PDP moves against Fani-Kayode, orders probe of ex-Minister

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has ordered the immediate probe of one of its members, and former minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, for criticising the party's leadership and calling for its resignation.

The party said Mr. Fani-Kayode should be sanctioned for launching a media war against its leadership.

Mr. Fani-Kayode, alongside the Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, and some other PDP members, have blamed the leadership of the party for PDP's defeat in the recent national elections.

Mr. Fani-Kayode, who was the spokesperson for President Goodluck Jonathan's presidential campaign team, on Tuesday accused two unnamed members of the party's National Working Committee of working for the opposition All Progressives Congress.

In a dramatic response Wednesday, the party ordered the PDP in Osun State, Mr. Fani-Kayode's home state, to immediately investigate and punish the former minister.

In a letter signed by its National Secretary, Wale Oladipo, the party mandated the PDP in Osun to first establish whether Mr. Fani-Kayode has been a "registered and financial member".

If Mr. Fani-Kayode is a member, the party said, he should be punished severely, otherwise, he should be treated as a usurper.

The party also summoned its deputy national organizing secretary, Okey Nnadozie, to explain the whereabouts of the party's money which was supposed to be paid to state chairmen of the party at the last national convention.

The party said Mr. Nnadozie should appear at the party's office in Abuja on Thursday.

The NWC also said it has set up a seven-man disciplinary committee headed by Micheal Abdul.

Tony Okeke, former acting National Publicity Secretary of the party is to serve as Secretary of the committee.

The Committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at the National Secretariat of the party.

The NWC also expressed the party's complete confidence in the National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, and commended him for his "outstanding performance, exemplary commitment and sacrifices", particularly in the ways and manner with which he conducts the affairs of the Publicity Directorate in projecting the positive image of the party and its government.

Meanwhile, the NWC has said it would confirm on Thursday whether the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Tony Anenih, has resigned or not.

On Wednesday, the Spokesperson of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, announced the resignation of the party's Chairman, Adamu Mu'azu, citing his health as reason.

A source within the PDP had earlier informed PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Anenih would also resign alongside the ex-chair.

In a text of the resolution of the NWC meeting on Wednesday, the national secretary, Wale Oladipo, confirmed the "Voluntary resignation" of Mr. Mu'azu.

He said "on the correct position of the status of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, the NWC will make its position public tomorrow, Thursday, May 21, 2015".

The NWC also confirmed that Mr. Muazu's deputy, Uche Secondus, is acting as the National Chairman of the party, in line with the provisions of sections 45 (2) of the PDP constitution.

It also said Mr. Secondus will serve as chairman "pending a replacement from the North East zone".

MY HUSBAND AND I SIGNED A LIFE CONTRACT…HE CAN’T DIVORCE ME-ADEOLA ADELOWOTAN

Actress, Adeola Adelowotan, popularly referred to as Iya Ibeji, in a recent interview with a ENCOMIUM, has debunked gossips that she has separated from her husband, asserting that her marriage is ‘intact’.

The Yoruba actress said: ‘I told you, I don’t have any problem with my husband. My husband stays in the UK but he’s around now. I never had any problem with him. I have not separated from him. My marriage is intact. We signed a life contract. I can’t part ways with my husband because he is the only love of my life. I can’t leave him and he can’t as well leave me. I have gotten four children for him. So, I don’t know why some people enjoy peddling unnecessary rumors’.

Teenager, minor arrested for kidnapping nine-month-old baby in Ogun

A teenager, Rachael John, and a nine-year-old girl, Joy Atunramu, have been arrested by men of Ogun State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping their neighbour’s nine-month-old baby.

The suspects were arrested on Wednesday by detectives attached to Ilese Police Division, Ijebu Ode.

The baby was said to have been lured away from the mother’s shop at Old Toll gate area of the town by Atunramu, allegedly acting on the instruction of Rachael.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the police swung into action after the mother of the baby rushed to the police station to lodge a complain about the incident.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said Rachael was later arrested with the baby at Ogbere in the Ijebu area.

The police spokesman said, “It was gathered that the suspect had  a conflict with the mother of the baby  before the baby was stolen. She vowed, via a written letter,  to deal with the mother of the baby.

“Though initially, the mother did not know who actually stole the baby, neighbours and some eyewitnesses, who saw the suspect with the baby intimated the mother and the police detectives with the information before the arrest of the suspects.

“It was also gathered that the suspect (Rachael) allegedly demanded the sum of N2m before she would release the baby.”

Credit: Punch

Bamidele, A’Ibom Rep defect to APC

Candidate of the Labour Party in the last governorship election in Ekiti State, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, on Thursday defected to the All Progressives Congress on the floor of the House of Representatives.

He wrote a formal letter to the House, which was read to members by the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, soon after the session started.

The outgoing Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, represents Ado Ekiti/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Ekiti State.

He said he was joining the APC to contribute “more meaningfully” to the governance of the country.

Part of the letter reads, “I am writing to formally inform you and the entire House that I have formally decamped to the All Progressives Congress, APC, along with many of my constituents and supporters beyond the immediate constituency I represent in the parliament.

“Kindly note for the record, Mr. Speaker, that I was elected into this parliament on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which had become defunct as of the time I joined the Labour Party in November 2013. The APC was subsequently registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“It is my conviction, as well as that of my constituents and political associates, that joining the APC at this crucial stage of our nation’s polity will enable us contribute more meaningfully to our collective bid to entrench good governance and enhance socio-economic development, while enhancing the growth of our democracy.”

A member from Akwa Ibom, Mr. Micah Umoh, also followed Bamidele’s footsteps by defecting to the APC from the Accord Party on Thursday.

Umoh was formerly a member of the Peoples Democratic Party until December 2014 when he was edged out of the party’s primaries .

He moved to Accord Party ahead of the general elections, but abandoned the party again on Thursday for the APC.

Umoh did not win his re-election bid.

The two defectors had increased the numerical strength of the APC to around 216 going to the 8th Assembly, out of a total of 360 lawmakers.

They gave me war, I’m leaving peace behind – President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that despite the possibility of rejecting the result of the last presidential election, he opted to concede defeat for peace to reign.

Jonathan who said he could not afford to waste the blood of Nigerians in a bid to hold on to power, noted that he would always be committed to strengthening democracy in the nation and Africa.

Jonathan, who had a rather turbulent dispensation as Nigeria’s president, said he made a choice for peace rather than make the nation ungovernable

According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan made the remarks while receiving members of the African Ambassadors’ Group, who were on a farewell and solidarity visit to at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President said, “I believe that character matters in leadership. And it is not just about who becomes the President of a country, but somebody has to be there and the person needs the support of all to succeed.

“I made a choice to keep the country away from conflict. I have always advised other African leaders that we will need to have a country before we can have the ambition to become President.

“We don’t have to expose our people to deaths because we want to stay in power. Some people hold on to power, may be, for fear of the unknown.”

Burundi president plays football while his country burns

What a miserable man. Burundi President, Pierre Nkurunziza appears not to be bordered with the ongoing civil unrest, destruction and deaths happening in his country over his third term bid. He was photographed playing football with his close associates yesterday, May 20th. 

 

Credit: LIB

 

 

Nigerians petition Yale Univeristy to withdraw Honorary degree from Okonjo-Iweala

A Nigerian, Sunday Iwalaiye has started a petition on change.org calling on authorities of Yale University to withdraw the Honorary Degree it bestowed on Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on May 15th.

Sunday, in his petition stated that Dr Okonjo-Iweala is not deserving of the honorary degree as the Nigerian economy has taken a nose dive since she assumed office as Minister of Finance. A thousand Nigerians have so far signed the petition.


His petition :
 YALE UNIVERSITY GAVE ITS PRESTIGIOUS HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE TO AN UNDESERVING NIGERIAN

Ngozi Iweala, the outgoing Nigeria's finance minister was awarded a honorary doctorate degree by Yale University on May 15, 2015.

The citation from the Yale University reads:"Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Doctor of Humane Letters. You are a citizen of your country, your continent, and the world. Shaped by challenging experiences during your childhood in Nigeria, you have made social and economic reform your mission. As Nigeria’s coordinating minister of economic development and minister of finance, you have tackled corruption, created a vision and path to long-term economic stability, and worked to build a culture of transparency. At the World Bank, you made food security a priority and provided policy advice and capital for the world’s poorest countries.

With wisdom, a fierce dedication to doing what is right, and unflagging energy, you have transformed the economic landscape of your nation. We are proud to name you Doctor of Humane Letter" This citation from the Yale University does not reflect nor represent everything that has happened under the watch and the supervision of the Nigerian economy by Ngozi Iweala as the nation's finance minister. There is no tangible evidence of any economic development in Nigeria under the leadership of Ngozi Iweala in all reality. Nigeria's economy is still an oil-dependent economy that is debt and borrowing ridden as well as 100% consuming and importing in nature.

Nigeria's debt profile has risen rapidly under Ngozi Iweala and Nigeria has borrowed over $2 billion in the last four months alone to pay salaries of the federal and state civil servants. Our foreign reserves and excess crude oil accounts have both depleted heavily under Ngozi Iweala. The recurrent expenditures in the federal budgets reached the highest levels which made capital development practically impossible in Nigeria under Ngozi Iweala.

The board of regents of this ivy league school missed it completely by awarding their prestigious honorary doctorate degree to an undeserving Nigerian in all truth, honesty and reality. The Nigeria's economy has remained the same under Ngozi Iweala without any evidence of its diversity from oil.

The Nigerian Naira crashed to its lowest value in its history under Ngozi Iweala. The true picture that Yale University missed is the fact that the economy of Nigeria has almost grounded to its final halt today which will makes its a daunting task for the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari to meet its campaign promises.

The menace of official corruption and financial scandals have both reached their peaks in Nigeria under Ngozi Iweala. A central bank governor was fired for disclosing that $20 billion was missing from the federal coffers and this allegation was investigated in a shady and questionable manner. The oil subsidy scam that cheated Nigeria's tax payers of trillions of Naira was coordinated and supervised by Ngozi Iweala.

The culture of official corruption and state resource mismanagement were both honored, celebrated, protected and defended under the leadership of Ngozi Iweala as the supervising coordinator of the Nigerian economy. To give a honorary doctorate degree to an undeserving Nigerian by this world's reknown university is the biggest slap on the faces of the 180 million Nigerians in 2015. I am using this social medium to appeal to the board of regents of this prestigious university to withdraw this honorary degree that they awarded to this Nigerian immediately and without any further delay for the sake of posterity