2015: What Is President Jonathan Waiting For? By Joe Igbokwe

August 19, 2014

It is seven months away to the Presidential Elections scheduled to hold in February next year and yet President Goodluck Jonathan has not deemed it fit to tell Nigerians if he is running or not. His foot soldiers, running into thousands are traversing the entire political landscape telling Nigerians about the President’s Transformation Agenda and the need for continuity. As the President is yet to make his intention known to Nigerians ,the Efulefu (nonentity) Alhaji Asari Dokubo has been telling the world that President Jonathan’s 2015 presidential ambition is a settled matter, elections or no elections. If I can read Asari Dokubo’s lips very well, the votes of Ijaw people alone will make President Jonathan the president again in 2015.
Even if the Ijaw people do not vote, barrels of crude oil from the Ijaw nation will vote for President Goodluck Jonathan. A notorious coward that could not mutter a word when the Late General Abacha killed 13 Ogoni Sons including Ken Saro-Wiwa is the one calling the shots, abusing everybody, threatening fire and brimstone. Asari Dokubo has about four wives now, he is building a University in a neighbouring country and he may own a private Jet. Ah! Democracy has been good to Asari Dokubo, Edwin Clark, Bishop Oritsajofor and few others. Yes, democracy has been very good for them. Yes, life is good now for the school drop out, Asari Dokubo. But time will tell.
Yes, the political train of the president’s Campaign Organization has been moving with frightening speed and yet the man at the centre of it all is yet to make a statement on the matter. Is it that the president is afraid to declare his ambition? What is he waiting for? What calculations and permutations are Nigerians waiting for? Will the ballot boxes be the deciding factor or the AK 47? Is it that the stolen 20 billion US Dollars has not done enough work for the President to have confidence? Could it be that the DSS, Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, SSS, DMI, Civil Defence, Road Safety, Prison Warders, Customs & Excise etc have not given the go ahead order? Could it be that the Men of God led by Bishop Oritsejafor are still yet to speak? Are they still consulting? The fear of the unknown is keeping President Jonathan from making a public statement on the matter. The open robbery they planned for Osun was what they needed to kick start the president’s campaigns but it went bad .The votes, robbers and electoral thieves led by the Junior Minister for Defence Senator Obanikoro, with 73,000 armed men could not deliver the State of Osun to them. Osun was a bad business for them because God stopped their evil machinations using the weak but courageous Osun people to defend democracy with bare hands. Both APC and PDP knew that the State of Osun holds the key to the battle for 2015. While PDP went to Osun with 73,000 armed men APC had nothing but the decency of the human spirit, the type that was found in John Knox, a Scottish Reformer.
Osun outing was a bad business for President Jonathan’s handlers and they have been forced back to the drawing board to re-assess their criminal disposition to stealing votes. Osun elections exposed PDP and their foot soldiers and things may never be the same again. 2015 hangs in the balance for PDP, and President GEJ.
I will continue to insist that President Jonathan’s ambition to rule beyond 2015 is a threat to National Unity, given the circumstances that led to his coming to power and the way his foot soldiers are digging in concerning 2015 project. It is putting a knife on things that hold us together as one political entity. Some political prostitutes have been shouting from the rooftop since I said this few weeks back; but let me ask this question: Where were they in the days of the locusts when over 5000 Men and Women died for this democracy? Where were these characters that overheat the polity today with their reckless and dangerous Statement?
A friend tells me that ambition is a propelling force that wheels along our sense of direction but it should not be inordinate or misdirected. For peace to reign in Nigeria there must be justice. That was what we struggled for from 1985 to 1998. Now, while we wait for President GEJ and his handlers, let the truth be told that Nigeria is bigger than everybody.

Joe Igbokwe Writes From Lagos. [myad]

Governor Uduaghan Wins Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Award

Greenbarge Reporters

August 19, 2014

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state, today, won a Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Finance Award from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The Governor was conferred with the award for what was adjudged as an outstanding success Delta State has recorded under him in the MSME scheme.
The governor also received a N500 million cheque from President Goodluck Jonathan at the launching of the disbursement of the CBN’s N220 billion funds for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.
The sum of N260 million was also presented to the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio as the state’s share of the fund.
Also the representatives of LAPO Micro-Finance Bank and Grassroots Micro-Finance received a cheque of N100 million and N9.9 million respectively from the President.
President Jonathan promised that the Federal Government would establish a wholesale Development Finance Institution to provide long-term funds for industrial development.
The fund’s disbursement was the highpoint of the CBN’s 8th Annual MSME Finance Conference and Entrepreneurship Awards with the theme: “MSME Financing in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future.”
The President said that the proposed institution was part of measures to enhance the contribution of MSMEs to the country’s economic growth and development.
According to him, the impending DFI would provide long-term finance spanning up to 15 years for relevant entrepreneurs and industrialists, especially people involved in tree crop production.
Jonathan also disclosed plans by the Federal Government to restructure existing DFIs for better performance and improved access to finance by MSMEs.
“MSMEs are recognized all over the world as engine of growth in any development oriented economy.
“Besides their inherent labour intensive production processes, they also provide a viable platform for job creation globally.
“All over the developed world, the contributions of MSMEs to Gross Domestic Product average about 47 per cent.
“This shows clearly how important MSMEs are to us. As reported by SMEDAN (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria), there are about 17.3 million SMEs in Nigeria.
“However, this is quite small compared to countries like Indonesia that is slightly more than us in terms of population, but they have about 40 million.
“So, we must also get there and even go beyond.”
The President emphasized that a vibrant MSME sub-sector was indispensable for achieving sustainable transformation of the Nigerian economy.
He said as Africa’s largest economy with excellent prospects of becoming one of the world’s 20 largest economies by 2020, the challenges confronting MSMEs in the country must be addressed frontally.
“The challenges called for more concrete and concerted measures to enhance and expand the activities of MSMEs in our country.
“The enormity of the task ahead demands immediate and dedicated action.
“That is why I am kick-starting today the disbursement of the N220 billion MSME Development Fund.
“The fund will be received by participating financial institutions and state governments for onward lending to MSMEs across the country.”
Jonathan described the conference as appropriate in view of its focus on ways to resolve the problem of access to and cost of finance to MSMEs in Nigeria.
Besides limited access to finance, MSMEs in the country are also confronted by poor infrastructure, especially power, among other challenges.
Jonathan stated that the Federal Government was investing heavily on critical infrastructure such as electricity and road, among others to promote job creation and inclusive growth.
“We are aware that inadequate infrastructure increases the cost of production by an estimated 30 per cent, making Nigerian goods quite under-competitive and we need to improve on that.
“The Federal Government believes that stable power supply is the bedrock of our industrial development and economic progress.
“It will not only reduce the cost of manufacturing and services significantly, it will also engender investments and create jobs.
“With these benefits in mind we are vigorously implementing the power sector reform programme.”
Jonathan noted that in spite of the initial challenges associated with the power reform programme, some of the successor companies to the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria were currently doing well.
He lauded the CBN for collaborating with the Ministries of Power and Petroleum Resources as well as the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission to address the funding issues related to gas supply.
According to him, the collaboration is expected to boost gas supply that will increase the country’s power generation capacity to 5,000 megawatts within the next few months. [myad]

My Defection To PDP Is In Pursuit Of A Good Cause, Says Nuhu Ribadu

Greenbarge Reporters

August 19, 2014

Former Presidential Candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Malam Nuhu Ribadu has said that his defection from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the weekend was in pursuit of a good cause.

Ribadu, who was reacting to a floury of criticisms of his defection made it clear that he was not out to hurt or please anybody, saying that at no time he issued statement to disparage APC from where he had defected or its members.
“I wish to assure you that my defection is in pursuit of a good cause, and never out of any selfish interests as portrayed by a section.
“I know how difficult it may be for you to come to terms with my defection to another party. But I must assure you that it’s a carefully considered decision for which I do not wish to hurt anyone’s feeling. I will not embark on a needless animosity with my good friends, irrespective of political, religious, regional and ethnic affiliations.
“Let me quickly make it known that I did not issue a statement disparaging APC and its members, including Governors Amaechi, Kwankwaso… These were clearly fabricated, expected backlash, by mischievous characters interested in misleading the public and drawing a picture of non-existent feuds between me and my good friends.”
Ribadu said that his defection should not be seen as an initiation of political antagonism with his good friends in another party, adding: “I still hold them in high esteem, and even where there are marked differences, I believe there are decorous and honorable ways of resolving them.”

He asked his supporters to disregard any statement said to be by him attacking the personality of any politician since his defection, stressing that he would never allow himself to be drawn into such disrespectful exchange. [myad]

Ebola Centre: Kuje General Hospital Deserted, Residents Still Kick

Greenbarge Reporters

August 19, 2014

Patients are now avoiding the only general hospital in Kuje, the headquarter of Kuje Area Council of the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as the government begin work on the male ward of the hospital to be used as treatment centre for Ebola patients.
This is even as residents of the area, yesterday, issued threatening petition to those working on site to stop the work or face action from them that would not be pleasant. They also drove away the staff of the hospital.
Our correspondent reports that the residents now prefer to go to the Area Council’s health centre for medical attention whenever they fall sick instead of the controversial general hospital.
It was learnt that the medical officers at the general hospital, who used to be busy attending to patients before the coming of Ebola centre case are virtually on holiday as they resort to sleeping to while away time.
It was also learnt that people who live in houses very close to the hospital are already looking for another accommodation either in places far away from the hospital or outside Kuje entirely.
The situation is beleived to have led to protest by various segments of the town yesterday, who stormed the hospital to warn those working on the Ebola centre and the entirely medical staff to quit the hospital or face the consequences.
Amongst those who staged the protest were the market women association, commercial motor cyclists’ association, taxi drivers’ association, youth groups and many others.
It was gathered that shortly after the protesters gave the workers directive to quit site, the workers heeded by vaccating the site, leaving the once bubbling general hospital as empty as ghost infested structure.
It would be recalled that the residents had vowed to resist attempt to site Ebola treatment centre in Kuje, even as the FCT minister, Bala Mohammed insisted that the centre would be located in the town and going ahead to insult the Council chairman, Ishaku Shaban Tete for daring to present his people’s protest at an interactive session with stakeholders. [myad]

I May Die In 3 Year’s Time, Pope Francis Predicts

Greenbarge Reporters

August 19, 2014

Pope Francis has predicted that he may die within two to three years even as he never rules out retirement before then. This is the first time the Pope is publicly giving the prospect of his death when he spoke to reporters on a flight back to the Vatican from South Korea today.

The 77-year-old pontiff, who seemed in good spirits, was asked about his global popularity, which was evident again during his five-day visit.

He responded by saying:“I see it as the generosity of the people of God. I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, not to become proud. Because I know it will last only a short time. Two or three years and then I’ll be off to the Father’s House.”

The Argentine pope said he could handle the popularity “more naturally” these days, though at first it had “scared me a little.”

While the pope has not spoken publicly before about when he might meet his maker, a Vatican source said he had previously told those close to him that he thought he only had a few years left.

Pope Francis also mentioned the possibility of retiring from the Papacy, as his predecessor Benedict XVI did last year, if he felt he could no longer adequately perform his duties.

Resigning the papacy was a possibility “even if it does not appeal to some theologians,” he told reporters.

He added that 60 years ago, it was practically unheard of for Catholic bishops to retire, but nowadays it was common, adding: “Benedict XVI opened a door.”

Francis admitted that he had “some nerve problems,” which required treatment.

“Must treat them well, these nerves, give them mate (an Argentine stimulant tea) every day,” he joked. One of these neuroses, is that I’m too much of a homebody,” he added, recalling that the last time he’d taken a holiday outside of his native Argentina was “with the Jesuit community in 1975.” [myad]

Few Months To End Of Millennium Development Goals, Jonathan Wants It Repackaged

Greenbarge Reporters

August 18, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has charged experts implementing the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria to redesign their contents in line with the peculiar needs of the country.
The President gave this directive when he declared open, a Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Post 2015 Development Agenda in Abuja today. His address was delivered by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo.
He stressed that for the Post-2015 Development Agenda to have the necessary impact on the development trajectory of nations across the world, the new set of goals needs to tackle the issues that were not addressed under the current framework, with poverty eradication, access to sustainable energy, infrastructural development, population demographics and governance at the center.
“It must be understood that these areas are crucial to the process and cannot be left out. The new framework must finish the current business of the MDGs. “If the current framework was the so-called ‘floor’ for development aspirations on which we set more ambitious and contextually appropriate policy aims, then the new framework must consider the most fundamental problems facing the least developed societies in the world. It must tackle those problems first. The formulation process needs to continue to be inclusive so that development realities and not academic conjectures are tackled.
“This inclusion has the added benefit of increasing community buy-in across the world. Being cognizant of these, I assure you of Government’s commitment to consider the outcomes of this Summit.”
He said that the Summit has come at a better time as we approach the MDGs deadline and mobilize resources to craft the Post-2015 Framework.
The President said that with less than 500 days to the MDGs deadline, United Nations Member States are in a sprint to formulate an inclusive successor agenda, taking into account current and emerging development challenges that slow down progress on the Internationally Agreed Development Goals (IADGS).
The President implored the participants to pay particular attention to the important issue of structural transformation in determining an inclusive Post-2015 Agenda, stressing the need to focus on the developmental transformation of Nigeria’s economy in order to attain sustainable human development over the medium term, as well as poverty reduction in the context of current systemic vulnerability. “It is imperative that you discuss in detail our dependence on primary commodity exports and suggest ways by which we can escape the subtle trap of low-value added and low productivity agriculture, which tend to worsen the culture of dependency. The recommendations from your deliberations may eventually align with this Administration’s blueprint to urgently transform Nigeria’s economy from one dominated by primary extraction and low value-added agriculture and services, to one in which high value is added through industrialization, infrastructural development and the application of technology, innovation, beneficiation and better linkages between sectors in the wider economy.”
President Jonathan said that the transformation of these sectors required a transfer of technology, innovation and a healthy and educated workforce living in freedom, adding that Economic transformation should be linked to the social conditions of society. “This is one of the reasons why Nigeria affirms the African Common Position on the Post-2015 Development Agenda which promotes universal and equitable access to health care, gender equality and women empowerment, quality education and human capital development, disaster risk reduction, poverty eradication, shelter provisioning, water resources management as well as the judicious harnessing of Nigeria’s burgeoning population demographics.”
President Jonathan said that he is being prudent to take stock and review the implementation of the MDGs Framework, the global community has been saddled with the unique responsibility of making the process as inclusive as possible in order to ensure that no one is left behind.
“Nigeria has therefore convened a number of consultations which has provided opportunity for diverse population groups, including Civil Society, the Parliament, academia, subnational governments, vulnerable population groups, among others, to become actively involved and own the process as we chart the next development agenda.”
He said that the will serve to follow up on all these previous efforts even as he commended the UN Country System and other parties that have partnered with Nigeria as it doggedly commit itself to shaping a people-centred post-2015 agenda.
“While paying due consideration to the drawbacks that limit the MDGs Agenda as a best practice, it is not mere rhetoric that the framework has helped to galvanize development planning and execution globally. “In order to domesticate the MDGs Agenda, Nigeria laid down the institutional, policy and financial frameworks to implement and accelerate the attainment of these Goals. Nigeria has firmly demonstrated commitment by dedicating the entirety of the Debt Relief Gains (DRGs) negotiated from the Paris Club to MDGs interventions in addition to establishing an Office within the Presidency which serves as the secretariat to the high level Presidential Committee on the Assessment and Monitoring of the MDGs. Using the DRGs, Nigeria has put in place innovative programs such as the Conditional Grants Scheme and various social protection programmes aimed at providing high impact interventions at the grassroots where they are most needed.” President Jonathan said that the Countdown Strategy, the Nigeria’s blueprint to accelerate the attainment of the MDGs which integrates the core principles of the Vision 20:2020 and the National Implementation Plan have continued to guide the implementation of the MDGs in Nigeria.
He admitted that progress has been mixed, but that there has been remarkable improvement in the MDGs indicators when compared to baseline statistics.
“To start with, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization recently recognized Nigeria for halving the proportion of those who suffer from hunger way ahead of the 2015 deadline. “Government is taking proactive steps to stem the challenges that keep children out of school in some parts of the country. Nigeria has achieved the gender parity targets at primary and secondary education levels. We continue to provide incentives to ensure sustained female school participation.”
He said that significant progress has been made in the drive to attain the health MDGs, adding that under-five deaths declined from 157 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2008, to 94 in 2012.
This trend, he said, is similar for infant mortality rate of 61 per 1,000 live births, saying that it needs to reduce by 50% in order to meet the 2015 target. Nigeria, Jonathan added, has continued to reduce the Maternal Mortality Ratio, saying that in 1990, it was estimated that 1,000 mothers died per 100,000 live births; in 2008 this declined to 545 and in 2012, the figure was 350. “Progress has been driven in a major part by the Midwife Services Scheme, among others, which has seen the reversal of the previously negative trend in the percentage of skilled health personnel attending to births.
“Furthermore, there is continuation in the fall of HIV prevalence, from figures as high as 5.8 to 4.1 in 2012. The prevalence in the general population is now 3.5. This falling trend satisfies the criteria for the attainment of Target 6A.
“Nigeria is implementing a comprehensive HIV/AIDs plan to reduce the incidence of mother to child transmission in order to get to zero.” President Jonathan said that whilst there has been remarkable improvement in many MDGs indicators, Government, in collaboration with stakeholders, is mobilizing the necessary attention needed to focus on Goals lagging behind in order to bring about the desired change.
According to him, in accordance with the dual directive of the UN Secretary General to accelerate progress on the MDGs in the little time remaining while aggregating citizens’ demands for the post-MDGs era, Nigeria deployed the United Nations MDGs Acceleration Framework (MAF) with focus on reducing the burden of maternal mortality.
This tool, he said, built on the success of policies such as the Midwives Service Scheme, Community Health Extension Workers Programme, the Village Health Workers Scheme and the Saving One Million Lives Initiative.
He said that the focus is not only on improving the efficiency of progress of Goal but that efforts are being made across board with other initiatives such as the use of a groundbreaking mobile money technology to drive the scale up of Conditional Cash Transfers being implemented across the Federation.
“This CCT Scheme, designed to stimulate demand for services, targets education, basic health care, as well as the transfer of agricultural enterprise, being a multi-faceted program implemented in the run up to the 2015 deadline.
“As demonstrated by the foregoing, the MDGs framework has helped to focus international and local attention on improving the lives of those most vulnerable in society. “We must now increase our efforts in these remaining 500 days to complete what was started under the MDGs Agenda. I have been informed that the recommendation to complete the “unfinished business” of the MDGs was indeed well articulated at the different stages of the National Consultations on the Post-2015 Development Framework held in Nigeria. Evidence gathered from aggregating citizens’ aspirations clearly shows that there is broad consensus that the current MDGs must not be sidelined. “Poverty eradication must remain in focus as we integrate the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development in an inclusive programme.” [myad]

I Admire The Strength, The Beauty, Modesty And Happiness Of Muslim Women, By Joanna Francis

Greenbarge Reporters

August 18, 2014

Between the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the Zionist “War on Terror,” the world is now center stage in every American home. I see the carnage, death and destruction that have befallen Lebanon, but I also see something else: I see you. I can’t help but notice that almost every woman I see is carrying a baby or has children around her.

I see that though they are dressed modestly, their beauty still shines through. But it’s not just outer beauty that I notice. I also notice that I feel something strange inside me: I feel envy. I feel terrible for the horrible experiences and war crimes that the Lebanese people have suffered, being targeted by our common enemy. But I can’t help but admire your strength, your beauty, your modesty, and most of all, your happiness. Yes, it’s strange, but it occurred to me that even under constant bombardment, you still seemed happier than we are, because you were still living the natural lives of women. The way women have always lived since the beginning of time. It used to be that way in the West until the 1960s, when we were bombarded by the same enemy. Only we were not bombarded with actual munitions, but with subtle trickery and moral corruption.

Through Temptation They bombarded us Americans from Hollywood , instead of from fighter jets or with our own American-made tanks. They would like to bomb you in this way too, after they’ve finished bombing the infrastructure of your countries. I do not want this to happen to you. You will feel degraded, just like we do.

You can avoid this kind of bombing if you will kindly listen to those of us who have already suffered serious casualties from their evil influence. Because everything you see coming out of Hollywood is a pack of lies, a distortion of reality, smoke and mirrors.They present casual sex as harmless recreation because they aim to destroy the moral fabric of the societies into which they beam their poisonous programming. I beg you not to drink their poison. There is no antidote for it once you have consumed it. You may recover partially, but you will never be the same. Better to avoid the poison altogether than to try to heal from the damage it causes. They will try to tempt you with their titillating movies and music videos, falsely portraying us American women as happy and satisfied, proud of dressing like prostitutes, and content without families.

Most of us are not happy, trust me. Millions of us are on anti-depressant medication, hate our jobs, and cry at night over the men who told us they loved us, then greedily used us and walked away. They would like to destroy your families and convince you to have fewer children. They do this by presenting marriage as a form of slavery, motherhood as a curse, and being modest and pure as old-fashioned. They want you to cheapen yourself and lose your faith. Our pearls are priceless, but they convince us that they’re cheap. But trust me; there is no substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity, innocence and self-respect staring back at you. The fashions coming out of the Western sewer are designed to make you believe that your most valuable asset is your sexuality. But your beautiful dresses and veils are actually sexier than any Western fashion, because they cloak you in mystery and show self-respect and confidence.

A woman’s sexuality should be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man who loves and respects you enough to marry you. And since your men are still manly warriors, they deserve no less than your best. Our men don’t even want purity anymore. They don’t recognise the pearl of great value, opting for the flashy rhinestone instead. Only to leave her too! Your most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no compensation for that loss. You are flawless diamonds. Don’t let them trick you into becoming rhinestones.

Because everything you see in the fashion magazines and on Western television is a lie. It is Satan’s trap. It is fool’s gold. A Woman’s Heart I’ll let you in on a little secret, just in case you’re curious: pre-marital sex is not even that great. We gave our bodies to the men we were in love with, believing that that was the way to make them love us and want to marry us, just as we had seen on television growing up. But without the security of marriage and the sure knowledge that he will always stay with us, it’s not even enjoyable! That’s the irony. It was just a waste. It leaves you in tears. Speaking as one woman to another, I believe that you understand that already. Because only a woman can truly understand what’s in another woman’s heart. We nurture our families and give comfort and strength to the men we love. But we American women have been fooled into believing that we are happiest having careers, our own homes in which to live alone, and freedom to give our love away to whomever we choose. That is not freedom. And that is not love. Only in the safe haven of marriage can a woman’s body and heart be safe to love. Don’t settle for anything less. It’s not worth it. You won’t even like it and you’ll like yourself even less afterwards. Then he’ll leave you.

Self-Denial: Sin never pays. It always cheats you. Even though I have reclaimed my honour, there’s still no substitute for having never been dishonored in the first place. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight, begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside, we know that we have been cheated. We secretly admire and envy you, although some of us will not admit it. Most of us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot. Don’t be fooled, my sisters. Don’t let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure. We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost. Hold onto your purity. Remember, you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. So guard your “toothpaste” carefully!

I hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended; the spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration.

From your Christian sister “With Love.”

Joanna Francis is a Writer and Journalist in the United States of America. [myad]

PDP Chieftain To Nuhu Ribadu: Welcome To Party You Branded Corrupt

Greenbarge Reporters

August 18, 2014

“Let him come and join us. He has said on many occasions that PDP is a corrupt party full of corrupt people. Let him come and be part of us. We will welcome him.”

These were the welcoming words from a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who would not want his name in prints as he reacted to the defection of the former corruption fighting giant, Malam Nuhu Ribadu from All Progressives Congress (APC) to PDP.

These came even as the leadership of the PDP and the Presidency are believed to have planned not to give special treatment to the defecting Ribadau in the contest for the governorship seat of Adamawa state, contrary to the purpose of his defection, which is to get automatic ticket for the election, slated for October 11, 2014.

It was learnt on good authority that the Presidency and the national leadership of the party have perfected plans to ask him to join others in the primaries that would be conducted for the aspirants. Ahead of governorship election in the state, the PDP has fixed its ward congress for September 1, while the party primary is said to have been fixed for the middle of September.

It was learnt that the party and the Presidency are planning to just use his influence and his integrity to seek for favour locally and internally because of the perceived inability of the government to fight corruption in the country.

It was also learnt that the party is not planning to hold any special meeting of its National Executive Committee in order to give Ribadu and other defectors the much needed waivers. [myad]

Josephine Anenih Complains Of How PDP Let Her Down

Greenbarge Reporters

August 17, 2014

Former Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyom Josephine Anenih has complained of how the party had let her down on many occasions in the past.
“In fact, if this was a PDP rally, I probably would not have come because the Party has let me down too many times.”
Josephine Anenih spoke yesterday in Awka, Anambra state, during a rally of the women wing of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) for the Southeast zone.
She made it clear that she was not at the rally because of PDP, adding: “this is not a PDP rally and I am not here because of PDP.
“So you might ask why I am here. I am here on this platform as a Nigerian Woman Leader. I am here to tell you that President Goodluck Jonathan has kept faith with Nigerian women by empowering them in a way that no other President has ever done.”
Josephine said that the women would not want the PDP to play with Jonathan’s right to an automatic ticket as a sitting President, as is done in every civilized democratic nation in the world, insisting that the Party must give him the ticket to run.
She listed the programmes of empowerment to include the YouWin programme which has empowered so many young entrepreneurs to build their businesses and employ other people, the appointment of almost 35 percent women in Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs, with most of the strategic MDAs and others being headed by women.
“President Jonathan nominated 92 women to the just concluded National Conference, including a 24-year old woman and a blind woman.
“With the challenges facing us as a country we cannot afford to play politics with the destiny of our people. This is no time for selfish politics of personal interest. Our definition of politics must change.
“Four months to election year, we cannot be guessing who will lead the battle to face the challenges confronting us. “Today we have Boko Haram, terrorism, insurgency and, now, Ebola. This is no time to try a new hand. This is the time to stick with who you know- who can deliver and has delivered.
“Four months to election year, we have not seen any other candidate we can x-ray or assess. It is, indeed, irresponsible and utter disregard of the electorate (by any party) to sell your candidate in less than four years. You need four years and not four months to sell any candidate.
“We need someone that cares and feels our pains. We have had four years to assess Dr Goodluck Jonathan and we are telling you he has passed the test. We know Jonathan; so we should go with him.
“He has not let us down. He has more than delivered on all his campaign promises.”
Josephine Anenih recalled how, in company with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, she and others, using the Women for Change message, mobilized Nigerian women all over the country before the 2011 elections.
“We got Nigerian women to massively vote for President Goodluck Jonathan. This President is the Women’s President.
The mandate he has today is the mandate we gave him. It is because it is our mandate and because he is our representative, today, that Nigerian women are giving the President an ultimatum. Nigerian women can give their President an ultimatum. We are giving the President an ultimatum: You must run.” [myad]

Mercy Johnson Throws Critics Into ‘Dustbin’

Greenbarge Reporters

August 17, 2014

Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson has thrown her critics into ‘dustbin, saying that she will continue to move on in life ahead of them.

The Kogi State-born star in an interview with City People said ‘People will keep criticising when they want exactly what you have. They hate and they talk, but they want what you have. They crave to have what you have. So when they talk, the only way to shut them up is to even do better and up your game.’

She went on to add: ‘We are in an environment where people who have boils all over their faces will look at me that has just 1 pimple on my cheek and try to tell me what cream to use. People hide in the shadow and say stuff.’

She made it clear that nobody can make her to go back now, adding: “So it’s like hate all you want, I am moving. So you are just going to stay there and keep talking and I am ahead of you.” [myad]

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