Critical assets under threat, says Jonathan

By VICTORIA OJEME

Nigeria’s substantial investments and critical infrastructure are under threat of the actions of terrorists, vandals and saboteurs, President Goodluck Jonathan has said.

Jonathan expressed the concern, yesterday, in Abuja while declaring open a two-day stakeholders’ forum on the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, CNAI.

The President, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, ordered the nation’s security agencies to review existing strategies for effective intelligence sharing towards ensuring greater protection of such national assets and critical infrastructure.

He said the stakeholders’ forum was necessary to ensure synergy in the activities of the security agencies.

[caption id="attachment_408027" align="alignnone" width="412"] Jonathan[/caption]

The President said: “The substantial investments we have made in maintaining existing infrastructure and establishing new ones are under threat by the actions of terrorists, vandals and saboteurs.

“These groups and individuals deliberately and mindlessly, target our infrastructure for their own economic, political, or sadistic gains.

“In recent times, piracy, sabotage of oil and gas pipelines, maritime robbery in our coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zones, EEZ, have become major threats to our economy and environment.”

Jonathan said that with the increase use of advanced weapons, technologies and methods by these criminals, the security agencies must continue to review their strategies, to decrease response times, and increase deterrent and combative capacity.

Advocates cooperation among security agencies

He stressed the need for greater cooperation between the security agencies, adding that such cooperation would ensure timely identification of risks and potential threats to critical infrastructure and better coordination in the deployment of allied action.

He said: “The primary responsibility for the protection of our critical national assets rests on the shoulders of our security agencies.

“It is their task to take all necessary measures to secure our vital facilities by minimising their vulnerabilities and degrading the capability of terrorists, vandals and saboteurs.

“I am happy to note that our security agencies have continued to discharge this responsibility creditably and have covered much ground against hitherto unfamiliar challenges, in so short a time.

“I commend their professionalism and commitment and enjoin them to keep up the good work.“

According to him, the development of national infrastructure remains a core element of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda.

Penalties for offenders

He also called for stiffer penalties for those found culpable in the destruction or vandalism of public utilities.

He said: “There is need for heightened cooperation of other stakeholders, with the security agencies, to protect, more effectively, our critical national assets and infrastructure.

“For instance, there is need for quicker resolution of court cases and the imposition of stiffer penalties on offenders.

“We must send a clear message that, henceforth, there is a huge price to pay for the theft of resources and the destruction of critical infrastructure.“

The President called on the private sector and other stakeholders to update their internal security policies and systems and urged them to collaborate with security agencies to ensure the security of critical infrastructure under their management.

David, Tambuwal speak

Senate President, David Mark, who was represented by Chairman, Senate Committee on Intelligence, Muha-mmed Maigoro, said those saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding the nation must be held accountable for how far they have discharged their mandate.

He said those in government must first ensure the safety of all Nigerians before contributing troops to other international peace-keeping ventures.

Mark said: “We must be able to strengthen our internal security and be accountable for our roles before ensuring the security of other people outside the country.”

Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, announced that the House had been advised to move for a legislation that will fully empower the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, as the only security agency backed by law to protect national assets.

2015 Presidency: Jonathan and Anenih’s homilies

By SUFUYAN OJEIFO

THE recent celebrations of the 80th birthday of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Iyasele of Esanland, Chief Anthony Anenih, have left in their trail useful lessons across the political divides, the most important being that political leaders should eschew bitterness and embrace forgiveness, which is needed to pull all men of great influence and goodwill together to work in the interest of national security, development and unity.

That was the homily Anenih delivered on Sunday, August 4, this year, at the lunch reception held at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja, shortly after his birthday thanksgiving church service at Our Lady Queen Catholic Church, Area 3, Garki, which had in attendance former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose relationship with Anenih went awry after the 2007 “coup”, masterminded by Obasanjo, which ousted Anenih from office as Chairman of the BoT.

Obasanjo had taken over the position, from which he resigned in 2012, prompting the PDP leadership to bring back Anenih to succeed him. For about five years, there was no love lost between the two leaders. I cannot confirm if there were efforts by either of them to reach out to each other for appeasement, reconciliation and forgiveness. Such feeling of animosity is understandable within the context in which power and brinksmanship were deployed in an attempt to dismantle cherished political reputation and truncate dreams that had taken decades to build and nurture.

There is no doubt that some people may find it easy to remain calm and overlook the shenanigans of the recent past suffered in the hands of some others, but to forgive is something that is divine and perhaps very difficult to accomplish. It takes extraordinary large-heartedness bolstered by the grace of God to do so in a world of boundless malevolence. It is against this backdrop that Anenih’s act of forgiving Obasanjo for his (Anenih’s) unjustifiable hurried ouster as BoT chair in 2007 is commendable.

The Anenih forgiveness, in this instant case, comes across as very genuine. For a man whose inscrutability is reinforced by his few words, coming up to talk about forgiving Obasanjo during his short remarks, speaks so much about what the development means to him. Those who are close to him attest to the fact that he does not bear the burden of malice for too long in so much as those who offend him realise it and beg for forgiveness. He is always quick to forgive and forget. To have taken about five years to thaw the ice must be that the other side did not make genuine overtures.

But now that something had led to the other and both have put the past behind, for it is also possible that Obasanjo might have been holding something against Anenih, the “birthday boy” ensured that he preached the message of forgiveness to his audience so that those present would know that he was not preaching what he could not practise.

He, as a matter of fact, said he visited Obasanjo a few months back, in company with some members of the BoT of the PDP, at his Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta, to explore the potentials of reconciliation among members and leaders of the PDP for greater cohesion within the party and to carry critical stakeholders outside the party on board of government’s development plan.

For him to have anchored his homily on the forgiveness that has taken place between him and Obasanjo, in order to drive home the point that leaders of Nigeria, both past and present, should forgive one another and work together in the national interest, remains the strongest hint ever, amid the intriguing political interactions, that there are unlimited possibilities that leaders of the nation can drive to achieve better understandings in the flourish of nationalistic fervour. Peace and selflessness, deducing from his position, are key in this regard.

Read Anenih: “If you look round, you will know that Nigeria is here. We must forget the past and move forward. I was thrilled when I saw former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the Church today (August 4, 2013). For him to be here is to me forgiveness. I want to appeal to IBB, Abdusalami, Danjuma, Obasanjo that Nigeria needs peace. If they can give us peace and Jonathan is genuinely advised, he will move forward; if these men come together and advise Jonathan, Boko Haram will die…. Nigeria is turn-by-turn.

We should wait for our time. Jonathan is there now, it will get to another person; we should talk less. Let us put our hands behind the President. Time flies. Today he is the one, tomorrow it will be your turn.’’ This is no doubt good proposition to support Jonathan to complete his constitutionally circumscribed two terms of office, which is expected to end in 2019.

But then, there is a place for reciprocity in the socio-political mix way beyond the rigors of protocols. Reaching out at the social and political levels helps to nurture and deepen bonds as well as weaken fault lines of ethnicity, religion and other primordial considerations that tend to negatively emphasize our diversities. I must on this score commend former President Ibrahim Babangida who has devoted his post-military presidency years to touch base with friends, associates and explore new frontiers of relationships across the nation deploying the platform of social engagements.

This is a demonstrated commitment to dismantle the age-long culture of erecting barriers and fostering cleavages, which President Goodluck Jonathan spoke against in his speech at the birthday reception. To him, time has come to sidestep our primordial cleavages and begin to sing the song of unity. He showed how passionate he is to his preachment when he urged leaders of the nation to set shining examples in patriotism as Anenih has done.

In fact, he urged political leaders, stakeholders and elders to stop making provocative statements capable of dividing the country even as he underscored the need for statements that would build the nation. For him, it was unfortunate that some highly inflammable statements were coming from elders, who witnessed the Civil War. His plea that elders should sing the song of unity in this country fittingly redefined the texture and character of the event as transcending the realm of festivities to the sphere of politics.

Perhaps, the greatest tribute to have come the way of Anenih on that day was Jonathan’s description of him as a leader who has remained very relevant in the political landscape: “…To pass through one winter is a tug of war, to cross 80 is worth celebrating. 80 years of bad health is like punishment to the body. For all the period I have known Anenih, he has been very vibrant. To be relevant politically for all these years is not easy. It is not easy for a politician to stay on top for a long time.

I see something in him which is a little advice I will give to all of us. Tony Anenih has shown that he is a nationalist. He has not shown that he belongs to one tribe, or one religion. So in spite of the challenges of politics, the unpredictable political environment, he continues to stand tall.” These words must remain indelible in the minds of Anenih, his loyalists as well as acquaintances and it is hoped that the import of the words to other leaders of the nation would not be lost.

In addition, one hopes that Jonathan would genuinely seek the guidance-cum-cooperation of his predecessors and hugely commit himself to his development agenda that will transform the nation and rekindle the belief of Nigerians in our nation. He should set the example of sacrifice by leading the process of reconciliation and overtures that will soothe frayed nerves and galvanise quantum nationwide support for his administration. He has the capacity to build national consensus around critical development issues as well as nurture a common front in a determined effort to chart a trajectory to a destination of greatness for the nation. History will not forget him and posterity will judge him positively if he can now incrementally walk his talk.

Perhaps, as a starter, what lesson would appear to have been learnt and, which is now manifesting positively in the PDP is the craving for reconciliation and forgiveness as gleaned from Anenih’s homily. I see that Obasanjo has now taken up the gauntlet to intervene in the lingering stand-off between some PDP governors and the party leadership as well as the presidency. The process is on-going, even though, it has not been smooth, at all. The good thing, at least, is that parties to the conflict are now talking in formal or structured settings.

It is expected that before long, lasting peace will return to the PDP fold, especially before the 2015 election year, otherwise, the party may be forced by the opposition to come down the wire in the sets of polls that will hold. The party leaders and the presidency must act expeditiously and in good faith to put their house in order as forewarned is forearmed. If the party and the Federal Government act expeditiously and achieve positive results, historians and watchers of developments in the party should be charitable to anchor the development on the impact of the homilies by Jonathan and Anenih on the latter’s 80th birthday reception and the subsequent positive moves.

· Ojeifo, journalist/publisher, sent this piece from Abuja.

Convention shocker: PDP Splits!

By Soni Daniel, Emma Ujah and Henry Umoru

Atiku, 6 govs form faction
*Baraje, Oyinlola, Jaja lead faction
*Other national officers to emerge soon

Exactly 15 years after its formal launch, the lingering crisis in the ruling People's Democratic Party, PDP, degenerated, yesterday, when
former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and seven governors broke away, formed  a faction and named  new national officers for it.

The governors are: Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Abdulfatah Ahmed   of Kwara, and Babangida Aliyu of Niger.

The governors and their teeming supporters had earlier stormed out of the Eagle Square, venue of the PDP Special Convention, after they alleged  that the list of delegates for the election  of national officers of the party, scheduled to be conducted at the convention, and the contestants had been manipulated by the leadership to usher in their preferred candidates.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the PDP incurred the wrath of the governors when it also became clear that the party was not ready to adhere to the guidelines released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the convention and remove the impediments that led to the cancellation of the previous convention.

Agenda

The embittered governors,  some senators and House of Representatives members as well as other statutory delegates from their respective states later converged at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, where they unfolded the agenda and the names of the national officers of their faction. Some former national officers of the party made the list of new officers of the new PDP. They were, Abubakar Baraje, who was named the new National Chairman, Olagunsoye Oyinyola, National Secretary and Sam Sam Jaja, who emerged the New Deputy National Chairman of the faction.

Shortly after being proclaimed the new National Chairman of the party, Baraje said he was ready to make the PDP the party that would give adequate attention to all members and give them a level -playing field to achieve their political ambitions.

[caption id="attachment_411747" align="alignnone" width="412"] President Goodluck Jonathan addressing at 2013 PDP Special National Convention . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.[/caption]

Baraje said the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP had destroyed the core values, which the founding fathers of the PDP bequeathed to Nigeria and frustrated many key members out of the party, while those who knew nothing about the philosophy of the party were now the leading lights. He also denounced the tendency by the Tukur administration to breathe down on the neck of members, who do not do the bidding of the Presidency and its lackeys, saying that such a practice was undemocratic and retrogressive.

Baraje said, “While we have done everything humanly possible to bring to the attention of critical stakeholders within the party the dangers inherent in the course   being charted by that leadership, it has become very clear that the desperate permutations towards 2015 general elections have blinded certain people from the consequences of their actions.

Violations

“Not only has the Constitution of the party been serially violated by Alhaji Tukur and fellow travellers, but all the organs of the party have been rendered virtually ineffectual by a few people who act as though they  are above the law. “Unfortunately, it is obvious that that they get encouragement from the Presidency whose   calculations are geared towards shutting out any real or imagined opposition ahead of the party’s presidential primaries for the 2015 elections.

“As leaders of our great party, we consider it a sacred responsibility to save the PDP from the antics of a few desperadoes, who have no democratic temperament and are therefore bent on hijacking the party for selfish ends. While the list of their violations of the tenets of our great party is long, we will highlight just a few:

*The National Executive Committee of the PDP, at its belated meeting of 20 June 2013, approved 20 July2013 for the conduct of a Special National Convention. However, that date was changed to August 31 without reverting to NEC (the only authority vested with such powers) by a few people, apparently acting on the authority of the Presidency.

*Notwithstanding the fact that INEC had noted that the PDP congresses in  nine states were not properly conducted, the illegal delegates from such states are being paraded at the so-called convention being held today in a cynical attempt to circumvent the law and further bring the name of the party to disrepute

*In gross violation of the PDP constitution, which stipulates that the NEC meeting must hold at least once in a quarter, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and a few people have been running the party like a personal fiefdom without recourse to that important decision-making organ of the party.

*The NEC of the party accepted the resignation of the former members of the NWC whose offices were affected by INEC observations based principally on the agreement that the affected officers would be returned to their respective offices at the convention

*Notwithstanding INEC insistence   that Senator Andy Uba is the duly elected candidate of the party in Anambra State and against the background that he is so recognized by majority of our party members, the Bamanga Tukur-led Executives announced a purported suspension of Senator Uba and some other members close to him in defiance of subsisting court orders.

*Despite that the PDP Constitution is very clear that the state chapter of the party cannot discipline a national officer, the Deputy National       Chairman, Mr. Sam Jaja, has reportedly been dismissed by some renegades, who have hijacked the Rivers State chapter of our party with the connivance of the Bamanga Tukur leadership.

*The persistent change in the list of the party’s delegates in many states as part of a deliberate attempt to rig the party’s nomination of       candidates, especially at the Presidential and gubernatorial levels, with a view to foisting on the PDP some unpopular candidates who are bound to lose at the polls.

*The suspension without due process of the Governors of Rivers and Sokoto states even when the illegal suspension on Sokoto State Governor has been lifted, the Rivers Governor remains purportedly suspended for no just cause.

*The illegal dissolution of the Adamawa State chapter of the party is a clear abuse of power by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, thus causing confusion in his home state.

“Given the foregoing, it is very clear that the Bamanga Tukur leadership cannot guarantee for our millions of party members democracy anchored on  free choice and the rule of law. We have therefore, taken it upon ourselves to rescue the party from their inept and dictatorial leadership.

“It is indeed noteworthy that from 1999 to date, Nigerians have constantly voted the presidential candidates presented by our great party but not only does   such trust come with enormous responsibility, we recognize that we cannot continue to take the people for   granted.

From now, the new leadership of the party under us will strive to build a fairer as well as a more transparent and accountable PDP that will put the   interest of members and indeed all the people of Nigeria above that of one single individual.

“For all the members of our great party who may have become disillusioned by the anti-democratic tendencies of the Bamanga Tukur leadership, there is  a new lease of life in the horizon. It is a new dawn for the Peoples  Democratic Party.

“As we take over the leadership of the PDP, our immediate priority is to revive the culture of robust debate of all contending issues while providing a level-playing field for all our members. These were the ideals  that differentiated our party from others and endeared us to Nigerians. ‘We are not, and have never been, a political party where one man would be taking decisions for all members and where once you do not kowtow before the Presidency, you are deemed a rebel that must be crushed. That is not the PDP bequeathed to us by our founding fathers. That, I dare say, is no longer what PDP under our leadership will represent from today.”

‘Party brought down’

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, in his remarks, lamented that the PDP,   which started in 1998, had been brought down by those who knew nothing about it. “Let us see how we can reform PDP for those lofty goals to be achieved. They can never be achieved by the Presidency and the current PDP leadership,” Atiku said. “I’m sad to see this. I will, therefore, want to appeal to the rest of our members who are still sitting on the fence to join the new PDP. I want to assure you the new party will restore the fading values of the founding fathers of the party. By the grace of God and with your support the change will come.”

Experts blame quacks for avoidable deaths, seek Jonathan’s intervention

BY ADEOLA ADENUGA
President Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to use his office to eliminate quacks in the medical diagnostic laboratory sector to save millions of human lives facing the risk of death due to unprofessional practice.

In a statement issued in Lagos, the Initiative for Medical Diagnostic Awareness (IMDA) said several cases of deaths across the country are linked to amateur operators of medical laboratories that issue wrong diagnostic results to  patients.

The Executive Director of IMDA, Mr Julius Abimbola Adekoya, a medical laboratory expert and an alumni of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the Minister of Health, through the Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria, should map out strategies to shut down medical laboratories  operated by unqualified personnel. IMDA said it supports the motion of Hon Patrick Ikhariale in the House of Representatives in support of an effective diagnosis monitoring mechanism.

“Nigeria’s Primary Health Care cannot succeed without an effective diagnostic mechanism."

Thousands of people are sent to untimely deaths through wrong diagnosis. This is largely responsible for the mass movement of many Nigerians seeking medical help abroad. For an effective health policy, the Federal Government must rise up to the challenge by stemming the tide of quacks in the medical laboratory sector,” Adekoya said.

He said the sector  regulatory body has challenges, adding: President Jonathan should exert his moral authority in ensuring that the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria is allowed to work without borders. According to him,  “Regulation of education and training of medical laboratory scientist is germane these days in the country especially in the advent of many private institutions and universities offering this noble course. This can be achieved within the purview of National Universities Commission and Medical laboratory Science Council in Nigeria.”

 

2015: We'll curb overheating of polity - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan pledged Thursday in Abuja that as President of the nation and leader of its ruling political party, he will do all that is humanly possible to curb political excesses which are overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Responding to concerns expressed by a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by its president, Mr. Okey Wali, President Jonathan said that the rising political tension in the country was uncalled for.

“The political tension in the country is mainly built around the 2015 elections which should not be the case. It is quite disturbing.  The year 2015 is still far off. I expect politicians to focus on the business of governance now. We must do what we were elected to do first. We will do our best to curb the overheating of the polity,” President Jonathan told the delegation which included three former presidents of the NBA.

The President also said that he had asked for a detailed brief on the security situation in Rivers State and assured the delegation that all necessary action will be taken to ensure adherence to the rule of law in the state and the maintenance of law and order.

Addressing other issues raised by the delegation, President Jonathan said that his administration was implementing the right policies, programmes and projects to accelerate economic development and boost employment in the country.

He called for a little more patience from Nigerians saying that the results of the present administration’s efforts in areas such as power supply will become even more apparent in due course.

President Jonathan also assured the NBA that his administration will do all that it could towards the positive reformation and strengthening of Nigeria’s judicial system, including the resolution of issues related to increased funding for the judiciary.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the progressive reformation of Nigeria’s electoral processes to guarantee that all votes cast in elections truly count and that elections in the country are accepted by all objective stakeholders as free, fair and credible.

President Jonathan urged the NBA and other professional associations in the country to find ways of interacting with government on a regular basis, saying that the associations are established not to antagonize government, but to contribute to national growth and development.

He accepted the NBA’s invitation to open the association’s Annual  General  Conference at Tinapa, Cross River State next month, promising to personally honour the invitation if his official schedule so permits.

In its address to the President delivered by Mr. Wali, the NBA conveyed its views on the state of the national economy, national security, the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, the anti-corruption crusade, elections and the electoral process as well as the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution.

Jonathan Honours Sydney Olympic gold medallists with N5M each

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday honoured the Nigerian 4x400m men relay team that won gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

The team only recently got its gold medal after Olympic organisers stripped the former winners, USA, of the gold medal.
Each of the six team members, led by late Sunday Bada, got N5 million while their two coaches got N7 million each.
All of them are also to get National Honours soon, the president promised.

[caption id="attachment_405602" align="alignnone" width="412"] President Goodluck Jonathan (centre) with the 4x4 Men's Relay Team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney[/caption]

The reward comes 13 years after Nigeria’s participation in the Sydney Olympics in Australia.
The team members include late Bada, represented by his wife; Clement Chukwu; Jude Monye; Fidelis Gadzama; Aniefiok Udobong; and Nduka Nwanze.

Bada’s wife was full of tears throughout the short ceremony.
Their handlers, that got the N7 million each, are Innocent Egbunike and Solomon Abari.

The team had initially won the Silver medal in the Olympic Games, behind the U.S. The medal was recently upgraded to Gold by the International Olympics Committee after the United States team was stripped of the Gold medal following doping charges.

A member of the U.S. team, late Antonio Pettigrew, had confessed to having taken performance enhancing drugs at the time of the games.

Jonathan ‘ll surprise critics in 2015 —Rep

WARRI—A House of Representatives member, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, weekend said that President Goodluck Jonathan will surprise his critics in 2015, accusing the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, of  playing politics of regional sentiment.

He said that the criticisms of Jonathan’s policy and programmes by NEF and its associates were borne out of the fact that the President  was from South South geo-political zone of the country.

Mutu represented by Mr. David Ekereokosu, a former commissioner for Oil and Gas in Delta State at the  Excellence Award presented to him by National Union of Izon-Ebe Students, NUIS, Warri chapter of Delta State University,  said it was naive for certain groups and individuals to feel that it was their birthright to rule Nigeria.

Meanwhile, he called on NUIS, the South South region and Nigerians in general not be deceived by power drunk individuals, noting that the current pace of work on the East-West Road, the award of the Lagos –Ibadan expressway  were a clear indication that Mr. President meant well for the entire country.

Secret Meetings With OBJ : Jonathan, 4 northern govs play hide and seek

*Ex-leader is my father – President
*'He's the most accomplished Nigerian alive'

BY DAUD OLATUNJI,ABEOKUTA

President Goodluck Jonathan and four northern governors, yesterday, engaged in a dramatic hide and seek game of politics in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, where they did not only hold separate secret meetings with former President Olusegun Obasanjo but also avoided  one another.

The drama began when  Jonathan  paid an  unscheduled visit to his estranged godfather  in his mansion on Osoba Hilltop, Abeokuta, after the four northern  governors had arrived Abeokuta but, reportedly, hid in an undisclosed location  apparently to avoid the President.

[caption id="attachment_125522" align="alignnone" width="400"] File photo: Obasanjo and President Jonathan, putting heads together during a PDP convention.[/caption]

There has been no love lost between Jonathan and some  northern governors  who have been clamouring that the presidency should revert to the North in 2015 to compensate for the death of former President  Umaru Musa Yar 'Adua mid-way to his tenure in 2010 .

The President, who was on his way from Togo, arrived Abeokuta at  11:52am  and, reportedly,  ordered  some members of his advance party to proceed to the house of his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, while he  drove into Obasanjo’s  expanse compound where he immediately  held a closed-door meeting with the  former Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for  about one and a half hours.

Sunday  Vanguard  gathered that  Jonathan  was originally billed to visit Abati in his private house at  Asero
Estate  in  Abeokuta to commiserate with him over the death of  his  mother, Madam Maria Taiwo Abati, who was buried  on Friday before  he  decided to see  Obasanjo.

It was learnt  that the quartet of the PDP northern governors - Murtala Nyako(Adamawa State), Alhaji. Sule Lamido(Jigawa State), Alhaji  Aliu Wammako (Sokoto State) and Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano State)- were to meet with Obasanjo at about the same time but decided to delay their arrival in the former President's residence by stopping at an undisclosed location in Abeokuta ostensibly to avoid meeting Jonathan.

The governors arrived Obasanjo's compound minutes after Jonathan left the place around 1:25pm.
Jonathan's mission to Obasanjo's  home was unknown ,but  a source said it may not be unconnected with his purported 2015 re–election bid  which the former President is reportedly opposing.

It is widely believed  that  Lamido is being subtly supported  by the former President as the person  to fly the PDP presidential ticket in the next general elections in a bid to return power to the North.

It was not also immediately known why the four northern governors visited Obasanjo  and the content of the secret  meeting ,  but  when they emerged about an hour later, Nyako told reporters that they were in Abeokuta for "consultation" with the former President on "very important matters."

Nyako  said, "We have come to greet the most accomplished Nigerian ever and would remain so for a very long time and to consult with him on very important matters."

Meanwhile, Jonathan  arrived  Abati’s house  at  1: 43 pm, and went into a closed-door meeting with the family and later addressed newsmen on what took him to Abeokuta.

[caption id="attachment_405028" align="alignnone" width="412"] President Jonathan during his condolence visit to the Abatis in Abeokuta, yesterday.[/caption]

When asked  about  his mission to Obasanjo’s house, the President said: “Of course, you know that Reuben’s house and Obasanjo’s house are just  about 10 minutes drive to each other. It would not be proper if I’m coming to Ogun State to see Reuben who is just at Obasanjo’s backyard and I would not  stop over to greet him (Obasanjo).

“ Even if he hears that, they would think that  I, as Obasanjo’s son, and my father (as he is)probably have some
differences. So, I said that before coming to greet the family, let us stop over and greet Obasanjo and we did that. We stopped over there.

“Even our helicopters are there in the Government House, we drove down here,” Jonathan said.
In his remarks on the death of Abati’s mother, the President said, “The death of Madam Maria Taiwo Abati touches all of us and we must collectively play our role. Since we were unable to be here for the church  programme, we said
that this morning we have to be here”.

The President continued: “We must come and greet our brothers and sisters to express our condolence and to encourage the family. Those of us who are Christians, the Bible says that we are supposed to live three scores and 10. So any number of years above that three scores and 10 is a blessing.

“ So, for her to have lived to that ripe age, her departure should be celebrated and not mourned. So, our being here is to encourage them and to reassure the family that we are together and we’ll continue to be together”.

Addressing  newsmen after Jonathan left  his house, Abati disclosed that he did not expect the President to come in person following his financial assistance towards his mother's  funeral  ceremony.

Rivers crisis: Perspectives beyond warring factions

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI
Penultimate Tuesday’s life threatening mace attack on Michael Chinda by a colleague at the Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) which heralded the current crisis in Rivers State is still on the front burner of public debate.

While that violent episode of the fractured Rivers Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) saga is still simmering, this week recorded fresh episodes in the diary of the crisis, coincidentally on another Tuesday.

[caption id="attachment_399663" align="alignnone" width="412"] Patience, Amaechi and Jonathan[/caption]

Four Northern governors on a solidarity visit to Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Port Harcourt were allegedly waylaid and stoned by placard-carrying youths, and their welcome party was not left out of the melee which occurred at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

As with penultimate Tuesday’s chaos, the reported stoning of the governors fuelled another round of accusations and counter-accusations by both warring factions and their supporters. The visiting Northern governors, including Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Babangida Aliyu of Niger and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, after a closed-door meeting with Amaechi, issued a statement accusing the police of “partisanship in the show of shame at the RVHA.”

The governors, who did not make much noise over the alleged stoning at the airport, however, joined calls for the redeployment of Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu from Rivers State to the extent of threatening to “reconsider our position on financial contribution by states towards funding of the Nigeria Police.”

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Ibim Semenitari who witnessed all the fuss at the airport, said “what happened was worrisome. Amaechi waited for all his colleagues. They were not held hostage. The bus carrying the commissioners was damaged and some other vehicles smashed by the protesters.”

Expectedly,Nyesom Wike’s faction in the crisis, reacting through Felix Obuah, the state PDP Chairman, denied that the protesters were mobilised on the platform of Wike’s political interest group, Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI). Obuah concluded that the protesters were Rivers people, expressing disappointment at the Amaechi government.“You should understand that the visitors who have failed to deal with the menace of Boko Haram up North have no substance to add to resolving the Rivers crisis and could only have come to heat up the polity.”

Layman’s perspective

Beyond the hard lines by both warring factions, the Rivers populace hardly classified the raging saga as right or wrong when Saturday Vanguard measured the street conscience on the crisis in the State Capital.

Celestine Akpobari of Social Action believes “the PDP is confused. It is no question of one party being a saint and the other a villain. Nyesom Wike is part of Amaechi and both of them are products of Odili.

Wike professed he was the Commander-in-Chief and took responsibility for the good, the bad and ugly that trailed the Amaechi struggle while he muscled himself into power. It does not benefit the ordinary man on the street if the relationship has suddenly gone awry between the two.

“The other way to look at it is that the wife of the President, Patience Jonathan who is from Okrika, wants to produce the next governor of the state and no governor, particularly Amaechi, would allow that in the way we do politics in Nigeria.

And the President thinks Amaechi’s 2015 ambition stands in the way of his own 2015 interests. The worry for Rivers indigenes is that if PDP members want to kill one another, they are very free to do so. But they should not allow it swallow the businesses and social lives of the people. Already, people are worried.”

Like Akpobari, Frank Anwusonye of the Nigerian Democratic Awareness Forum said “I don’t side anybody. What is happening is a welcome development to the extent that it exposes the slavery Rivers people have been under, given the lawless and imperious posturing of its leaders.

The PDP has a culture of vindictiveness and lawlessness. While they were united, the warring factions had enjoyed taming the institutions and resources of government to repress the opposition and critical populace. Pitted against themselves, they are finding it difficult having business as usual.

“I give you a glaring instance of the slavery we have been through. The ruling PDP in Rivers is so zealous in sustaining a 100% PDP state from the local government to state level to the extent that in Oyigbo, an All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) councillor-elect has been subdued from occupying the office after winning the council election in 2011, including two emanating re-runs against the PDP opponent in the first quarter of this year.

“In the last re-run, the state Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) issued Sunny Williams, the APGA candidate, a return certificate. No electoral law denies the councillor-elect the occupation of the office - even in the face of repeated litigations by the PDP opponent. He must exercise his mandate until a court proves him unfit.

“So the stage was set recently in May  for him to be sworn in. With impunity, the Oyigbo Council boss, Felic Uche Uwaeke, invited expectant Sunny Williams with his supporters to the council hall, only to tell them he could not swear the councillor-elect in because PDP stakeholders were contesting his third successive election victory in court.

Like the Amaechi faction is pointing fingers at President Jonathan for instigating the crisis in Rivers, Sunny Williams is convinced the governor has a hand in his denied mandate which may well elapse without anyone occupying the office. This is what we have been faced with in the PDP-controlled Rivers State.”

Ifeke Imoh, an engineer said, “Much has been said about government institutions, particularly the police compromising their role in the matter. This is a political crisis. Who isn’t compromising on the issue really? Who is not partisan?

The National Assembly is partisan.Tambuwal is an ally of Amaechi, so Reps spontaneously took over the Rivers Assembly. I read about a Rivers Senator cheering the Lower House on its position. But Mark is the President’s confidant so the Senate preferred restraint. I wonder why the cheering Senator didn’t see any oddity in his Senate’s restraint.

“Politicians think they reserve the liberty to be partisan. Granted, they are fighting a self-serving political war, but they are fighting as government, as political office-holders using government resources. As government, they are not supposed to do so. Government is for the Rivers people and not for PDP politicians.

“Last time I checked, the police remains a federal organ. In Nigeria, the police don’t settle political quarrels. Politicians just fight and resolve on self-determined political solutions. Joseph Mbu didn’t bring himself here. He reports to authority.

So, he is just playing along. There is nothing to suggest a new Police Commissioner will not be partisan if Mbu is removed. Mbu is just a symptom of the ailment. Removing him does not cure the disease when the President is an interested party.”

Measuring consequences

The Rivers people are not divided as to whether the raging crisis is unsettling the state socially and economically. All who spoke noted  apprehension is already high enough to depress commerce and investments in the state.

Akpobari, for one, projected that “with the involvement of thugs and cults gradually gaining momentum, the situation stands to degenerate. The minute the politicians mobilise the cults to fight for their interests in the crisis, we are back to the dark days in Rivers.”

Beyond what the common man fears for Rivers over the crisis, even Governor Amaechi has admitted the situation is distracting him from running the wheel of government  properly.

“Look at what we want to do in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. We have plans for phase II of the school. I met them (those in charge of driving it), and they say they are  still working on the modalities.

But you know me, I would have since pushed them and the contract would have been on. I am not able to do that now because of the crisis in the state,” a disenchanted Amaechi told a forum of development stakeholders in Port Harcourt.

The way out

Akpobari proffered: “The PDP should begin to think about development and the people and leave 2015  to decide for itself. They should take advantage of the prime offices they have rigged themselves into and show responsibility.

“They are all opportunists. Jonathan was in Abuja for the PDP Convention towards 2007 to vote for Odili over whoever wanted to be President. He was not in contention, but he became Vice President and now President.

“Amaechi did not contest for election. He ran to Ghana, leaving Wike to do all the dirty jobs. He returned to be Governor. Each one of them should leave 2015 for now and deliver genuine governance to the people.”

Forty hours after four governors visited Amaechi in Port Harcourt to affirm their support and call for Mbu’s removal, five more governors and three deputy governors from eight states paid a similar visit to the embattled Rivers helmsman on Thursday.

The Governors include: Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Abiola Ajumobi (Oyo), Ibinkunle Amosun (Ogun) and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti; while the governors of Taraba, Zamfara and Imo States were represented by their deputies.

On their departure, Thursday’s visiting governors appealed to their host to find the courage to approach President Jonathan and present his case towards resolving the crisis.

Governor Fayemi who led remarks for the visitors at about 1.35pm at the Government House, Port Harcourt, noted that “we have come to see our colleague, the Chairman of the Governors’Forum, in solidarity over the situation in the state.

“We are supposed to be in Abuja for a National Executive Council meeting, but we have come not because we consider our responsibilities in Abuja less important, but because we owe it a duty to be involved in seeing that a critical issue at hand in one of the states needs to be resolved in the interest of our country.

“What is happening here is not just about Rivers state. It is something that has implications for all of us, for our entire country. We have met and spoken with the governor and collectively advised him to see that he goes to Abuja to brief the President on what is happening here.

“We believe in him. We hope he would take our advice and that it is expedient he meets the President to present his case.

“ We also know the President is well meaning. He is our President. We are all the President’s men; we are all the President’s governors. We are also saying that he ensures nobody uses  him as subterfuge  to create chaos or destabilise the state.

“We are very sure the problem we have here is avoidable. We trust he can be on top of the situation. And we know the governor here is in touch with the people, and by meeting with the President, he can resolve the issue.”

On the role of the police, Governor Fayemi said, “We equally believe the Inspector General of Police should help in restoring the image and confidence of the police in the governor and the Rivers people, taking all the necessary steps it would take to do so.”

Meanwhile, a Port Harcourt-based media consultant, Chukwuemeka Eze, believes much progress could be made if leading Christian leaders intervene.

Eze said: “Even as I congratulate Pastor Ayodele Oritsejafor on his well deserved re-election as CAN President, let me appeal to him to intervene and find a way out of  this madness in Rivers State, seeing that the two political leaders (Jonathan and Amaechi) have much respect for him and may listen to him as other pleas in this regard seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

“Also, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, needs to intervene   in this matter as the present face-off between the two is already threatening Nigeria’ s democracy. Hence, these respected men of God should not watch from the sidelines.”

Anwusonye said, “The ball is still in the governor’s court. The President’s hand may be in the crisis, but the governor remains the commander of the once united house  now crumbling. The President will not come to Rivers to throw stones and break a lawmaker’s head with a mace. If the Rivers people say “no” in one voice to the President and his wife, there won’t be any crisis.

“The governor should be less vindictive against those who helped him to the height he is currently enjoying. Most of the people around him enjoying the political offices today weren’t in the picture fighting to enthrone  him. When he cowed the State Assembly to sack the entire elected cabinet of Obia/Akpor Council including all 17 councillors over Wike’s dethronement of his state party Exco, he didn’t appeal to the sensibility of the ordinary man.”

Ogoni advances  ethnic tone to crisis

Advancing an ethnic tone to the crisis, Akpobari, who doubles as Coordinator of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum, contended that the entire situation is being orchestrated to deny Ogoniland the governorship in 2015.

“Check the history of the state since the creation of Rivers. An Ogoni has never been governor, never been deputy. We have not been Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly, ever. But we have sacrificed so much, losing lives and natural resources while contributing so much and gaining so little in the bargain.

“2015 is the set time we have resolved, and other zones must appreciate it, to take the reins of power in Rivers. Now, we have Amaechi and the ruling PDP trying to throw spanners in the works. And Wike is saying there is no more zoning. Ogonis think this crisis is a conspiracy to deny us the governorship. We are monitoring the situation. MOSOP is on top of it and nothing shall by any means stop us from producing the governor.

Chinda’s attack sways police, public impression of chaos in Assembly

When news of five lawmakers allegedly mobilising thugs to the Assembly chambers to fight 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers and impeach Speaker Otelemaba Amachree first broke, much of the  public sympathy fell for the majority lawmakers. This position was further boosted by early video footage of the fracas which zeroed in on the initial aggression put up by acclaimed new Speaker, Evans Bipi, who was said to have started the brawl with a fisticuff against the House Leader, Chidi Lloyd.

But that position changed spontaneously for most residents and watchers when more videos of the crisis, particularly that of Lloyd’s vicious mace attack on Chinda Michael of  Obia Akpor II, also went viral. At present, the unlucky lawmaker is having critical health problems and has been allegedly flown abroad for medical attention.

Appraising the dreadful scene, Akpobari said Chinda should be prosecuted because “what he did was animalistic. No human being should exhibit such cruelty towards a fellow human, no matter the level of provocation. If the victim dies, the story will turn more tragic. “

Akpobari spoke hours before the Police, through the state Police Public Relations Officer, Angela Agaba, declared the suspected attacker wanted for “a case of conspiracy, attempted murder, wounding and wilful damage.”

Expressing his disgust at the conduct of the lawmaker who is still at large, Engr. Imoh queried: “Is this the manner of evil the government is accusing Mbu of not aiding and abetting? The media has been awash with claims that the anti-Amaechi Five brought thugs to fight lawmakers at the chambers.

“I don’t support five aiming to impeach a Speaker, but there has not been any report of any of the thugs laying a finger on a lawmaker, let alone shooting the governor. It was shocking for  a leader of the Hallowed Chamber to club a fellow lawmaker with a mace. Mbu might have compromised, but the warring factions are the ones in the habit of playing into his hands. Rivers thugs are thus far more decent and law abiding than some honourable members.”

 

2015: Only Nigerians, not ACF can stop Jonathan

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN— Former Edo State representative on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, yesterday, said that only Nigerians can stop President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting for a second term and not Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF.

Iduoriyekemwen, who also ran for the governorship primaries of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2012 in Edo State, said it would be unfair to judge the President’s performance with just two years in office.



He added that those accusing the President of not performing were those no longer benefitting from a corrupt system.

He accused the North of sponsoring Boko Haram so as to distract President Jonathan and also denied that the Presidency had anything to do Rivers State political crisis.

The PDP chieftain said: “The war is between the political gladiators in Rivers State and not the presidency. They are fighting for their selfish interests and people should stop accusing the President of involvement.

“I honestly believe that Mr. President is a focused person. He knows what he is doing.
“I feel that majority of Nigerians appreciate the efforts Jonathan is making to turn things around.”

Jonathan holds bilateral talks with Chinese President

BY BEN AGANDE

ABUJA—President Goodluck Jonathan will today meet with President Xi Jinping of China where the two leaders are expected to hold bilateral talks on how to boost relations between both countries.

President Jonathan, who is on a five-day official visit to China, arrived in Beijing at about 17.30hours (local time) yesterday, and his visit is expected to be climaxed with the signing of several new agreements to boost bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China in defence, finance, trade, agriculture and communications.

[caption id="attachment_402980" align="alignnone" width="412"] From left President Goodluck Jonathan; First lady, Dame Patince Jonathan being received by the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister, Mr Le Yucheng on the arrival of the president to Beijin International Airport China for state visit on Tuesday (9/7/13)[/caption]

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, noted that President Jonathan, who was accompanied on the visit by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, was received in Beijing by China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Li Yucheng, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Alhaji Aminu Wali.

At the conclusion of the signing ceremony, President Jonathan and the First Lady will attend a state banquet to be given in their honour by President Jinping and his spouse.”

'Why Northern monarchs won't back Jonathan's re-election bid in 2015'

BY SONI DANIEL

AS the nation prepares for the next general election, a strong indication emerged yesterday that some key northern traditional rulers, who spearheaded the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, are not ready to back his re-election in 2015.

The anger of the monarchs, Vanguard gathered, stems from what they see as a spirited attempt by the Presidency to deny an agreement President Jonathan allegedly reached with them before they gave their nod to his election in 2011.

[caption id="attachment_268819" align="alignnone" width="412"] File: President Goodluck Jonathan closely followed by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the State House.[/caption]

A northern governor, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, pointed out that there was an unwritten understanding between the President and  northern monarchs that he would not stay in office beyond 2015, if given the support to complete late former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure and run for a term of four years.

The governor said it was wrong for those, who did not know what took place between the president and North to begin to whip up political sentiments, insisting that what transpired was a gentleman’s agreement that must be respected.

The governor said it was the unwritten undertaking reached between the North and Jonathan in 2011 that the Sultan of Sokoto made a veiled reference to at a meeting of Islamic scholars in Abuja last week.

The Sultan had said the North gave Jonathan a blueprint to work on and that they would evaluate implementation of same to decide on the way forward.

Kano politician, Dr. Junaid Muhammed, said Jonathan’s attempt to deny the deal he reached with the North was the basis for the renewed anger in the region.

Muhammed said: “That agreement is the basis of the anger against the President and they can no longer trust him. If an agreement with northern governors is not respected, what of the one the President had with the emirs and other leaders of the area that he would do a single term and return power to the North?

"It is left to Jonathan to show statesmanship and respect the deal before during and after his election because it is dangerous to disagree with emirs in the North.”

Niger State governor, Dr. Aliyu Babangida, was the first to accuse President Jonathan of trying to breach the agreement he reached with northern governors in 2011 to do a single term of four years, thereby setting the stage for a bitter confrontation with the President and his hordes of supporters, particularly his kinsmen from Ijaw ethnic nationality.

Some Niger Delta militants and youth leaders had threatened to cause mayhem should Jonathan be prevented from doing a second term.

Although they were cautioned by the National Assembly, an attempt to open investigation into the statement, which many saw as treasonable, met with serious resistance from the youth leaders who threatened further actions against the lawmakers.

There has been no word again on the matter from the legislature.