ACN, CPC, ANPP Will Cease To Exist After APC National Convention – Lai Mohammed

All Progressives Congress, APC will hold its National Convention in the coming weeks. This is as disclosed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Mohammed told DailyPost in Abuja on Thursday that each of the three major parties – ACN, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP would cease to exist after the first APC National Convention in April.
The convention is expected to ratify the formation of the new party.
According to Mohammed, the parties had ratified the draft of the APC’s logo, manifesto and constitution as proposed by its NEC/legal compliance committees, which were inaugurated a fortnight ago.
He said, the logo, slogan and motto were unanimously adopted after Tuesday’s meeting of the larger committee with the governors elected on the platform of the parties.
He said there were no objections to the logo, slogan and motto of the APC when they were presented for adoption at the meeting.
According to him, “Only the Merger Committee has the final authority on any issue about the proposed merger.
All the decisions the governors arrived at in their meeting were presented to the larger committee for approval and we all deliberated on them and arrived at a consensus on the grounds that there must be give and take by all the political parties. On Tuesday, there was no dissent from any group after the meeting of the governors with the Merger Committee. The proposal of the governors was endorsed by the chairmen of each of the merger committees of the political parties.
“This is a process, before you write to INEC of your intentions to merge; you must accompany the letter with the name of your party, the logo, slogan, manifesto and constitution of your party. This is why it is important the sub committees are set up because it is part of the process of the merger.
“The first thing to do is for each of the merging parties to write to INEC of its intention to merge, after which the parties will call a convention to secure the mandate to merge. It is after that mandate is given at the party’s convention, to which INEC will send observers that the process of winding up will begin so as to join the merger.
“Then, those parties will have to surrender their certificates of registration and identity to INEC, which means the ACN, CPC, ANPP and others will cease to exist as registered political parties.”
Naij.com

PDP crisis: Amaechi, others seek truce with Jonathan

 by Niyi Odebode, John Alechenu, Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja, and Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt 

Governor Rotimi Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and some Peoples Democratic Party governors may have reached out to President Goodluck Jonathan, investigations have shown.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the governor and his group initiated the peace move after the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Goodswill Akpabio, threatened to flush out traitors from the ruling party.

It was learnt that the pro-Amaechi group weighed the implications of continuing the ongoing power struggle with the President and the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

With the President and Tukur taking over the Board of Trustees and the National Working Committee of the party, there is a high possibility that they will soon control the National Executive Committee.

Investigations showed that the Amaechi group feared that the ongoing power struggle might result in their alienation from the party.

The PUNCH had reported on Thursday that Jonathan, in a bid to divide the ranks of the PDP governors, had invited six of them to the party’s caucus meeting on Wednesday night.

Those invited are Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Gabriel Suswan (Benue); Theodore Orji (Abia); Godswill Akpabio (Cross River) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta).

It was gathered that some PDP governors, who had earlier identified with the Rivers State governor, had already shifted allegiance to Jonathan.

The President is also said to be in control of all state chapters of the party in the South-South, except Rivers.

Besides the southern chapters, with the support of the governors of Benue and Plateau states, Jonathan is in firm control of other state chapters.

It was also learnt that Vice-President Namadi Sambo had mobilised the Kaduna State chapter to support his boss.

Investigations revealed that the Amaechi group members reasoned that if they were pushed out of the PDP, they might not be readily accepted in the newly formed All Progressives Congress.

A top member of the PDP NWC, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Amaechi and the other governors are reaching out to the President and other leaders of the party because they fear that they may lose out in the struggle for the control of the party’s NEC.

“No truce has been reached yet because we feel that they are retreating to re-strategise. We do not want to be caught unawares.

“The truth is that most state chapters are not with the group. If the party’s NEC is held today, they will lose.

“The option of going to the APC is out of it because the new party is loaded already. If they go there, they will not command the kind of respect they command in the PDP.”

When asked about the development, Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak said, “I am not aware of that but if they want peace and have made an approach, it is good.

“Everybody must be subject to party discipline and party supremacy; even Mr. President submits himself to party discipline and party supremacy.

“If the President submits himself to party discipline and party supremacy, the governors of PDP must do the same, the senators of PDP must do the same, every member of PDP should do the same for sake of peace.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said, “There is no crisis between the party and any of its governors. We are on the same page. The formation of PDP Governors’ Forum has nothing to do with the NGF.

“The PDPGF is meant to project the image of the party and has nothing to do with the NGF. We are the largest party in Nigeria, with the highest number of governors. Nothing stops us from asking our governors to come together and form their own forum to project the image and performances of the party.

“But I can tell you that there is no conflict between us as a party and any of our governors.”

Attempts to reach the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, to speak on the issue failed to yield any result

The state PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. George Ukwuoma-Nwogba, who earlier said he would speak on the matter, later changed his mind and declined to make any remark.

Punch

North Korea Rejects U.N. Sanctions

By Jack Kim

SEOUL, March 9 (Reuters) - North Korea formally rejected a U.N. Security Council resolution on Saturday that demands an end to its nuclear arms programme, signalling it would defy international sanctions and pursue its goal of becoming a full-fledged nuclear weapons state.

The Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Friday, tightening financial restrictions and cracking down on its attempts to transport banned cargo.

The North's sole major ally China wants the sanctions fully implemented. The sanctions are designed to make punitive measures more like those used against Iran, which Western officials say have been surprisingly successful.

The resolution, the fifth since 2006 aimed at stopping the North's nuclear and ballistic missile programme, coincides with a sharp escalation of security tensions on the Korean peninsula after Pyongyang's third nuclear test on Feb. 12.

"The DPRK, as it did in the past, vehemently denounces and totally rejects the 'resolution on sanctions' against the DPRK, a product of the U.S. hostile policy toward it," the North's foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement.

DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"The world will clearly see what permanent position the DPRK will reinforce as a nuclear weapons state and satellite launcher as a result of the U.S. attitude of prodding the UNSC into cooking up the 'resolution.'"

The United States warned North Korea it will achieve nothing by repeating threats of provocative actions and will only drive itself deeper into international isolation.

"The United States of America and our allies are prepared to deal with any threat and any reality that occurs in the world," U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said ahead of his visit to Afghanistan on Friday. "We are aware of what's going on. We have partnerships in that part of the world that are important."

North Korea defied international warningsand conducted a third nuclear test in February, setting off a device that yielded a stronger blast than its previous test in 2009. It claimed it had made progress in miniaturizing an atomic weapon.

Experts are sceptical of such a claim, and the threat this week to attack the United States, seeing them more as an attempt to boost its security leverage in the face of deepening diplomatic isolation and growing military pressure from the United States and South Korea, which are conducting joint military drills to deter any armed aggression from Pyongyang.

Experts believe the North is still years away from developing the capability to deliver a nuclear weapon to the United States but say it can strike South Korea or Japan using its short and medium-range missiles.

North Korea has accused the United States of using military drills in South Korea as a launch pad for a nuclear war and declared on Tuesday it would scrap the armistice with Washington that ended hostilities in the 1950-53 Korean War.

The two Koreas are technically at war because the armistice and not a formal peace treaty ended their 1950-53 conflict.

South Korea and U.S. forces are conducting large-scale military drills until the end of April. The North is also gearing up for a massive state-wide military exercise.

Pyongyang's soaring anti-American rhetoric is seen by experts as a ploy to be taken as a serious threat and to force Washington back to the negotiating table.

A more likely option for Pyongyang than a full-scale conflict is to stage a series of clashes along a disputed frontier with the South, a sea border known as the Northern Limit Line, which has been the scene of previous clashes.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have growing since the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in March 2010 widely blamed on North Korea, although Pyongyang denies responsibility. The North in November that year bombed a South Korean island killing two civilians.

(Additional reporting by Phil Stewart in Kabul; Editing by Michael Perry)
HuffingtonPost

International Women's Day 2013: 7 Sadly Disturbing Truths About Women's Bodies (HOW YOU CAN HELP)

The Huffington Post  |  By Eleanor Goldberg  

On International Women’s Day, we have a number of groundbreaking accomplishments to celebrate. This year alone, women in the U.S. won the right to serve on the front lines in combat and President Obama inched closer to pushing for equal pay for men and women.
Global health for women has also seen some major boons, too. The number of mothers who die during childbirth has been reduced by almost 50 percent and HIV drug prices have fallen by more than 99 percent since 2000.
But we’re not done fighting yet.
Women across the globe still face horrifying abuse and health risks, including sexual exploitation and genital mutilation, devastating injustices that are in our power to eliminate in this lifetime.
Read through the seven disturbingly sad truths women face and find out how you can get involved in improving the lives of women across the world.
Female Genital Mutilation
FACT: In Africa alone, 101 million girls have undergone female genital mutilation, a cultural practice that’s meant to keep girls chaste, but subjects them to intense torture in the process. With no anesthetic, a girl’s genitals are carved out (including her clitoris and labia) and what remains is stitched together, allowing a small enough aperture for urination and menstruation, which can lead to serious health consequences, New York Times' Nicholas Kristof reports.
What you can do: While the practice has been recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, activists say that through education and raising awareness, we can work to ultimately change the culture to end the practice. Find out more here.

Maternal Health
FACT: Every year, life-threatening complications from pregnancy and childbirth claim the lives of nearly 300,000 women, according to the Gates Foundation. While the number of mothers who died in childbirth has been reduced by nearly 50 percent, it is within our reach to reduce that figure to zero.
What you can do: Low-cost medical interventions with local healthcare providers are critical to protecting and saving the lives of expectant mothers. Learn more about how the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health is advocating for mothers and how you can get involved here.
Fistula
FACT: Fistula –- a hole that develops between a woman’s vagina and bladder or rectum –- is one of the most devastating birth injuries and it affects between 30,000 to 50,000 women a year simply because they can’t afford proper medical care. The condition leads to such severe incontinence that the woman’s body leaks urine and feces, and oftentimes, the smell becomes so unbearable that her husband will force her out of the home to fend for herself.
What you can do: Support the Fistula Foundation, which raises awareness for the condition and funding for repair, prevention, and educational programs worldwide to help eliminate fistula. Get involved here.
Rape
FACT: One in three women on the planet will be raped, beaten or assaulted in her lifetime, that’s a total of 1 billion women subjected to devastating violence.
What you can do: Join 1 Billion Rising, a global movement that came together on Valentine’s Day to demand an end to violence against women, and continues to fight for women’s right to live in a world where their safety is never at stake. Get involved here.

Human Trafficking
FACT: An estimated 2.5 million people across the globe are trafficked, according to the UN. Of those victims, 43 percent are used for sexual exploitation, of whom 98 percent are women and girls. Globally, there are more slaves than ever before in history.
What you can do: A number of organizations are fighting to finally put an end to human slavery once and for all. Find out how you can get involved here.

Child Brides
FACT: Child marriage has been outlawed in most countries, but enforcement is so poor that more than 60 million girls under the age of 18 are married (many to men twice their age or older), according to CARE. This forced institution subjects girls to health risks and deprives them of the opportunity to pursue an education and personal development.
What you can do:A number of organizations are working to put an end to this inhumane practice. Find out how you can get involved here.
Infant Mortality
FACT: Every day, more than 19,000 children die from preventable causes, according to UNICEF.
What you can do: When mothers across the globe have access to clean drinking water, nutritious food and necessary immunizations, we will be able to bring the infant mortality rate down to zero. Find out how you can join UNICEF to fight to save children around the world here.
CORRECTION: This post originally reported one in three women would be raped in her lifetime. It has been corrected to say "raped, beaten or assaulted."

Marco Rubio Won't Support Continuing Resolution Unless Obamacare Is Defunded

The Huffington Post  |  By Luke Johnson  

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said Thursday that he would not support a stopgap bill to fund the government unless it defunded President Barack Obama's health care law, allying him with tea party darling Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
"So look, about a year and a half ago, I voted for the first continuing resolution and then I announced, ‘This is the last continuing resolution, the last stop-gap measure that I am going to vote for. I will only vote, from here on, on something serious,'" he told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. "But here is what I’ve said about this continuing resolution, you know Senator Cruz from Texas is offering this amendment to defund Obamacare. If that gets onto the bill, in essence if they get a continuing resolution and we vote on that and we can pass it onto a bill, I will vote for a continuing resolution, even if it’s temporary, because it does something permanent and that is defund this health care bill, this Obamacare bill that is going to be an absolute disaster for the American economy."
Rubio's position puts him to the right of House Republicans, who passed a continuing resolution Wednesday that does not defund the health care law upheld by the Supreme Court. The move caused ire in the conservative blogosphere, with RedState's Erick Erickson accusing the GOP of "capitulation" and threatening primary challenges for House members who voted for it.
The continuing resolution currently funding the government expires on March 27. A replacement resolution with Cruz's amendment attached has no chance of passing in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Therefore, it seems that Rubio's positioning -- touted by his office, which sent out the interview -- is an attempt to curry favor with tea party conservatives.

2015: The Naked Dancers and the Two-Year Marathon

by Nasir El-Rufai

In a functional democracy, the arguments and divisions currently wracking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would be seen as a sign of the healthy debates and disagreements that are critical to democratic progression and the constant alignments and re-alignments that are permanent features of the electoral process.
But Nigerians now know better because the people currently in control of the PDP have no altruistic guiding principles and ideology to shape the party and promote good governance. The PDP’s top brass: President – Goodluck Jonathan, former president and BoT chairman – Olusegun Obasanjo, National Chairman – Bamanga Tukur, former and new BoT Chairman – Tony Anenih, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum – Rotimi Amaechi and a number of Governors have been engaged in a naked dance that amounts to exhibition of little more than raw and unbridled ambition.
At the root of the argument is not about which approach to adopt to tackle the enormous challenges confronting Nigeria. No one is talking about how to address the problem of our 20 million youth who have no jobs and are losing hope, or how to improve our collective security. None of the naked dancers is interested in seeking solutions to the problems of growing poverty, de-industrialization, deteriorating infrastructure, rising inequality, falling standards of education or decaying healthcare. None of the combatants in the PDP’s disagreements is concerned with tackling Nigeria’s mind-boggling corruption, impunity or even how to prepare for the day when our oil revenues will dry up. The one and only thing on the minds of these PDP apparatchiks is personal ambition, the pursuit of power and the senseless looting and primitive accumulation associated therewith.

In essence, what should be a public debate between and among the ruling party members to chart the path of progress for the country it has ruled since 1999 and has promised to govern for at least 60 years has been reduced to a voluble public fight about who gets what, where, how, and knowing the PDP for what it has become, how much! Eventually, because the fight is not predicated on any ideological or principled stand, whether by the instrument of the EFCC or the sheer need to remain on the corridors of power, all the gladiators will fall back in line at the right moment in order for the party to continue its nuclear war on the Nigerian people.
A year or two ago, it would have gotten away with it, too. Except that things are beginning to change, and a two-year marathon that would determine the future of Nigeria’s 170 million people is beginning to take shape and form: From mysterious campaign posters appearing overnight, PDP governors that have gone missing for months, trillions of stolen fuel subsidy and pension funds, unneeded and unsolicited 10 million cell phones for farmers, the first lady’s death and resurrection, endless political intrigues, revelations and long knives within the PDP – up to the emergence of a new opposition political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the tone for the 2015 elections seem to be taking shape.
Now, the issue is: what does the current situation and evolving developments entail, and what are their possible implications for the 2015 general elections, if we ever get there? Does the current discord within the ruling party signal the beginning of the end of its existence? Will the formation of the APC which is the merger of the four major opposition parties – ACN, CPC, ANPP and parts of APGA, signify the emergence of a ‘new’ and better Nigeria for the over 125 million Nigerians below the age of 35? Will the new party, APC survive its teething challenges and emerge with a manifesto and truly representative yet formidable candidates that will sweep away majority votes at the poles?
As all parties gear up towards 2015, we need to ask: Is President Jonathan capable of participating in the election without deliberately dividing the country along ethnic and religious lines for his short-term political gain? Is INEC willing, able and capable of delivering free, fair and credible elections in 2015? Can we trust INEC not to be what the opposition perceives it to be – a mere tool and toothless subsidiary of the PDP? How do we as individuals and stakeholders contribute our quota to ensure that we do not remain pawns in the hands of selfish politicians? Can we see through the antics of the false prophets who promised fresh air and transformation, only to lead us to the path of division and destitution?
There is no gainsaying that the PDP is in turmoil and chaos at the moment. On the surface, it began in January with the call by PDP governors for the sack of the party chairman – Bamanga Tukur due to the latter’s interference in the Adamawa PDP politics. This was followed by the move against Obasanjo’s henchmen in the party which led to the sack of its National Auditor Chief Bode Mustapha and his replacement by Alhaji Fatai Adewole Adeyanju while National Vice Chairman, South West, Segun Oni and National Secretary Oyinlola, were somehow also removed.
Following the above, the PDP set up its own Governor’s Forum with Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom emerging as chairman in an attempt to polarize the already existing Nigeria Governor’s Forum which has the ‘stubborn’ Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state as chair. As stated, the whole saga is indicative of PDP’s desperation to hang on to power and not allow democracy take its course. It has been alleged that this new forum was set-up to trim down the influence of Amaechi who is seen as too independent and non-conformist for the current PDP leadership. Those who know the PDP well will tell you that the quarrels can easily be resolved as soon as some of the excess crude, the looted fuel subsidy and pension funds are released and redistributed – and the gravy train that is the PDP will begin to roll again. But that is another matter for another day.
For now, the newly formed APC seems to have a grasp of what they are doing. Just a week ago, the opposition governors in the APC made a bold statement by holding the party’s third meeting in Maiduguri – the capital and base of the Boko-Haram insurgency. They also donated N200m to victims of the crisis. So far, the current government has neither been able to curb the insurgency nor has it set up a relief fund for victims of the menace. It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan, once said he could not visit Maiduguri because the ‘airport was not in good shape’ and just about a month before was ‘too busy’ to visit and sent his deputy, Namadi Sambo. The APC governors have now shamed Jonathan to visit Maiduguri and recognize Borno as one of the 36 states of Nigeria!
The emergence of the APC, apparent crumbling of the ruling PDP alongside the deregistering of political parties by INEC appears to be gradually paving way for a pan-Nigerian opposition platform capable of ending the PDP’s hegemony. Although the two-party system may have its disadvantages, it would be advantageous for Nigeria by providing a sturdy check and balance as well as choice for Nigerians. It will also reduce the clutter and confusion created by numerous existing ‘briefcase’ parties which possess no clout. In fact, some political economists believe that the two parry system leads to political stability and in turn, economic growth.
In spite of the positive direction we are headed with the merger of the major opposition parties, the APC on its part has its work cut out for it to stand as a stronghold in the 2015 elections. It has to ensure that we do not eventually become another failed merger bereft of individuals who truly have the interest of the nation at heart. Individual ambitions have so far been shelved in favor of truly democratic ideals, and this is encouraging. As APC, we must reach out to the populace at the grassroots and earn their confidence rather than appease the ‘godfathers’ to ensure political advantage. It is gratifying that the inter-party merger teams led by Chief Tom Ikimi have focused on these true democratic principles in shaping the APC’s birth.
As everything is being set in place for the elections in 2015, the only way more bloodshed would be averted is by ensuring free and fair elections. This is the only way to save our nation and its democracy. Looting in advance of 2015 to buy up votes, militarization and deployment of coercive instruments will not work but only lead to open confrontation and violence. The electorate must be encouraged to vote by providing a safe and serene atmosphere devoid of any intimidation for voting to take place. If neighboring Ghana has been able to conduct several successive peaceful, free and fair elections, then we have no reason not to better that record, given our vast human and material resources.
It is time for our elites to rise to the challenge and actively engage in the political activities, and encourage the involvement of all citizens in the electoral process, knowing that sovereignty lies with them. It is time for our professionals and Diaspora to move from being armchair or online critics to work towards informing the broader electorate that it is only when we elect people with proven track records of excellence, hard work and integrity that we can truly move forward as a nation. Nigerians must understand that voting on the basis of tribe or religion has never, and will not lead to the emergence of the Nigeria of our dreams. Those that voted for Jonathan for these reasons can see the unintended consequences of their decision.
As we watch the PDP’s naked dancers strut their raw ambitions in public, Nigerians need to appreciate the power of their vote and do all they can to guard it jealously. Knowing that the PDP will do everything under the sun to remain in power at all costs despite growing deteriorating infrastructure, insecurity, poverty and unemployment in Nigeria, it is clear that we must all play active roles in what may be a tough two-year marathon towards 2015. Eventually, it is the power of our vote – how wisely we use it – and the deterrent structures to ensure PDP and its partners do not write and declare fictitious election results, that will free us from the current regime of corruption, impunity and incompetence.

My Ex-Wife Was Foolish- Actress, Foluke Daramola’s Husband

Actress, Foluke Daramola’s husband Kayode Salako who ended his marriage with his ex-wife due to irreconcilably differences open up on his reason for his failed marriage.
In an interview recently, Kayode revealed that his ex-wife, Bukola leaving the house for another woman to move in is an act of foolishness.
‘My wife that left was just being foolish and I will continue to tell the whole world that my former wife did not leave me because of Foluke Daramola because the question anybody should ask her is did I bring Foluke Daramola to her house? did she catch me on Foluke Daramola? did she catch us kissing and romancing? did I impregnate her? did I marry her before she left the house.
Why should an established married woman pack her things and leave the house for a girlfriend to come and live if that woman is not foolish.

I never planned to marry Foluke Daramola, we were just friends, we just discovered that we appreciated our companionship, anytime the two of us were around each other, we always enjoyed it, so we became very good friends.
I am the one that told my ex-wife, Bukola at home about my friendship with Foluke Daramola, she did not know anything about her.
I was the one that told her that I just met an actress, who had agreed to be my friend and work with me on my project; Change Agent of Nigeria Network (CANN)”, he said.
InformationNigeria