President Obama Invites President Jonathan To US

August 2, 2014

President Jonathan and US president, Barack Obama

President Barack Obama of the United States of America has invited Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan and is expected to fly to the Washington DC early tomorrow, Sunday.
The major reason for the invitation, according to statement from the Nigeria’s Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, is for Jonathan to participate in a three-day United States-African Leaders Summit and for him to take time to explain efforts his government has done so far in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.
Dr. Abati said that Presidents Jonathan and President Obama with about 50 other African leaders will engage in discussions that are expected to lead to greater progress in key areas, such as expanding trade and investment ties, promoting inclusive sustainable development and expanding cooperation on peace and security.
“The Summit, which is the first of its kind between an American President and African heads of state and government, is expected to greatly strengthen ties between the United States, Nigeria and other African countries.”
Abati said that special sessions are expected to be held on “Investing in Africa’s Future,” “Peace and Regional Stability” and “Governing the Next Generation.”
The summit, he added, will also feature side-events such as the United States-Africa Business Forum which has the objectives of boosting efforts to strengthen trade and financial ties between the United States and Africa, creating partnerships that will accelerate job creation, and encouraging more American investments in Nigeria and other African countries.
“President Jonathan is also scheduled to hold meetings in Washington with key United States political, security and business leaders on the sidelines of the summit to discuss the further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in other areas, including the war against terrorism.”
President Jonathan will be accompanied to the summit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, the Coordinating Minster of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo and the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd.).
The President is expected back to Nigeria at the end of the summit, on Wednesday. [myad]

Between Me And Boko Haram, Others, Battle Line Is Drawn, This Is No Idle Boast-New Police Boss

Greenbarge Reporters

August 2, 2014

“I will do whatever it takes to bring the excesses of violent criminals to a halt. Those who know me, know that I don’t make idle boasts.”

These were the remarks of the new Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba at the formal handing over of power by the former IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, in Abuja yesterday.

The new IGP) made it clear that the days of all criminals in whatever guise, including the dreaded Islamic group, Boko Haram, are numbered.

Abba promised: “We will satisfy the expectations all Nigerians. We will operate in consonance with the law. We will minimize the excesses in the exercise of power. The expectations of Nigerians on accountability will be adhered to.

“We will continue with our professional crime fighting strategy. We will build on the confidence of the public, which is one of the principles of community policing. What we will do is that professional crime fighting strategy will be advanced and as we advance it, we will be complementing the principles of community policing so that at the end of the day, we will achieve our objectives.”

IGP Abba however blamed previous governments in the country for their inability to implement police reforms, stressing that it is only the late President Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan’s government that have succeeded in implementing reforms in the police force.

This, he said, has immensely improved the efficiency of the force in the past few years.

Abba noted with regret that some aspect of attitudinal changes are completely missing in the force and that his administration will focus making sure that the attitude of officers and men of the force is changed for the better.

“The focus of my leadership shall be on attitudinal change. We will make sure that we have ethical values and standards.”

Speaking earlier, former IGP, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, commended the men and officers for their support and cooperation, saying that he felt fulfilled handing over the mantle to Abba.

He expressed optimism that Abba will do his best in the circumstance he found himself, adding: “Abba is smart, has the ability and capacity to do the job.”

He pledged to support the force in anyway, considering the immense experience he has gathered in the fight against terrorism over the years. [myad]

Nasarawa Lawmakers Inviting Anarchy, By Nebukadineze Adiele

Greenbarge Reporters

August 2, 2014

Members of the Nasarawa state House of Assembly, desperate to impeach the state governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, have frozen the account of the state government.
Of course, they absolutely do not have the authority/power to freeze the state government’s accounts. These law makers are lawless and are silently inviting anarchy into the land. If the military throws their dumb asses out of office as a result of their lawlessness, some ignorant Nigerians will start mouthing off on the military overthrowing an elected government. Who needs an elected government that does not follow the constitution?
These dumb legislators asked the state Chief Judge (CJ) to constitute a judicial panel to look into the allegations of official wrong doing that they leveled against the governor. The Chief Judge complied, but like little bratty senseless children, the same law makers are not satisfied with the panels membership, even though the constitution gives them no role or authority to question the constituted panel. Then, like stark illiterate motor park touts, they demanded of the CJ to disband the panel, without indicating under what authority they could make such a demand and under what authority that the CJ could honor their illegal demand.
Are these legislators really this much stupid or they are merely playing games? Either way, they are unfit and disgraceful to democracy.
I hope that the sanctimonious-sounding Nigerians who lament the death of “a democratically elected government” are watching these abuses of the wishes of the people of Nasarawa state by “elected civilians.”
Nothing in the constitution says that civilians are at liberty to violate it or that their simple minded supporters should be taken seriously for lamenting the civilians removal from office (by soldiers) if they violated the constitution. Preventing soldiers from coming to power starts from the elected civilians following the law. They are not following the law now and I smell 1983. Period! [myad]

7 Deputy Inspectors General Of Police Lose Jobs

Greenbarge Reporters

August 2, 2014

No fewer than seven Deputy Inspector General of Police who could not make it to the Inspector General level are automatically to be retired to make room for the new police boss, Suleiman Abba, who hitherto was their junior, to set up his management team.

Their automatic retirement is in line with the tradition in the Forces that senior officer cannot take orders from the junior officer who is elevated above them.

A source at Edet House confirmed that “all the officers that were ahead of the new IGP has been forcefully retired.”

With the retirement of the DIGs, the Police Service Commission (PSC), chaired by Mike Okiro, is said to have concluded plans to promote six Assistant-Inspectors-General (AIG) in to replace them.

The AIGs that are likely to be promoted include Danazumi Doma from Nasarawa State currently the Force Secretary, Solomon Arase, who is in charge of Force Intelligence, Bala Hassan who is in charge of zone 10, Christopher Dega zone 8 Lokoja, Salihu Argungu zone 5 Benin and Tsafe Mamman zone 2 Lagos.

The officers when promoted will take over from Suleiman Fakai who was in charge of administration, Michael Zuokomor, Emmanuel Udoji, Atiku Kafur, Peter Gana and Jonathan Johnson.

The promotion is expected to be announced very soon. [myad]

President Jonathan Sacks Yakubu, NNPC Group Managing Director

Greenbarge Reporters

August 1, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu.
The sacking of the NNPC chief executive who has been reeling in controversy for sometime now, was announced this evening, in a statement from the special adviser on media and publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati.
The statement, which did not give reasons for the sack, said the former Managing Director of Integrated Data Services Ltd (IDSL), a subsidiary of the NNPC, Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha has been appointed to replace Yakubu.
Dr. Dawha, who hails from Borno state, had also once served as the Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the NNPC.
According to the statement, other appointments approved by the President were that of Mr. Anthony Ugonna Muoneke as Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Ms. Aisha Mata Abdurrahman as Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment of the NNPC and Dr. Attahir B. Yusuf as Group Executive Director, Business Development of the NNPC.
It said that the new Managing Director of the NPDC, Anthony Muoneke hails from Anambra state and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. It said that he has over 29 years’ experience at both local and international levels in the oil and gas as well as the energy and power sectors, including serving as Executive Director, Finance & Admin, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd. (NDPHC). “All the appointments are with immediate effect.” [myad]

Jonathan Praises Dangote As He Goes Into N160 Billion Rice Production

Greenbarge Reporters

August 1, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has commended the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote for investing one billion dollars (about N160 Billion) in rice production in the country.

The President made the commendation during the signing of the $1 billion-dollar Rice Investment Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between the Federal Government and Dangote Group at the State House, Abuja.

The Minister of Agriculture, Adewunmi Adesina and Alhaji Dangote signed on behalf of the Federal Government and Dangote Group respectively.

President Jonathan said the Dangote Group’s investment is the single largest investment ever made in rice production in Africa. He thanked Alhaji Dangote for investing in agriculture and assured him that his investment will be worthwhile.

The President looked forward to a time Nigeria will be self-sufficient in rice production and a net-exporter of the grain, adding that the Federal Government will protect Nigeria’s borders and check smuggling.

“Government cannot allow its borders to be porous. We are working on non-human measures and smugglers should have a rethink now and change their ways by investing their resources in other meaningful areas,” he said.

In less than four years, Nigeria hopes to become a net-exporter of rice. The Dangote Group’s investment in rice will cover five states and contribute additional 1.4 million metric tonnes of Paddy rice.

Alhaji Dangote thanked the President for the consistency of government policies, noting that the current $25 billion-dollar Dangote Cement Company was the result of the consistency of government policies. He assured President Jonathan, “We will continue to work hard and will not disappoint you.” [myad]

My Wife Is A Mad Woman, I Had To Chain Her, Husband Tells Court

Greenbarge Reporters

August 1, 2014

One Mohammed in Ibadan has told a Mapo Customary court in Ibadan that his wife, Tawakalitu Suleiman was mentally ill when he married her and had to chain her down to allow for medical treatment.

“I am local physician and she was brought to me as a patient. I cured her. I told her people that I will marry her and continue to cater for her and they agreed. Unfortunately, she still experiences the condition occasionally because she inherited it and so I had to take the baby from her to prevent his being harmed. I gave the child to my mother who takes good care of him,” he said.

Mohammed was defending himself yesterday in a divorce case brought by his wife over what she called seizure of their new baby.

Tawakalitu had told the court that her husband chained her down and took her baby to an unknown destination, saying: “I don’t exactly know why Mohammed treated me that way.

“Please, help me take my baby from him and let me go my way,” Tawakalitu had pleaded.

However, the President of the court, Mr. Ademola Odunade frowned at the act of seizing a three-month-old baby from the mother which he said constituted a crime against God and humanity.

“It is child abuse to deny such a baby access to his mother and wrong to also chain down the mother under any disguise. You are very lucky that other parties concerned in the matter have prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

“The case has already gone beyond mere marriage dissolution and has now attained a criminal nature. In any case, both of you are no longer husband and wife from today and Mohammed shall pay a monthly feeding allowance of N5,000 for the upkeep of the child,” the judge said.

This was even when witnesses, who appeared in court, also testified to the fact that Tawakalitu had a mental challenge. [myad]

Trouble Looms In Nigeria Football House

Greenbarge Reporters

August 1, 2014

Political intrigues have taken over the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and threaten its unity as election into its executive council is fixed for August 26.
Information reaching us indicate that muffle compaints are flying around against the Electoral Committee, whose chairman, Amoni Bambo, is being accused by stakeholders, of having an agenda to exclude some people from participating in the elections.
Bambo has come under fire for what some of the would be contestants said, has been his using an official of the NFF to technically exclude some aspirants from participating in the elections by not allowing them to pick nomination form.
It was gathered that many aspirants have not been able to get the nomination form even as the same form has recently been sold to the Chairman of Kogi FA, Adams Yahaya but without receipt.
Another aspirant confirmed that he also picked the nomination form but without receipt, wondering “Is this not a technical way of pushing me out of the race?
“I am asking because the receipt is the only proof that I have the genuine form because I am aware there are some fake nomination forms out there.
“But when I asked for receipt, the officer that sold it, Banabas Joro, said it would be sorted out later. I think the Electoral Committee, as it is presently constituted, is biased and something must be done urgently.”
Our findings show that those who have indicated interest in contesting the elections but may have been denied buying forms are Abba Yola , Ganiyu Majekodunmi , Ishola Busari, Domnic Iorfa, Joe Anene, Lucky Gospel-Ewa, Ebel Ehige amongst others.
The aggrieved aspirants are alleging that the NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, Electoral Committee Chairman, Bambo, may be acting the script of Chris Giwa, owner of Giwa FC who is said to be eyeing the NFF Presidency and dropping the Minister of Sports’ name to manipulate the electoral body.
One of the agrieved aspirants warned: “the NFF Executive Committee must act urgently otherwise the crisis that will follow the elections will be unimaginable for our football. Some of us will head to court and damn the consequence.”
The release of guidelines for elections by the NFF spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, on Thursday, suggests that the sale of nomination forms may have been closed and many aspirants now stand denied rights to contest. [myad]

Jonathan Queries Communication Minister Over N1 Billion Donation, Thanks Donors

Greenbarge Reporters

August 1, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan was obviously unhappy with the minister of communication, Mrs. Omobola Johnson over the one billion naira she donated on behalf of those in the communication sector last night at the launching of terrorism support fund in the Banquete Hall of Presidential Villa, Abuja even as he thanked all those who honoured his invitation to the fund raising and donating highly at the occasion.
The President who had expected the people in the communication sector to bring billions of naira to the coffers of the T.Y Danjuma committee on victim of terrorism support fund expressed open disappointment with mere one billion the minister announced.
“I am not satisfied with the contribution of the communication sector. The minister will have to go back to her people to bring something reasonable,” the President told Mrs. Johnson.
Shortly before the minister was called out to announce the donation of those in her sector, minister of petroleum resources, Dizeani Alison-Maduekwe announced the sum of N17 Billion from the people in the petroleum and gas sector just as those in the banking sector announced N15 Billion.
President Jonathan kick-started the fund-raising with the sum of N10 Billion from the federal government as each of the 36 states of the federation, including the federal capital territory donated N100 Million.
The President appreciated the fact that highly placed Nigerians responded enthusiastically to his appeal for collective action by contributing generously to the Terror Victims’ Support Fund during the fund-raising event last night.
The President said he was overwhelmed by the expression of support, cooperation and solidarity by Nigerians and friends of Nigeria from all walks of life.
“It shows that the public is genuinely concerned about the threat of terrorism to our common humanity and stands ready to support worthy causes and pro-people policies.”
President Jonathan noted that the overwhelming demonstration of support for the Fund has greatly inspired and encouraged the government to continue to adopt every possible measure and do everything within its powers to bring terrorism in the country to an end as quickly as possible.
“The Federal Government’s initial target of Fifty billion naira (N50 billion) was exceeded, a clear indication of support for the Federal Government’s counter-terrorism strategies.”
The President commended the Chairman of the Terror Victims’ Support Foundation, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) and members of the Foundation for accepting to serve the nation in this regard. He is confident and convinced that the Foundation will make judicious and transparent use of the funds in order to ameliorate the negative impact of terrorism in the affected areas.
The President announced that the total sum of Fifty-eight billion, seven hundred and ninety million naira(N58, 790 billion) was realised during the fund-raising with the highest donation of N10 billion and the lowest individual contribution of N5, 000.
President Jonathan appeals to other Nigerians and friends of the country to make their token contributions to the Fund as the Foundation seeks further support. [myad]

2 Journalists Killed In Cross Firing Between Hamas And Israeli Forces

Greenbarge Reporters

August 1, 2014

United Nation Secretary-General, Ban-Ki-moon

Two journalists were among those that were killed in a series of Israeli air and artillery attacks across the Gaza Strip on Thursday alone.
This is even as the Israel and Hamas have agreed to unconditionally begin a 72-hour ceasefire in the embattled Gaza Strip, starting from today, Friday.
The United States and United Nations said Thursday that the ceasefire will begin at 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Friday, August 1.
US Secretary of State, John Kerry and UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon said in a joint statement that during the three-day cessation, forces on the ground will remain in place.
“We urge all parties to act with restraint until this humanitarian ceasefire begins, and to fully abide by their commitments during the ceasefire,” Kerry and Ban said in the statement.
“This ceasefire is critical to giving innocent civilians a much-needed reprieve from violence. During this period, civilians in Gaza will receive urgently needed humanitarian relief, and the opportunity to
carry out vital functions, including burying the dead, taking care of the injured, and restocking food supplies,” they continued.
“Overdue repairs on essential water and energy infrastructure could also continue during this period.”
Israeli and Palestinian delegations will begin negotiations in Cairo for a more permanent ceasefire mediated by the Egyptian government.
“The parties will be able to raise all issues of concern in these negotiations,” the two international leaders said.
A representative of Hamas independently confirmed the ceasefire agreement. “Acknowledging a call by the United Nations and in consideration of the situation of our people, resistance factions agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian and mutual calm that begins… on Friday as long as the other side abides by it,” Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri said.
“All the Palestinian factions are united behind the issue in this regard,” Abu Zuhri said.
Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the IDF will complete the destruction of Hamas, no matter what.
“We are determined to complete this mission with or without a ceasefire,” Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv.
“I won’t agree to any proposal that will not enable the Israeli military to complete this important task for the sake of Israel’s security.
“Hamas has taken harsh blows from the IDF and ISA,” he said adding: “We have struck hard at thousands of terrorist targets: command centers, rocket arsenals, production facilities, launch areas and hundreds of terrorists have been killed.”
After 24 days of IDF’s mission, at least 1,382 Palestinians have been killed, most of whom are women and children, while more than 7,800 others have been injured.
At least 19 Palestinians, including children and a disabled female have also been killed. [myad]

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