Something Worse Than Boko Haram Is Coming, Jonathan Must Forget 2015; Says Prophet

Something Worse Than Boko Haram Is Coming, Jonathan Must Forget 2015; Says Prophet

- A brand new nation will emerge from the ashes of a revolution

Primate Theophilus Olabayo, 67, founder of Evangelical Church of Yahweh with headquarters in Mende, Maryland, Lagos, had remained one of Nigeria’s respected prophets whose prophesies had shaken the high and mighty in the country.

In this interview with Vanguard, the cleric says there would be a spiritual revolution that will rock the nation to its foundation and at the end of it, a new nation will emerge. Excerpts:

What really happened that you went off the radar for several years?
I have been talking. A prophet doesn’t just say things. It’s when God asks me to speak that I speak. Many a times, I warn our leaders but they don’t have listening ears. I was the only one who said President Umaru Yar’Adua had a terminal disease and when the condition got worse, the wife called some of us to Abuja to ask of the chances of her husband. I said the husband would die and Jonathan would become president. I warned President Goodluck Jonathan that people would make the country ungovernable for him, but people said I was a prophet of doom. Is it not happening now? Let me quickly say this here that worse than Boko Haram is about to happen.

It’s no secret that you had some health challenges which may have been responsible for your absence for some time. What is the nature of your ailment?
I did not lay off. Elijah was sick and he was still doing God’s work. I had an attack. A spiritual attack but I am still hale and hearty. Spirit cannot die. The spirit of God cannot die in you. The body may be weak, it doesn’t matter. But the spirit cannot die. God will continue to speak through you.

Is it true that you had stroke, Sir?
It’s not a big deal that someone has stroke but I am okay. While on a trip to Kaduna, God had revealed to me that I would have stroke and would be away for some time. So I looked for someone who knew about stroke; one of my pastors.

How did it happen and what was your first reaction?
I was going for a revival in Kaduna and God told me to go with somebody who knows about stroke. The man had to follow me to Kaduna. When I got to Kaduna, they told me one of my townsmen was sick and when I got to his place, God said I should not do anything though he was suffering. I got a room for him, paid his bills and left after praying for him. As I was returning to the church in Kaduna, I had the attack.

And did you have any medical treatment?
Definitely!

Why do you think it’s a spiritual attack?
I know because God told me about it. I know it could be exhaustion because I pray and fast a lot.

There was this rumour among the people that one of the reasons your church went down was because you were caught in adultery with somebody else’s wife. Is it true sir?
God will forgive you. Where? That is why Nigeria cannot move forward. How do you expect me; I preach the Word of God, I preach against adultery, then I’ll be caught in such an act! Impossible! Anybody can lie against you.

At your age sir, are you thinking of passing over the baton to someone else soon?
I am a prophet and it is not hereditary. God can choose anybody. When it’s time for me, God will tell me to lay hands on the person. God has not told me yet, I’m still a young man. There are so many people that are coming up, not only one person. Among them, God will raise up leaders. We have young pastors coming up in the church who have the gift of the Word of God, the Bible. Not only vision, people believe that it’s when you just speak in tongues alone or see vision. No! There are different types of gifts.

There are churches as soon as the founders pass away you don’t hear much from those churches…
It can’t happen here because it’s God that called me. When it is time, God will raise up another leader among us.

What do you foresee for Nigeria?
We are sitting at the keg of gunpowder. We are looking at total darkness in the nation. We need to pray very well because these political people are not doing the right things. Nothing is working; the worst corruption is in Nigeria. There has never been corruption as worse as this. The name of Nigeria is now corruption and some of the journalists are not helping matters. People are being bribed. But there’s going to be a revolution. The poor will overtake the rich. You’ve not seen anything. You’ve not seen Boko Haram. Worse Boko Haram is about to happen and we have to pray against religious war that may last seven years.

Let Jonathan drop his ambition for 2015. Let him work and allow his work speak for itself. Most of his political alleys especially from his Niger Delta are deceiving him and are talking carelessly. They will be consumed one after another. They are already beating war drums if he fails to return in 2015; let them keep quiet. They are not helping matters. Very soon they’ll start bombing.

The chairman of PDP is going to face another problem because there’s going to be crisis and if care is not taken, he is going to be removed. They are going to scatter them and cause confusion between him and the president. Most of these governors that are being sacked are going to join hands together to form another party. A new party will emerge which will be more powerful than PDP. Not APC! Gov. Rotimi Amaechi’s current challenges will create more problems in this country.

What’s the way out of all of these? How can we prevent this doom from coming to pass in Nigeria?
The problem with Nigeria is leadership. We are so corrupt and wicked. We manipulate things and we don’t allow God to work. They don’t believe in God. They go about looking for protection; some of them think they are untouchable. They don’t believe there’s God. One day they are going to give account. God is going to intervene in the affairs of Nigeria very soon and a brand new nation will emerge from the ashes of a revolution. The president is being caged by some few people. When you are saying the truth, they arrest you. Some of his close people are enemies and he doesn’t know. If he’s not careful, they are going to run him down.

There are things to be done spiritually. I don’t need to discuss all these with the Press because our leaders don’t have listening ears. We need to come together and work for this nation because we have children. We don’t want our children to suffer. Because if there’s war in Nigeria today, Ghana cannot accommodate the number of refugees. They are holding notional meetings. If they want to do something, somebody will talk today; they will give him millions of naira to keep quiet.

They are not saying anything, they are only exchanging money and that is what is destroying this country. Our refineries are not working; the roads are bad, armed robbers have taken over; there’s no work, now they want to sack people. The man is making more mistakes everyday. Every step he takes, he’s making wrong decisions. Many of his advisers are selfish and wicked people. They are just accumulating wealth. And they are old. They don’t give up. They are acquiring properties.

Some say Nigeria might not survive beyond 2015. Do you agree?
I went to America of recent and I prophesied and it happened. Let me tell you, it’s not America that will dictate for us. God is saying that we should avoid war; religious war.

Sir, is there anything the Church or anybody can do to avert a violent revolution?
As I am prophesying now, some church leaders and prayer contractors will take it to them to get money, to get oil blocks and buy aeroplanes for themselves. That will not solve the problem.

Despite the health challenges, you still talk like this. When are you ever going to get tired?
I can’t be tired. They have tried me. I was the only one condemning Sani Abacha. One day they sent one brigadier to me, I was in my house. As he came, I said something is in your stomach, he said yes, Sir. They said you should come and arrest me, he said yes Sir. I said but you have a daughter, he said yes sir. That day, my phone just stopped working I know it was their handiwork. When he came, God revealed to me and I told him you are going to land into problem, your oga will die.

Before Abacha died, one Austin came to me. He said he has a friend of Abubakar, I said he’s going to be next president and Abacha would die, and it happened. There’s nobody that God cannot catch. If 100 pastors and mallams are praying for them, they can’t survive. God is about to move if they don’t change and repent because they have put us under bondage for long. These pastors, let them change. They will say we are Pentecostals, that doesn’t mean you cannot speak truth. There was a time it was only me and Idahosa that were speaking during Babangida’s era. Most of these pastors that were condemning prophecies, are now prophesing. Where did they see it? Jealousy and envy are the things killing them.

What is your own assessment of late Pa Obadare?
He’s a man of God. He’s one of the chosen men of God, a soul winner, has the fear of God. That’s one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He was a blind man and was quoting the Bible. A good preacher of God. He’s one of the best in the Body of Christ that we miss.

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Death of Senator Ewerhido Attributed to “Spiritual Attacks” over 2015 Elections

Death of Senator Ewerhido Attributed to “Spiritual Attacks” over 2015 Elections?

The death of Senator Pius Ewherido of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) representing Delta Central Senatorial district in the National Assembly today has received various explanations, including "spiritual attacks", allegedly linked to 2015 elections.

According to Sahara Reporters' sources, Senator Ewherido slumped three days ago while answering the phone and had blood gushing out of his mouth and nose before he was rushed to the National Hospital in Abuja, where the preparations to fly senator to a German hospital had began before he passed away.

Another source close to the senator disclosed to Sahara Reporters that Ewherido has already been designated as the Delta state governorship candidate of the yet to be registered All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming 2015 elections and all plans to that effect were already sealed awaiting the registration and full fledge take off of the party.

However, a medical source at the National Hospital told Sahara Reporters that the senator died of heart attack after he had a stroke some 48 hours ago.

Senator Ewerhido was recently expelled from the Democratic People's Party (DPP), accused of attending the meetings of the APC without authorization.

Insisting that the senator was "killed" by his enemies, Sahara Reporters' source also revealed that the spiritual attacks have several angles to it. The sourse added that they suspect an unnamed politician serving in governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s government who had a running battle with Ewherido during the PDP primaries for the senatorial district before the senator cross carpeted to the DPP and defeated him in the 2011 elections. He reportedly boasted severally that he is still a senator in waiting. Sahara Reporters' source also disclosed that "spiritual attacks" on politicians happened before but the victim survived through divine intervention.

"My brother, the death of Senator Pius Ewherido is not ordinary. Delta state has lost a gem, our only hope for 2015 election. The most painful aspect of it all is that he has already gotten the ticket to fly the APC governorship flag in the state and now look at what has befallen us. Delta state politics has turned into something else. Those behind the death of Chief (Barr) Pius Akpor Ewherido, our distinguished Senator, alias "Gogorogo" shall never go unpunished" he said before hanging up the phone.

Several political associates of the senator who did not want to be quoted mourned the sudden passing of Ewherido describing him as their best hope for a shot at the governorship of Delta state in 2015. They said he was a good man and a keen politician who has helped his people.  

In the past two months social media platforms as well as political groups have been buzzing with the plans by Ewherido to contest the governorship seat come 2015.

It would be recalled that the Delta state chapter of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) on May Ist, 2013 suspended Senator Pius Ewherido, the acting national deputy chairman, Olisemeka Akamukale, the vice chairman of Delta central senatorial district, Henry Olori as well as a leader in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, Cyril Ogodor from the party.

- See more at: http://www.brimtime.com/2013/07/death-of-senator-ewerhido-attributed-to.html#more

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Ogbemudia: PDP Begged Oshiomhole to Join the Party

Ogbemudia: PDP Begged Oshiomhole to Join the Party

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Amaechi’s rebel war

By Ochereome Nnanna WHAT started like a rumour is now a confirmed conflict. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Governor of Rivers State and President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from nearby BayelsaState, are locked in an “exhibition” fight towards the 2015 election year. The recently concluded Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) election which Amaechi won tells a lot of short stories. For instance, it tells us that indeed, the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, is no longer in the president’s political camp. In fact, he went out of his way to organise an economic summit in his state as the Federal Government staged a classy mid-term Democracy Day in Abuja where it tendered its scorecard for public evaluation. The Jigawa summit drew a number of people that should have been in Abuja, such as former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo openly said Lamido was the man who should be entrusted with the nation’s leadership. Based on his performance in his state, Lamido is, indeed, a fine material for the presidency. But Obasanjo is not known for choosing or endorsing candidates in the national interest. His selfish interest is always ahead of every other consideration. Poor quality leadership If anyone thinks the period between 2007 and today has been spent under poor quality leadership Obasanjo is the man behind it all. So, we must watch it when he endorses a candidate, and decide for ourselves if what he wants is what we also want. What is not too clear yet is whether Lamido will challenge President Jonathan for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in 2015. House of Reps Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, has also been pussyfooting, goaded on by some northern leaders to run for president. He chose to attend a local event in SokotoState on Democracy Day. The implications are obvious if Lamido and Tambuwal will contest with the president for the PDP ticket unless, of course, they would be joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) and fight from there. The Governors’ Forum election also exposed some PDP governors from the North, such as Dr. Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Admiral Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano (who is also said to be nursing a presidential ambition) and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State. They, along with Lamido, were the party rebels who, after endorsing Dr. Jonah Jang as PDP’s consensus candidate, switched to Amaechi, thus compromising their positions within the party. Amaechi is engaged in a brazen rebellion against the president and the PDP. He has become the rallying point of PDP rebel governors and the governors of the opposition APC states. I have often wondered what he really hopes to achieve, after beating the president’s candidate in the Governors’ Forum  election. For the opposition APC, it is a telling gambit. They have made a great inroad into the PDP. Even if these PDP governors would not join their party, they have unsettled the unity of the ruling party with hopes of gaining more ground. They have won a tactical victory. The president’s camp has also won an unlikely tactical victory. Though its candidate was defeated, the NGF has split into two, with president’s camp holding the larger chunk. Secondly, the president, so early in the day, now knows who his enemies are, especially within the PDP fold. He can now deploy his counter measures. But for Amaechi, victory at the NGF polls is at best a pyrrhic one. From now till the day he leaves office, he will never know peace. Jonathan will chase him with venom. It is going to be a fratricidal war. William Shakespeare in Macbeth warned of such conflicts: “the nearer in blood, the nearer bloody”. Professor Jibril Aminu once told me of a Fulbe saying that translates thus: “Why should I harm you? Am I your brother?” The principle of contiguity and consanguinity applies closely to the relationship between Rivers and Bayelsa. Jonathan’s Ijaw people inhabit both states. In addition, most Bayelsa big shots still live primarily in Port Harcourt, the RiversState capital. Strategically putting it, President Jonathan cannot afford to have the greatest threat to his re-election be from Rivers. He will likely fight Amaechi with the no-brakes vehemence with which he settled the hash of former Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa. Chibuike Amaechi is an intelligent man. But he is not a wise man. He is action-packed, but he lacks self control. Power without control is nothing, an old Asian saying goes. Amaechi has been overwhelmed by the arrogance of power and oil money and he fails to realise how preciously the people of the Niger Delta – and the South East for that matter – value Jonathan’s presidency.

Call it sentiment if you like, but it counts for a lot in Nigerian politics. I don’t see how the Niger Delta and South East will want to exchange Jonathan’s presidency for Chibuike Amaechi’s vice presidency! I don’t see how the South-South will like to throw away a position they fought for nearly fifty years. When will they have it again? That is the sentiment Amaechi is going to run against. When the PDP announced their decision to suspend him from their party, Amaechi called on the opposition and “youths” to defend “RiversState”. As if harkening to the call, a feral Arewa critic of the Jonathan administration, Mallam Nasir el Rufai, pledged to go to RiversState and “fight for Amaechi”. I hope reason prevails in both camps. I hope this “war” does not start. We all need peace in RiversState, just as we need it in every state. But should this “war” start, I look forward to seeing el Rufai actually in RiversState with his daughters in person trading tackles. That would be a refreshing departure from the past when such individuals incited violence and ducked into the cozy confines of their opulent mansions while the children of impoverished Nigerians attacked one another. I hope the president maintains his usual, matured cool and avoids the counsel of warmongers. There are many ways a Nigerian president can get even and seemingly difficult matters taken care of.

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Mimiko challeges Amaechi over NGF video

By DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE — FACTIONAL Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday, challenged the Governor Rotimi Amaechi faction to release to the public the video recording of the three-hour exercise.
Speaking at this years Democracy day lecture in Akure, Mimiko said that the Amaechi faction only released a 10 minutes part of the video that favours them.
The governor said: “Nigerians should ask the Pro-Amaechi’s group why he presided over an election which he is also contesting. I specifically raised that issue and insisted that he must resign but his supporters maintained that he should supervise the poll as a sitting chairman.
“They asked me whether I resigned my position while seeking a re-election for a second term in office and I replied them that it was not the same thing because the NGF is like an association not a democratic institution which had its existence entrenched in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“When it was obvious that we could not guarantee the source of the ballot boxes and papers brought by Amaechi, I protested again that we should conduct the election openly by raising up our hands in support of our preferred candidate, again, they rejected it.
“The ballot papers they produced were without serial numbers and we discovered this was a fraud, hence there were protests.
“They never captured all these facts in their video but merely recorded the fraction of the process which was in line with their pre-determined agenda.”
The Democracy lecture was delivered by Prof Bola Akinterinwa the Director General Nigerian Institute of International Affair NIIA with the title “”Democracy, security and Development, the challenges of Ondo state as a catalyst Agent”
Also the National Chairman of Labour Party Mr Dan Nwayanwun has faulted the purported emergence of Mr Rotimi Amaechi as the factional chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum(NGF).
Nwanyanwu said in Akure that the claim of Rivers State governor as NGF helmsman defiled all known moral and legal requirements.
However Dr Mimiko said the governors had a shouting match over the desperation of the former chairman to retain the seat at all means.

 

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A Must Watch VIDEO Of Voting And Counting At Governors’ Forum Election

A Must Watch VIDEO Of Voting And Counting At Governors’ Forum Election

Presiding Officer, Asishana Okauru, announcing the result of the controversial election
Courtesy of Premiumtimes

We now bring you an amateur footage of the May 24 Nigeria Governors’ Forum election during which Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, was reelected chairman after he defeated his only challenger, Jonah Jang of Plateau State 19 votes to 16.

PREMIUM TIMES had exclusively reported that a recording of the voting was done by a governor in the camp of Mr. Amaechi.

With his mobile phone, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun captured most of the proceedings of an election that featured intense maneuvering from governors on a clear divide, either in support or against President Goodluck Jonathan’ candidate, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau state.
Scroll Down to Watch Video...

The president has repeatedly denied having interest in who becomes the next chairman of the group, but that claim has been disproved by insiders and governors, and even the president’s body language.

The footage documents how the 35 governors voted, the counting of votes and the declaration of result by presiding officer, Asishana Okauru, who is also the director general of the forum.

At a point during the counting of votes, the arrowhead of the opposition against Mr. Amaechi, Governor Godswill Akpabio, realized the election was being taped and he charged angrily at Mr. Aregbesola. But once Mr. Akpabio turned away, the governor simply resumed his secret recording.

With allegation of fraud now up against Mr. Amaechi’s victory from governor’s known to be die-hard associates of the president, the recording is seen as the first documented evidence of a transparent process to crush that concern.

The outcome of the poll has been rejected by governors in support of Mr. Jang, and apparently, President Jonathan. The protesting governors, led by Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state, said the process violated key rules, and declared the group’s decision not to recognize Mr. Amaechi as the winner.

But for all the authority of incumbency and presidential leverage, Friday’s elections provided a teachable moment on the potency of an alliance between discontent members of a ruling party, and the opposition  All Progessives Congress – a coalition bonded by common goal to upset and humiliate the establishment.

Mr. Amaechi, not favoured to win by the pro-Jonathan team, emerged despite intense strategizing that saw the Peoples Democratic Party raise a list of supporting governors who agreed Mr. Jang was the rightful candidate to win the seat. Nineteen PDP governors signed the document before the polls.

The Northern Governors Forum met early Friday and prevailed on the Katsina and Bauchi governors, Ibrahim Shema and Isa Yuguda, respectively, to yield their ambition, for a consensus candidate in the person of Mr. Jang.

But in the end, at least three governors, who rallied that support on paper, backed off when afforded the luxury of an unmarked ballot paper, and a secret voting system. Their votes, alongside the opposition, apparently went Mr. Amaechi’s way.

After the polls, Mr. Akpabio, backed by other governors in support of Mr. Jang, said using the unmarked papers (which should betrayed those who opposed the president’ choice), and the refusal of Mr. Amaechi to resign first before the poll, nullified the elections.

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Jonathan Gives Order For Amaechi's Impeachment

Jonathan Gives Order For Amaechi's Impeachment

The next phase of the total war declared against Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, by the Presidency is for him to be impeached unconstitutional "immediately" by just 5 members of the of the House of Assembly which is populated by over 20 members.

The five House members are known to be loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan's camp in Rivers State, that is headed by the Minister of State for Education, Amaechi's former boy, Nyesom Wike.

See details of the unfolding wicked plan.

According to Sahara Reports, President Jonathan’s political witch-hunt of Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has reached a dramatic stage, with the Presidency approving and funding a plan to impeach the governor with the help of only five state lawmakers.

A source within the Presidency told SaharaReporters that President Jonathan’s men have given the go-ahead to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu, Minister of State for Education, Nyeson Wike, and former member of the House of Representatives, Austin Okpara, to recruit five willing members of the state assembly to declare Amaechi impeached before this week runs out.

“As soon as the impeachment is carried out, the CP (Commissioner of Police) Mbu, has been directed to arrest Amaechi and transfer him to Abuja where he will be tried,” said our authoritative source.

A senior aide to Mr. Amaechi told SaharaReporters that the governor had heard that President Jonathan had urged his closest associates to effect his rival’s impeachment as soon as possible.

The feud between President Jonathan and Amaechi has escalated ever since the latter won the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors Forum, defeating Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State who was backed by the president. The root of the feud lies in Amaechi’s rumored hostility to Jonathan’s plan to run for a second term in office come 2015. 

Since the quarrel between the two politicians blew into the open, Jonathan has used federal might to move against the governor. Acting on presidential order, the Aviation Minister grounded a jet used by Amaechi on the excuse that its registration was irregular.

On Monday, the National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party  suspended Amaechi from the party without giving him a chance to defend himself.

However, Jonathan’s immediate interest is to throw Amaechi out of office by using five willing members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Our source at the Presidency disclosed that “The matter is giving Mr. President sleepless nights and he has decided to remove Amaechi immediately.”

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President Jonathan Plans To Impeach Governor Amaechi With Five Lawmakers

President Jonathan Plans To Impeach Governor Amaechi With Five Lawmakers



President Goodluck Jonathan’s political witch-hunt of Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has reached a dramatic stage, with the Presidency approving and funding a plan to impeach the governor with the help of only five state lawmakers.

A source within the Presidency told SaharaReporters that President Jonathan’s men have given the go-ahead to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu,, Minister of State for Education, Nyeson Wike, and former member of the House of Representatives, Austin Okpara, to recruit five willing members of the state assembly to declare Mr. Amaechi impeached before this week runs out.

“As soon as the impeachment is carried out, the CP (Commissioner of Police), Mbu, has been directed to arrest Amaechi and transfer him to Abuja where he will be tried,” said our authoritative source.

A senior aide to Mr. Amaechi told SaharaReporters that the governor had heard that President Jonathan had urged his closest associates to effect his rival’s impeachment as soon as possible.

The feud between President Jonathan and Mr. Amaechi has escalated ever since the latter won the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors Forum, defeating Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State who was backed by the president. The root of the feud lies in Mr. Amaechi’s rumored hostility to Mr. Jonathan’s plan to run for a second term in office come 2015. Since the quarrel between the two politicians blew into the open, Mr. Jonathan has used federal might to move against the governor. Acting on presidential order, the Aviation Minister grounded a jet used by Mr. Amaechi on the excuse that its registration was irregular.

Yesterday, the National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) suspended Mr. Amaechi from the party without giving him a chance to defend himself.

Governor Amaechi cried out yesterday that his life was in danger at the hands of Mr. Jonathan and the president’s political associates.

However, while Mr. Amaechi appeared focused on physical risks, Mr. Jonathan’s immediate interest is to throw him out of office by using five willing members of the Rivers State of Assembly, our source at the Presidency disclosed. “The matter is giving Mr. President sleepless nights and he has decided to remove Amaechi immediately,” he added.

Source

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Gadzama Leads C'ttee to Investigate Amaechi

Gadzama Leads C'ttee to Investigate Amaechi

Chief Joe Gadzama (SAN)

By Chuks Okocha

The National Working Committee (NWC) Monday announced an 11-man committee headed by Chief Joe Gadzama (SAN) to investigate the role played by the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi in the dissolution of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council in the state.

Also, the NWC inaugurated a committee to fast track the process of constitutional adherence as it affects the current status of the office of the Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai who was injured in the self piloted airplane in October last year.

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PDP Suspends Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi

PDP Suspends Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi

By Chuks Okocha

The National Working Committee at its emergency meeting on Monday, 27 May, 2013 considered the petition submitted by the PDP Rivers Executive Committee against His Excellency, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Executive Governor of Rivers State for violating Articles 58 1 (b), (c ), (h) and (m) of the PDP Constitution following his refusal to obey the lawful directive of the Rivers State Executive Committee to rescind his decision dissolving the elected Executive Council of Obiokpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The National Working Committee after preliminary hearing, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 59 (3), 59 (5) and 29 (2.b), hereby suspends the Executive Governor of River State, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as a member of the PDP and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the Party.

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Rivers PDP Crisis: Wike Sues for Peace, Reconciliation

Rivers PDP Crisis: Wike Sues for Peace, Reconciliation

Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike

•   Party endorses Jonathan for 2015

Ernest Chinwo

As the crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lingers, Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on the state executive of the party to embrace peace and reconcile all aggrieved members.

This came as the state chapter of the PDP has said it would support President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential elections.

Wike spoke  Saturday at a thanksgiving ceremony organised by the state PDP at the Port Harcourt Club, Old GRA, Port Harcourt to celebrate the court judgement that ushered in the Chief Felix Obuah-led executive.

Wike, who was mobbed by the enthusiastic crowd when called to the podium for his address, expressed joy for the event and advised the party executive to tow the line of peace and reconciliation.
He also advised the chairman to see himself as a father and not allow the party to be thrown into conflicts.

He restated that he was not the leader of the party in the state, stressing that Governor Chibuike Amaechi remained the leader of the party and should be accorded his due respect in all matters.
He advised the executive not to allow itself to be dragged into any controversy as those who lost out in the court were bound to be angry.  Wike said, “Power has returned to the original owners. The people who just lost out in the process will be angry and they will show anger in their behaviour towards you. It is only natural because they are human beings too.

“However, we should not allow ourselves to be drawn into unnecessary feuds because they are abusing us. We must be abused. The chairman of our party should see himself as a father and make sure he reconciles all aggrieved party members. He must have a large heart and now proceed to go and bring back his children.

“I must state this again, I am a minister and not the governor of the state and the governor of the state is the party leader and must be respected as such.”
In his speech, the state chairman of PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, said the state would back Jonathan in the 2015 elections if he presented himself for re-election.

Obuah noted that Jonathan was a kinsman, a brother and an in-law of the people of the state, adding that as the leader of the party and Nigeria who had performed well, he deserve a second chance.
He added that the ceremony was to assure the party members in the state that his administration was out for peace and to reconcile aggrieved members, while also intensifying efforts to re-position the party.

“This event is to re-assure our party members that my administration is for peace, our foundation is God and we are for the reconciliation of all aggrieved members of the party.” Obuah said.
He restated that the party in the state was not factionalised as being promoted by some people and that disagreement among members were natural occurrences in politics.
“There can be disagreement among members, such makes for robust democracy and that is what politics is all about,” he said.

He however expressed regret at some comments by some people that the executive and its supporters were after the state treasury, describing the comments as cheap blackmail.

“We are concerned when people employ cheap blackmail and false alarms to portray occasions when there are disagreements, especially those fond of portraying others as being after the state’s treasury. These are not acceptable to the party leadership. Rivers State is PDP state and it shall remain so in 2015. No group of people can make the change because all those who can make the changes are here present today,” he said.

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Amaechi’s NGF Triumph Reinforces Divide in PDP

Amaechi’s NGF Triumph Reinforces Divide in PDP

Governor Rotimi Amaechi

• Bad loser Akpabio cries foul    
• How Northern governors swung victory

By Chucks Okocha                                     

Despite intense lobbying that had made defeat for him seem like a foregone conclusion, Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, defeated his Plateau State counterpart, Mr. Jonah Jang, to remain the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

Amaechi polled 19 votes while Jang polled 16 in the election held at the Rivers State Governor's Lodge in Abuja and presided by the director-general of the NGF, Mr. Oshisana Okauru. Only the governor of Yobe State was absent. The election was conducted via secret ballot with Okauru describing it as "transparent".

Governor Abdullaziz Yari of Zamfara State had no challenger for the position of deputy chairman and was elected unopposed as a result after Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko withdrew from the election.

The Rivers governor's victory was in spite of the People's Democratic Party and is a further highlight of the bitter division that exists in the ruling party and the disaffection it has bred. This disaffection is the reason about seven governors elected on the party's platform appear to be on the verge of ditching the party for another.

THISDAY had in March this year reported that eight governors were set to leave the PDP as a way of expressing their frustration. The governors cite in the report were those of Rivers (Rotimi Amaechi), Adamawa (Murtala Nyako), Kano (Rabiu Kwankwaso), Jigawa (Sule Lamido) and Kebbi (Seidu Dakingari).
Others were Governors Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara.

To underscore the frustrations of the group with PDP, three of the Governors, Lamido, Kwankwaso and Wamakko had boycotted a PDP peace parley in Kaduna organised late March, which had Vice-President Namadi Sambo in attendance.

In a post-election speech, Amaechi described the election as transparent, adding that "power belongs to God". He also revealed that he intends to embark on a mission to reconcile and unify the Forum, adding that he would "reach out to the president".

But the outcome of the election has been rejected by some governors in a move that may sound the death knell for the already polarised Forum.

Specifically, Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, said it was wrong for Amaechi to have presided over an election in which he was a candidate. "The election cannot be valid," he said.
Waving  document titled Resolution of Nigerian Governors, Akpabio told journalists that the 19 governors who signed the document had elected Jang as Chairman of the NGF.

In denouncing the election, Jang argued that the result was inconsistent with the fact that he had been endorsed by 18 governors from the North before the election.

“I was endorsed by 18 governors before the election. How come I did not win?" he queried, noting that Governor Amaechi ought to have resigned before the election.

Even though his candidacy was never a considered possibility in the weeks preceding the NGF election, Jang emerged the consensus nominee of the PDP governors at a meeting held earlier at the Akwa Ibom State Governor's Lodge after it emerged that neither Shema nor Yuguda was willing to step down for the other.

But given that governors elected on the PDP platform had resolved to present a single candidate who would then run against Amaechi, both Shema and Yuguda had to set aside their ambition. The lot then fell on Jang.

Thereafter, both Shema and Yuguda left the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge in the same car.
THISDAY learnt that the meeting of the Northern State Governors’ Forum which also held a few hours before the NGF election at the Niger State Governor’s Lodge ended in a deadlock as neither Shema nor Yuguda agreed to step down.

However, it has emerged that the core of Amaechi's supporters in the Northern State Governors Forum had played a fast one by getting both Shema and Yuguda to withdraw from the race and prodding Jang, considered a weak candidate, to run.

"It would have been a close call had Shema or Yuguda run against Amaechi," a source told THISDAY. Most of these governors actually voted for Amaechi, contrary to the impression they had given earlier at the meeting, the source added. So, essentially, their dummy helped swing victory in Amaechi's favour.
Ten Northern Governors voted for Amaechi while 8 voted for Jang.

But as the PDP governors were meeting at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge, the opposition parties’ governors were also holding a meeting at the Lagos State Governor’s Lodge. It was from there that they all arrived at the venue of the NGF election at about 4.40pm led by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

Okauro said while declaring the result: "The governor of Yobe was not present. We counted all the votes and the chairman, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State emerged winner with a total vote of 19 against the governor of Plateau State who secured a total vote of 16.

"Now for the vice chairman, it is important to announce to you that there were four candidates, two of the candidates withdrew from the race but they participated in the voting process.
"The vice chairman position was also up and there were two candidates. Governors  Mimiko and Yari.
"But the governor of Ondo withdrew from the race and yielded the position to the governor of Zamfara State."

The pro-Amaechi governors however maintained that Mimiko did not withdraw from the race. "I present to you my successor," Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, told journalists after the election.
Yesterday's election had been preceded by a divisive campaign that pitted governors in two camps. The culmination of this bitter campaign was the formation of the PDP Governors Forum established in an apparent bid to curb the influence which being the chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum confers on Amaechi and, also, to forge a united front in the quest to thwart his re-election.

The election was also seen as an indirect contest between Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan, both of whom had been engaged in a cold war. But aware of such perception and knowing that his victory would do little in warming him to the presidency, the Rivers State governor offered an olive branch.

"Today our democracy was tested and proven," he said. Today the governors have spoken with one voice reaffirming our faith in democratic governance as the hope of Nigeria’s future.
"We remain committed to supporting our leader, the president and commander in chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to realize the development dream of all Nigerians by reducing tension, uncertainty and insecurity in our beloved country.

"We want to pledge our steadfastness and resolve working alongside Mr. President to better the lives of our people as we render transparent and accountable stewardship."

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Governors Forum: Magical Evidence Shows “Real Winner” And Not Gov Amaechi

Governors Forum: Magical Evidence Shows “Real Winner” And Not Gov Amaechi

Just when it was thought that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, had won his re-election as chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), the story changed. In its inimitable fashion, a faction of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party sympathetic to President Goodluck Jonathan, reached for its bag of tricks and purloined a document meant to reverse Amaechi’s victory.

According to the truly magical paper shared among journalists by Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State was the “real winner,” while Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo was the “deputy.”

The statement, released on a letter head that did not even call the governors’ forum by its proper name, claimed that Jang and Mimiko were endorsed by 16 PDP governors; one Labour Party governor; one All Progressive Grand Alliance governor; and one All Nigeria Peoples Party governor, and dismissed Amaechi’s election as a sham and a fraud.

Governor Akpabio said they had pulled away and only recognised Jang as the duly elected and recognised chairman of the NGF. Akpabio was conveniently silent about the mutilations in the dates of the second paragraph of the letter he issued and the fact that that letter was signed in April after one of the NGF meetings ended in a deadlock.

He also omitted to mention that Jang, who in whom President Jonathan’s faction is now well pleased, was not even in the reckoning in April and had, in fact, rejected his nomination by the Northern Governors’ Forum yesterday on grounds of “old age!”

So, are there two or more factions of the NGF now? What does this portend then for the polity? What does this mean for 2015? Is the PDP already preparing a result, just waiting to alter it if the result does not favour its candidate?

The PDP has no one but itself to blame for the crisis in the NGF; it mismanaged the process leading to yesterday’s election.

The re-election of Governor Amaechi as the chairman of the NGF came to many as a surprise as it was believed that the governor whom the presidency drew battle lines with was on his way out of the seat.

It was common logic to think that whomever the presidency backed for the elections would certainly win the race. But if what transpired yesterday at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge was anything to reckon with, it could well mean that the proverbial 60-year reign of the PDP foretold by Vincent Ogbulafor is ending even before it has started.

Things have not been the same since the defiance of the House of Representatives’ members to kick against the party’s zoning formula and elect Aminu Waziri Tambuwwal and Emeka Ihedioha as its speaker and deputy speaker respectively. The ruling PDP is gradually losing grip on its members and the opposition is obviously waxing stronger.

And now the same scenario has played up at the Governors’ Forum with the PDP, which has 24 of the 36 state governors linking the wounds. The thinking is that clearly the ruling party is no longer in charge.

If the presidency and in effect the PDP had indicated interest as it did in the candidacy of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State to wrestle the incumbent Amaechi out of the NGF seat, it would have expected that as it was the case in the past when the party’s decision remained supreme, that an obviously would-be frustrated Amaechi would be forced to step down after reading the writing on the wall - since it would be needless to contest due to the bloc votes of the 24 PDP governors that would have indicated where their votes would swing to. The combined opposing votes of at most 12 governors would still not match the 24 that is intact for the chosen PDP’s candidate.

In yesterday’s election the reverse was the case. Governor Amaechi must have been full of confidence going into the election after gauging the mood of his colleagues and checking the likely support. Unlike the scenario painted above, the 11 opposition governors, now branded as “APC Governors” must have queued behind Amaechi, leaving him to canvass the extra 8 governors (totalling 19, with which he won the election) from the governors of PDP extraction. What this means is that ahead 2015, the PDP cannot say its house is accommodating genuine and faithful party members. And may as well play into the hands of the opposition! Is a dirty 2015 here?

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Governor Amaechi Wins Governors' Forum Election

Governor Amaechi Wins Governors' Forum Election

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has won re-election as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors' Forum defeating his opponent Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State by 3 votes.

Mr. Amaechi won 19 votes from the 35 governors present, while Mr. Jang, a late entrant to the competition garnered 16 votes. 

The governor of gombe state was absent.

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“Jonathan Should Vacate And Give Way To Competent Hand To Govern The Country”- Buhari

“Jonathan Should Vacate And Give Way To Competent Hand To Govern The Country”- Buhari

Former Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to resign from office for his inability to tackle the security challenges facing the country.

“Jonathan should vacate and give way to competent hand to govern the country”, he said.

Speaking to newsmen in his residence in Daura town yesterday, General Buhari said the issue of security is a fundamental duty of any responsible government, but Jonathan failed to protect the lives and the properties of Nigerians since he assumed power.

“When the Niger Delta militants started their activities in the South-South, they were invited by the late President Umaru Yar’adua.

An aircraft was sent to them and their leaders met with the late President in Aso Rock and discussed issues. They were given money and a training scheme was introduced for their members. But when the Boko Haram emerged in the north members of the sect were killed,” General Buhari lamented.

“And when the police failed to address the insurgency, soldiers were invited and they captured the Boko Haram leader, Muhammad Yusuf alive and handed him over to police. But Yusuf was eventually killed, his in-law too was killed and their houses were demolished”, he said.

He said the murder of the Boko Haram leader however provoked his followers and that was what led the country to its present situation. He suggested that government should adopt a new approach that will end the insurgency without affecting the lives and properties of innocent people.

“In Bama and Baga towns, military personnel were reported to have been engaged in extortion and sometimes molesting of women. And because a soldier was killed in Baga the whole town was sacked by military. This is not the best way military should have acted when they were sent to restore law and order in a town. How can a responsible government allow its people to be killed in this way,” he asked.

He warned that the police, SSS, army, navy and Air force should know how to conduct themselves and act professionally.

“The soldiers are not expected to go and sack a town because one of them is killed. They are expected to capture the culprits for prosecution. After all the soldiers are not meant to tackle internal crisis but when it is necessary they should act professionally.

“Whoever is sent to protect people should also protect their integrity. When the former England’s Prime Minister, Margret Thatcher decided to hold its political meeting in Brighton the security advised her to cancel the meeting because of the IRN rebellions, but she insisted and held the meeting. The hotel she was accommodated was bombed and some of her political associates were killed but soldiers did not condone the area and kill everybody there, rather they conducted themselves professionally,” Buhari said.

General Buhari, who condemned the imposition of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, said state of emergency was not the best way to address insurgency in the three affected states and the country in general.

“Government cannot kill all the Boko Haram members. Government should rather arrest and prosecute the Boko Haram members. They should only be killed when they said clearly they wage war against their country like what happened during the civil war. And even during civil war we that fought in the war were given a copy of code of conduct book which guided us against killing innocent people”, he said

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Amaechi, Legislators Shun Ceremony To Endorse Jonathan For 2015

Amaechi, Legislators Shun Ceremony To Endorse Jonathan For 2015

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential elections.

This was disclosed yesterday in Port Harcourt by the state’s party chairman, Felix Obuah, during the party’s thanksgiving ceremony which was shunned by the state governor. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, his supporters and the majority of state’s lawmakers.

The occasion was attended mainly by party members loyal to the Minister of State, Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike and was held amid tight security as security agents cordoned off all roads leading to the venue of the event.

Apart from a former member of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, five members of the state’s House of Assembly were in attendance.

Obuah told the gathering that the president is their kinsman, “as he is a brother and an in-law of the people of the state”, adding that he is the leader of the party and Nigeria and also deserves a second chance.

He added that the ceremony was to assure the party members in the state that his party executive was out for peace and to reconcile aggrieved members, while also intensifying efforts to re-position the party.

‘’ This event is to re-assure our party members that my administration is for peace, our foundation is God’s and we are for the reconciliation of all aggrieved members of the party,’’ Obuah said.

The business magnatecum- politician also used the occasion for the umpteenth time to assure party faithful that the party in the state is not factionalised as being promoted by some people and that disagreement among members are natural occurrences in politics.

‘’There can be disagreements among members but such make for robust democracy and that is what politics is all about,’’ he added. He, however, warned some people who are using the excuse of the disagreements to resort to cheap blackmail.

“We are concerned when people employ cheap blackmail and false alarms to portray occasions when there are disagreements, especially those fond of portraying others as being after the state’s treasury.

This is not acceptable to the party leadership. Rivers State is PDP state and it shall remain so in 2015. No group of people can make the change because all those who can make the change are here present today’’ he affirmed.

Meanwhile, on the occasion, Wike received rousing ovation by enthusiastic members of the party who crowded him as he made to make his speech.

An apparently elated Wike expressed joy for the event and advised the chairman of the Part-Exco and his team to embrace peace and reconcile all aggrieved members.

He also advised the chairman of the party to see himself as a father and never allow anybody to provoke him. He similarly urged other party members to tow the line of peace and not allow themselves to be provoked into conflicts.

Wike disclosed, however, that the governor of the state , rather than himself, is the leader of the party in the state and advised that he should be accorded his due respect in the scheme of things.

‘’Power has returned to the original owners. The people who just lost out in the process will be angry and they will show anger in their behaviour towards you. It is only natural because they are human beings too.

However, we should not allow ourselves to be drawn into unnecessary feuds because they are abusing us. “We must be abused. The chairman of our party should see himself as a father and make sure he reconciles all aggrieved party members.

He must have a large heart and now proceed to go and bring back his children. I must state this again, I am a minister and not the Governor of the state and the Governor of the state is the party leader and must be respected as such,’’ he said.

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I Gave Obasanjo N100m [$645,161] For 1999 Elections –Ex-Governor Orji Uzor Kalu

I Gave Obasanjo N100m [$645,161] For 1999 Elections –Ex-Governor Orji Uzor Kalu

From left: former president obasanjo, ex- governor orji kalu

Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, has said he gave ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo N100m to run his campaign in 1999.

He said he gave another N100m to the Peoples Democratic Party prior to the 1999 elections.

The former governor said this as ‘Guest of the Week’ on a Kaduna-based Liberty FM radio programme on Saturday.

He said, “I made millions before joining politics. I was doing business between Maiduguri and the East. I carried fish from Maiduguri to the East and palm oil from the East to Maiduguri. So, I had money and invested so much in the PDP.

“If the party is a company, I would have been a major  shareholder. I and (Saminu) Turaki spent more on the party than any other Nigerian. How much did (President Goodluck) Jonathan have before he became the President? I was the first to give the party N100m to register. I was also the first to give Obasanjo N100m to campaign during the 1999 election.”

On the frosty relationship between him and Obasanjo, Kalu said things fell apart between him and the former leader when he discovered that Obasanjo was deceiving Nigerians.

Kalu said, “I fell apart with Obasanjo on the issue of third term. He wanted to be a life President. Nobody can tell me that Obasanjo was not interested in a third term. Huge money was involved in the project.  Two senators from my state came with the money and I asked them to return it.

“It was the then President of America, George Bush, who genuinely derailed the third term agenda. I told Bush about it and that is why Obasanjo hates me. Bush told him that it was not possible in a constitutional democracy. I try to avoid him (Obasanjo) at public functions.”

On the 2015 election, Kalu said, “People should stop imposing the President on Nigerians. Let the people chose their President.

“Igbo are going to vote for Igbo in 2015. Jonathan has the constitutional right to run but he is not an Igbo man. There are many qualified Igbo men. I am not saying I’m running for President now but there are possibilities that other Igbo men are thinking about that. Northerners should support us for the presidency in 2015 because we supported (Shehu) Shagari. We supported (Umaru) Yar’Adau, (Yakubu) Gowon and Tafawa Balewa,”  Kalu added.

He said his return to PDP was to give the party a second chance and to see if he could make positive changes in the party.

On the state of emergency declared by the President on three North-East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa,  Kalu said the declaration was nothing but a movement of troops from one place to another, adding that the security chiefs did not advise the President properly.

He said the President should have allowed the amnesty committee to work for at least three months before declaring the state of emergency.

The former governor said, “I am for amnesty. The President should have allowed the amnesty committee at least three months. He shouldn’t have made any announcement. There is nothing like state of emergency but just a movement of troops. Jonathan is not that wicked to be playing politics with human life. Let’s remove politics or 2015 from this thing.”

However, Obasanjo’s Media Assistant, Vitalis Ortese, said the former President would not join issues with “Kalu who has credibility and integrity deficit.”

He said, “This is a man who is known to have stuffed paper as money in a bag and donated it at a public function in Maiduguri. He has no credibility and integrity. So, we will not like to join issues with him.

“He is only trying to cover his lack of credibility by seeking to join issues with someone, who clearly is not in his level or class. He is only seeking relevance. Good luck to him.”

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Urhobo People Threaten To March Naked If President Jonathan Refuses To Contest

Urhobo People Threaten To March Naked If President Jonathan Refuses To Contest

The campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election received a boost Thursday with the people of Urhobo ethnic nationality in Delta State threatening to march naked on the streets of Nigeria, if Jonathan fails to seek re-election in 2015.

Describing Jonathan as the best President that Nigeria has ever had, the people listed the rare qualities and credentials of the President to justify their insistence that he must be returned in 2015 to consolidate the gains already recorded by him.

The Urhobo natives, who made their position, clear when they met with the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, in Abuja on Thursday, stated that Jonathan had impressed them and that they would still vote for him in the next election.

The leader of the Movement for the Survival of Urhobo Ethnic Nationalities, Chief Rex Anigoro, pointed out that contrary to the castigation of Jonathan for weakness and non-performance, the President had actually surpassed the mark attained by his predecessors.

“We make bold to say that in 2015 we will still vote for President Jonathan because of his outstanding performance so far. But let us warn that if he refuses to run, we will march naked through the streets of Nigeria to compel him to do so.

“Tell Mr. President that the Urhobo people stand solidly behind him because for the first time in the history of Nigeria a President has declared state of emergency with democratic institutions still intact, the railway system that had since been abandoned is back while the power sector is receiving a boost just as strikes in our universities have ended.

“And we are very proud of President Jonathan because of all Nigeria’s presidents, he is the most educated, most responsible and responsive, most experienced and most qualified to run this country and did not emerge out of accident as some people will want to say.

“We want Nigerians to know that Jonathan is not an accidental President but a well trained leader, who has proved that it is possible for any Nigerian to lead the country through the dint of hard work, dedication and commitment to the cause of their fatherland.

The Urhobo group however castigated the recent attempt by some of their natives to forge an alliance with the Arewa youths with a view to achieving some political ambitions in 2015, saying that those persons did not have the mandate of the generality of the people to do so.

The Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, used the forum to brief the Urhobo group on steps so far taken by the Jonathan’s administration to restore peace in the Niger Delta through the Amnesty programme and called on them to continue to work for peace progress of the nation.

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ACN Behind Insurgency In Nigeria - PDP

ACN Behind Insurgency In Nigeria - PDP

“ACN and its cohorts in the opposition are behind insurgents and must subvert every measure taken by govt to tackle terrorist.”

The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) has said that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was behind the insurgency threatening the peace of the country. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh, the PDP based its declaration on the opposition party’s condemnation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of state of emergency in Adamwa, Borno and Yobe states on Tuesday.

The ACN has faulted the process as it submitted that the Federal Government did not seek the endorsement of the National Assembly as stipulated in the amended 1999 Constitution. But Metuh in the statement disclosed that the opposition party was against emergency rule as he claimed the “ACN and its cohorts in the opposition are behind insurgents and therefore, must subvert every measure taken by government to tackle escalating insurgency.”

Metuh also claimed that the ACN had been exploiting the escalating crisis to undermine the PDP-led Federal Government. “We recall that the opposition boasted recently that they would end the Boko Haram scourge within two months of their presidency. There is no smoke without fire”, he said. Metuh noted that the opposition sees the escalating terror as a short-cut to power. “Recall also that the statements of the leaders of the opposition at the eve 2011 presidential election gave birth to violence which has snowballed today into terrorism.

We therefore, call on the leaders of the opposition to remove the mask on their faces and publicly declare their stand,” he said. The PDP admonished the ACN to exercise restraint in its criticisms. “May we also educate the ACN that a just and equitable society cannot be achieved overnight in the same manner, good governance is not an already- made commodity waiting on the counter. We wish to emphasize that in over a decade, the PDP has not only rebuilt the decayed fabrics of the nation, but has taken recognizable and commendable steps in the direction of good governance.

We shall remain committed to that despite distractions. “What is new in what the President has done if we must again tell the ACN, is that President Goodluck Jonathan is a core democrat, who appreciates the core values of democracy and who believes firmly that democracy must be practised in Nigeria in its undiluted form”, Metuh noted.  [Sun news]

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Anarchy Looms In Rivers As State Assembly Writes Jonathan

Anarchy Looms In Rivers As State Assembly Writes Jonathan

The River State House of Assembly has written to the President to intervene in the crisis in the state to avoid total breakdown of law and order.In the letter addressed directly to President Goodluck Jonathan, the state lawmakers claim that the state has been witnessing lawlessness since the Abuja high Court judgment upturning the election of the state executive committee of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Chief G.U.Ake.

They maintain that in order not to turn the state into a state of anarchy, the President’s intervention has become necessary.

"As stakeholders in the Nigeria democratic project and legitimate representatives of our people as well as strong collaborators in your excellency’s emergence as President… we seek to use this medium to inundate you of the developments, their implications for Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole and pray your presidential intervention,” the lawmakers stated.

The State Assembly also reiterated their support for the Federal Government, the Rotimi Amaechi-led administration in the state and the people of Rivers State but expressed shock over the planned withdrawal of security personnel attached to various Rivers State government establishments and officials.

“We are alarmed and disturbed by the planned withdrawal of security personnel attached to various Rivers State government establishments and officials, especially that of the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Ministries and the Local Government Councils. A test run has been executed with the withdrawal of police from the Okirika Local government council by the State Commissioner of Police Rivers State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.”

They called on the President to order the redeployment of Mr. Mbu, which they insist will ensure the return of the peace to the state.

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