ACPN alleges plot to release Gbemi Saraki’s fake nude pictures

 

 Mar 31, 2011

Anti-female governor rally due tomorrow

 Senator Gbemi Saraki

Ilorin -  Barely 48 hours to the commencement of the 2011 National Assembly elections, the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, has alerted of a fresh plot by Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  to publish a fake nude photograph of the ACPN gubernatorial candidate in the state, Senator Gbemisola Saraki.
The plot which included an anti-female governor procession to the metropolis from the mosque after Jumat on Friday was allegedly being coordinated by the wife of a highly placed top shot of the PDP in the state.
These revelations were contained in a statement issued in Ilorin, yesterday, and signed by the publicity secretary of the party, Alhaji Abdulahi Oganija.
According to the ACPN, a meeting held at the Kwara State Government House lodge on Tuesday afternoon where strategies to use against the ACPN at next Saturday’s poll was discussed, including details of the publication of a fake nude photograph of Gbemi Saraki and the recruitment of young men who would carry placards from Ilorin Central Mosque after Jumat  with the shout of  “no to a woman governor in a Muslim state”.
The ACPN informed that the PDP had been planning to publish a fake nude photograph of its gubernatorial candidate for some time, but each time it planned to release the publication, the information leaked.

vanguardngr.com/2011/03/acpn-alleges-plot-to-release-gbemi-sarakis-fake-nude-pictures/

Nigeria satisfied with international pressure to oust Gbagbo

 Mar 31, 2011

 

United Nations -  Nigeria says it is satisfied with the international pressure and isolation aimed at removing incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d’Ivoire from power.
Gbagbo’s refusal to cede power to the internationally recognised winner of last November’s election, Alassane Ouattara, had plunged the country into protracted crisis.
Nigeria ambassador to the UN Joy Ogwu, spoke to reporters on Wednesday in New York after the UN Security Council voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Gbagbo, his wife and three associates.
“We are satisfied that all member states in one voice and one accord called for specific and targeted sanctions against Gbagbo.
“ For us we believe that the die is cast and this will present sufficient pressure on Gbagbo to step down,’’ she said.
Ogwu said the Council’s resolution also gave UN peacekeepers in the country more authority to protect civilians, as requested by ECOWAS heads of government.
“ECOWAS did not ask for the use of force they just asked for targeted sanctions and a reinforcement of the mandate of UNOCI to deal with the protection of civilian population which also includes citizens from ECOWAS member states and other neighbouring countries.
“What ECOWAS was asking for is a united international voice, a collective international voice that we have received today.”
The Nigeria ambassador however admitted that some of the “elements’’ which ECOWAS wanted into the resolution were “dissected’’ by council members.
“ Especially the use of heavy weapons was tampered to read like this:  UNOCI will prevent rather than seize heavy weapons’’.
“That implies that UNOCI should not go beyond its mandate to protect civilians and defend itself,’’ she said.
Ogwu said the resolution also warned Gbagbo of the possibility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) punishing those who violate international humanitarian law.
Resolution 1975 was adopted five days after its introduction by Nigeria and France.
The resolution was at the behest of ECOWAS member states to the Security Council to provide a tougher mandate for the UN force in Cote d’Ivoire to help oust Gbagbo from power. (NAN)

 vanguardngr.com/2011/03/nigeria-satisfied-with-international-pressure-to-oust-gbagbo/

Polls: Soldiers’ll carry arms, says COAS

Mar 31, 2011
BY  GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN – WITH  less than 48 hours to the National Assembly election in the country, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Thursday, in Benin, warned all persons who may have perfected plans to foment trouble during the April polls to have a rethink, saying that it would be an unnecessary venture.
Answering questions from journalists shortly after he paid a courtesy visit on Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Lt-Gen. Ihejirika said “As I said earlier, we have done enough in terms of preparations and I am also happy to note that we have much more logistics this time around  than we have before even though the level of violence has also increased than we know before”.
“The Army is prepared to do our very best to prevent violence. Like I said in Ibadan, I still appeal to hoodlums to have a re-think because it is an unnecessary venture. It is the desire of all citizens and all good citizens of Nigeria to have peaceful, free and fair elections. The Army in this respect will work in conjunction with the other services”

“Let me say that we will bear arms not to interfere with the electoral process. We will bear arms to ensure that those who want to interfere with the electoral process by use of arms are prevented from doing so”. ..
 The Chief of Army Staff had earlier told Governor Oshiomhole of his readiness to address contemporary challenges facing the Nigeria Army particularly internal problems within the force.
 Lt-Gen. Ihejirika while stressing the need for professionalism in the Army told the governor that his visit to Edo State was in continuation of the tour of 2nd Division area of responsibility, disclosing that the tour has afforded him the opportunity to access the readiness of officers of the Nigerian Army to discharge their constitutional responsibility during the April polls.
Responding, Governor Oshiomhole thanked the Chief of Army Staff for the visit and expressed gratitude to him for the collaboration of the military in the state with the state government in the area of internal security.
He added that the Army was helping the State Government to make a difference in the state security outfit, “Operation Thunderstorm” as its involvement has led to the arrest of several criminals.
The Governor commended the Nigeria Army and the Armed Forces for standing on the side of democracy since 1999, saying that though some people were uncomfortable with the involvement of the Army in the April elections, he was personally comfortable because he believed the Army in the past had shown neutrality and would do so during the elections.
Oshiomhole insisted that the Army’s involvement was necessary because the Police alone had no capacity to provide the required security during the polls.
“In Edo, the people are looking forward to a peaceful election even though there are people who are determined to undermine the process. This is where the role of the Army becomes necessary”, he said

vanguardngr.com/2011/03/polls-soldiersll-carry-arms-says-coas/

We Didn’t Endorse Jonathan – NLC

 

Thursday, 31 March 2011 Moses John, Abuja

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the congress did not endorse any of the presidential candidates ahead of the 2011 general elections just as it warned that any state governments that refused to pay the N18,000 minimum wage just signed by the president would be inviting trouble.

Speaking with Labour correspondents in Abuja yesterday, the NLC President Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar said the organized labour would battle any state government that failed to implement the new wage.

Comrade Omar pointed out that the NLC and Nigerian workers would prefer a labour-friendly president. He, however, denied endorsing any candidates for the April polls and advised the electorate to vote for anyone of their choice.

“We were at the Presidential Villa yesterday to meet with Mr. President; at least you did not hear us say that we have endorsed the president or any of the candidates. We cannot endorse any candidate but we will want a labour friendly president. Anyone that is labour friendly, we will identify with at our individual level and vote for such candidate,” Omar said.

Comrade Omar also warned against unnecessary delay in the implementation of the new wage.

“We will encourage employers to immediately commence implementation,” he said. “Any employer that decides to drag the implementation will only be doing that at his own peril because the law is clear and the law takes effect from the day the president assented to the bill and, therefore, if anybody wishes to accumulate arrears,  he is only doing that on its own, but as much as possible we will encourage that payment and implementation commence immediately so as to avoid accumulation of unnecessary arrears.”

leadershipeditors.com/ns/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=28104:we-didnt-endorse-jonathan--nlc&catid=51:cover-stories&Itemid=142

Jonathan Promises Jobs Via Agriculture, Oil Sector

Thursday, 31 March 2011 Tony Icheku and Igho Oyoyo, Abuja

Experts applaud debate

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described himself as a responsible leader who would not put his personal interest above the nation’s interest in the course of his official responsibility.

He restated his commitment to transforming the nation if reelected as president in the coming general elections, and promised to fight poverty through massive job creation from commercial agriculture and the oil sector.
The president spoke during a presidential debate boycotted by his main opponents, General Muhammadu Buhari (CPC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu (ACN) and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP) in Abuja yesterday.
A mass communication expert, Dr, Salihu Ibrahim, last night described the president’s performance in the debate as “excellent”, saying: “I wish his opponents participated in the debate so that the public can assess all of them together.”
The chief of party, Centre For Public Opinion and Media Research, Mr. Osaro Odemwingie, also applauded Jonathan’s debate. “The president needs to be applauded; he did very well. I see a candidate with a clear vision, a candidate who is very coherent, a candidate with a clear vision in his programme,” he said.
The mass communication expert said his only regret was that his opponents boycotted the programme.
Responding to questions by a panel made up of the national president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye; the president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Malam Muhammed Garuba, and the executive director (news) of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Mr. Imoni Amarere, the president said he could not participate in the presidential debate organised by NN24 because of exigency of time and official duties.
He said before he got the invitation of the NN24, he had received over 12 similar invitations from other groups and that, as a president, he did not have the luxury of time to attend all the debates.
Jonathan said he had no problem debating with anybody because he believes that, as a public officeholder, he must be accountable to the people.
The president said he was committed to transforming Nigeria to the huge expectation of Nigerians and the international community. “My presidency will bring hope to Nigerians - that wherever you come from, you can aspire to any position in the country. I will not discriminate against anybody,” he said.
In order to deploy more financial resources to the grass roots, Jonathan said he would accede to the recommendation of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) on revenue-sharing formula.
On the issue of corruption, Jonathan said it was the responsibility of everybody to fight corruption. He said though institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) were created to fight corruption, the battle should not be limited to the institutions. The president said he would continue to give free hand to the anti–corruption agencies to do their jobs within the laid down rules and regulations.
The president said his immediate priority, if elected, is to ensure effective power generation and distribution, noting that if the power problems are fixed, most of the challenges facing the nation would be easily tackled. He said there were many ongoing projects to fix the problems and expressed strong confidence that power would be stabilized.
He also promised to assent to the Freedom of Information Bill once it is sent to him, saying it would promote transparency and accountability in governance.
President Jonathan restated his commitment to free, fair and credible elections in spite of the fact that he is contesting an election. He advised the electorate to shun any action that is capable of causing violence during the elections, saying the security agencies had been instructed to deal with anybody found committing crime during the elections. 

 

leadershipeditors.com/ns/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28105:jonathan-promises-jobs-via-agriculture-oil-sector&catid=51:cover-stories&Itemid=142

 

 

You Can’t Afford To Fail, Obama Tells Nigeria

Thursday, 31 March 2011  Abiodun Oluwarotimi, Washington DC

Warns against violence

United States President Barack Obama has warned the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration to avoid rigging and violence during the forthcoming general election in Nigeria.

Speaking through Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the United States assistant secretary on African affairs, in Washington DC, President Obama urged Nigerians to demonstrate their ability to hold fair and democratic elections as the country prepares for legislative, presidential and state balloting scheduled for April 2, April 9 and April 16 respectively.
Saying it is “absolutely essential” that Nigeria holds better elections in 2011 than it held in 2007, the diplomat noted that the 2007 elections “were deeply flawed and, in fact, were poorly administered and poorly run”.
“The 2007 elections in no way reflected the ability and the capacity of Nigeria to organise and run successful elections. In 2011, the Obama administration wants to see Nigeria reverse its ‘trajectory of bad elections’ and substantially improve its election management and processes,” he said.
Carson warned that a flawed electoral process will lead to a loss of confidence by Nigerians in their leaders, their country’s governing institutions and democracy itself, stressing that this an opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate its capacity to both manage and hold democratic elections, which are the desire of the people.
Although the level of violence in the run-up to the elections is not as serious as it was in 2007, Carson said the violence already perpetrated has been “too much”.
He called on Nigerian security authorities to do everything they can to ensure the safety of polling places and prevent violence, harassment and intimidation against Nigerian voters and candidates.
“Violence has no place in a democratic society or in a democratic electoral process, and all of the country’s leaders … must work to do everything they can to make these elections as free of violence and intimidation as possible,” he said.
The assistant secretary praised Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, for doing “an outstanding job of managing this process and helping to reshape an election commission whose reputation had been deeply tarnished by the leadership.”
The United States has supported Jega’s efforts through technical assistance and funding.
Carson urged all election officials to respect Jega’s leadership and direction, and added that Nigeria’s state-level election officials will also be scrutinized for their conduct.
Carson said there are 17 presidential elections scheduled to occur in Africa during 2011 and the Obama administration would be watching all of them. He said that to strengthen democracy, the focus should be on the institutions rather than the individual candidates.
“The era of ‘big man’ politics in Africa should be history and behind us,” he said. “It is good, strong institutions which are most important.”
All Africans have a right to participate in the election of their local, regional and national leaders, and those elections “should be transparent, fair and credible,” Carson said.
“Election commissions should be independent of executive control and authority and independent of political manipulation,” he said. The electoral process, he added, should be “monitored by domestic groups as well as international groups and open to observation by the media.

leadershipeditors.com/ns/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28106:you-cant-afford-to-fail-obama-tells-nigeria&catid=51:cover-stories&Itemid=142

CBN, NNPC, ISAN, Others Meet Over Crude Oil Lifting

 

The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, stated recently that the inability of both the NNPC and ISAN to reach a compromise is responsible for the exclusion of indigenous operators in the lifting of the nation’s crude oil.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting  attended by members of ISAN and officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NCS) at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, the minister said the major reason indigenous shipping operators have not been participating in the lifting of Nigeria’s crude oil is because   ISAN and NNPC have been unable to reach a compromise over the lingering issue.
Suleiman explained that the NNPC requires indigenous operators to buy certain class of vessels before they can participate in the lifting of the nation’s crude oil, while members of ISAN harp on getting the jobs before the acquisition of the vessels that meet the NNPC’s specifications.
“This meeting does not change the position of the NNPC, in the sense that they want to be sure that it would not jeopardize their operations by engaging ISAN and Nigerian shipping companies to move the crude oil. They want to be sure that you have the capacity to do it. That is basically the bottomline. And I remember that that was why during our meeting in Abuja, myself and the Minister of Finance specifically said that we will talk to NNPC to start the process,” he said.
“And that was why the issue of bilateral cargo came in, and we said that, let us say that now ISAN would start carrying bilateral cargo and let us ask the Nigerian shipping companies to start carrying bilateral cargo and let’s see the progress made in that direction, which will enable government to a take decision with respect to other cargo,” Suleiman said.
The Transport Minister lamented that Nigeria copied the Jones Act of the United States (US) wholesale as its own version of the Cabotage Act without putting into consideration, Nigeria’s present state of development, which, he said, has been the major problem with the Act.
In his words: “I believe what we did was to import the Jones Act fully without putting into account our present state of development. In the United States, it was said that all government cargo must be carried by American flagged ships, built ships and manned ships. That is understandable, because they had the capacity and the resources to do that, because, by the time the act was enacted, they were one of the greatest ship building countries in the world.”
Chairman of ISAN, Chief Isaac Jolapamo, in his contribution lamented that, going by the  association’s research , the country was losing an estimated N1.56 trillion annually due to foreign participation in the lifting of Nigeria’s crude oil, adding that  in the process, about five million jobs are given to foreigners annually. He explained that that is because  key stakeholders are not contacted before decisions are taken by government. He noted that of the 2,000 vessels owned by his members, none is involved in the lifting of Nigeria’s crude oil.

 pmnewsnigeria.com/2011/03/28/cbn-nnpc-isan-others-meet-over-crude-oil-lifting/