RANCOUR IN ONDO PDP OVER MIMIKO

All is not well within the fold of the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party following the return of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the party.Mimiko was formally received back to the PDP fold at the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday by its national leaders, confirming a perennial speculation that he would be joining the party.The Publicity Secretary, Wale Ozogor, told our correspondent that some party loyalists feared they might lose all their investments in the party, having signified interest to run for various offices.He said, "It appears while we are willing to negotiate, the leaders of the party are trying to negotiate out some people, that is what we are against."He also noted that the party's constitution recognized the tenure of the officials and Mimiko's return should not annul the arrangement.According to him, officials of the party are ready for negotiation, hoping that Mimiko, as a mature politician, would be fair by allowing the executive members to run their tenure at all levels.Our correspondent however gathered that some notable members were threatening to dumpthe party for the rival All Progressives Congress.A top official of the party who would not want to be named said party members who felt theywould no longer be able to actualise their political ambition with the coming of Mimiko were already thinking of alternative platforms to pursue their ambitions."Some feel they have toiled hard and we're looking forward to the election, but that could be swept away with Mimiko coming in with his men who also have political ambitions. I must tell you the truth, that is the reality," he said.The Deputy Chairman of the party, Fatai Adams, told journalists on Friday that he and members of the state executive committee were prepared to protect the interest of members who had contributed to building the party."However, the state working committee having met in Abuja, have resolved that there is a need to protect the structure of the party at the state, local government and ward levels. We have filed an injunction in the FCT High Court to protect this structure."This is because the primaries are a month away and a lot of aspirants have indicated their interest to contest under this umbrella. We are fully prepared to protect the interest of all members who have labored and spent their resources to make the party to become the beautiful bride today."We are not ready to surrender the structures of this party to anybody, because we were elected and we are prepared to ensure the success of this party," he said.The Director of Publicity, Ayodele Fadaka, raised the issue of the party's Constitution which states that elected officers of the party at state, local government and ward levels were to run for a particular tenure.But the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, in his comment on the development, noted that the standoff was unnecessary as Mimiko, as the leader of the party would be fair to all the members of the party.He however noted that changes were inevitable as Mimiko would be leading a horde of political office holders to the PDP, adding that it was home coming for the governor."The governor is the leader of the party in the state. He will certainly ensure that the interest of everybody is protected," he said.

CULLED FROM PUNCH

EID EL-KABIR: 600 RAMS,COWS STOEN IN ZAMFARA

Armed bandits stormed Billashe village in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and carted away about 600 rams and cows, Daily Trust gathered.
Residents of the village said the incident occurred in the night, lamenting that the situation will prevent many of them from slaughtering rams during the Eid-el-Kabir festival.  
Earlier in the week, the Divisional Police Officer attached to the local government and a suspected cattle rustler escaped lynching by a mob in Nassarawa Godel village, when the former attempted to rescue the latter from being killed by youths.
Resident of a village neighbouring Billashe, Ibrahim Aliyu, said the bandits carried out a house-to-house operation.
He added that some residents went after the bandits and recovered their animals.
He added: “You know Eid el-Kabir is approaching and it is a tradition for families in rural Zamfara to rear rams and other domestic animals for sacrifice and sale, but the bandits have disrupted the plans by their action. Some residents of the village fled the area for safety and I accommodated two of them in my house.”
The spokesman of the police command Lawan Abdullahi, confirmed the incident, adding that they were working with the military to recover the stolen animals. He said cattle rustling is persisting in the area because of its difficult terrain. He said most of the villages are inaccessible due to bad roads and poor telephone networks.  
He, however, added that between June and August this year, the command in collaboration with the military was able to recover 2,219 stolen cows

Culled from Daily Trust

Pilot of Missing Airforce Jet Beheaded by Boko Haram

Boko Haram beheads pilot of ‘missing’ airforce jet
A new Boko Haram video shows the beheading of a man identified as the pilot of a missing Nigerian Air Force jet and burnt out parts of a plane — the first indication that the Islamic extremist group has the capability to bring down aircraft.

It also allegedly features Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, a man the military has claimed to have killed last year. Two weeks ago, the military said they had killed in battle a Shekau lookalike who had posed in the group’s videos.

“Here I am, alive and I will remain alive until the day Allah takes away my breath,” the man says in the Hausa language. “Even if you kill me … it will not stop us imposing Islamic rule … We are still in our Islamic state, reigning and teaching the Koran.”

The United States still has a $7m ransom on Shekau’s head, despite the death claims.

The video was made available to The Associated Press through the same channels used previously and seems to show the same man claiming to be Shekau.

In the latest video, he says they are prosecuting in accordance with Shariah law in areas under their control. Examples of punishments are shown, including the stoning to death of a man apparently accused of adultery; the amputation of the hand of a young man accused of theft; the lashings of a man and what appears to be a girl covered in the hijab.

The video ends with a show of burnt out plane parts in rugged bush.

Two pilots and an Alpha jet have been missing since September 11 when it left Yola, Adamawa State, on a bombing mission against Boko Haram.

The video shows a kneeling man in a camouflage vest with his right hand in a sling, with a fighter hovering over him with an axe, which is later used in the beheading.

Speaking in English, the victim identifies himself as a Wing Commander in the Nigerian Air Force and says he was undertaking a mission in Kauri area of Borno State on September 11.

“We were shot down and our aircraft crashed,” he says, appearing to keep his composure throughout the ordeal. “To this day, I don’t know the whereabouts of my second pilot.”

Shekau claims in the video to have brought down 10 military aircraft.

The Defense Headquarters has denied speculation that Boko Haram brought down a helicopter gunship that crashed in August. The pilot died, two crew members survived.

82 Foreigners Arrested in Jos, Plateau State

The Special Task Force (STF) in Jos, Plateau State, yesterday said it apprehended 82 foreigners, mostly of Cameroonian, Nigerien and Chadian origins within Rikkos community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The STF Media and Information Officer, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, said the suspects were arrested within Rikkos community which has been under surveillance due to the high number of foreigners there.
Captain Iweha said: “We did not just wake up and went about arresting people; the area has been under surveillance for a long time. It should have been a joint operation with the Nigerian Immigration Service but there were contending issues so we had to move swiftly.”
He said the 82 suspect were in the custody of the STF and will remain with them until operatives of the Immigration Service come for them. However, Babangida Musa, whose relative, Umar Ahmad, was arrested, said the suspect is a Nigerian from Kaduna State, but residing in Jos.  
“He is just 21 years and has a provision shop in Rikkos, he was arrested after he had closed from his shop and was sleeping at home,” he said.
He called on law enforcement agents to release any of the suspects found to be a citizen of the country.

Woman sells her son’s baby for N350,000 in Imo State

According to Sun News, Mrs. Tina Iwuji, a 52 year old mother from Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Imo State has been arrested by the Imo state police command for allegedly selling the two weeks old baby of her son's girlfriend.

Mrs Iwuji son, Emeka had impregnated his Lagos girlfriend, Esther Godwin, a native of Ndoki, Delta State and then decided to send her to his mother without telling his mum that he owned the pregnancy and also instructed Esther not to open up to his mother that he was the who got her pregnant.

Mrs Iwuji accepted Emeka's request and allowed Esther move into her house in January 2014. Esther eventually gave birth, and just two weeks later, Mrs Iwuji sold the baby for N350,000 not knowing she was selling her own grand daughter Continue...



Mrs Iwuji told Sun "It was my son Emeka Iwuji who brought Esther as a friend not a wife from Lagos to my home in Mbaise, Imo State. I asked Esther who was responsible for her pregnancy and she said it was not my son. I asked her what was her mission and whether her mother was aware that she came to Mbaise but she said no. She came to the house on January 7, 2014" she said

Esther gave birth on April 11th to a baby girl at Hope Clinic and Maternity, Mbaise and on hearing that she had given birth, Emeka asked his mum to facilitate means of selling the baby and the proceed given to Esther for her to use to further her education.

Mrs Iwuji then began mounting pressure on Esther and not too long a nurse, Eunice Eze, who is in the baby sale syndicate came into the picture and she contacted another lady, Patricia Njoku who then identified a willing buyer, Mrs Benardine Abara who needed a girl to compliment her three sons.

Even with all the contacts made, Esther was still not game to sell her child. Seeing that the young lady would not give-in, Mrs Iwuji connived with her brother to take Esther somewhere where her child was forcefully taken away from her and handed to Eunice who then sold it to Mrs Abara for N350,000.

Distraught Esther then went to the Mbaise police station to report the case and all the parties except Emeka have been arrested. It was at the station that Mrs Iwuji got to know that the baby she had been bargaining to sell all along was her own grandchild.

A shocked Mrs Iwuji said" “It was when I was arrested with the other people that Esther confessed that my son Emeka was responsible for her preg­nancy. I was shocked.”she said

Imo State Police Commissioner, Mr Abdulmajid says they would all soon be charged to court.

Business Man – D’banj’s Release ”Koko Garri”

There is no slowing down for D’banj as the music star is set to release his Koko Garri Brand to local supermarket soon.

 

The koko master took to his Instagram page to share his new product which is the first from his Koko Holdings Company. “Finally here after 5 yrs. I can proudly say #KokoGarri is the first product of Koko Holdings, thanks to God.” he captioned the image.

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85,000 jobs coming in Dangote Refinery

The proposed $9 billion Dangote Refinery in Lagos is expected to create 85,000 jobs for skilled and unskilled workers
Despite having three refineries, Nigeria still finds it difficult to meet the domestic needs for petrol and other products. The refineries with an installed capacity to process 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) are not working at optimum capacity.
Against this background, the proposed $9 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company in Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), Lagos, is expected to help refine products to bridge the gap in local needs, conserve foreign exchange and create jobs.
The Dangote Group of Companies is promising to train over 8,000 engineers to run the refinery. It says on completion, the project will create no fewer than 85,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Since it is a complex business, it is expected to open up other jobs in construction, management, engineering, and administrative duties.
These jobs can be broken into pure engineering and journeyman.
Engineering refers to disciplines requiring formal education. In the journeyman category, workers do not usually need a degree. They begin as a trainee and work their way up to a site supervisor that oversees a project.
Journeymen are contractors hired by construction companies which are for contracted by refineries construction-related projects, such as repairs and major turnarounds.
Other available job openings are oil refinery foreman, refinery general foreman, and oil refinery site supervisor.
Welders, electricians, tilers, aluminium doors/windows fitters, building and construction workers will also not be left out. There are other workers who maintain the refinery and do the work that is required to keep the refinery running.
These positions can include maintenance personnel, cooks and catering staff, truck and heavy equipment drivers, mechanics and other. Gardeners and sweepers will also be needed to keep the refinery surroundings as clean as possible.
A top official of LFTZ who will not want his name in print, said the zone has been split into an oil and gas logistic park, light and heavy industrial and manufacturing section, media centre and urban residential section.
The official added that for the zone to be developed quickly, as expected by the initiator, calls are being made for the development of a meaningful partnership, to build a modern international airport and sea –port, that will serve the zone, and become the aviation and maritime hub of the sub-region.
It was also gathered that real estate companies would be given a role to play in the development of the zone. The LFTZ will showcase opportunities for private companies in the oil and gas manufacturing, food processing, hospitality and leisure sectors, banking and financial service sector would be expected to develop a 21st century financial centre at the zone.
According to President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Nigeria spends about $30 billion yearly on importation of petroleum products, promising that when the project is finally completed, it will transform the country from being a net importer of petroleum products to a net exporter of the products. Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel, Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) and other by-products of petroelum refining such as poly-propylene and fertiliser will be in adequate supply.
Speaking on the Project, the General Secretary, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Issa Aremu, said with a projected daily production output of 400,000 barrels, the same capacity of the four government-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, operating at less than 30 per cent of installed capacities, the bold initiative by the Dangote Group is a giant stride in re-industrialising Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.
He said the project will create employment opportunities for many Nigerians and set the country on the pedestal of industrialisation.
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) agrees that the proposed refinery/petro-chemical and fertiliser complex is a huge job generating venture. The workers have called on other private investors, including the multinational oil companies to borrow a leaf from Dangote Group by establishing refineries in the country to create jobs and save the huge foreign exchange dissipated yearly on fuel importation.
The oil workers recalled that years back, the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave licences to about 18 indigenous firms to refine crude oil, lamenting that about a decade after, none of them has being able build the a refinery plant.

Troops in offensive, capture masterminds of blasts

The masterminds of Saturday’s twin blasts in Bintu Sugar Ngamari area of Maiduguri, Borno State, which left over 35 persons dead and others wounded, have been arrested.
A statement by the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, in Abuja, signed by its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, also confirmed the killing of several insurgents and the destruction of newly identified terrorists’ bases in Borno State during air assaults.
General Olukolade said that the suspects were already helping in the ongoing investigation on the incident.
“The air operations to clear terrorists bases sited in Daggu and Yazza areas of Borno State during the weekend have registered the expected results in the ongoing campaign against terror.
“The mopping up operation by ground forces after air assault has confirmed the death of several terrorists located in the bases.
“Civilians had earlier been evacuated from the vicinity of the identified terrorist enclaves in line with operation orders before the air and land assaults.
“Extensive cordon and search of the entire locality is ongoing with a view to apprehending the wounded and other members of the terrorists group who might still be trying to flee.
“Also yesterday, troops in pursuit of those who carried out attack in Buni Yadi last week had fierce encounter with the terrorists around Mainok and other locations between Apa and Abulum in Borno State.
“The air and land operations that ensued recorded the death of some terrorists. Soldiers also died in the encounters.
“Meanwhile, suspects who are believed to have been responsible for detonating the bomb that exploded at Bintu Sugar Ngamari area of Maiduguri yesterday (Saturday),killing many citizens and wounding several others have been arrested and are helping in the ongoing investigation on the incident.
“Patrols are continuing on land and air in the entire mission area in North East towards apprehending or eliminating the rampaging terrorists in the area,” the DHQ said.
General Olukolade further said that the campaign coordination cell had in its report, dismissed as untrue, the claims that civilians were mistakenly killed in the air operations in some parts of the mission area, as the claim could not be confirmed after the mopping up aspect of the operation.
He said the reports were believed to be part of the design by those bent on discrediting the counter terrorists’ mission.
“Defence Headquarters has reaffirmed its directive that necessary care should continue to always be taken to ensure safety of innocent Nigerians in the operational areas, notwithstanding the fierceness of the encounters,” he said.

Welcome to Ify's Blog: Kanu Nwankwo Undergoes Heart Surgery Again

Welcome to Ify's Blog: Kanu Nwankwo Undergoes Heart Surgery Again: Nigerian football star and founder of Kanu Heart Foundation, KHF, Nwankwo Kanu (OON, MON, UNICEF Ambassador) during the weekend underwent...

OPEN LETTER TO NIGERIAN LEADERS

OPEN LETTER TO NIGERIAN LEADERS by David King (a satirical poem)


1. Dear Nigerian Leaders,
this is a candid letter to all of you whom we have either voted for or have been forced on us by the leaders we elected.

2. Whatever title you might be carrying, be it President, Vice President, Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Governor, Deputy Governor, Minister, Commissioner, Ambassador, High Commissioner, SA, PA or whatever, please see to it that we don't all die off before we the youth of Nigeria start enjoying the dividends of democracy.
3. I have chosen this medium to address you because we are in the era of open letters, e.g. open letter from Obasanjo to Jonathan, open letter from Iyabo Obasanjo to Olusegun Obasanjo, open letter from Chief Edwin Clarke to Chief Obasanjo, etc, etc.
4. Since the advent of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 and even since before then, you people have been referring to we the youth as the leaders of tomorrow, but up till now na siddon look we still dey do while you people are recycling yourselves in different positions.
5. How can we explain that the youth leaders of the various political parties at one time or the other were above the age of 60. The UN defines a youth as “a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to adulthood’s independence and awareness. It can be based for instance on the definition given in the African Youth Charter where “youth” means “every person between the ages of 15 and 35 years”. So why are 60-year-olds being named as Youth Leaders in Nigeria? Yeye wan begin dey smell abi? God dey sha!
6. Hey, Oga Leader, why is it that our teachers are poorly paid but our leaders are handsomely remunerated? Primary school teachers are frolicking with abject poverty and wallowing in stupendous penury while their products are stinking rich. Haba Oga Leader, please try a little more for our teachers na. Do you want our teachers to turn to petty trading and neglect the pupils? Al of them will become like Akpors. Don't let our University and polytechnic lecturers embark on needless strikes that will set the educational development of our students back. Ok just check out this, many female students who returned to school after the last ASUU strike came back with pregnancies. Some of the boys decided to abandon school and learn a trade. Some died. Many got married. And many have even forgoteen what they had learned before the strike. Hia!
7. Dearest Nigerian Leaders, when you were campaigning you promised us heaven and earth. You promised free education, free water, free housing, free wives and free husbands, etc. But soon after you are elected you will make Abuja or your state capital your permanent home. You will change your sim cards and hire many personal assistants to keep people away from you. Its not fair oo. Some of you will go to the National Assembly and be shouting nay and aye without making any meaning contributing throughout the four years. Some will be buying bulletproof cars and marrying new wives.
8. I know some of you are seriously trying, but that is not enough.
9. We the youth of this country believe seriously in you and some of us even go out of way to ensure you win your elections, but time after time we are disappointed by your actions immediately you are sworn in. It is always the youth that are killed in election violence. It is the youth that are used to conduct the election. It is the youth that are used by the politicians to ensure victory at all cost. But at the end of the day the youth will be effectively left out when the spoils of the office are being shared. Haba!
10. The Holy Book tells us to pray for our leaders and we have been praying ever since but the situation is still standing kamkpe, no shaking. The rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer.
11. Oga Leader, we the youth cannot even marry confidently anymore because our future wives have been spoiled by the money of these so-called big men. How will my future wife respect me when I'm buying her recharge cards while one big aristo is buying her iPhone and Blackberry handsets. I will buy her weave-on and he will open saloon for her. I will give her money for keke NAPEP and he will buy her tear-nylon brand new car. I will offer to take her to the nearby mama-put and he will give her return ticket to Dubai for shopping. Chai!
12. Dear Leaders, I know that insurgencies and incessant industrial actions by various trade unions are seriously acting as stumbling blocks to you and your plans for my dear Nigeria, but at least let us see your effort and we will appreciate it even if it is not adequate.
13. Fix electricity for us and we will gainfully employ ourselves because we know the government cannot fully employ all of us. Our girls will go into hairdressing, tailoring, and other ventures while our boys will go in barbing, graphic designing, music, and so on, but there must be light, if not, we will keep using all our profits to buy fuel to power our I-pass-my-neighbor generators, and at the end of the day we will only be working for the importers and retailers of petrol.
14. If there is stable electricity, we will use our talents to feed ourselves instead of craving to join the military, police and paramilitary agencies. The rate at which all the youth of this country are joining the paramilitary these days, everyone in this country will soon be wearing one uniform or the other. But many of them are not joining because they like the paramilitary, its just because there's nothing else to do to earn a decent living.
15. The only activities that are helping the youth escape poverty now are music, comedy and football. If not, how will Okocha, Kanu, Mikel, Martins, Keshi, Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, and others have escaped poverty? Psquare, Ice Prince, Basket Mouth, Gandoki, Kafee and people like Wande Coal escaped poverty through music, comedy and dance. I know that they sometimes pass immoral messages in their music but unfortunately that is what people are willing to pay for. The government is doing enough to develop football but not much is being done for the entertainment industry.
16. Because of these developments, people that have two left legs now want to play football. People with croaky frog voices are singing, dry people are cracking drab jokes, and every unemployed youth wants to become a deejay. They said afterall all you need is a laptop and virtual dj software, and you can download the latest songs from the web, grow dreadlocks on your head and you have become a DJ. But we can't blame them because everyone has declared war on poverty.
17. My dear Leaders, our roads are bad, and instead of the authorities to concentrate on rehabilitating the roads, the road safety people are keenly interested in introducing new number plates.
18. Instead of strengthening the Police Force, new paramilitary agencies are springing up, instead of us to pray for our leaders, we are cursing them, instead of condemning corruption, we are celebrating them, instead of educating our children, we are sending them out to hawk on the streets, instead of our young ladies to dress, they are undressing in the name of fashion. Everything is just turning up side down.
19. Oga Leader, even parents and we the youth have our own faults. Parents are charging exorbitant fees as bride price, and the girls are getting older and giving birth in their fathers' houses. Boys are now getting married thinking they are men, forgetting that marriage is about maturity and not about age. Mothers are pushing their daughters to flirt with celebrities, to get pregnant for them, and to force them into marriage. That's why the likes of Peter of Psquare, and their oga at the top, 2face all have children out of wedlock.
20. Once upon a time in Nigeria, bankers were held in very high esteem, but these days bankers cannot dare to do shakara because they can be sacked at any time and their employers will blame it on government's economic policies.
21. Leader oh Leader, we cannot do without you and you cannot do without us. We are partners in this project. Give us the basic necessities of life and we will continue to support and pray for you as the Holy Book has instructed us to do.
22. My dear Government, give us light, good roads, transparent elections, equal opportunities, adequate security, force the reduction of bride price, ensure that bail is free in police stations, punish whoever tries to bribe a policeman, soldier or public official. Make it illegal for people to decamp from PDP to APC and then from APC to PDP again and again, be very careful about people you give national awards to, pay your workers reasonable minimum wage, pay your policemen and soldiers well so that they won't be tempted to demand bribe.
23. Mr. President, tell your State Governors to look inward and generate more revenue from their domains instead of depending heavily on Federal Allocations, screen your Ministerial candidates properly to avoid appointing political jobbers as Ministers.
24. Mr. Governor, when you are contesting for office, choose your friend as your running mate to avoid fighting with him in future. Appoint Commissioners based on merit instead of doing political compensation. Don't appoint too many Special Advisers and other aides, they will just swell your wage bill without any productivity. Take care of your residents and civil servants and don't tell people to ''Go and die''. And it is not necessary for you to contest for Senate after your 8 years. Also, avoid forcing your candidate on the people when your tenures elapse. Let the people choose their own leader. Let Godfatherism die a natural death.
25. Mr. Senator, Legislator, Honorable, or who ma sef, election is not a do or die affair. Stop switching the peoples' loyalty from their Governor to yourself. Make laws that will benefit your people instead of sitting in the National Assembly to shout aye and nay without knowing the facts of the matter. Your sitting allowance is not just for sitting, it is for meaningful contributions.
26. Mr. Local Government Chairman and Mr. Councillor, use the money allocated to you to better the living conditions of the people in your locality. It is not compulsory for you to marry more wives or acquire more concubines, or buy more houses and cars with the people's money.
27. My dear fellow youths, make hay while the sun still shines. Marry a friend and stop looking for a designer wife or husband. Work hard now that you are still young and still have abundant energy. Stop yahoo yahoo. Stop praying for your father to die so that you can claim the inheritance. Struggle for your own. Ladies, dress decently and stop making married men to break their wedding vows. Stop carrying plots of land on your head in the name of Brazilian hair, you will break your neck, use that money to start a business. Guys, if any sugar mummy toasts you, tell her that you respect your mother and won't sleep with her mate. Young ladies stop this longer throat and accept what your boyfriend can afford instead of sleeping with your father's secondary school principals because they have nothing but a few coins to lose, but you can lose your pride, your virginity, and even your life.
28. I know my letter is not up to 18 pages as is the standard, but I just had to get this off my mind. He who has eyes, let him read and do.
29. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria and long live the Nigerian Youth.
Signed
David King

President Jonathan asked CBN Governor Sanuni Lamido Sanusi to resign.

 
That is according to a report by Thisday. Find it below...

President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to resign immediately on the grounds that the letter Sanusi wrote to him on the unremitted $49.8 billion oil revenue to the Federation Account, was leaked to former President Olusegun Obasanjo by the CBN governor.

But Sanusi who has denied leaking the letter to anyone, has refused to resign and informed the president during the heated telephone exchange that he could only be removed by two-thirds of the Senate as required by law.

THISDAY learnt that the president had called Sanusi and accused him of leaking the letter to Obasanjo, which enabled the latter to use it as one of many allegations he levelled against Jonathan in his letter titled: “Before It is Too Late”.

The president, who a source in the presidency said was very angry and was not prepared to allow Sanusi to proceed on his terminal leave in March, asked him to tender his resignation before the close of business last Tuesday.

However, Sanusi denied that he had leaked his letter to Obasanjo and made it abundantly clear he would not be forced out, except he is removed by two-thirds of the Senate.

He also told the president that the letter was available in the presidential villa, available in the finance ministry and available in the central bank and wondered how he (Sanusi) could have leaked the letter, which was so widely available, to a former two-term president of Nigeria who has his people all over the place.

Sanusi also expressed his surprise to the president that he was the one being asked to resign instead of the president to ask those responsible for the non-remittance of the funds to resign.

His response, which threw the president aback, degenerated into a heated exchange during which Sanusi told the president that as the federal government’s Chief Economic Adviser, mandatorily required to bring issues of critical economic importance to the attention of the president, he had done a patriotic duty to his country.

“He informed the president that it is necessary to deal with the issues and not the letter that had been leaked since it has since been established that it was not $49.8 billion that had not been remitted to the Federation Account, but $10.8 billion, which was still in dispute and by any stretch of imagination was still a large sum.

“Sanusi felt he was being forced out for doing his patriotic duty to his country by drawing attention to the unaccounted funds. He only has two months to go, so this was a ploy to force him out and destroy his career and reputation.

“He knew this and for this reason, refused to throw in the towel as requested by the president,” a source familiar with the conversation said.

But the president was said to have remained adamant and insisted on the CBN governor’s resignation.

Following the exchange, Sanusi, another source said, briefed his close aides at the CBN and family of what had transpired between himself and the president.
The source said he did it to shield himself from harm, as he felt his life might be in danger for defying the direct order of the president.

When contacted Wednesday on the issue, the president’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, did not pick up or return THISDAY’s calls and text messages.

Also, efforts to get Sanusi and the CBN to speak on the matter met a brick wall.

Sanusi had written to the president in September informing him that, among other issues, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had not remitted $49.8 billion of oil revenue to the Federation Account over a 19-month period.

Although the letter was not made public until December 4, 2013 when it was leaked, Obasanjo referred to it in his letter dated December 2, 2013, to the president, in which the former president also accused Jonathan of being clannish, destroying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), compiling a political watch-list of 1,000 people and training snipers to target opponents of the administration, among other allegations.

The president had since denied all of Obasanjo's claims in his rebuttal of the former president's letter.
Expectedly, Sanusi’s letter drew the ire of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which called on the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the president.

In addition, the Senate directed its Committee on Finance to probe the contents of Sanusi’s letter.

However, Sanusi’s letter was immediately denied by NNPC, which accused the CBN governor of not only playing politics but also of being ignorant of the operations of the oil and gas sector.

Following NNPC’s repeated denials, a joint press conference was convened by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and Sanusi, during which it was revealed that a reconciliation process was ongoing, and had so far established that it was not $49.8 billion that had not been repatriated to the Federation Account but $10.8 billion.

During the press conference, however, Sanusi attempted to distance himself from the statements made by Okonjo-Iweala and Alison-Madueke, stating that it was $12 billion that had not been remitted by NNPC.

But the finance minister immediately interjected, insisting that it was $10.8 billion that had not been remitted to the Federation Account and was still in dispute.

But it is not clear what would now happen to the CBN governor who has already indicated that he will leave office in March on a three-month terminal leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure in June.

He had earlier written to the president last year that he would not be seeking a second term.

Clearly the Jonathan presidency must be feeling uncomfortable with Sanusi's remaining five months in office in this political season.

As at last night, efforts were being made to reconcile the president and the CBN governor and create an orderly transition at the apex bank so as not to harm growing confidence in the Nigerian economy.

Old National Anthem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyXxbSVES28&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Police arrest Rivers state lawmaker Hon.Chidi Lloyd, over alleged murder.

   
Hon. Chidi Lloyd, the Rivers State lawmaker who was arrested for hitting his colleague with a mace during the mayhem at Rivers State Assembly in July 2013, is in trouble again.

The River State Police Command has arrested him for the alleged murder of 2 people, one Kingsley Ejeuo and police sergeant Urang Obadiah.

In a statement issued by the Rivers State police, Chidi Lloyd is accused of knocking down and killing the police sergeant while pursuing Kingsley Ejeuo who he also killed. The statement below...

“The Rivers State Police Command has arrested Hon. Chidi Llyod of the Rivers State House of Assembly for murder of police Sgt. Urang Obediah and Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo, his kinsman and arch political opponent. He was arrested on his way to join Governor Amaechi Rotimi in his private jet at the Airforce Base to escape justice.

“Hon. Chidi Lloyd on December 30, 2013 while pursing his political opponent, knocked down Sgt. Urang Obadiah, in spite of his effort to stop him, rammed and killed him and went ahead to crush the Passat car of Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo was driving and killed him.

“Initially the Police thought that it was a mere accident, which ought to have been a manslaughter. The Commissioner of Police directed ACP Aliyu Garba, the Area Commander Metro, to visit him in his hospital bed and commiserate with him, conscious of what he did, Chidi Lloyd relocated to another hospital.

“Facts emerged that Chidi Lloyd drove a bullet-proof vehicle while pursuing his political opponent, late Mr Kingsley Ejeuo, and he (Lloyd) knocked down Sgt. Urang Obediah, who died on the spot and (Lloyd) moved ahead to smash a political opponent in his Passat car who equally died instantly."

The police command also claimed in the statement that Chidi Lloyd escaped from the hospital where he was being guarded by four policemen. He is currently in police custody.

SEASON OF LETTER PART 3 (ASARI DOKUBO VERSION)

02 January 2014
Olusegun Obasanjo
Balogun of Owu
Obansajo Farms,
Ota,
Ogun State.
RE: BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE (RE:
OBASANJO’S LETTER TO PRESIDENT
GOODLUCK JONATHAN)
Ordinarily, I would not want to dignify you with a reply to your ill-conceived letter, as that has a way of oiling your elbow or prop your self- importance – provoking your well-known self-
will.
I have also delayed my reply for one reason- to perfectly gauge public opinion on your latest onslaught against President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan – President of a country full of mind-boggling contradictions that you’ve always, falsely regarded as your personal creation.
At least that’s the spirit behind your insolence, impudence and make-believe that point to the fact that you’re above national censure, ideological / ethical direction and control.
Finally, I have had to reply you because of the nature of my past encounters with you – encounters that I feel should convey my deepest sense of grief, as it relates to your recent gaffes, shocking errors and dwindling self-esteem.
It is a common knowledge that if not for the imperious nature of Nigeria and the monumental fraud that attended its creation, caused primarily by the 1914 Lugadian error, it would’ve been very difficult for the likes of you to stand before me, talk less address me as a leader.
This is so as my royal pedigree, as an Amachree and as an Omubo with dignified accoutrements would’ve denied you such leverage.
In comparison to your nebulous background, I doubt what your shadowy pedigree is, what you’ve always avoided in all your discourses, and which you’ve deliberately shrouded in obscurity.
Because if indeed your pedigree is anything significant in the Owu quarter of Egbaland, many like me would’ve long known it, or deduced it from your puffy, inestimable swan-songs that reinstate your pride and vaulting ego.
Nobody has ever attested or verified the history of your background. The background of a man is important because it is what depicts his social standing and sense of history. Many even doubt if you are a true Yoruba man.
With such strings of doubtful pedigree attached to your person and with a history of dreadful perversities that is attached to your memory – this is as your characteristic way of life- defeats customary belief, ground norms and persuasions.
I wish to state that but for history and posterity, my grandmother Princess Okukuba W.D.Goodhead scion of the great King Amachree, royal lineage of the Kalabari state, in the Ijaw heartland, taught me the need to clear all false accusation or charges that are designed to malign and mislead others, whenever they are hatched by depraved trouble-makers like you. Connected to this is
the need not to allow any cowardly abuse or insult to go unanswered, especially when mischievously made by the lowest of the lowest amongst rascal folks, to whose rank you belong.
Sometimes I find it hard to believe that you once led this country.
I find this very enlightening that you seem to provide the true reason why this false entity called Nigeria; have had unending, mysterious and tragic incidences ever since you were thrown up to direct the affairs of this geographical area called Nigeria- striving vigorously to dictate her down-ward push, down the edge of a vaulting, irredeemable precipice.
Your negative influence over Nigeria seems to define and redefine this fraud-state called Nigeria that has since her creation, done more harm than good to those entrapped in it.
In other to educate you on my background, I am Mujahid Dokubo-Asari; was born Melford Dokubo Goodhead( Jnr) to an aristocratic family in Kalabari. I am the son of my father,
Hon Justice Melford Dokubo Goodhead (Snr) a descendant of a long line of jurists, inventors, scholars, statesmen and successful business men. Because of my outstanding background and seeming feat of personal success, I’ve repeatedly shunned the toga of false, foreign and dubious praise-singers that you crave in your bid to get every attention from all quarters. I don’t seek to be venerated by men or pursue inordinate hero-worship from perceived lackeys – what you’ve lived for and pursue with zeal. Therefore I remain who I am – Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, Alabo Edi Abali of Kalabari – a great scion of the King Amachree dynasty.
http://dailypost.com.ng/2014/01/03/open-letter-asari-dokubo-replies-obasanjo-full-text/