Patience Jonathan To Light First Ever National Christmas Tree In Abuja

The first ever National Christmas Tree is to be lit tomorrow in Abuja, the nation’s capital by the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

The initiative which was berthed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), is aimed at showcasing Nigerian culture to the world.
A statement issued by the special adviser on media and publicity to the minister of state for FCT, Oluyinka Akintunde, disclosed that the Christmas tree, which is 20.9 metres high, is located at the Unity Fountain Park beside Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja and designed in the national colours of green and white.
It reads, “The Christmas time is traditionally recognised and celebrated as a season of peace, goodwill and hope across national boundaries. It also offers us a unique opportunity to reinforce this same message of love, unity, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.
“It is consequently our anticipation that an annual lighting of the Nigerian National Christmas tree will play a similar unifying role for our people,” Akinjide added.
Prominent Nigerians expected to grace the epoch making ceremony, according to the statement, are, members of the National Assembly, wives of governors, members of the Federal Executive Council, chairmen of Area Councils in the FCT and their wives, heads of ministries, departments and agencies of government, heads of secretariats, departments and agencies of the FCT administration, diplomatic corps and the media, among others.
InformationNigeria.org

Jonathan’s agents carried out two bombings – Okah insists “Diezani called me 20 times to be made minister” • Allegations are false in their entirety – Presidency

 by Emeka Madunagu and Olalekan Adetayo

Henry Okah and President Goodluck Jonathan

Detained leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Mr. Henry Okah, has insisted that President Goodluck Jonathan’s agents sponsored the March 15, 2010 and October 1, 2010 bombings in Warri and Abuja respectively for political considerations.

Okah made the allegation in a 194-paragraph affidavit deposed to in the South Gauteng High court in Johannesburg, South Africa in Case No: A570/10.

The allegations first came to light in an interview Okah granted Arabic satellite television, Aljazeera, in October 2010, weeks after the blast. In the interview, he blamed the attacks on Jonathan’s aides and claimed he was arrested for refusing to influence MEND, to retract its claim of responsibility.

Since then, Okah has been denied bail at least twice, with one at the South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, where he is filing a new application for bail based on “new facts.”

The sworn affidavit was expected to be filed at the court between Tuesday and Wednesday as part of his renewed bid to secure bail, after spending more than one year in a South African jail.

His trial is set to start on October 1, 2012, exactly two years after a devastating blast that occurred less than a kilometre from the Eagle Square in Abuja, where Jonathan was attending Nigeria’s 50th anniversary.

He said the March 2010 car bomb blast (which he said occurred on March 14, 2010) at the Government House Annex, Warri, where South-South governors were attending an amnesty meeting, was intended to pave the way for the removal of Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and his replacement by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe.

“It is my belief that President Goodluck Jonathan’s government working with a faction of MEND planned and executed the bombings of 14 March 2010 and 1 October 2010.

“The purpose of the 14 March 2010 bombing in my opinion was to create an atmosphere of insecurity in Niger Delta where President Goodluck Jonathan at that time, was fighting to oust the governor Mr. Emmanuel Uduaghan whom President Goodluck Jonathan intended to replace with his Minister for Niger Delta, Mr Godsday Orubebe,” Okah said in the affidavit.

On the Independence Day bombing, which claimed 10 lives, Okah said it was meant to sway public opinion against the North and some of its leaders who were planning to run against Jonathan in the April 2011 presidential election.

Okah has been held at the Johannesburg Prison since October 2, 2010, and is currently standing trial for alleged involvement in the October 1 bomb attack.

He alleged that Jonathan was upset when MEND claimed responsibility for the October 1 attack, against a plan to blame it on Northern elements.

He stated, “The bombings of 1 October 2010 were also intended by President Goodluck Jonathan government to create anti-North sentiments nationwide in order to galvanize support from other sections of Nigeria against other Northern candidates in the Presidential election.

“Under the arrangement, MEND, I believe, was not to claim responsibility for the bombings which the Nigerian government hoped to pin on General Babangida and other Northern elements. The claim of responsibility by the central group for a bombing, possibly carried out by a faction of MEND, punctured the plans of President Goodluck Jonathan to round up his opposition and hold them in custody until after the elections.”

He claimed to have come under pressure from some of Jonathan’s aides to get MEND to retract its claim of responsibility for the bombing, recalling that his “refusal to cooperate in this scheme resulted in President Goodluck Jonathan placing a call to President Jacob Zuma during the evening of 1 October 2010, requesting President Zuma’s personal assistance in securing my arrest. My noncooperation was interpreted by President Goodluck Jonathan as support for the Northern politicians.

“The South African Government’s direct interference was responsible for securing search and arrest warrants against me.”

Okah also claimed to have influenced Jonathan’s appointment of Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke as minister of petroleum resources, at the prompting of a Jonathan aide. He alleged that between April 4 and 5, 2010, he received approximately 20 calls from Alison-Madueke, asking him to “put in a good word for her” with Jonathan to consider her for the position.

He also countered evidence and public statements by the SSS detailing his alleged involvement in the October 1 blast. Okah provided telephone numbers used by Jonathan’s aides and Alison-Madueke in reaching him.

The Presidency has, however, described Okah’s allegations as “false.”

In a statement by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Presidency said the allegations were without any factual foundation and promised that government would full representation in court once the trial commenced fully.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to reports in the media of allegations made against President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in an affidavit said to have been sworn to by Mr. Henry Okah, who is facing trial in South Africa for his involvement in terrorist acts against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Presidency categorically affirms that these allegations are false in their entirety and without any factual foundation.

“As the case of Mr. Okah’s involvement in the plotting and execution of terrorist attacks in Nigeria is already before a court of competent jurisdiction in South Africa, the Presidency does not intend to say anymore on the matter for now and will, in accordance with due process and international law, make a full representation on the matter to the court when the trial opens.

“The Presidency also advises the Nigerian media to respect the sanctity of the legal and judicial processes in this matter and avoid becoming willing tools in the hands of Mr. Okah and his agents in an entirely diversionary trial by the media aimed only at falsely impugning the character and integrity of the President and officials of his administration.”

ThePunch

SNAPSHOT: Nkiru Sylvanus a day before her kidnap

inShare1

by Akan Ido
Actress Nkiru Sylvanus, the special assistant on public affairs to the Imo State governor is yet to be found amidst unconfirmed indication that her kidnappers are demanding a N100m ransom for her release.
The popular actress was said to be abducted on Sunday morning in Owerri.
The photo below, taken by Kenneth Okoli, was purportedly  taken while on location during a movie shoot a day before her abduction .
The Imo State government have announced a substantial reward for anyone who can give information that will lead to her release. We pray she is found soon.


YNaija.com

Police rescue three brothers from shrine in Ogun State

At least seven persons have been arrested by the Ogun state police command in connection with the attempted murder of three brothers, who were kidnapped in the state on Wednesday.
The hoodlums invaded Ayegbe village, near Lisa community in Ifo Local Government Area of the state and whisked away the trio of Saheed Owolabi Sosanya, Gbenga Soyemi Sosanya and Abiodun Soyemi Sosanya to Sonde village.
It was gathered that since the ugly incident, the police at Sango Area Command have declared a village head, identified as Ogunsola Wasiu and some others who were the evil minds behind the attack on the village wanted.
A close police source while confirming the incident said that the heavily armed gang stormed the village and launched a bloody attack on the people working on a building site in the community. The armed men inflicted injuries on many of the labourers in the site before abducting the three brothers.
However, the kidnapped brothers were taken to Oro Shrine at Sonde village where they were tied for hours. Fortunately for the Sosanyas, the men of Agbado Divisional Police station came to their recue after a distress call from concerned persons.
Recounting his ordeal, one of the victims, Abiodun said, “We were on site when two Volkswagen Vanagon buses drove into the village and before we knew anything, about 50 people, armed with cutlasses, guns and other dangerous weapons jumped out of the buses and started shooting.”
“We all ran in different directions. I heard many people shouting but at the end of the day, three of us were captured and beaten thoroughly, before we were tied and taken to the Oro shrine at Sonde village,” he added.
Abbey, as he is fondly called by friends claimed they narrowly escaped death as their abductors headed by one Ade Ijaiya were already making plans to behead them before the timely arrival of the policemen from Agabdo police station.
The police invasion disrupted their evil plans, thus, the people in connection with the incident, Ganiu Ogunsola , Ade Ijaiya, and others were taken away in the police van.
DailyPost

Anxiety increases over Governor Imoke’s health

The alarming rate of health issues of state governors has become a source of worry to many civil analysts and Nigerians.
Apart from the attendant political crisis which the situation triggers, governance and development in such states are usually affected, most times coming to a halt.
With anxiety trailing the health status of Governors Danbaba Suntai of Taraba and Sullivan Chime of Enugu, there are reports that Cross Rivers State’s Governor, Liyel Imoke, who has been in the United States, is receiving regular dialysis for a renal disease.
A source who spoke to DailyPost described Imoke’s condition as “a bad state”. He further said, “It has indeed gotten worse but as you are aware, those positions of authority in Nigeria never reveals the ailment they are suffering from until it leaks to the media.”
At the moment, the news in certain quarters is that the governor underwent surgery for a kidney transplant. Expectedly, the information has sparked mild tension in the state government circles as well as the ruling People’s Democratic Party. Imoke, a former minister during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, had travelled out of the country several weeks ago, stating that he needed time to rest, a common excuse high-office holders give before embarking on medical trips.
However, after about a month of his absence, those in the know had then disclosed that the one-time presidential committee chairman on power, indeed jetted out ostensibly to attend to his deteriorating condition – a problem he refused to reveal.
But on his possible return to the country to resume his constitutional duties, the source said, “If his present state is anything to evaluate, I’m afraid he may not come back any time soon.
DailyPost

Kidnappers quizzed my mum on subsidy payments –Okonjo-Iweala

 by Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja 

Prof. Kamene Okonjo and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
| credits: nigeriadailynews.com

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Monday said those who abducted her mother, Prof. Kamene Okonjo, told the matriarch that she (the minister) withheld fuel subsidy funds meant for oil marketers.

The octogenarian, who was kidnapped on December 9 regained her freedom last Friday after spending five days in the kidnappers’ den.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, Okonjo-Iweala said the period was a difficult one for the family, adding that her mother stayed for five days without food and water.

She said, “I can’t give all the details because we don’t want to compromise ongoing investigations. But I can tell you one thing: my mother suffered a great deal during this ordeal.

“It was only the Almighty that rescued her from a situation that could very easily have ended tragically.  Apart from the emotional trauma of being violently taken away from her family and kept incommunicado for five days in a strange environment, a woman of 83 years was left without food for five days.

“While she was in their custody, the kidnappers spent much of the time harassing her. They told her that I must get on the radio and television and announce my resignation.  When she asked why, they told her it was because I did not pay oil subsidy money.

“They also said I had blocked payment of money to certain components of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.”

The finance minister said these statements were untrue, adding that genuine marketers whose claims had been verified have been paid.

She said, “These statements are, of course, not true. In the case of subsidy payments, we have been paying all marketers whose claims have been verified by the Aig-Imoukhuede Committee after going through the necessary processes.

“For marketers whose transactions are proven to be fraudulent, the position of the Goodluck Jonathan government is also clear: we cannot and we will not pay. We will not back down on this. We will continue to stand firm.”

She added, “In the case of SURE-P, there is a totally different process that I have no control over. This is the right thing to do. And this, I believe is what the Nigerian people want.”

The minister said the experience had rekindled her resolve to discharge her duties effectively to the country.

She added, “This experience has strengthened my faith in the country. The outpouring of love from all over the country has been simply overwhelming.”

ThePunch

Buhari At 70: A Life In The Service Of Allah And Humanity

| AHMED B. KAITA

Writing about Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is about the most difficult, and confusingly the easiest task to do. It is difficult because of the numerous angles one can explore about the man Buhari, each enough to be an independent subject with rich intellectual and moral benefits. On the other hand, it is easy because there is nothing one can say about Buhari that has not being said before with even better clarity. No word can add value to the person of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Equally, no word can reduce an ounce out of the tons of respect, belief and sincere goodwill he enjoys from majority Nigerians built overtime through hard work, selflessness and impeccable quality of character. Still, that would not stop me, like many of his well wishers to chip in a word about this epitome of honesty; especially at this time when he is celebrating his 70th birthday.
70 is no doubt a wonderful age, the attainment of which is akin to achieving the pinnacle of wisdom. To Buhari, 70 is just like any other age. His wisdom and quality of character have since reached their peak long before he reached the age of 30. There is no evidence that Buhari of today is any different from Buhari of 1972. It has always been the same humility, the same selflessness and the same seriousness that keeps the flame of a burning desire to see a good country built out of Nigeria. Unlike the different “visions” some of which are so confusing to even be understood both in meaning and context, Buhari’s vision for Nigeria was clear and simple --- a solid nation built on a foundation of sincerity, purposefulness and equality. 
Without a doubt, Gen. Buhari put to question majority belief that life is about taking advantages not making sacrifices. He had the opportunity to own the most lucrative oil blocks when he was Petroleum minister but chose to remain an “ordinary petrol station queueing Nigerian” oblivious of his record of building and operating at optimum capacity the only existing four  refineries in Nigeria; which subsequent maintenance have turned many into dollar billionaires without result.
He had the opportunity to own the choicest plots in Nigerian mega cities; including Abuja but chose to remain the only former Head of state without a sprawling mansion in Abuja or any city in Nigeria. His humble home in Daura deserves a place in the Guinness Book of Records for being the only building housing a Nigerian leader without security cameras, heavily fortified security fences etc. This house doesn’t even have the ordinary barbed wire that identify the haves from the haves not.
It was not by accident that security around Buhari is lighter than what obtained among people of his class. He needs not to be imprisoned from his people. People love him for always standing with them and for them. He remains the only Nigerian with the capacity to pull Nigeria in one direction with a flicker of a finger. His capacity to pull crowd and stand cities still is a reward from Allah (swt) for his exceptional fairness and sincerity of purpose. His magnetic personality is the type that can only be supported by impeccable honesty, brute sincerity and an uncompromising selflessness. It is not for nothing that millions believed and continue to believe in his ability to bring out the best out of Nigeria. He worked hard for that. It is this quality that turned the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) into the nightmare of subsequent regimes. Dead and buried for over a decade, still PTF roads compete better than all roads built by subsequent regimes. The impact of PTF intervention in all sectors of the Nigerian economy remain the supportive pillar on which the economy is hanging on precariously for over a decade. To achieve this without a single fleck of dirt is a topic for another day.
As you attain this wonderful age, I pray Allah (swt) should shower more of His blessing and favours on you.
Congratulation and Happy birthday Sir.
 Leadership