2015: Rivers PDP, INC kick against Wike candidature

Less than 24 hours after Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party move to kicked against governorship ambition of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, the move gained momentum on Wednesday as the Ijaw National Congress, INC, Eastern Zone, comprising Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, declared that it will not support a political party that does not field a candidate of Ijaw ethnicity at the 2015 governorship election.

The INC spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Victor Burobu, at a Stakeholders meeting for traditional rulers, elders, chiefs and opinion leaders to emphasise the need for all parties in the eastern zone to give regards to the principle of zoning and rotation in choosing a candidate that will represent the party at the 2015 gubernatorial election.

“There is need for the parties in Rivers state to respect the principle of zoning and rotation in picking candidates that will represent them at the 2015 gubernatorial election. The INC will not work with a political party that will not present an Ijaw as its flag bearer.

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers announced at the end of its state executive meeting, on Tuesday, September 12, announced that the party will not zone the governorship of the party to any group, insisting that “any candidate that is qualified within the party should present himself for the primaries. The party will field the best candidate at the 2015 gubernatorial election”.

The statement drawn from of the communiqué issued at the end of its state executive meeting, fueled negative backlashes from stakeholders in PDP and other ethnic groups.

Burobo asserted that: “In Rivers state, if you don’t pick an Ijaw man, we will not work with you. In 1999, we willingly relinquished powers to others. We have waited for nearly 16 years and we cannot wait no longer. Ijaw people are responsible with power. We can be trusted with power. We have never oppressed others when we were in power”.

Other ethnic groups other than Ikwerre angling to produce the next governor in 2015 through the principle of zoning and rotation is igniting disaffection within the PDP in Rivers State.

It was learnt that so far, the secretariat of the South-South zone of the PDP have received 24 memoranda from PDP stakeholders in Rivers, complaining against the Felix Obuah led state executive of the party and its partisanship stance towards the governorship ambition of Nyesom Wike.

The internal crisis in the PDP in the south-south states deepened on Wednesday following the sudden postponement of the reconciliation meeting scheduled to assuage the anger of some party members across the region.

The administrative secretary PDP Zonal office, Mr.Usen Edemekong, said the national integration committee of the party was slated to have a meeting with all aggrieved members of the party at the regional secretariat along Circular road in Port Harcourt but was halted because of President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Edo state.

Mr. Dagogo Jack, Rivers state PDP governorship aspirant who was in Port Harcourt for the peace meeting regretted the postponement of the meeting.

“I came for the reconciliation meeting but we were surprised to be told at the secretariat that the meeting was postponed. I think that it is important for us to meet and reconcile our aggrieved members,” he said.

A chieftain of the PDP, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe said he was worried that such a crucial meeting was cancelled even when it had been widely publicised in the media.

Sara-Igbe regretted that the Obuah led Rivers state chapter of the PDP has violated the provisions of the party’s constitution on zoning and rotation by declaring that no political office would be zoned in the forth coming election.

“The Obuah led PDP has violated the rule of the party and we don’t want PDP to fail in the state in the 2015 election. Certain provisions of the party restrain the state EXCO from suspending or expelling certain officers of the party. But Obuah has expelled all Commissioners in the state and the entire members of the House of Assembly.”

“Wike has boasted that he was going to buy everybody that is necessary when the time comes. If this peace meeting does not hold, then I am afraid PDP in Rivers state may be heading for the rocks. We want the state PDP to zone all the political offices because the party constitution and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria make provisions for rotation of offices,” Sara-Igbe said.

$9.3M ARMS DEAL: Senate committee on Defence begins investigation of seized cash

Senate in Nigeria has started the investigation of the $9.3 million seized by South African authorities from two Nigerians and one Israeli that came in with a private jet.

The Senate committee on Defence and Army, which is investigating the incident, held a close door meeting with security chiefs at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Thompson Sekibo, confirmed that the $9.3 million seized by the South African authorities belonged to the Federal Government.

The government had claimed ownership of the funds, explaining that they were meant for purchase of arms for Nigeria’s intelligence agencies to tackle security challenges in some parts of the north.

Also speaking on the death sentence handed by a Military court, on the 12 soldiers who committed mutiny, Senator Sekibo said the committee was not under any pressure to intervene in the matter.

Earlier, at the House of Representatives, opposition lawmakers pushed a motion, seeking a debate on the funds, but it was turned down my mejority of the house in a vote. After the speaker of the House set the motion aside, the opposition lawmakers walked out of the plenary in protest.

The Nigerians and the Israeli were arrested by South African police and are being investigated for trying to bring in $9.3 million in cash into the country illegally.

A spokesman to the force said that funds were apparently meant for an arms deal.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) seized the funds at Lanseria Airport, north-west of Johannesburg, on September 5.

According to a Reuters report, SARS spokeswoman, Marika Muller, said that the funds were held at the central bank as police investigate.

“The passengers’ luggage was searched after Customs officials detected irregularities,” Muller said.

Credit: today.ng

BREAKING: AMBER ROSE DONE W/ WIZ KHALIFA, FILES FOR DIVORCE

Former video vixen Amber Rose has reportedly called it quits with rap star husband Wiz Khalifa and filed for divorce shortly after their one-year anniversary.

According to reports, Amber and Wiz quietly split up earlier this week.

Amber Rose has filed for divorce from husband-of-1-year Wiz Khalifa … and she’s gunning for full custody of their kid … TMZ has learned. In the divorce docs — obtained by TMZ — Amber says they split on Monday and cites irreconcilable differences. Amber is asking for full legal and physical custody of their 1-year-old son Sebastian. She’s willing to give Wiz visitation. (TMZ)

Reports claim the duo signed a prenuptial agreement.

Amber acknowledges there’s a prenup, which you would think would work in Wiz’ favor, but she says it’s valid … presumably, she’s not challenging it. The docs say the prenup provides spousal support. As for why they split, there’s been a buzz over the last few days of infidelity, but there’s no mention of it in the papers. (TMZ)

A few weeks ago, Khalifa talked about celebrating his one-year anniversary with Rose.

“Umm, nah, h*ll nah,” Khalifa said when asked if the split gossip held any truth. “Yeah, I wouldn’t pay attention to the hype. [Our son Sebastian,] he’s good. It’s actually our one year anniversary today. It’s our wedding anniverary. We chilling. I’m in Denver. It sucks my album comes the day after our day but I got her some gifts and all of that.” (My Columbus Power)

Rose posted up some must-see footage of her twerking in celebration of Wiz’s new chart-topping Blacc Hollywood LP in late August.

“In honor of my Hubby’s #1 Album #blacchollywood #AssDrop,” Rose captioned to the video August 29. (Amber Rose’s Instagram)

Rose recently posted a photo of herself, Wiz and their son decked out in wedding attire in mid-August.

“Today was the day we said our vows before God and our Family. I knew as soon as I met u, u were the one for me sweetheart. Happy 1 year anniversary @mistercap and many more to come,” Amber captioned August 18.

“My beautiful Mommy and I on my wedding day” (Amber Rose’s Instagram)

SOHH

Actor Saint Obi Becomes President Jonathan’s News Media Consultant

When actor Saint Obi launched a brand new top of the range bullet proof 2014 Mercedes Benz G-Wagon worth a reported N46 million – he set tongues wagging as to how an actor who hasn’t had a decent role in a movie for donkey years, suddenly acquires such an expensive car.

Well, turns out, Saint obi actually landed himself a new job as a media consultant to President Goodluck Jonathan. He is currently working on ingenious strategies for the successful re-election of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan come 2015 and according to him:

“Despite the security challenges in the country, which will certainly end very soon,no Nigerian President had performed better than President Goodluck Jonathan in terms of first 3 years as President. This is a fact, not the falsehood circulated by 2015 power seeking propagandists.”

BREAKING NEWS: DHQ Releases GRAPHIC PHOTOS Of Boko Haram Leader ‘Abubakar Shekau’ Killed In Battle

Following a press briefing by Defence Headquarters today on the recent military operations in Konduga and other places in Borno and Adamawa States, the Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade address the press. Below is a script of the address.

Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade speaks to journalists from The Associated Press in an interview in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday, May 30, 2013. (Photo Credit: AP/Jon Gambrell)

The images in this story are of a graphic nature. Viewer discretion is advised.Nigerian troops have been conducting coordinated air and land operations in furtherance of efforts at containing the terrorists in the North East part of the country. Somehow, it became apparent that the terrorists in continuation of their campaign of terror were determined to take over communities around Maiduguri which is their prime target. There was therefore the need to ensure that communities such as Konduga were protected. It is noteworthy that the terrorists made not less than four attempts between 12 and 17 September 2014 to violate the security and enter Konduga to perpetrate their atrocities. Air and land forces were subsequently deployed to handle the situation.

The convoy of combat vehicles typical of terrorists’ mission that involves their top commanders, were fiercely engaged by the land and air forces. Several of the terrorists including some of their commanders lost their lives in the encounters which lasted an average of about 5 hours each. The troops captured some of the terrorists and their equipment. In the course of those encounters, one Mohammed Bashir who has been acting or posing on videos as the deceased Abubakar Shekau, the eccentric character known as leader of the group died. Since the name Shekau has become a brand name for the terrorists’ leader, the Nigerian military remains resolute to serve justice to anyone who assumes that designation or title as well as all terrorists that seek to violate the freedom and territory of Nigeria.

On restoring normalcy after the encounter, inhabitants of the community who were victims of terrorists activities corroborated information on the identity of Bashir Mohammed alias Abubakar Shekau, alias Abacha Abdullahi Geidam alias Damasack etc. Indeed, the recent devastation on the leadership of the insurgents is attributable to the renewed commitment to the mission of eradicating terrorism in our country.

Meanwhile, a total of 135 terrorists have yesterday evening surrendered along with equipment to troops around Biu Local Government Area. A group of 88 submitted themselves at Mairiga/Bun – Yadi while another group of 45 terrorists were taken in around Mubi – Michika. They are all being interrogated and processed in conformity with the dictates of standard best practices.

The Defence Headquarters applauds the gallantry of the Nigerian troops who have remained undaunted and professional in prosecuting this campaign against terror. The keen interest exhibited by our neighbours and allies is commendable and we appreciate them. All allies in the war against terrorism are hereby assured of the Nigerian military’s resolve to maintain momentum in the efforts to decimate and defeat terrorists. The invaluable efforts toward achieving sustainable peace and victory against the terrorists are highly appreciated.

It is nevertheless necessary to alert all citizens that there is still the need for even more vigilance and cooperation with the security forces. Everybody is required to remain alert to ensure that we are not taken unawares by terrorist elements who might want to carry-out isolated attacks in any part of our country.

Nigeria records 85% employment, generated 1.09m jobs in 6 months- NBS

This is contained in a statement issued by the Statistician General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, in Abuja.

The statistician-general said the managerial, professional and technical cadre recorded 1,085,071 employees, representing 34.25 per cent of the total number in the first quarter.

He said the figure increased to 1,091,096 employees, representing 34.62 per cent of the total in the second quarter.

Kale said those employed as operatives were 943,652, representing 29.78 per cent of the total employed in first quarter and 930,507, representing 29.53 per cent in second quarter. He added that operative, clerical and related office workers made up of 679,173, representing 21.43 per cent in first quarter, a slightly lesser than 672,714 or 21.35 per cent recorded in second quarter.

“By economic activity, education was the greatest employer in the formal sector, with1, 573,082 employees; it made up 49.64 per cent of the total employed in the first quarter.

It increased by 0.43 per cent or 6,771 employees in the second quarter to reach 1,579,854 or 50.13 per cent of the total.” He said the manufacturing sector recorded 503,023 or 15.87 per cent of total formal employment.

According to him, the sector declined by 2.64 per cent to employ 489,273 or 15.54 per cent of the total employed in the formal sector in second quarter.

“The main driver of the overall decline in formal employment in the second quarter came from the professional, scientific and technical services.

“In these sectors, the 107,986 workers or 3.41per cent of the total were employed in the first quarter. But they declined by 49.35 per cent to 54,697 or 1.74 per cent of the total employed in the second quarter.

The greatest was Administrative and Support Services, which increased by 34.85 per cent from the 16,592 employees recorded in the first quarter to 73,145 in the second.”

Completion of East-West road in 2014 not attainable, says Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Steve Oru, on Monday in Abuja said the 2014 timeline for the completion of the East West road is not realistic because the project is poorly funded.
Mr. Oru made this known when he met with the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta.

He blamed the inability of the contractors handling the road project to complete the work as schedule on the rough terrain and effects of climate change.
“Other reasons affecting projects executed by the ministry include poor funding and partial release of budgetary allocations,” the minister said.
Mr. Oru said that so far, the N349 billion, 338 kilometre long road dual carriage project had achieved 79.42 per cent.
He said that completion of some aspects of the construction of the bridge over River Nun at Kaiama might be extended to April 2015.

Mr. Oru said that the same would go for final asphalt wearing course on one of the dual carriage ways between Kaiama and Mbiama.
The minister recalled that the road was awarded in four sections to three contractors and scheduled for substantial completion by the end of 2014.

He promised that progress of work would be much higher in the dry months ahead.
“Out of the total length of 676 km (338X2) carriage way, about 535.13 km of earthworks, 470.32 km of asphaltic binder course and 398.36km of wearing course have been completed to date.
“Also completed are 921 culverts out of the 1013 numbers.

“Thirty seven bridges have been substantially completed out of the 41 bridges which include the second Imo River Bridge (850M long) and Okoso bridges (288m long) in the zone,”Mr. Oru said.
He said that the ministry planned to extend the East-West road from Oron in Akwa Ibom to Calabar, Cross River state.
He said this was to enhance the full potential of the entire East-West Corridor from Warri (Effurun) in Delta to Oron in Akwa Ibom.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Warman Ogoriba (PDP Bayelsa), urged the ministry to put more pressure on the contractors to ensure speedy completion of the project.

According to him, the East-West road is very important to the people of Niger Delta and indeed Nigerians.

“That is why we are calling on the minister to tell us specifically when this road would be handed over to the Nigerian people.
“We got few conflicting figures from the ministry on how much it has paid out to contractors.

“I think it should reconcile its figures, although we are not saying that there is misappropriation of funds,” he stressed.
(NAN)

1st indigenous made-in-Nigeria satellite to be launched by 2018-Minister of science and Tech.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Abdu Bulama, said on Tuesday in Abuja that Nigeria would design, fabricate, test and launch its indigenous satellite by 2018.

Bulama stated this when he inspected facilities at the Obasanjo Space Centre of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

The minister said the centre had the mandate to launch Nigeria’s first indigenous satellite by 2018, and described space science and technology programme as an important component of the Nigerian dream.

According to him, the satellite programme has a very positive role to play in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Bulama directed that the assembly, testing and integration centre, and the Synthetic Aperture Rader Satellite, which are under construction, be completed by 2015.

“The Assembly, Testing and Integration Centre, and the Synthetic Aperture Rader Satellite are the nucleus of NASRDA.

“It is here that we will, by the grace of God, launch our first made in Nigeria satellite by 2018.

“By 2018, by the grace of God, we want to see made-in-Nigeria satellite launched. It will be built in this laboratory and launched by our Nigerian scientists,” he said.

According to him, competence and capabilities in satellite technology serve as tool for national growth and a huge contribution to the development and benefit of mankind.

Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Seidu Mohammed, who conducted Bulama round the facilities, said the agency could boast of world-class technology in term of facilities.

Mohammed said that the about six million U.S. dollars (about N1 billion) annual budgetary allocation to NASRDA was inadequate, given the huge development expected of the agency.

The director-general also said that no serious country allocates less than 100 million U.S. dollars to its space agency.

According to him, NASRDA pays N1.6 million monthly to an Israeli company to maintain facilities at one of the centres of the agency, and also spends 100 pounds servicing its two dishes.

He said the Emergency Management Project of the agency could be used in tracking kidnapped victims, car theft, pipeline vandalisation, fire outbreak, flood and accidents.

50 Absconding Boko Haram Members Arrested as Military Refutes Rescue of kidnapped Chibok Girls

 
Fifty fleeing members of the Boko Haram sect have been arrested by the military in Biu, a town located in the southern part of Borno State.

Security sources revealed that the insurgents hid in a truck used to convey livestock and were headed for Gombe State when they were apprehended.
News of their arrest coincided with the retraction by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on the rescue of some Chibok secondary schoolgirls who were abducted by the terror sect five months ago.

On the apprehension of Boko Haram members, security sources told journalists that the arrested men are currently in the custody of the Nigerian Army and might have been detained at the Biu barracks.

The sources said some youth vigilantes in Biu became suspicious when they apprehended a truck carrying sheep and goats.

Owing to their suspicion, a thorough search of the vehicle was carried out, leading to the discovery of the 50 young men who were hidden deep inside the truck.
The sources revealed that the arrested men confessed to being fighters of the Islamic sect and were all on the run following the reported killing of their leader, Abubakar Shekau, during the confrontation of the sect with the military at Konduga last week.

They said the suspects who pleaded for mercy, also promised to cooperate with security operatives by giving them useful information on the whereabouts of other sect members on the run as well as those holding the Chibok girls.

It was also disclosed that most of the suspects were between the ages of 18 and 25 and were fluent in Kanuri and Hausa languages.

The sources said the arrested men confessed to have been among the insurgents who fought at Bama and Konduga where they were overwhelmed by the military.
Meanwhile, there was a mixture of excitement and uncertainty yesterday when news filtered into Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, that some of the female students who were abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok five months ago by Boko Haram had been released.

However, investigations showed that the information on the schoolgirls was misplaced and had gained traction when some Chibok girls who had escaped from their captors several months ago were conveyed by the Borno State Government in two buses to Maimalari barracks in Maiduguri.

This was compounded when DHQ spokesman, Major-General Chris Olukolade, erroneously informed several media houses (including THISDAY) that the girls sighted at the barracks had just regained their freedom from their abductors.

This was the second time in five months Olukolade had issued a wrong statement on the fate of the Chibok girls. Two days after their abduction on April 14, he had told the whole world that 107 girls had been freed by the military. The statement turned out to be false.

But given that Olukolade’s statement yesterday was in stark contrast with the information obtained from the Borno State Government and Department of State Security in the state, THISDAY decided to err on the side of caution by not posting the story on its website until Olukolade issued the retraction.

In a text message sent to journalists, he said: “The story circulating in respect of the release of the Chibok girls is not true please. The buses that drove into the barracks were conveying other individuals.”

The escaped girls had been taken to the barracks so that the military could provide escorts that would accompany them to their new schools in Kaduna and Abuja, as earlier promised two months ago by the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

Some of the soldiers in the barracks confirmed that about 35 girls were released to the military authorities to escort them to their schools outside the state.
About 30 girls were later sighted at the Government House, Maiduguri, in two 18-sitter buses.

Also closely parked by the two buses were military vehicles and a large detachment of soldiers.

However, following the retraction, there was palpable disappointment among the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, which has led the campaign for the rescue of the girls. The campaign by the group also drew global attention to their abduction.

Leader of the group and former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, was among those who wanted to believe that the girls had regained their freedom, but was restrained by mixed feelings of joy and disbelief.

An obviously anxious Ezekwesili, in successive twitter posts, said: “DAY162 of our #ChibokGirls. I have said it would be a day of unspeakable joy when the agony of our 219 daughters and their parents shall end.

“We wait and we are of good courage that our girls shall be rescued. We stay unrelenting in our expectation.

“Yes, the rumour of their rescue is strong. We wait with earnest hope and expectation for evidence. What joy.
“My heart is pounding in excited anxiety as we wait. Lord, please let not our hopes be dashed. Let this be the day.

“@GENOlukolade please get the military to end our anxiety. Can we see evidence that our #ChibokGirls are the ones being rumoured rescued?

“If only the @GENOlukolade and our HQNigerianArmy can confirm this strong rumour to be the truth by having our girls before the camera please.

“#ChibokParents cannot confirm because they also don’t know and are hearing strong rumours like everyone of us. Waiting is hard. Too hard.”

But her hopes and those of several Nigerians were dashed when DHQ retracted its statement, unleashing such venom from Nigerians on the social media.

Ezekwesili once again took to twitter to say, “Once again, our hopes are dashed. The @DefenceInfoNG says rumour not true that our #ChibokGirls were rescued. It is heart breaking. Speechless.

“All who echoed sounds of joy at the news that sadly dashed our hopes, take not back your voice. Echo their cry for freedom: #BringBackOurGirls!!!!!!
“We cannot afford the luxury of hopeless disappointment so we rise from dashed hopes and stay demanding #BringBackOurGirls now and alive!”

Expectedly, on several social media platforms, the news was greeted with outrage, pain and anger all targeted at the military for misleading the public especially the affected families.

One of such was from Yomi Ladipo who said: “General Chris Olukolade deserves to be fired for that silly statement. How dare you toy with such sensitive information?”

Credit: Thisday

Crisis brews in Bayelsa as residents lament about high electricity bills charged by PHEDC

Tempers are rising in Bayelsa State over what aggrieved stakeholders described as the “fraudulent electricity bills” charged by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC).

Already, the state chapter of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has threatened to mobilise the residents for a massive protest in Yenagoa against the company.

The CLO said the PHEDC was milking consumers through unjustifiable huge electricity bills they collect for services not rendered.

Former state Secretary of the CLO, Alagoa Morris, who led other officials of the group on an advocacy visit to the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Bayelsa State Council of the NUJ, in Yenagoa, said it was unbecoming of the PHEDC.

He said the citizens were groaning under “the present taskmaster kind of unfair service delivery and aggressive drive to forcefully collect money from them on the basis of  estimated bills”.

Morris, who represented the state chairman of CLO, Nengi James, said the Yenagoa Business Office of the firm collects the indiscriminate estimates with impunity.

He said the company was hiding under Section 390 of the Criminal Code to criminalise the consuming public in the state.

“It is absurd for a billing system which continues to increase charges for a one-bedroom apartment from N3,000 per month to N6,000 and N10,000 per month even before the middle of the month”,he said.

Morris added, “This is fraudulent and they are doing so with impunity. This impunity must be resisted and stopped in our collective interest.

“A people’s protest is imminent and unless the authorities take up the gauntlet and check the criminal excesses of this Dracula called PHEDC, nothing but civil disobedience will be good enough.

“The CLO is ready and willing to not only effectively participate in such people’s protest on the streets, CLO will lead and be on the side of the people whose rights are so unjustly violated and abused.

 
“CLO is calling on the government to stop this impunity, it cannot be condoned anymore”.