Home Blog Page 3822

Jonathan Is Not My Brother, My Brother Won’t Abandon His Responsibilities – Amaechi

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of abandoning Rivers and by virtue of which he is not worthy to be called a brother.

The governor, spoke on Saturday at the All Progressives Congress mega rally at the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state to mark his seventh anniversary in office.

“When Yar’Adua was alive, Niger Delta Ministry was working. Now, it is only one item; East-West Road and they say he (President Jonathan) is our brother. He is not my brother; my brother is the man who delivers on his services for me. If the President says he is our brother, let him mention one project he has done for us.

“APC is the solution to the protection of our interest. We must go there to vote out the PDP. It is not about our son. They tell you that you should not vote for these people because they are Hausa People; they are Muslims.

“But the refinery in Rivers was built and commissioned by Tafawa Balewa; he was a northerner. Shagari started NAFCON, IBB commissioned; IBB started the Eleme Petrochemical, Abacha completed it.

“They are all northerners; they are all Muslims. NLNG was started and completed by Abacha and he was a northerner and a Muslim. Bonny NLNG, NDDC, Niger Delta Ministry were established by northerners.”

Amaechi said that the Federal Government has not only abandoned Rivers state but the south south region as a whole noting that “They said the reason the President is not performing in Rivers is because he is quarrelling with the governor. Okay, what is the quarrel with the governor of Cross River and Akwa Ibom that the road to Cross River is abandoned? . Are they quarrelling  too? It is more of lack of performance. “

The governor accused the President of taking  some oil wells belonging to Rivers, adding that he did not encourage the state effectively  to fight Ebola when it broke out in the state.

“When Ebola broke out, to show you how much the President hates us, he visited Lagos. Did he visit us? He did not care. He wanted all of us to die. And I took it as a challenge and say none of us will die. I brought out money. It took the President at the end of Ebola to give us ordinary 200 million naira.  I released one billion, one hundred and six million naira to fight Ebola. See our airport. The President lands there. We are like refugees”, he said.

 

 

Barcelona Loses The Plot As They Go Down To Hardworking Real Madrid

The much talked about El Clasico debut for Luis Suarez has come and gone but ended on a sour note for Barcelona, the team the Uruguayan represents.

Despite going ahead in the 4th minute through a good strike by Neymar, the Catalans began to fall short after Gerard Pique handled a Real Madrid cross in his penalty box and the Madrid side restored parity from the resulting Cristiano Ronaldo penalty kick.

The teams went in at half time with the scores at 1-1 but it was Real Madrid that went ahead next when Pepe scored a powerful header from a corner kick. While Barcelona worked hard to get an equalizer, it was Madrid who went further ahead when a swift counter attacking move resulted in a goal from Benzema in the 61st minute.

It was a relatively quiet debut for Luis Suarez and Barcelona manager, Luis Enrique surprised everyone when he started Mathieu at the left back position ahead of Jordi Alba. Xavi also started the match but was substituted in the second half when Ivan Rakitic came on for him.

The match ended at 3-1 as Real bagged the vital three points.

 

Nigeria Defeats Cameroon To Lift AWC Trophy

The Super Falcons of Nigeria this evening in Windhoek Namibia defeated their Cameroonian counterparts to lift the African Women Championship  for a record ninth time.

Goals from captain, Desire Oparanozie and Azizat Oshoala in the first half were enough to see the Nigerian girls through. Oparanozie scored a brilliant freekick while Azizat who is fresh from her success at the U-20 World scored a tap-in goal from a square ball.

Desire Oparanozie won the Golden Boot award for finishing with the highest number of goals, five. She beat her compatriot, Azizat Oshola who finished with four goals. Azizat was however presented with the award for player of the tournament.

South Africa won the fair play trophy despite finishing fourth after losing to Ivory Coast in the third place match which was played earlier. The top three teams in the AWC; Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast will represent the continent at next year’s Women’s world cup.

The next AWC will be hosted by Cameroon.

2015: Enugu PDP Chairman Resigns

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Enugu State, Chief Vita Abba, on Saturday resigned from the office in order to seek a seat at the House of Representatives in the 2015 elections.

In a communique issued by the state publicity secretary Dr Okey Eze, Abba received praise “for his meritorious and selfless service to the party and wished him well in his future endeavors”

His resignation letter dated october 20 was accepted by the PDP State Executive Committee meeting in Enugu on Saturday. He is to be replaced by Chief Ikeje Asogwa who will be serving as chairman again having been so appointed in the past.

The communique also said that the committee “unanimously adopted Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the consensus governorship candidate of the party for the 2015 governorship election in Enugu State,” according to the communiqué.

It will be recalled that the PDP had directed all political office holders and state and national executives of the party interested in contesting the 2015 elections to resign before the primary elections.

Jonathan, Bishop Oyedepo, Oritsejafor Arrive Jerusalem For Pilgrimage

President Goodluck Jonathan arrived in Jerusalem on Saturday for a two-day pilgrimage to Israel.

According to the president’s itinerary, he will observe the Sabbath Day on Saturday at the Wailing Wall, where he will pray privately before going to Mount Tabor and Mount Carmel.

Jonathan will also visit some other Christian holy sites during the pilgrimage.

During the pilgrimage, he will pray for Nigeria at an Interdenominational Church Service with the theme: “A day with Jesus for Nigeria in Israel”.

The progamme of events indicates that other Nigerian Pilgrims will join the president during the service to pray for the well being and progress of the country.

News Agency Nigeria recalls that Jonathan is performing pilgrimage for the second time since he was elected president in 2011.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel Davi Obasa received the president on arrival at the David Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv.

Others that were at the airport included Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, Mr John-Kennedy Opara, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission and Brig.- Gen. Jones Arogbofa, the Chief of Staff.

The president is accompanied to the pilgrimage by Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba, Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church Worldwide and Sen. Smart Adeyemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT.

Members of the Federal Government delegation in the pilgrimage include the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, Primate Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of State for FCT, Prof. Chinedu Neboh, Minister of Power, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources, Sen. Philip Aduda and Rep. Ndudi Elumelu, are also part of the delegation.

Other delegates are Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau.

2015: Umar Accuses Governors Of Excessive Borrowing To Fund Elections

A former Governor of Kaduna state, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd) has accused state governors in the country of engaging in excessive borrowing to fund next year’s elections.

Umar was the military Governor of Kaduna state between August 1985 and June 1988.

In a statement released on Friday, Umar said: “It has become necessary to alert the nation of a dangerous, indeed an explosive scheme, by which some state governors are mortgaging the future of their states through excessive borrowing from commercial banks and other financial institutions to finance projects of dubious viability.

  “The motive is entirely unclear, but one suspects it is either to fraudulently acquire campaign funds, as next year’s elections approach, or retirement benefits. Some of them are also desperately selling off states’ assets, including shares and other long-term investments.”

 “In a situation where states’ legislatures have reduced themselves to all but an arm of the executive, it is unrealistic to expect them to check and stop this fraud. We, therefore, appeal to the anti-corruption agencies to intervene.

He then warned the banks against conniving with governors by issuing them the loans noting that the banks must realise that most of the states have lost the capacity to meet financial obligations in their state due to their heavy debt profile.

  “We also warn banks to desist from connivance with those governors. They need to be reminded of their civic responsibility and banking ethics to protect the helpless public. They must be aware that most of these states have already lost the capacity to meet their financial obligations due to huge debt burden and diminishing source of revenue resulting from falling oil revenue.

  “The bankers must not forget that in the past, collapse of oil prices in the world market have often led to widespread collapse of Nigerian banks, because they never learned to say ‘no’ to prodigal, but cash-strapped state governments in such critical periods.

Jonathan To Pray For Nigeria In Jerusalem

President Goodluck Jonathan will during his two day visit to Jerusalem pray for Nigeria. The President departed Lagos on Friday and  arrived in Jerusalem on Saturday for the two-day pilgrimage.

Jonathan will visit some other Christian holy sites during the pilgrimage and will observe the Jewish Sabbath on Saturday at the Wailing Wall, where he will pray privately before going to Mount Tabor and Mount Carmel.

The President will also be at an Interdenominational Church Service with the theme: ‘A day with Jesus for Nigeria in Israel’, where the President and other Nigerian pilgrims will pray for the well being and progress of Nigeria.

On the President’s entourage are  Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba, Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church Worldwide and Sen. Smart Adeyemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, Primate Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria.

Others include Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of State for FCT, Prof. Chinedu Neboh, Minister of Power, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources, Senator. Philip Aduda and Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau.

Breaking: Rabiu Kwankwaso Set To Dump Presidential Ticket For Senate

By Tahir Sherrif

Barely a week after discussing with Senate President David Mark about his intention towards picking the Presidential ticket, reports have come in that Kano state Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso may instead opt for a Senate position.

NewsWireNGR spoke with a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC earlier today and ally to the Kano Governor, on condition of anonymity who said that Governor Kwankwaso is set to make his declaration for Senate position in the coming week.

“Kwankwaso is taking the option of going for the senate for personal reasons which will be made public during his declaration in the coming days”. the source stated.

This move is likely to soften developing tensions within the strongest opposition to the ruling party as just recently the sitting Governor made it clear he had no intentions of stepping down for the most popular APC candidates General Muhammadu Buhari and Abubakar Atiku.

Kwankwaso who was also at the National Assembly on Thursday for an interactive session with the senators elected on the platform of the APC and also, to formally inform the caucus of his ambition in 2015, is said to have changed his mind for an option that can be well accepted by his followers.

“The votes at the National Executive Committee, NEC level of the APC is divided between General Buhari  and Atiku, Kwankwaso is not in the picture, don’t let anyone deceive you” Another member of the party tells NewsWireNGR.

The change of heart by the Kwankwaso may not be unconnected to the handwritings  and forces within the aligning towards the two major contenders, GMB and Atiku.

The two time Kano governor while speaking had made emphasis on the reason behind his earlier ambitions saying:

“Any leader either President, governor or local government chairman who decides to divide his people, to me that leader is a very weak leader. You should convince your people by way of programme and projects, you don’t divide the people on religious lines, north or south, ethnicity and so on.”

If Kwankwaso is to go for Senate, he will be contesting against Bashir Garba Lado, a PDP member who has occupied the position since 2011.

Kwankwaso who was re-elected as governor for a second term in 2011 after previously serving under the same party between 1999-2003 said during the meeting that he was happy to be a member of a new and strong party but has expressed dismay with the recent internal dynamics of regarding the selection of a Presidential candidate.

Kwankwasiya as he is called by his supporters had accused the Federal government for denying him an opportunity to declare his 2015 ambition at the Eagle square Abuja.

According to him, “The Eagle Square, the proposed venue, seems to be impossible. Even the International Conference Centre, as we are now struggling for an alternative venue for the declaration, (may not be possible too.) So, if I fail to secure a venue, I will invite you all to the streets of Abuja; that is where we are now, and we can hold it there.”

The APC is yet to produce a candidate from among influential candidates including former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, Governor Rochas Okorocha a Sam Nda Isiah. Only one candidate, Senator Bukola Saraki has dropped out on the Presidential race so far.

Etcetera Blasts ‘Nigerian Bleaching Celebrities’ In New Article

These days it is commonplace to come across various discussions and opinions about skin bleaching. Nigerian singer and Punch Newspaper columnist, Etcetera Ejikeme has penned an article about Nigerian celebrities who bleach their skin. This is a must-read, check it out below:

*

The Association of Bleaching Celebrities of Nigeria wishes to use this medium to inform the public that the inexcusable attitude of some of its members to their fans has been brought to its attention.

It has also been said that some members of this esteemed organisation have embarrassingly refused to shake hands with their fans and in some of these cases, the aggrieved fans are said to have been little kids. On behalf of all celebrity bleachers, we the ABNC kindly ask for your forgiveness.

You loved us when we were black and we sincerely ask you not to love us any less even now that we are light skinned. We also want you guys to understand that we celebrities bleach our skin so that we can lighten up your screens so you will never have to increase the brightness and contrast of your TV anymore. You can ask our Nigerian movie producers why they prefer us light skinned actors. That being said, we also want to sound a note of warning to all celebrity bleachers. According to section 19 of our annually reviewed constitution, no bleacher operating within our ranks has any right whatsoever to disrespect his or her fans. Such unruly attitude should stop henceforth. Anyone culpable of this dastardly act will be severely dealt with according to what is stated in our constitution. We want to also use this medium to pass this vital information to the rest of the public and it will be in the interest of everyone to read the following very carefully.

The ABNC is the umbrella body of all celebrity bleachers and we are responsible for every bleaching celebrity you see on TV and on the streets. We will also like you to understand that no celebrity bleacher will intentionally snub or refuse to shake hands with his or her fans. A lot of these incidents have occurred as a result of stigmatisation of bleachers by the public. Nigerian celebrity bleachers especially have been unfairly criticised by the public for having black knuckles, white body and black yansh. Therefore, the unwillingness of celebrity bleachers to shake hands in public should be regarded as a silent protest over the bizarre treatment accorded bleachers in this country. They are humans and they deserve the rights to decide their skin or vein colours. Be it black, blue, red or rainbow, it is their choice and the public must accept and respect it. After all, if you are a very observant fan, you would have noticed that all light-skinned male celebrities always wear suits or long sleeve shirts and walk with their hands in their pockets. Walking with your hands in your pockets is prescribed by this distinguished organisation to all bleachers. In cases of bleaching gone wry, please note that celebrity bleachers don’t do all these because they want to be seen as fashionably sensitive or too cool to care. They do it to avoid that embarrassing moment when you discover that your pretty face celebrity has the hands of a local tye and dye merchant.

We hope that henceforth, whenever you see a light skinned celebrity with pocketed hands, you will save yourself the embarrassment and kindly let him be. A celebrity bleacher with bad bleaching experience is like a dog with rabies and no sane person messes with a rabies-infected dog. We implore you non-bleachers to be more sensitive to the plights of bleachers. To you male fans who love greeting women with a kiss on their cheeks, please be advised to keep your damn kisses to yourself whenever you see those light-skinned celebs who love tying scarves around their necks. It is not fair to expose someone’s multi-coloured neckline to the whole world because you want to prove that you can greet like an arab. And if you are a church usher who is fond of telling people to raise their hands up during worship, better stay the hell away from any light-skinned celebrity you see in church. Allow them to worship with their hands glued to their sides. We swear, you don’t want to see that armpit. Our sincere appreciation also goes to all men out there dating a celebrity bleacher, we commend your patience. You have stood by them knowing you can’t take them to the pool because of their black yansh. And when they forced you to take them against your will to the pool, you still had to endure the fact that they got into the swimming pool fully dressed in their leggings, T-shirts and stockings. May you be rewarded handsomely for your stoicism and perseverance. One quick advice though, inasmuch as you may love your bleached spouse and want to treat her to different types of adventure, it is paramount that you resist every pressure to take her to the beach.

Please listen to us very carefully; you have to protect her from bleachers allergies. They react to sea water like an ogbanje reacts to deliverance. And if you don’t want to be staring at your bleached spouse rolling and crying in agony on the beach sand, don’t let the sea water come in contact with her skin.

Nigerians, please stop judging us by the colour of our skin. We will never be ashamed to admit to the public that all light-skinned celebrities are bleachers because this same bleaching has made us the most preferred in Nollywood today. It has made our ladies more desirable and more noticeable by Nigerian men. It has also helped some of our colleagues who were straight up ugly become attractive. That is why our motto is, Show me a light-skinned celebrity who doesn’t bleach and I will show you a local dog that doesn’t eat shit.

______________________________________________

Article written by Etcetera Ejikeme

Disclaimer

It is the policy of NewsWireNGR not to endorse or oppose any opinion expressed by a User or Content provided by a User, Contributor, or other independent party.
Opinion pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of NewsWireNGR.

2015 Polls: Tinubu, APC Leadership Split Over Choice Of Presidential Candidate

By Dia Zamani

Information has emerged that prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are looking to imposing former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2015 general polls.

The APC is mired in a selection crisis as it aims to challenge the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and take power at the centre.

Opinions amongst the echelons of the party are divided among the two foremost challengers, Buhari (rtd.) and former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.

The conflict of thought also extends to the mode of picking the candidate. A source at the APC hierarchy told NewsWireNGR on the basis of anonymity that national leader, Bola Tinubu and most of his stalwarts want to impose the new and highly unpopular consensus method, which will likely favour General Buhari’s emergence.

In a meeting with the national party executives Friday, Tinubu openly pushed for consensus but failed to get it adopted by those present at the gathering.

According to the source, “Since Atiku Abubakar is ahead on delegate count, Jagaban doesn’t want primaries, but other party leaders wanted primaries and eventually, that also could not be adopted too.”

The  members of the party who only recently decamped from the PDP are however adamant about the primaries and are insisting on the traditional way of picking a candidate to fly the party’s flag by delegate voting at a national convention.

It remains to be seen whether there will be democratic process involved in a party where Tinubu usually has his way. Only a fortnight ago, he visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo for consultations believed to aid him in deciding which of the two aspirants to present for the 2015 polls.

In the long run, whoever the selected candidate is, the opposition will have an uphill task trying to unseat incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling PDP.

Godwin Onyeacholem: 2015, A Word For General Muhammadu Buhari

In a few months’ time, Nigeria will once again arrive at what historians would refer to as a critical juncture – that point in the life of nations when either as a result of programmed actions or unanticipated circumstances, events unfold and choices are made that will alter the trajectories of these nations for good or for bad. The adjustments created by these decisions could be short-lived or permanent, depending on the value of the resolve invested by the people.

By the beginning of 2015, Nigerians will step into the doorway of a critical juncture occasioned by the general elections holding in February, where, other things being equal, the people are expected to use their votes to redefine the country’s political and economic directions. The occasion will demand no less. Having been duped and oppressed for too long by a band of depraved post-colonial inheritors in civilian and military uniforms, Nigerians’ desire for a true saviour cannot be more urgent than this moment.

At independence in 1960 it all looked promising until a few years later when events began to portray the local power wielders as more of picnickers than a clique out to fully grasp the essence of governance. The eventual incursion of the military into governance, instead of improving the situation by restoring the people’s hope, intensified the unjust and inefficient rule of the civilians, so much so that the soldiers even went as far as working towards a perpetual occupation.

Between these two groups since 1966, the reins of governance have gone back and forth until 1999 when full democratic governance was returned.

Even at that, what has been the experience since then? Sickening! You would easily be forgiven to call for the immediate return of the colonial masters, for successive leaders in whatever attire have run Nigeria like a private estate, dishing out favours and patronage, treating holders of alternative views as enemies, rewarding dubious loyalty and choosing which law or court judgment to obey and which not to.

The pattern of misrule has not changed. The lawlessness, abuse of power.

______________________________________________

Article written by Godwin Onyeacholem

Disclaimer

It is the policy of NewsWireNGR not to endorse or oppose any opinion expressed by a User or Content provided by a User, Contributor, or other independent party.
Opinion pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of NewsWireNGR.

Bayo Oluwasanmi: My Next President of Nigeria

If you want to truly understand something, try to change it. – Kurt Lewin

The announcement made by retired General Muhammed Buhari that he’s running for the presidency spread through Nigeria and the Nigerian community on social media faster than the ten plagues through Egypt. Buhari ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2003, 2007, and 2011. President Goodluck Jonathan is also running for second term.

Governance in Nigeria today is crude, archaic, unresponsive, and ineffective. The political reforms that can truly transform Nigeria hinges on new forms of governance. This will involve broader range of active players. It will require a deep commitment to democratic values, human rights and equal opportunity. And most importantly, it will require to put frameworks in place that assure high levels of transparency, accountability, and integrity.

A leader is, by definition, an innovator. He does things other people haven’t done or don’t do. A leader does things in advance of other people. He makes new things. He make old things new. As one author puts it “… leaders must be right-brain, as well as left-brain, thinkers. They must be intuitive, conceptual, synthesizing, and artistic.”

Other requirements for my next president of Nigeria stem from the expanded definition of a leader. Nigeria needs a president that will lead brilliantly not just from his mind, but also from his heart. In other words, a president that will serve with greatness and goodness.

My next president of Nigeria must have an exceptional intellectual skills with deep humanitarian instincts. A president that does not romanticize or sentimentalize the difficult circumstances of his childhood. Rather, use his acutely painful experience as a source of life-long compassion and concern for Nigerians especially the poor majority.

A president that will exercise incomparable drive and determination. A president with the belief that he has a purpose to fulfill. A president who will engrave his name in history. With our nation greatly embroiled in economic and social turmoil, and other age-old dilemmas, the president’s purpose must be to preserve the true meaning of democracy “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

A president who will consistently find the courage to invigorate the spirits of our citizens at this period of our nation’s most dire and desperate times. A president who is compassionate, kindhearted, and immodest. A president that will wield the vast powers of the presidency more tenderly and forbearingly.

A president with extraordinary empathy that will put himself in place of poor Nigerians to experience what they are feeling and to understand their motives and desires. A president with crowning gift of political diagnosis of what is wrong with our nation and with solutions.

A president with rare wisdom of temperament that consistently display magnanimity toward those that oppose him. A brilliant thinker and masterly orator who will move Nigerians through his humor and kind personal presence. A president whose honesty and eloquence will produce conviction in Nigerians because of his own convictions.

A president gifted with quick and benign wit to soften wounded feelings and dispel anxieties of the poor and other marginalized elements in our society. A president whose engagement and performance will be influenced by feelings and emotions of Nigerians. A president that will show he’s a human being who is able to identify with the challenges our people face and the sacrifices they make.

A president who gets up in the morning and is more excited because he’s nervous about the burden of 170 million Nigerians squarely placed on his shoulders. And if the president is not nervous everyday he gets up in the morning, then he’s dead.
A president who is willing to learn by leading in the face of obstacles knowing full well that as weather shapes mountains, so problems make leaders. So far, the two aspirants who are running in 2015 for the presidency, in my opinion, do not meet these qualifications of my next president for Nigeria.

____________________________________________

Article written by Bayo Oluwasanmi [email protected]

Disclaimer

It is the policy of NewsWireNGR not to endorse or oppose any opinion expressed by a User or Content provided by a User, Contributor, or other independent party.
Opinion pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of NewsWireNGR.