2015:Factors That Will Determine My Declaration – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday
harped on the platform provided by the
Eid-El-Kabir celebration to inform Nigerians
of certain considerations he had been
grappling with before yielding to calls by
some Nigerians to contest the 2015
presidential poll.

“In deciding on an appropriate response to
such calls, I will place the greater interests
of national harmony, cohesion, unity,
security, political stability, progress, equity,
justice and fairness above any personal
ambition or sectional agenda”, he stated.
In his Sallah message to Nigerians
contained in a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati,
Jonathan enjoined politicians and other
Nigerians to eschew personal interest and
divisive sectional agenda in the the forthcoming 2015 general polls.

He thanked “the many individuals,
stakeholders, groups, associations, non-
governmental organizations, unions and
political leaders from across the country” who, according to him “have, in recognition
and appreciation of our efforts and commitment to repositioning our dear nation for more rapid growth and development, urged me to seek a second
term in office.”

Northerners Condemn Jonathan’s Independence speech

Prominent voices from Northern Nigeria have replied President Goodluck Jonathan’s self appraisal in his Independence Day address, where he said, he has performed well in the last five years of his government.

They disagreed with the President on the claim, saying he has failed woefully with his inability to put his feet on the ground and deal with those who had been the cog in the will of Nigeria’s progress.

The northern public also faulted the celebration of the country’s independence, saying only those looting the nation’s treasury had reasons to celebrate.

Shehu Sani, a prominent human rights activist, said, “The Jonathan administration has been able to appease the yearning of people of South South to produce the President of Nigeria. But all that has is that he ended up enriching a gang of militants and he has become so inept and incapable of prosecuting corruption.

“The nation has never been divided like we have been under Goodluck Jonathan and the worst of all today, we are faced with a serious problem of insurgency and kidnapped to which the reputation of his government damaged.

“The President has failed woefully, especially with his inability to put his feet down and deal with some certain persons in his government who had been seen to be cog in the will of Nigeria’s progress.”

On the nation’s independence, he said, “You can categorize Nigeria’s history into four segments namely the colonial era, democratic era, military rule, civil war and now insurgency. To assess the journey so far, you can also sub divide it into three or four sub sections.

“You can assess the journey so far politically, economically, socially and the journey so far historically. Politically, you can say that we have spent most of our period of independence under military rule and that had denied Nigerians the opportunity to rise and fall and learn from the democratic process.

“The military rule was a period characterized by human right violations, tyranny, depression and unaccountable government. It was also a period of political prosecution.

The military rule was an aberration, it was a moment in which individuals took up arms against the will and the constitution of the country and impose themselves as political leaders. In the process, they amass wealth, stylishly the socio-political and economic development of the country.

The Spokesman of Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said, “There is nothing to say than telling Nigerians that there is no reason to celebrate Nigeria at 54.

While, a former federal lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said, “Nigeria is not in the right direction towards development. We are only in the direction towards mayhem and confusion, poverty, corruption and irresponsible governance. Therefore, there is nothing celebrate about our being 54. And those who go out of their way to loot our treasury to celebrate know within themselves that, there is nothing to celebrate.”

Tourism to become next gold mine in Bayelsa- Commissioner

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Tourism Development, Julius Otele, has admonished all Bayelsans to support the administration of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, as he makes efforts to develop the tourism sector in the state.

Tourism, the commissioner said, is the next goldmine that would generate massive income for the state if fully developed, because of the rich cultural heritage of the people, eco-tourism and historical sites that abound in the state.

Otele noted that the state government is presently embarking on a lot of infrastructural development, especially in the tourism sector.

He said when the state’s five star hotel, Oxbow Lake Galleria, Gloryland Castle, polo club, golf course and several other hotels are completed, the tourism industry would create numerous employment opportunities for youths in the state and the country at large.

The commissioner, who stated this during a facility tour of project sites with the press recently, observed that the Bayelsa State government has equally established the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management to help in the training of specialised manpower for the tourism industry, in anticipation of the upsurge of business activities in the state.

The Director-General of the Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency, Ebiz Ndiomu-Brown, who accompanied the commissioner during the tour of the projects, said the agency, in collaboration with other development partners, has been organising world-class events as a strategic plan to discover, promote and market the tourism potential of the state to the international community.

According to Ndiomu-Brown, the agency has succeeded in placing Bayelsa on the world tourism calendar, “as tourists and visitors troop to the state from across the globe, as we organise world-class entertainment events, such as the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), the Bayelsa International Jazz Festival, the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant, the African Fashion Reception, Caribbean, African, American Nations Music Awards and several other entertainment events.”

Brown also highlighted government’s strategic security infrastructure to ensure the safety of lives and property, adding that Bayelsa is the safest and most secure state in the country.

The director-general also observed that the entertainment events organised by the agency have helped to boost economic activities in the state, which is why standard hotels are springing up daily.

In recognition of this, the managing director of Hotels and Tourism Company Limited, Enukiye Bribea, whose company is supervising the construction of all the hospitality infrastructure in the state, said, most of the projects embarked upon by the government would be completed by 2015 because of the pace at which the consultants and the construction companies are working, to ensure prompt delivery on projects.

On his part, the Rector, International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Prince Every, hinted that the institute would begin the admissions process for students from January 2015. The institute is a monotechnic established to provide specialised human capacity development for the hospitality industry in the country and beyond. The accreditation of its courses is in progress, the rector said.

ONDO: We won’t surrender our structure to Mimiko, it’s too late for that – PDP

The Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected  plan by the National Working Committee of the party to review the structure of the state chapter in favour of  Governor Olusegun Mimiko who recently defected to the party after dumping the Labour Party, LP.

This was made known by Deputy Chairman of the PDP in the state, Hon. Fatai Adams, who said the party had gone to court to defend the interest of members who had toiled hard to make it strong.

He also said it was too late for restructuring as the party was close to holding its primaries and that aspirants vying for various elective offices had already emerged.#

Adams said Mimiko was welcome to the PDP, adding that the party was ready to work with him in the interest of the state

He also stated that as of the time of speaking to the press, Mimiko was yet to discuss with the state PDP executive.

, “We are ready to work with him and move this state forward. We are also prepared to support the governor in ensuring President Goodluck Jonathan’s victory in 2015.

“However, the state working committee has resolved to protect the structure of the party at the state, local government and ward levels. We have filed an injunction in the High Court sitting in Abuja to protect this structure.

“This is because the primaries are a month away and a lot of aspirants have indicated their interests in contesting under the party. “We are fully prepared to protect the interests of all members who have laboured and spent their resources to make the party become the beautiful bride it is today.

“We are not ready to surrender the structure of the party to anybody because we were elected and we are prepared to ensure the success of the party.”

 

Gunmen Kidnap Ibedaowei of Kolokuma’s Brother

Gunmen in Kaiama, headquarters of Kolokuma Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have abducted one Mr. Mozi Agara, a 64-year-old younger brother of the Ibedaowei (King) of Kolokuma Kingdom King Mozi Anya Agara, and former staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Bayelsa Police Command, DSP Akighbe Alex said the men of the police force acting on a tip off chased the kidnappers to the Odi waterfront where the gunmen escaped with their in a waiting speed boat, adding that the vehicles used by the gunmen have been recovered by the police.

A close relative of the victim Amaran Suoyo, told our correspondent that the gunmen stormed the residence of the victim in Olobiri and whisked him away to an undisclosed location.
Meanwhile, no contact has been established with the kidnappers according to the family source.