PDP declares Friday work free day

Abuja - The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has declared December 13 a work-
free day in all PDP offices across the federation.
This is contained in a statement issued invAbuja on Wednesday by Olisa Metuh, the party`s National Publicity Secretary.
He said that the day was in honour of Solomon Lar, the party's pioneer national chairman and elder statesman who was also the first executive governor of Plateau.

He said that NWC had also postponed it's weekly meeting in honour of the late Lar.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lar, who died in a U.S hospital on October 9, would be buried on December 13, in his home town in Plateau.

The deceased PDP stalwart midwifed the formation of the party in 1998 and led it to victory in the 1999 general elections.

Lar, born in April 1933, was regarded as an emancipator of the less privileged and a politician who stood out among others.
He was also a member of the first
National Parliament when Nigeria gained independence in 1960.

The late Lar was Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa before the January 1966 coup
which brought in the military.
At the inception of the second republic, Lar was a co-founder of the Nigerian People's Party, and was nominated the party’s presidential candidate in 1978.

He later won the governorship election in Plateau and became the first executive governor of the state in 1979.

I will not resign - Tukur

Abuja - PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur says he will not resign his position as the party leader.
Tukur stated this in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after a closed-door meeting with Vice- President Namadi Sambo at the State House, Abuja.

He said there was no basis for him to resign his position, arguing that ''I am the best thing that has happened to the party''.
It will be recalled that one of the
demands of the G-7 PDP Governors
before the defection of five of them to the All Progressives Congress (APC), was for Tukur to relinquish his position.
The aggrieved governors accused Tukur of high-handedness in the piloting of the affairs of the party.

But Tukur told the newsmen that he was not moved by the various accusations levelled against him by both the G7 governors and members of the other
opposition parties.
"They even said that I am a virus. Yes, I agree that I am virus, but a virus for discipline; a virus for good governance; virus for positive change; and virus for all
things that are good
"Do you resign when you know that you are doing good things or do you resign simply because a few people are angry that you are doing positive things and
they are not comfortable with such good things.’’
Tukur said that the party leadership would
continue to talk to the aggrieved
governors and other members of the party.
"Even in your home, if your wife run away, you would always look for ways ofctalking to her hoping that she would see reason and return home," he said.
- NAN

The presidency slams ex-president's 'reckless' accusations

Abuja - The presidency on Wednesday hit back at criticism by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, describing his widely
leaked letter accusing Goodluck Jonathan of leadership failures as "indecorous" and "reckless".
Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said in a statement that Obasanjo's letter to President Jonathan was deliberately
leaked to the media in an effort to "to impugn the integrity of the president".
In the 18-page missive, the former head of state -- who ruled from 1999 to 2007 -- accuses Jonathan of failing to tackle a litany of problems, from corruption to
piracy, kidnapping and oil theft.

He also takes the president to task over party infighting and a crackdown on dissenters.
"I want nothing from you personally
except that you should run the affairs of Nigeria not only to make Nigeria good, but to make Nigeria great for which I have always pleaded with you and I will
always do so. And it is yet to be done for most Nigerians to see," Obasanjo wrote.
He added that he was speaking out
because he felt the country was heading in the wrong direction.
"I could sense a semblance between the situation that we are gradually getting into and the situation we fell into as a
nation during the Abacha era," he said.
Sani Abacha, a dictator in power from 1993 to 1998 when he died, ruled Nigeria with an iron fist, jailing and driving his critics into exile. Abacha's regime jailed
Obasanjo and several others for his
alleged involvement in a failed coup plotin 1995.
Abati said Jonathan would in due time respond to the letter and "the most reckless, baseless, unjustifiable and indecorous charges levied against him and
his administration".

He added that it was "highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative" that the letter was "deliberately leaked to the
mass media in a deplorable effort to impugn the integrity of the president and denigrate his commitment to giving Nigeria the best possible leadership".

Obasanjo contested and won elections in 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, now
enmeshed in crisis.
He guided his chosen successor Musa Yar'Adua to an election win in 2007 and still holds huge sway in Nigerian politics.
Yar'Adua died in office and was succeeded by Jonathan.

Abia governor boasts of achieving campaign promises

Abia governor boasts of achieving
campaign promises
Umuahia - Governor Theodore Orji of Abia said on Wednesday that he had accomplished “all major promises” made during his electioneering campaigns to
the people of the state.
Orji made the statement during the 2013 prayer summit organised by an Umuahia based political pressure group, Ochendo Grassroots Solidarity Movement, in
Umuahia.
He was represented by Godwin Nna, the Commissioner for Urban Renewal and Physical Planning.
Orji expressed joy that Abia now had environment that enabled key
infrastructure to drive development.
“My administration has restored peace and security through total combating of kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state. We have equally tackled
epileptic power supply, constructed
workers’ secretariat, built several roads and relocated the three major markets in Umuahia,” he said.
The governor also listed other
achievements in the area of health, youth empowerment, education and workers' welfare, noting that Abia was now closing in on other mega cities in Nigeria.
Orji, who attributed his success in office to prayers from people of the state, commended the leadership of the movement for supporting his administration.
- NAN

Amaechi, Jang factions converge for governors meeting

Abuja - The two factions of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) will meet in Abuja on Wednesday, Information Nigeria
reports.
The Governor Chibuike Amaechi faction has invited members of the Jonah Jang led faction to the NGF meeting.
The meeting will be held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
The NGF has been divided following the protests of some governors, who did not
approve Amaechi's second term as
chairman of the forum.
The Rivers State governor defeated
Governor Jang of Plateau State with a slim margin of three votes during the NGF chairmanship election.

Boko Haram leader claims attack on military

Borno - Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, has claimed responsibility for attacks on military formations in Borno
State.
Few believe the Boko Haram terrorist network has such capability despite fears
its insurgency could reach neighboring states.
In the video received Thursday, Abubakar Shekau dismisses last month's U.S. designation of his group as a terrorist organization and suggests a country that
could not stop the 9/11 attacks cannot hurt his movement.

Thousands have been killed in the
Nigerian insurgency since 2009.
The video shows burning buildings and aircraft in the December 2 attack on an air force base outside Maiduguri and warns, "Don't think we will stop in Maiduguri.
Tomorrow you will see us in America itself."

Police Invade APC’s Rally AGAIN in River, Shoot Teargas

A day after security operatives
disrupted the rally organised by the
All Progressives Congress in Obio/
Akpor area of Rivers State, the
Ikwerre Local Government chapter of the party has accused the police of invading the council headquarters during its rally on Wednesday.
According to APC allegations, the police shot teargas at party supporters, brutalised traditional rulers and law- abiding citizens in the area.
The opposition party also accused the the police of destroying canopies, chairs and public address system and seized valuables of party supporters at the rally.
Commenting on the situation to the
journalists, an APC chief in the area, Elder Chidi Wihioka, said the party had earlier informed the police in writing that the Ikwerre Local Government Chapter
of APC would be visiting wards to hold rallies and sensitise the people about the party activities.
Wihioka said,

"We had to converge on the
Ikwerre Local Government Council
to observe the arrangement of
canopies, chairs and tables before I
started getting calls here and there
by a group.
"But we decided not to get worried
because we had earlier informed
the police of holding rallies in the
various wards. We also expected a
written response from the police."
APC chief referred to the freedom of association and claimed it had been violated by the police.
He also added,

"When the Grassroots Democratic
Initiative holds its rallies,
sometimes, it is without police
permit; but it is most surprising
that the police give GDI and PDP
police permit and protection."

Morevoer, the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Mr. Welendu Amadi,
flayed the increasing level of hostility against members of his party and law- abiding citizens in the area. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, said he had travelled
out of the state.

Governor Amaechi Sacks Pro-Wike Commissioner

The Governor of Rivers
State, Rotimi Amaechi, sacked the State Commissioner for Urban Development, Mr. Tammy
Danagogo, on December 11, 2013,
Wednesday.
This has been announced in a statement by the Governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor. The sacking was with immediate effect.
Gov. Amaechi directed Mr. Danagogo to handover immediately to the Permanent
Secretary in the State Ministry of Urban Development.

"Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon.
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has
sacked the Commissioner for
Urban Development, Mr. Tammy
Danagogo.
"The Governor directs (Mr.)
Danagogo to handover immediately
to the Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry of Urban Development,"
the statement read.
Though no reason was given for the
termination of Danagogo's appointment, the sacking may be linked with the recent report that the Commissioner hadbdefected to the group loyal to the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike.

Why FG Intends to Close National Assembly for One Year

The Federal Executive Council (FEC)
approved a contract of N40.2bn for the construction of the Phase III, Part III of the National Assembly complex and the upgrading of
the Assembly's two chambers.

To pave the way for the smooth
implementation of the project, the two chambers would be closed to
legislative duties for 12 months.
The approval was given on December 11,b2013, Wednesday, at the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Vice President
Namadi Sambo. President Goodluck
Jonathan is away in South Africa where he participated in the funeral rites for the country's former President, Dr. Nelson Mandela.
The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammed, briefed State House correspondents of
the meeting's outcome.

According to Sen. Bala Muhammed, the project, which has been awarded to construction giant, Julius Berger , include the construction of library, budget
office, printing press, clinic,
restaurants, banquet hall, places of
worship, plenary hall (auditorium),
TV/radio/press facilities, fitness
room, administrative offices,
technical rooms, meeting rooms and the upgrading of the two chambers.
He further noted that the contract that would be carried put in 40 months, was under the National Priority Programme
of the FG and based on national plan.
Sen. Bala Muhammed revealed for the period that the two chambers of the National Assembly would remainvclosed, an arrangement had been made for large conference rooms where lawmakers could carry out their legislative duties.

FEMALE POWER: Two Senators Declare 2015 Governorship Ambition

Two female Senators Helen Esuene (PDP Akwa Ibom South) and Aisha Al- Hassan (PDP Taraba North) declared their ambition to contest the 2015 governorship elections in their respective states.
The ladies announced their intention at a joint news conference held at the
National Assembly on December 11, 2013, Wednesday.
The Senators said they had decided to join the race for the top posts in their different states to complement the
efforts men had been making over the years in the same capacity.
They also pledged to "bring about more impactful governance on citizens of the states as far as genuine development
was concerned.".

"We are not saying we are better
than men that have been occupying
these positions over the years in
the two states and infact across
the 36 states of the federation.
"We are only saying as responsible
women, we shall be less distracted
in office like any of the men that
had served in that capacity with
attendant highly focused and
development-driven governance.
"Our efforts would no doubt take
our states to greater heights in all
ramifications," Senator Esuene said.
Senator Al-Hassan, who attributed their successes in the Senate as female lawmakers to the Almighty God and the press, solicited for more support from the press on their ambitions.