indonesia’s complex bureaucracy to obtain visas.

Most who pulled out did so because their families did not want them to travel alone, Sheriff said.

The Indian contestant missed her initial flight as she was being questioned by officials who were suspicious of a woman travelling alone and wearing a headscarf, although she managed to get on a plane later.

Others have gone to great lengths to take part in the fourth edition of the event, with Masturah Binte Jamil quitting her teaching job in Singapore after her employer would not give her time off to participate.

Organisers hope to present positive role models for Islamic women around the world and the contestants, who are aged between 18 and 27, include a newly qualified doctor from Bangladesh.

But not everyone was enjoying the final rounds, with Britain’s Torkia saying her initial optimism had turned into disappointment.

“I came into this competition hoping that I would leave with my faith increased, but so far it’s been a lot about promotion and media and looking nice,” she said.

Friday’s finale caps a lengthy process, which included an online audition followed by two weeks of events in Indonesia.

During their time in Indonesia, contestants have visited orphanages and nursing homes, and had their pictures taken at Borobudur, a famous Buddhist temple close to Yogyakarta, Java’s cultural heartland.

The finale takes place on a stage against the backdrop of Prambanan, a ninth-century complex of Hindu temples on the island of Java that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hosting the event at a Hindu site was a conscious decision to show that Muslims are accepting of other religions, organisers said. [myad]

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