Those Who Want Jega Sacked Are Nation Enemies - Ex-Envoy Says

Former Nigeria's Envoy to Canada,
Amb Dare Bejide, has made warnings against the call to sack the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega describing those behind the call as enemies of the nation.

The PDP governorship aspirant in Ekiti State made the remarks in a statement issued by the Director General, Dare Bejide Campaign Organization, Mr. Abiodun Bamiteko, in Ado Ekiti on
Saturday.

According to the statement, the INEC chief signalled a setback to the country's democratic process at this stage when the Commission should consolidate on the success of the 2011 poll.

It will be recalled that the leaders of the opposition party, APC, demanded for Jega's sack. INEC Chairman was blamed
for the irregularities that took place
during the Anambra governorship
elections, held on November 16.
Here it an extract from the statement, "Sacking the INEC chairman will never solve the problem. The 2011 (election) was a huge success and the opposition benefited from it. I expected them to encourage the INEC to consolidate on the gains of 2011 poll than calling for Jega's sack."

PDP remains the party to beat, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has
said that the crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) notwithstanding, it remains a party to beat in the country.

The President made the disclosure on Saturday in Paris in an interview he granted to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and France 24 Radio.

The President granted the interview
shortly before departing Paris to Abuja at the close of a two-day summit on peace and security in Africa, hosted by President
Francois Hollande of France.

Jonathan was reacting to the recent
defection of some of the seven aggrieved governors of the PDP to the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC).

He said that while the party would
continue to pursue the paths of
reconciliation, the move by the governors would not hamper the success of the PDP in future elections.

"We want those governors to come back to PDP, but in an event where some of them feel it is better outside, they can also go and try.

"We will work harder to make sure that we get more supporters so that at the end of the day, that equilibrium will be maintained.

"But I still believe that in Nigeria today, PDP is still the party to beat.
"As they are leaving the ruling party to the opposition, there are other key political actors who are ready to come to PDP.

"At the appropriate time, we will also receive them." The President said that "the game of politics is dynamic and a governor elected
by the people must not see himself as a king who can lord himself over the electorate.

"I was elected by Nigerians and I will not say because I am the President of Nigeria now, 100 per cent of Nigerians are for me
and when I am moving to the left or right I will be moving with the whole 100 per cent.

"When you are moving you should know that you are an individual, not all your supporters will want to move with you.

"They are not your employees, therefore, some of your supporters might stay." Jonathan hinted that "in some cases, the deputy governors in the states are saying
they are not ready to move.
"It will be an interesting thing, and I have said that let us see how it will play out.

"However, in politics any party will wantveverybody in its camp and in PDP we want everybody."

The President clarified that not all the seven aggrieved governors have moved to the opposition party.

He said they have some grievances with the party and some of them said they were going to leave.

"But so far, two have openly declared that they are not leaving the party and we are talking to them.

"Out of the remaining five, two appears that they have actually moved to the other political parties, while some are still on the fence.

"I believe in a couples of weeks, it will not be too long. it will be very clear whether they are leaving or not.’’

The seven aggrieved governors are Suleb Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Murtala
Nyako (Adamawa).

Others are Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed
(Kwara), Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Gov. Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).

Lamido and Aliyu had openly declared that they were not part of the announced merger of the group with the APC.

PDP remains the party to beat, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has
said that the crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) notwithstanding, it remains a party to beat in the country.

The President made the disclosure on Saturday in Paris in an interview he granted to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and France 24 Radio.

The President granted the interview
shortly before departing Paris to Abuja at the close of a two-day summit on peace and security in Africa, hosted by President
Francois Hollande of France.

Jonathan was reacting to the recent
defection of some of the seven aggrieved governors of the PDP to the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC).

He said that while the party would
continue to pursue the paths of
reconciliation, the move by the governors would not hamper the success of the PDP in future elections.

"We want those governors to come back to PDP, but in an event where some of them feel it is better outside, they can also go and try.

"We will work harder to make sure that we get more supporters so that at the end of the day, that equilibrium will be maintained.

"But I still believe that in Nigeria today, PDP is still the party to beat.
"As they are leaving the ruling party to the opposition, there are other key political actors who are ready to come to PDP.

"At the appropriate time, we will also receive them." The President said that "the game of politics is dynamic and a governor elected
by the people must not see himself as a king who can lord himself over the electorate.

"I was elected by Nigerians and I will not say because I am the President of Nigeria now, 100 per cent of Nigerians are for me
and when I am moving to the left or right I will be moving with the whole 100 per cent.

"When you are moving you should know that you are an individual, not all your supporters will want to move with you.

"They are not your employees, therefore, some of your supporters might stay." Jonathan hinted that "in some cases, the deputy governors in the states are saying
they are not ready to move.
"It will be an interesting thing, and I have said that let us see how it will play out.

"However, in politics any party will wantveverybody in its camp and in PDP we want everybody."

The President clarified that not all the seven aggrieved governors have moved to the opposition party.

He said they have some grievances with the party and some of them said they were going to leave.

"But so far, two have openly declared that they are not leaving the party and we are talking to them.

"Out of the remaining five, two appears that they have actually moved to the other political parties, while some are still on the fence.

"I believe in a couples of weeks, it will not be too long. it will be very clear whether they are leaving or not.’’

The seven aggrieved governors are Suleb Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Murtala
Nyako (Adamawa).

Others are Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed
(Kwara), Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Gov. Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).

Lamido and Aliyu had openly declared that they were not part of the announced merger of the group with the APC.

Governor Aliyu explains why he led "G-7 governors"

Minna - Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger said that the formation of the G-7 governors’ group was to reform the PDP, owing to the party’s failure to adhere to
democratic principles.

Aliyu said this in Minna on Thursday when the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), led by its Country Vice-
President, Mrs Hauwa Shekarau, paid him a courtesy visit.

"For the benefit of those who may not understand; I led the so-called G-7 governors as a result of the reform which we were looking for in our party."

"The idea was not to leave our party but to reform it; along the line, some people found it more expedient to leave the party; that is their choice."

"Those of us who feel that if you want a reform and you want to do it within; I think our views should also be respected."

"People must not go and play politics in whatever form where it creates more problems."

"For us in Niger State, we welcome the development of a two-party system; rather than having so many parties that end up creating political prostitutes."

"I am seizing this opportunity to say this because there is a lot of misinformation out there," he said.

Aliyu also said that the G-7 governors’ forum was formed because "some people within the party were taking the electoral
success of the PDP since 1999 for
granted."

The governor said that there was a need to make the party to understand that it could not take people's support for granted.

"You need really to invigorate the
people’s support, so as to enable you to be properly accepted by them."

"For anybody who fails to remember, I have always said that my intention was not to leave the PDP but to reform it."

"I said that it is not a one-man show or about me; it also is not about my ambition, it is about the people."

"And I said that there is no way I will take any decision without coming back to my
people."

"Majority of my people prefer that we stay in PDP and we will stay in the party and make it work," he said.

Earlier, the Country Vice-President of FIDA decried the increasing rate of violence against women and children in the country.

"We at International Federation of
Women Lawyers will always join the
global train in efforts to eradicate
violence against women and children," she said.

Shekarau, however, called for the
enactment of appropriate laws to protect the wellbeing of women and children.

"There is need to ensure that peace
reigns in our society and this should start from our families," she said.

- NAN

Group denies being a caucus in Lagos PDP

The Atoona Collectives Youth
Supporters of Olabode George of the PDP on Thursday said that the group was not a caucus in the Lagos State Chapter of the PDP.

Controversy had continued to trail the emergence of the group with some members of the PDP in Lagos, saying that it was a new caucus of the party in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group was on November 21, inaugurated in Lagos by a former National Secretary of the PDP, Remi Akitoye.

However, in a statement signed by
Spokesman of the group, Kasim Ashade, the Collectives explained that "it is an organisation breeding forth a patriotic foundation for Olabode George.

"The Atoona Collectives is a group that transcends political formation.
Our aim is to celebrate our great leader, Olabode George, while he is alive and inbturn, transform the group into abfoundation for George.

"We have no political interest in the
Lagos PDP other than wanting to take thebparty to greater heights both in Lagos and other states of the South West.

"The foundation would aim at not only touching lives in the PDP but the lives of all across the South West."

According to the body, the good
attributes of Olabode George in touching the lives of everyone that he comes across with should not be celebrated after his death.

"We want to create this foundation that would celebrate George while he is still alive.

"Olabode George’s committed leadership in the national development of the PDP,
especially in Lagos is worth celebrating."

The group further stated that although it's pioneer members were drawn from the PDP, it was open to all members of the
party from across all the councils in Lagos State.

"Our mission is to use our number and programmes to further add value to the PDP and ensure peaceful co-existence in the party in the South West."

The body, however, urged members of the PDP to work together as one family to achieve victory for the party in 2015 and beyond.
- NAN

Senate approves $200 million loan for Lagos

The Senate on Wednesday
approved the inclusion of the Lagos State Development Policy Operation II (DPO)binto the proposed pipeline projects under
the 2012-2014 external borrowing plan.

This allows the Lagos State Governmentbto borrow the second tranche of $200 million from the World Bank.

The senate took the decision after
considering the report of the Ehigie
Uzamere (APC-Edo) led committee on Local and Foreign Debts.
President Goodluck Jonathan had on October 24, urged the National Assembly to include the Lagos State Development Policy Operation (DPO) of $200 million
into the 2012-2014 Medium Term
Borrowing Plan (MTBP).

Jonathan said the fund formed part of the credit of $600 million granted to thebLagos State Government in 2010 for implementation in three batches.

The President’s letter to the Senate
President, David Mark, which was read during a plenary session, said the amount was not captured in the 2012-2014 MTBP.

“The World Bank approved a
Development Policy Operation (Budget Support) for a total credit amount of 600 million dollars to the Lagos State Government in 2010.

“The fund is expected to be implementedbin three tranches of 200 million dollarsbeach.

“The first tranche was approved by the National Assembly in the 2010 Borrowing Plan,” he said.

According to him, the Development Policy Operation (DPO) 1 was implemented in
2011.
“However, given the importance of thebsecond tranche to the success and sustainability of the first tranche, I wish to submit it for your consideration for inclusion in the current borrowing plan,” the president said.

The proposed $200 million DPO is to enable the state to complete some critical infrastructure projects, including the Ultra-modern Burns Centre and Cardiac and Renal Centre in Gbagada.

The credit facility is also expected to cover the 27km light rail on the Lagos-bBadagry Expressway Corridor to Marina and the completion of the 70 million gallon per day Adiyan water facility,bamong others.
- NAN

Tukur claims defected governors are still PDP members

Abuja - Bamanga Tukur, the National Chairman of the Peoples’ democratic Party (PDP), has said that none of the PDP governors defected to the All Progressive
Congress (APC), Vanguard reports.
The PDP Chairman said this on
Wednesday while addressing newsmen inbAbuja, after meeting with PDP senators at the National Assembly.
A lingering political crisis rocking the party led to the defection of five governors to the APC. They include Rabiu Kwankwanso
(Kano); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Abdulfatai Ahmedb(Kwara); and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

Read more at Vanguard

Jonathan, Amaechi rift moves to the senate

Two senators loyal to governor
Rotimi Amaechi refused to confirm the President’s nominees into the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), reports Vanguard .
The senators, Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South- East, and Wilson Ake, from Rivers West, sent letters stating that normal procedures were not followed in
the nomination.
Amaechi left the People’s Democratic
Party (PDP) for the All Progressive
Congress(APC) after claiming that his state had been neglected by the
Jonathan-led administration in terms of execution of federal projects.
Read more at Vanguard

Deputy Senate President's statements cause an uproar

Abuja - The Conference of Nigerian
Political Parties (CNPP) called on the State Security Service (SSS) and other security agencies to probe Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, over his recent statements regarding presidential terms.

CNPP National Publicity Secretary Osita Okechukwu stated in a press statement the investigations should be done “as a matter of urgent national importance.”

Days ago, Ekweremadu said that the adoption of a single term for political office holders was the answer to the incessant political crisis in the country.

Okechukwu described such statements as “treasonous.”
“For us foisting the rejected 7 year Single Tenure through the back door of Doctrine of Necessity will be a grave disservice to
our fatherland and portends more danger than the 4 year Two-Tenure.
"CNPP had since Sunday waited patiently for rebuttal as major national newspapers were awash with the senators treasonable statement to the effect that, ‘if we create a two-year gap, it creates a situation where the country would not bebengulfed in a crisis and no rebuttal came,” said Okechukwu.

He added, “On the first question of how the Single Tenure will be achieved he said through the Doctrine of Necessity and some kind of jurisprudential approach, and some kind of transition of two years.
This is sheer criminal subversion of the highest order in the making.”

Okechukwu challenged Ekweremadu to explain why the 2015 general elections will end up in a “crisis.”

“We are making this call for we have heard those close to President Goodluck Jonathan, like Alhaji Asari-Doukubo and Kingsley Kuku making similar statement that heavens will fall if President Jonathan loses the 2015 election” he said.
– CAJ News