Jonathan’s Facebook Page Attacked For Not Fulfilling Promise

Hundreds of facebook users have besieged President Goodluck Jonathan’s facebook page asking him the reason he broke his promise to release funds to clean up poisonous Lead in Zamfara State.

On Thursday, two rights groups, Human Rights Watch and the Nigerian Youth Climate Action Network, NYCAN, called on the public to prevail on Mr. Jonathan to release the said funds.
“Unless the promised funds are released immediately, cleanup of the contaminated areas won’t be able to start until after next year’s rainy season, leaving thousands more children at risk of death and permanent disability,” said Babatunde Olugboji of Human Rights Watch.
Over 400 children have died from the lead poisoning, according to Mr. Olugboji, and thousands more are in dire need of medical attention.
The rights groups said that government’s failure to release the promised funds has left thousands of children with lifelong disability in the worst lead poisoning outbreak in recent history.
After the groups’ request on Thursday, hundreds of comments telling Mr. Jonathan that ” Children are dying and your government’s failure to act is putting more children at risk” surfaced on his page.
In his last facebook post, Mr. Jonathan’s had pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with his “transformation agenda.”
“Last year, you entrusted me with your mandate by voting for me to emerge as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I continue to hold that mandate in trust for you and future generations of Nigeria.
“Over the past year, this administration has been working on fulfilling the promises I made to you during the campaigns. Many of those promises will take time to come to fruition…,” Mr. Jonathan wrote on his November 1 post.
The comments on the Zamfara lead poisoning were put under Mr. Jonathan’s last post.
“I know you’ve got a lot of difficult tasks to tackle in the next year, but the Zamfara cleanup is one that has a proven solution and you have the funds to solve it. Respect your citizens by cleaning up toxins,” read one comment on his post by Elyse Leonard.
Another post by M Ahmet Nermin read “#Lead poisoning in Zamfara State, Nigeria, killed 400+ children and left thousands more with permanent life-long disability. In May, President Goodluck Jonathan pledged $4,000,000 to clean up the lead contamination. Today, that money is nowhere to be found, and thousands of children remain at risk of death and disability. #childrights.”
InformationNigeria.org

Uba, Maduka N20 billion Probe Stalled by Okonjo-Iwe​ala’s Absence

Uba at National Assembly, yesterday

Investigations into the N20 billion fuel subsidy dispute between the Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, Mr. Cosmas Maduka failed to hold yesterday following unforeseen circumstances.
The investigation been carried out by the house of representative was stalled for two reasons, according to the House Committee on Public Petitions, Mr. Uzo Azubuike, one,  the absence of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The absence of the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede was the second reason coupled with pending law suits in court over the matter.
At the onset of the proceeding, the counsel representing Coscharis Motors, owned by Maduka, Mr. Osita Mbamalu informed the committee that the matter was already in court.
It however took the committee about 10 minutes to settle on the submission of Mbamalu, after which the postponement of the hearing was announced by Azubuike.
He said, “We are standing down the hearing for today; we are adjourning the hearing to Thursday next week.
“We want Coscharis and Access Bank to furnish us with court processes on the matter on or before Tuesday next week.”
Nevertheless, Uba who walk out on the session, told journalists that he would make sure that he was paid his money.
He said, “I will not contest the resolution of the House that we should come back next week Thursday; I have to comply with that. However, it is important to let Nigerians know that at this moment, our workforce is outside.
“We believe there is a grand conspiracy to strangle us, which started over 10 months ago. Since December last year, our payments have been stalled.
“With regards to verifications and unending investigations by the House Committee, we have been cleared by the House of Representatives; we were also cleared by the CBN.
“We were also cleared by the same Aig-Imokhuede on July 21; when they published 21 companies, our name was not there.
“Surprisingly, three weeks after July 21, our names came out with about 16 infractions.”
BusinessNews

BREAKING NEWS:Kidnaped Edo Businessman (Uyi Technical) is dead?

UNCONFIRMED -----News  just REACHED us  that Edo businessman a generator merchant and hotelier, Uyi Oloton (popularly called Uyi Technical)Who was abducted last week friday has been found dead. 

 

We cant really give you details about how he was killed for now .. but trust us when we gather more information be sure to hear it from us first.

OtedoNews

 

EDO STATE GOVT. SEALS OFF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION/RADIO

Edo State Government said it sealed off the premises of the Independent Television/Radio (ITV/Radio) in the state because of outstanding tax liabilities to the tune of over N12 million.

In a statement signed by Courage Eboigbe,Head Media, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, the agency said: “based on a subsisting court order, the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue sealed off the business premises of Independent Television/Radio (ITV/Radio) this morning for failure to pay accumulated tax to Edo State Government from 2005 to 2010.
“The outstanding tax liabilities of ITV/Radio to Edo State Government amount to N12,882,596.43.

“Indeed, all well-meaning residents of Edo State appreciate the concerted efforts of the Adams Oshiomhole administration to rebuild the state. As a matter of policy, the administration has deployed enormous resources to build social infrastructure with a view to creating more enabling environment for businesses to thrive. It is only reasonable that corporate citizens assist the government by fulfilling their tax obligations to sustain the progress.
“To be sure, the Board wishes to reassure the public that it will continue to enforce the tax law without fear or favor.

“At some point in the past, the Board had had cause to seal off NTA, NDDC, PHCN, UBTH, NPDC, Union Bank, First Bank, Mainstreet Bank among others. These corporate citizens have since settled their liabilities to the state government and are operating freely in the state.”

via: EdoPoliticalForum(EPF)

Mikel Obi signs new 5-year contract with Chelsea

Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has penned a new deal with Chelsea, that will see him stay at Stamford Bridge till 2017.
An official club statement read: “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce John Mikel Obi has signed a new five-year contract which will keep him at the club until 2017.
“The midfielder has been a first-team regular since arriving as a 19-year-old in the summer of 2006.
“Mikel made his debut that August, and has gone on to make 261 appearances, 213 as a starter. In that time he has scored twice.”
The 25-year-old expressed his delight, at extending his stay at the London club.
“Chelsea seems like my home now because I have been here for over six years and I enjoy my time here. I come into the training ground every day to work and I value my time there. I am happy and want to keep going and win trophies for this club.
“I have basically won everything with Chelsea and those years have been really special for me, winning trophies with big names like Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard who have had very long Chelsea careers.
“Last season to win the Champions League was even more special, and I hope these next five years will bring even more success and I can win trophies with the new players we have here.
“Being 25 I think I am now hitting my peak but as a player you want to improve every day and there is still room for that. I want to learn from the players and the manager and I just want to keep going.”
Obi was voted the the club’s Young Player of the Year award in his first season. He has won four FA Cup medals, one Barclays Premier League, a Carling Cup and the Champions League trophy, during his six-year spell at the club.
DailyPost

Nigeria Is 35th Most Corrupt In The World, Says Transparency International 2012 Report

President Goodluck Jonathan

By Abdulrahman Abdulmalik

Transparency International says Nigeria, under President Goodluck Jonathan, remains highly corrupt.
Nigeria remained rooted to the bottom of the global corruption ranking Wednesday as global corruption watchdog, Transparency  International, rated it the 35th most corrupt country in the world.
In a report released at 6 a.m. Wednesday,  Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks to clinch the 139th position out of the 176 countries surveyed for the report. It shared that position with Azerbaijan, Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan. Countries such as Togo, Mali, Niger and Benin fared better than Nigeria.
Nigeria placed 143rd in the 2011 ranking, making it the 37th most corrupt country. It is difficult to say Nigeria has improved in the ranking this year because 182, six more than this year’s, were ranked in 2011.
This year’s index ranks 176 countries/territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, TI explained in the report.
The index draws on 13 surveys covering expert assessments and surveys of businesspeople.
The Corruption Perceptions Index is the leading indicator of public sector corruption, offering a yearly snapshot of the relative degree of the corruption problem by ranking countries from all over the globe.
Nigeria’s woeful performance in this year’s survey is not entirely surprising.
Since assuming office in 2010, President Jonathan has not shown vigour in the fight against corruption – including corruption involving past and current actors in his administration.
The tipping point in the president’s profile, regarding reluctance in promoting transparency, came when, in televised media chat in June, he scoffed at a question on why he had not publicly declared his asset. On live television, the president snapped “I don’t give a damn!”
The petroleum minister, Diezani Madueke, a close ally of the president, has heaps of established corruption allegations against her, but none has been investigated by Mr. Jonathan’s administration; while she still remains in office as one of the favorite ministers.
In August 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan secretly ordered the payment of $155 million to Malabu oil, a firm owned by an ex-convict and former petroleum minister, Dan Etete. Not only was the payment done without the knowledge of the Finance Minister, as revealed by PREMIUM TIMES, Malabu transferred the money into dubious accounts including that owned by a man with links to Mr. Jonathan. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have agreed to investigate the Malabu scandal.
Ranging from the monumental fuel subsidy scam to the massive corruption uncovered in pension administration to the scams at the Security and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Nigeria stinks with graft. Government officials, including some of Mr. Jonathan’s favourite appointees have been named in the brazen theft of public funds.
Two members of the President’s cabinet, Godsday Orubebe and Stella Oduah, illegally registered an NGO, Neighbour to Neighbour, on whose board they sit, and which they then used in campaigning for the President’s election; in contravention of CAC registration guidelines and the CAMA Act. The presidency has kept mum on this.
There have been several cases of visitors to the Presidential Villa offered huge sums of money after their visits. The Save Nigeria Group was offered $30 thousand, and the Northern elders N20 million; both groups rejected the cash gifts given to them by the presidency.
There are also piles of corruption cases involving government officials, politicians and ‘friends of the government’ that have been lingering for years while perpetrators roam free.
Yet, in his Independence Day anniversary speech to Nigerians, President Jonathan claimed his administration had made substantial gains in the fight against corruption, saying TI had endorsed and praised his administration’s war against corruption.
Transparency International promptly replied, disowning Mr. Jonathan and saying it had no such report.
TI described this year’s report as an indication that “corruption is a major threat facing humanity. Corruption destroys lives and communities, and undermines countries and institutions. It generates popular anger that threatens to further destabilise societies and exacerbate violent conflicts.”
The organization added, “Corruption translates into human suffering, with poor families being extorted for bribes to see doctors or to get access to clean drinking water. It leads to failure in the delivery of basic services like education or healthcare. It derails the building of essential infrastructure, as corrupt leaders skim funds.
“Governments need to integrate anti-corruption actions into all aspects of decision-making. They must prioritise better rules on lobbying and political financing, make public spending and contracting more transparent, and make public bodies more accountable.”
Saharareporters

“Attack Obasanjo and lose your job” – Jonathan warns aides against insulting ex-president

Following the ongoing war of words between the camp of President Goodluck Jonathan and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, the president has cautioned his aides against attacking the former head of states through the media.
Jonathan warned that anyone found guilty stands the chance of losing his job.
It was gathered that the order came following the intervention of some big wigs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, urging Mr. President to call his aides to order.
A reliable source, who pleaded anonymity, said some members of the ruling party feel that the ongoing verbal war between the duo is not good for the image of the largest party in Africa.
The source said, “The party informed the President that the members of the opposition could capitalise on the disagreement to cause a major friction between the two leaders of the party.
“The President has directed his aides not to speak either directly or indirectly on anything that is injurious to the former President on any issue. This is because some leaders of the PDP have advised him not to take on the former President in a fight.
“Apart from the political implication of such, we also believe that it could heat up the polity and cause tension in both the party and the polity.
“Moreover, the party has seen that the opposition is already trying to make gains from the fight and that will not be a good thing either for the two leaders or our party.
“The President respects Obasanjo. He will not do anything that will widen the gap between them. I am sure that the disagreement will be settled.
“Besides, there are no plans by the President to witch-hunt Obasanjo with any probe.”
Also, a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP told some selected newsmen recently that the party was worried over the rising bitterness between the two top members of the party.
Obasanjo served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP until April this year when he voluntarily resigned his appointment.
He recently said that Jonathan might be a weak leader because of his inability to bring the security challenges facing the nation under control.
Obasanjo said he directed the security agencies to bring out the militants who killed some security men in Odi, Rivers State, during his tenure as President.
In his reaction, Jonathan told Obasanjo that the invasion of Odi during Obasanjo’s tenure did not solve the problem.
The president added that rather innocent people were killed as the security operatives could not kill the militants suspected be behind the killing of the security men.
DailyPost