S/Sudan President, Rebel Chief Due In Ethiopia For Peace Talks

South Sudan’s president and rebel leader Riek Machar are flying for face-to- face peace talks in Ethiopia, a foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday, to try and end two weeks of fighting feared to have left thousands dead. “Both President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar are coming to Addis Ababa for talks, they are coming now and should meet today,” Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told AFP. The world’s youngest nation plunged into chaos on December 15 when Kiir accused his former deputy Machar of mounting a coup. Machar in turn has accused the president of using a clash between army units as a pretext to carry out a violent purge. Regional leaders at the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African grouping, have demanded Machar agree to a ceasefire and hold face-to-face talks with Kiir by Tuesday. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has warned that Machar must comply with the ceasefire deal by Tuesday or face action by regional nations. He said if Machar does not respond “we shall have to go for him,” without clarifying if his threat involved military action. Thousands of people are feared to have been killed in over two weeks of fighting, pitching army units loyal to President Salva Kiir against a loose alliance of ethnic militia forces and mutinous army commanders nominally headed by ex-vice president Riek Machar. Ethiopia’s announcement of peace talks between the rivals came as rebel spokesman Moses Ruai claimed to have recaptured the key town of Bor after a pre-dawn assault on government forces. “Bor is under our control… we are now in Bor town now,” Ruai told AFP. However, army spokesman Philip Aguer said that fighting was still ongoing, and rejected the claim. “There is still fighting in Bor, the fighting is not yet finalised,” he said. There have also been grim reports of massacres, rapes and killings, prompting the African Union to threaten “targeted sanctions” over the conflict. (AFP)

S/Sudan President, Rebel Chief Due In Ethiopia For Peace Talks

South Sudan’s president and rebel leader Riek Machar are flying for face-to- face peace talks in Ethiopia, a foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday, to try and end two weeks of fighting feared to have left thousands dead. “Both President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar are coming to Addis Ababa for talks, they are coming now and should meet today,” Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told AFP. The world’s youngest nation plunged into chaos on December 15 when Kiir accused his former deputy Machar of mounting a coup. Machar in turn has accused the president of using a clash between army units as a pretext to carry out a violent purge. Regional leaders at the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African grouping, have demanded Machar agree to a ceasefire and hold face-to-face talks with Kiir by Tuesday. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has warned that Machar must comply with the ceasefire deal by Tuesday or face action by regional nations. He said if Machar does not respond “we shall have to go for him,” without clarifying if his threat involved military action. Thousands of people are feared to have been killed in over two weeks of fighting, pitching army units loyal to President Salva Kiir against a loose alliance of ethnic militia forces and mutinous army commanders nominally headed by ex-vice president Riek Machar. Ethiopia’s announcement of peace talks between the rivals came as rebel spokesman Moses Ruai claimed to have recaptured the key town of Bor after a pre-dawn assault on government forces. “Bor is under our control… we are now in Bor town now,” Ruai told AFP. However, army spokesman Philip Aguer said that fighting was still ongoing, and rejected the claim. “There is still fighting in Bor, the fighting is not yet finalised,” he said. There have also been grim reports of massacres, rapes and killings, prompting the African Union to threaten “targeted sanctions” over the conflict. (AFP)

Sport: Jupp Heynckes Says Bayern Munich Can Rule Europe For The Next Decade

Former Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes says that Bayern Munich can rule Europe for the next decade. The 68-year-old led the Bavarian outfit to a treble last season and says that the side he passed onto Pep Guardiola is perfectly placed to usher in an era of unprecedented dominance. For all Barca's dominance in Europe within the last 8 years, they couldn't win the champions league back-to-back. Do you see Bayern Munich going on a trophy spree in Europe in the next 10 years?

Sport: Jupp Heynckes Says Bayern Munich Can Rule Europe For The Next Decade

Former Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes says that Bayern Munich can rule Europe for the next decade. The 68-year-old led the Bavarian outfit to a treble last season and says that the side he passed onto Pep Guardiola is perfectly placed to usher in an era of unprecedented dominance. For all Barca's dominance in Europe within the last 8 years, they couldn't win the champions league back-to-back. Do you see Bayern Munich going on a trophy spree in Europe in the next 10 years?

Mikel Was Down With A Flu Before The Liverpool's Game-Mou

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has explained his exclussion of Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Jon Obi from the starting line up, saying the player was down with flu. The battling midfielder later came on in the second half to replace Frank Lampard as Chelsea looked to keep their 2-1 lead safe. He said: "Mikel had started the last two games during the holiday period and he also had flu," explained Mourinho after the hard-fought win over Liverpool. Mourinho also said he expected Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o to adapt quicker to the fast pace of the EPL. "The sooner he adapts, the better. I have told him so," said the coach while defending some late tackles by the striker against Liverpool. Eto'o scored the match winner for 'The Blues' on Sunday, but TV replays showed he gave away a penalty for a cynical charge on Luis Suarez right inside the Chelsea box, which referee Howard Web did not award. Chelsea with 40 points from 19 matches are two points behind leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool drop to fifth place after loosing two matches in a row.

DWYANE WADE CONFIRMS HE FATHERED A LOVE CHILD DURING BREAK WITH GABRIELLE UNION

Dwyane Wade has confirmed that he actually fathered a son during a brief split from his now- fiancée Gabrielle Union . ‘ I had a time, a part in our break, in our pain and our hurt, a blessing came out of it in my life, having a son that was born healthy’ , the 31- year-old NBA player revealed during a press conference on Monday, December 30, 2013, the Sun Sentinel reports. The basketball player is father to kids Zaire and Zion. Following a 3-year court battle with ex- wife Siohvaughn Funches , Wade was awarded custody of his children.

BREAKING NEWS: Gov. Oshiomole Badly Injured, Rushed To Secret London Hospital

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, is currently battling for survival after a horrible auto crash which his aides noted that is not serious. Some sources within Government House claim that the governor was flown to London to get treatment in an undisclosed hospital. According to the reliable sources, contrary to the facts stated by his media aide, Kassim Afegbua, that all was well with the governor; in reality he sustained serious injuries on his head as well as pains in his heart. It has been gathered that Mr. Oshiomhole was first attended to in the government house by his doctor of physiotherapist and medical doctor, but he never responded well to immediate treatment, hence he was promptly flown out in secret. Journalists have been making frantic effort to get the true story after it was broken exclusively yesterday by a London based media, Elombah.com, but they have made no headway. A source who spoke to the Paradigm correspondents queried why the government is scared of showing the world the pictures of the car which carried the governor on that fateful day if the car was not badly hit. When The Paradigm contacted another official source within the government house, it said the governor was hurriedly flown to the United State in a chartered air ambulance. However, the source preferred to remain anonymous.

Obasanjo Wanted To Create Confusion To Pave Ways For Sule Lamido- Dr Madugu

Former Minister of Agriculture and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Jonah Madugu, has described the visit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to former President Olusegun Obasanjo as mere window shopping, saying that the visit has no psychological effect on the PDP. Speaking with journalist in Jos, Dr Madugu said the visit clearly depicted that most politicians in the opposition party had no principle and conscience, adding that those who visited former President Obasanjo were his antagonists who derided him both within and outside the government. "They perceived the former president's letter to President Goodluck Jonathan as an opportunity to woo Obasanjo to their side and he is fallen prey. The question is at what time did Obsanjo become their lackey. As far as we are concerned in the PDP, they are simply on window shopping looking for opportunity." According to him, the body language of former President Obasanjo in the past two years coupled with his visit to Jigawa State and his recent letter to President Jonathan were pointers to the fact that he wanted to create confusion to pave way for the Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, in 2015 He said, " We don't understand his style of leadership, he brought in the incumbent president and on the other side he is trying to create opportunity for Governor Sule Lamido. A faithful party member cannot behave like that, if there is any  misunderstanding between him and the president, he should have gone to him and treat the matter as a family issue. "The letter he wrote is not in his best interest as a leader. If it was during his tenure that a past leader wrote him such a letter, he would not have accommodated it, he would have gone after that fellow. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones." "As an individual the former President Obasanjo has lost his focus but PDP has not. We therefore advise him as a statesman we respect a lot to retrace his steps of else we will forget him" Dr. Madugu said the ruling party PDP is not disturbed by the visit and other moves of the APC as being portray by some people adding that People's Democratic Party is till at the vantage position to win election comes 2015

Actress Fathia Balogun finally drops ex-hubby’s surname

Actress Fathia Balogun has finally dropped ex- husband Saide Balogun’s surname to revert to her maiden name ‘Williams’. The actress on her instagram page now bears Fathia Williams, although her Facebook and Twitter pages remain Balogun. Fathia-Williams She didn’t give up the name so easily. It took her ex-hubby, six years, countless interviews on all forms of media and finally a legal action. Fathia only a few weeks ago reportedly vowed to retain the name at all cost but it seems her resolve has weakened. Close sources say she wants to test the waters with this first change, to see how the industry will react and gauge her potency as a sought after actress before finally removing Balogun … forever!.
Source: Vanguard

Mariah Carey Is Not Having Any More Kid Unless Nick Cannon Can Get Pregnant

Mother of two Mariah Carey says she’s done having kids and if her husband Nick Cannon wants more children, he will have to get pregnant and have the babies himself. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live , the 44 year old singer was asked by a fan caller whether or not she and Nick were planning to have more children…
“If Nick could have the babies
himself, then yeah, bring ‘em on.
We love kids,” Mariah answered.
“Here’s the thing: This is real. I’m
responsible for the kids for like
forever. I look at it like, they didn’t
ask for this lifestyle but here they
are.”
“To anyone who has ever carried
twins, it is a totally different
experience…You don’t even know
who you are. I had a very difficult
pregnancy, but I was alone most of
the time. We love Nick, but he’s
working. He’s the hardest-working
man in show business.”
Source: LIB

Nse Ikpe-etim, Desmond Elliot, Omawunmi Others Nominated For Ghana Movie Awards

Nigerian actors; Desmond Elliot, Rita
Dominic, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Patience Ozokwor,
Omawumi, Yemi Blaq have been nominated
for the 4th edition of Ghana Movie Awards.
Scheduled to hold on Monday, December 30,
2013 at the Accra International Conference
Center.
Ghanaian nominees include Yvonne Okoro,
Lydia Forson, Majid Michel, Jackie Appiah,
Yvonne Nelson, Joselyn Dumas, John
Dumelo, Van Vicker, to mention a few.
NOMINEES
(1) BEST AFRICAN COLLABORATION (BEST
ACTOR)
Contract -Hlomla Dandala
Number One Fan – Yemi Black
Finding Mercy- Desmond Elliot
House of Gold -Francis Odega
Volunteers – Bobby Obodo
(2) BEST AFRICAN COLLABORATION (BEST
ACTRESS)
Nse Ikpe Etim- Purple Rose
Rita Dominic –Finding Mercy
Omawumi Meglele- House of Gold
Ivie Okujaye- Volunteers
Patience Ozokwor – Slave Boy
(3) BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Ivan Ayitey- Contract
Berni Anti –House of Gold
Shaun Burdick- Northern Affair
(4) WRITING- ADAPTED OR ORIGINAL
SCREENPLAY
Contract–by Herty Owusu and Shirley
Frimpong-Manso
House of Gold – by Pascal Amanfo
Northern Affair – by Leila Djansi
The Pledge– by Benjamin Dwomoh
Cheaters- by Frank Rajah
(5) PRODUCTION DESIGN
A) Okomfo Anokye OKOMFO ANOKYE –
Production design- Brinks Abdullai, Set
decoration- Bismark Gyamerah
B) The Pledge– Production design-D.J
Vegas, Set decoration-Ghana Armed forces
C) Northern Affair- Production design-Tony
Tomety, Set decoration- Palm Gottfried
D) Contract- Production design-Shirley
Frimpong-Manso, Set decoration- Ken Attoh
E) House of Gold- Production design-Pascal
Amanfo, Set decoration- Bismark Nii Odoi
(6) EDITING
Northern Affair -Dave Goldberg
Contract -Nana Akua Manso
Nkuli -Afra Marley
House of Gold -Okey Benson
The Hunter -Enoch Opoku
(7) MUSIC- ORIGINAL SONG
A) One Night Vegas -Music and lyrics by
Kobby Maxwell
B) Okomfo Anokye – Music and lyrics by
Abena Fosua
C) House of Gold – Music and lyrics by Berni
Anti and Mercy Chinwo
D) Northern Affair -Music and lyrics by Jon
Germain and Kofi Aykeame
E) Contract- Music and lyrics by-Raquel
(8) PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A
SUPPORTING ROLE
Kwadwo Nkansah (Lilwin)- Time Changes
Henry Adofo Asiedu- House of Gold
Jon Germain – Northern Affairs
Van Vicker- One Night in Vegas
Edward Agyekum Kufuor –The Pledge
(9) PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A
SUPPORTING ROLE
Lydia Forson- Volunteers
Lisa Nana yaa Awuku- Nkuli
Rose Mensah- (Kyeiwaa)- Time Changes
Roselyn Ngissah- The Pledge
Joselyn Dumas- Northern Affair
(10) PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A
LEADING ROLE
John Dumelo- Northern Affair
Kofi Adu (Agya Koo)- Okomfo Anokye
Adjetey Annang- The Hunters
James Gardiner- Nkuli
Majid Michel-The Price
(11) PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A
LEADING ROLE
Jackie Appiah- Cheaters
Yvonne Okoro-Contract
Maame Serwaa – School Girl
Yvonne Nelson- The Price
Sonia Ibrahim- Number One Fan
(12) MAKE UP AND HAIR STYLIST
Barima Nye Sunye – Jude Odeh
Purple Rose – Lydia Ashietey
The Price- Foreal Mensah
House of Gold -Joyce Mensah
(13) SOUND MIXING & EDITING
Contract- Mawuli Tofah
House of Gold- Berni Anti
Northern Affair- Shaun Burdick
One Night in Vegas- Black Tim
(14) SHORT MOVIE
Campus Scandals
Galamsey
Hospitals
(15) BEST PICTURE
Northern Affair
Contract
Hunter
House of Gold
One Night in Vegas
Number One Fan
Purple Rose
The Pledge
Finding Mercy
Okomfo Anokye

Tonto Dikeh’s Wannabe, Princess Pemu Shows Off Her Tattoos In New Pictures

Set Actress Princess Pemu Showed Off Her Tonto Dikeh Like Tattoos In New Pictures… What’s up with fine girls and smoking nowadays anyway this might be how the so called big girls leave …

I am Number One On Jonathan’s Watchlist-Amaechi Gives Condition For Returning To PDP

Return Rivers oil wells ceded to Bayelsa State and I will return to the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, is the one condition Governor Rotimi Amaechi has given President
Goodluck Jonathan. Amaechi, who is Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and one of the five PDP governors that recently defected to All Progressives Congress, APC, said he was
willing to retrace his steps back to the ruling party only if the disputed oil wells allegedly belonging to his state but was dubiously ceded to neighboring Bayelsa – the
president’s home state – are returned. The governor also lent credence to an allegation leveled against President Goodluck
Jonathan in a letter by one of his
predecessors – Chief Olusegun Obasanjo – that the present administration is training snipers and had placed about 1,000
Nigerians on a political watch list ahead of the 2015 elections, saying he was number one target on the purported list. “I’m number one on the list. They want to kill
me”, Amaechi said. Speaking during a rally organised by the
Save Rivers Movement – a political
machinery backing Amaechi’s stand on the
state’s political future at the Liberation
Stadium in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state
capital on Monday, Amaechi said despite the
2.1 million votes Mr. Jonathan received in
the state during the 2011 general elections,
the Federal Government had not executed
any project in Rivers.
He also dismissed claims that the ceding of
Rivers oil wells in Soku to Bayelsa State was
carried out during the tenure of former
Governor Rufus Ada George.
Amaechi said, “Today (yesterday), I am not
declaring. I said I would declare at the new
stadium. The reason for gathering today is to
remind Nigerians that the current Federal
Government is carrying on with impunity.
There is no rule of law in Nigeria. They are
using police to molest us. Where police fail
to molest us, they are using thugs to shoot
dynamites and guns against innocent people.
“I read the President’s (Jonathan’s) letter
and he said ex-President Obasanjo should
prove the 1,000 names on the watch list. I
am number one on the list. They want to kill
me, but they have no God. The God we
worship will protect me. Before the end of the
year, I will address the state.
“They will shoot you. They have no fear for
your blood. They want the position at all
costs. Whether you all die, they do not mind
governing just the land. You must know that
if you read the story of revolution, you must
sacrifice. Somebody said my son should
come to the front. If you want my son
tomorrow, I will produce him.
“If I have surrendered myself and I am ready
to be in front, let them shoot. Anytime you
start a street march and you do not see me
in the front, you must know something must
be wrong and you must know that they have
arrested me. I am not a big man governor. I
am a governor that is on the streets with his
people.
“One other thing that is bothering me is that
all those who are on the other side, saying
they want Southsouth President, I agree with
them, they want Southsouth President. In
politics, you are not here today (yesterday)
because you like Amaechi; you are here
because of your own political interest. If a
Southsouth President refused to give you
water, you will push him out.
“We gave the President (Jonathan in 2011)
nearly two million votes; let him tell us one
project he has done for us. I have challenged
the President that I belong to the APC. If he
wants Rivers people to vote for him, let him
give Kalabari people back their oil wells and I
will come back (to the PDP). He cannot. The
President cannot. Instead, he will take
more”.
Amaechi also enjoined the people, especially
his teeming supporters, to be prepared for
the struggle ahead, stating that on elections’
days, the “oppressors” would come with
tanks and policemen, but chrged them to
stand and watch their votes.
The Rivers governor said: “They said Buhari
is not a Christian. Buhari is a Muslim. We
are not preaching religious politics.
Everybody in Nigeria has the right to worship
where he wants to worship. I am a Catholic
and I will worship Christ. I will die a
Christian, but do not bring politics into good
governance.
“It is only when there is bad governance that
they begin to look for who is an Ikwerre man,
who is an Ijaw man, who is an Hausa man,
who is a Yoruba man. If there is good
governance, you will be talking about
schools. Have I told you I am an Ikwerre
man? I told you I have done schools, health
centres and roads. I am facing power. They
should tell us what they are doing. We are
prepared for a debate with them.
“In Etche, they have taken our 41 oil wells
across (to Abia State). They are denying us
our rights. We have suffered enough. I was a
students’ leader. I learnt in the University of
Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) that nobody should
trample on your rights. If I did not fight for
my rights, I would not have been governor. I suffered and my children suffered, but today we are in government. If you listen to them closely, our brothers, who are on the other side, they are hungry. They have been out of power for nearly eight years. If you vote them into power, what will happen? They will steal all the money. They  are broke. The ones that are not broke, that  are in government, they are busy stealing and building mansions everywhere. They have no fear. I have never seen corruption like this in Nigeria before. “President Jonathan said in his letter that former President Obasanjo should apologise on the issue of $49.8 billion. Right on television, a debate between the Minister of Finance (Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) and the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) Governor (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi). The CBN Governor said they had reconciled, but they had not found $12 billion, but the Minister for Finance said it was $10.8 billion. Even if it is $1 billion, it is stealing. $1 billion is N170 billion. There are some states that their budget (annually) is N130 billion. Bring our money. I have never seen corruption like this. “They are busy pursuing us with the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission), they have never pursed any federal agency with EFCC. I will quote the Governor of Edo State (Comrade Adams Oshiomhole); he said if you write examination and you score 26 per cent, have you passed? If you score 52 per cent, have you not passed? The Federal Government is holding 52 per cent of our money. EFCC should pursue the 52 per cent and leave 26 per cent. If EFCC succeeds in doing that, have we not succeeded?” Amaechi also stated that President Jonathan, in his reply of ex-President Obasanjo’s letter said the African Development Bank (AFDB) was carrying out the process of giving Rivers peoples water, a claim the governor disputed. He said: “Tell Mr. President that World Bank, not AFDB. Two banks are involved. One is AfDB’ the other is World Bank. We were told by the staff of the World Bank that they are ready. Tell the President (Jonathan) to give us our water. “If it is the President, I can understand, because the President has not served in any international organisation, but what about the woman (Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala), whose job it is to sign off, to give the water project. “The Minister of Finance has refused to sign off, despite the fact that she served in the World Bank. She wants you (Rivers people) to die of water-borne diseases, in the name of politics. Holy Ghost fire!”, he shouted.He added: “They are quarrelling with Amaechi and they want you (Rivers people) to die the death of Amaechi. I will not die. I drink bottled water. You do not drink bottled water. So, the best I can do for you and the best that the President can do for you, because he is your President, is to ask the World Bank, we hereby sign this document, that in 40 years, Rivers State will pay you your money, but they have refused to sign, just because of politics. “If they tell us that it is AFDB, tell them I said it is both AFDB and the World Bank and we have completed everything we need to complete. All parties are ready, including the AFDB and the World Bank. They do not want to sign. They want you to die of water-borne diseases”. The Rivers governor spoke also of the metaphor of the broom, the APC’s symbol, stressing that the broom would sweep out dirt, but while sweeping, the sweeper must bend down. He noted that the sweeper must suffer a bit and in suffering, the broom would be sweeping, but at the end, the house would be clean. He urged his teeming supporters to prepare to suffer under the current government, but assured them that come 2015, things would get better. Amaechi said: “One of our sons, a Kalabari son, said that the oil wells were taken under Rufus Ada-George (former Rivers governor, from Okrika). Tell him I said he is lying. He has never been in government. “I served in Rufus Ada-George’s government. There was no oil well taken from Rivers State. I served in Dr. Peter Odili’s government. The oil wells were taken in 2006. They put the money in an escrow account.“By 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, they took all the money from the escrow account and gave to our brothers (in Bayelsa State) and they converted Soku to Bayelsa. My friend and brother in Bayelsa (Governor) said we do not want Soku, we just want the oil wells”. The Rivers governor also restated his determination to continue to develop the state, adding that truth would prevail at the
end.

Obasanjo Explains Why He “Won’t Dignify Jonathan With A Response"

Former Nigeria’s leader Olusegun Obasanjo said he is not going to reply to President Goodluck Jonathan’s latest written addition to the Obasanjo-Jonathan war of words. He has fulfilled his desire to point out the sailent issues to Jonathan, the former President explained, and pledged not to elaborate on the content of the letter. The former President Obasanjo’s aide Tunde Oladunjoye briefed the press today at the Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Although the Obasanjo has received numerous requests both from local and international media to comment to Jonathan’s letter, he opted to fulfill his own promise to maintain silence. However, Obasanjo did explain he does not want to dignify President Goodluck Jonathan with a reply, as he had performed “his duty to the president, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Nigeria with his December 2 letter.” It will be recalled that Obasanjo had, in the 18-page letter, accused the incumbent President of failing to deliver on his electoral promises, to promote national unity, check corruption and strengthen national security; planning to renege on his promise to spend one term of four years in office and of training a killer squad ahead of the 2015 general elections. In his reply to Mr. Obasanjo’s “distinctly ominuous” message , the President, in a letter dated December 20, slammed the former President, and listed 10 reasons for replying Mr. Obasanjo. He defined the former President’s letter as an attempt to instigate people from other regions against him and cause disaffection within the ruling PDP. However, in his letter, dated December 2 and titled ‘Before It’s Too Late,’ Obasanjo stated he was ready for any backlash from the Presidency, and vowed to “maintain serenity.” “Since the publication of the letter written by the President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, we have received several requests from local and international media asking to know Chief Obasanjo’s reaction to Mr President’s response,” Obasanjo’s statement read. “One, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo acknowledges Mr President’s letter/response. However, Baba, as he already indicated in his December 2, 2013 letter, does not wish to make further comments beyond the contents of his last letter to Mr President or react to the said letter/response from Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. “Two, let me reiterate here that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, has tremendous respect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo sincerely appreciates all of you, my cherished colleagues; gentlemen and women of the media profession, who have been very upright, ethical and robust on the subject matter,” Mr. Oladunjoye concluded.

EFCC Arrests Speaker Of Kano House Of Assembly & 11 Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) today arrested the Speaker and 10 other Principal officers of the Kano House of Assembly on yet undisclosed charges. EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren, confirmed that those in custody include the Speaker, Gambo Sallau; the Majority Leader, Hamisu Ibrahim; and the Clerk of the House, Lawan Badamasi Gezawa and nine others. He said the arrests have no political undertone, but simply followed a petition by a stakeholder in the state who alleged that Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s supplementary budget was meant to cover-up a dubious transaction. The governor had sent a budget review request to the State Assembly to the value of 24billion Naira, but he suddenly withdrew that request and replaced it with an even larger one of 28billion Naira. Financial experts raised an alarm over such a stupendous budget review at a time that the financial year has almost ended, describing it as most unusual in the country. When a team of journalists visited the EFCC Kano State office, they saw the Clerk of the House, Mallam Lawan Badamasi Gezawa, being escorted into the premises, trailed by heavily armed mobile policemen. Immediately after that, two three EFCC Coaster buses filled up with the legislators cruised out toward the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport enroute Abuja, escorted by EFCC officials and other armed security operatives. Eyewitness revealed that as early as 7am, heavily armed police vehicles were stationed in the House of Assembly premises along with over 20 policemen in uniform and mufti in readiness for the arrests when the members of the House arrived for legislative business. Mr. Uwujaren said the Commission was performing its statutory role as enshrined in the Constitution after receiving the. petition.

Madness: Woman Steps Out In A Pantlike Skirt

PHOTO: Is This Lady Wearing A Cloth Or Rag?
Lmao………Fashion has gone To the Extreme

We Want to Top the League By Christmas-Mikel

John Obi Mikel says he and his Chelsea teammates want to top the Premier League table by Christmas.
Jose Mourinho’s men could go clear at the summit of the league standing with a victory against Arsenal at the Emirate Stadium on Monday. The Super Eagles midfielder was full of praise
for the rejuvenated ‘Gunners’, who has undoubtedly proved their critics wrong so far this season, admitting their North London rivals are a threat to Chelsea’s title challenge. “There has been stability at Arsenal. And I think people criticising them for failing to win a trophy has helped too,” Mikel told Premier League Television (PLTV). They have not won a trophy yet but you can see they are heading in the right direction." “Arsene Wenger is building something at Arsenal and it’s showing now in the way
they are playing and their current position in the league table.
“They have a very good chance of winning then league title but so do we.” The ‘Blues’ have lost a reasonable number of games from a winning position so far in the
ongoing season, which their Portuguese boss insists is the players’ doing, and has urged
them to improve and finish off opponents within glimmers of opportunities, as well as holding down their markers at critical points of the games. Mikel accepts Mourinho’s criticisms of the team, which has lost 3 times this season and have scored a goal less and a conceded one goal more than their London rivals Arsenal. Victory for the West Londoners today see them level on points with Liverpool and, with two more matches (the last of which is against the ‘Reds’) plus a huge goal difference set to decide who goes into the New Year on top of the league table. Arsenal could continue their league dominance by avoiding a similar lackluster performance as to that which saw them exit the League Cup at the expense of their Monday night’s opponents on October 29. “We want to go there (Emirate Stadium) on Monday night and prove what we are made of,” he added. “He (Mourinho) makes his view clear to us after the game. “If we win, he’s happy. If we don’t, he’s not. Hopefully, by Monday, we will put things right. We are playing well and we are doing a few things correctly. “We need to put the finishing touches and finish off chances when we get them. At the same time we have to defend well too. “We want to be top of the table by Christmas and that’s what we are aiming for.” The 26-year-old, who has made ten league appearances for Chelsea this season, could extend his league tally for the club to two tonight after netting his first in September in
a 2-1 home win over Fulham.

Afrocandy Banned On Facebook For Posing Nud* Opens Her Own Social Network

AfroCandy is back again weeks after she was banned for posting nudes on her facebook page. The mother of two announced her comeback on a new facebook page during the week, saying: “I was gone for a minute now I am back again…I won’t be posting anymore s*xy stuffs here because of the censorship imposed on me by facebook. Even though I am not as explicit as the Hollywood stars are..on the social network.” She announced launching her own social network site.”For that reason I have created my own socialnetwork; www afrocandysnetwork.com where I can post whatever I want and feel like,” she said. The soft-p*rn star posted some x rated pictures
to show what the website is all about.

Soyinka Go Against APC’s Visit To Obasanjo

Professor Wole Soyinka has faulted the visit of All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders to former President Olusegun Obasanjo last Saturday warning that such move by the party would only end in a shipwreck for the country.In his statement, yesterday, titled: “Shipwreck Ahead”, the Nobel laureate cautioned that Nigeria would need rescue operations if the APC intends to court Obasanjo to serve as a navigator for the ship of the state. “An APC-led group, we understand, has been paying courtesy visits to former Heads of States. Would it be correct to state that their purpose is captured in the following Mission Statement? ‘Tinubu added that the APC had resolved to rescue Nigeria, appealing to Obasanjo to lead the mission. We’re resolved and determined to rescue Nigeria. We want you as navigator,’ he said.” Soyinka, then added: “If this attribution is correct, may I urge you, as an urgent public service, to advise families to begin the stockpiling of life-belts for the guaranteed crash. Don’t forget to alert the coastguards — ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), AU (African Union), UN (United Nations) etc, to be on the alert for possible salvage operations. “If General Sani Abacha were alive today, would he also have been on the ship’s complement? As Captain perhaps?”Soyinka asked.

Again Pastor Kumuyi Warns Members Against Celebrating Christmas

The General Overseer of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor W.F Kumuyi, has again warned members of the church against celebrating Christmas, saying the annual celebration of Christmas is idolatrous and unscriptural. Kumuyi warned that partaking in the celebration made Christians to go back from the commandment of Jesus Christ. The cleric said this on Saturday at the annual national December convention of the church, which held at the church's camp ground in Ogun State. He said, "We don't celebrate Christmas. It actually came from idolatrous background. That is why you don't hear us sing what they call Christmas carol, Never! We always say it is the December retreat. We are only gathering together because it is the holiday period and love the lord more, and rededicate ourselves more. "When you find anybody coming in, or any leader,
trying to introduce the idolatry of mystery Babylon, that they call Christmas and you want
to bring all the Christmas carol saying that is the day that Jesus was born, and you don't find that in the Acts of the Apostles or in the early church, then you don't find that in the church either. If you don't know that before, now you know." He warned that any of the church's leaders that tried to introduce the "idolatry of Christmas" into any section of the church would be sanctioned, while also encouraging other believers in Christ to jettison the celebration as part of their sacrifice to perfection. Kumuyi said the duty of the church was to make people more like Jesus Christ and not join in worldly celebrations. "We are not trying to make the church turn like the world. We want it to be like Jesus Christ, and more like the Apostles. If you don't have that mind with us, then you have permission to go to other places," he added. But the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, in his reaction to Kumuyi's proclamation, said, "I don't know what he means by saying the practice of celebrating Christmas is wrong. "Is he saying that Christ wasn't born? That he didn't come to die for us? Does he not celebrate
his own birthday? Do Kumuyi's pastors not celebrate him? It is not everything I react to; some people just seek attention. If Kumuyi is a
Christian, then he must believe in Christ. "The celebration of Christmas didn't just start today; it is too public an event for anyone to say that they don't know what it is about. "If Kumuyi is condemning the commercialisation of Christmas, I can understand that. Christ came to redeem us from our lost state; this was actualised through his coming, his birth; that is why we celebrate Christmas. It is the fulfilment of God's promise." "I saw him on the television a few days ago. He was in Akwa Ibom State and was the chief preacher during their Christmas celebration event. Kumuyi is just saying what he feels; he is not making any doctrinal statement." The spokesperson for the Christian Association of Nigeria, Oshodi chapter, Lagos State, Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi, said that Christmas was worth celebrating. Otoibhi told one our correspondents in a telephone interview that the origin of Christmas was not as important as its essence. He said, "The origin of Christmas, as we know it, could be traced to Roman Emperor, Constantine. Christmas was a day for celebrating the Sun God. However, because Constantine was a Christian, the day was changed to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. "The tradition has continued to date and since the aim of Christmas is to celebrate Jesus since there is nothing bad in honouring Jesus. Also, the worship of the Sun God was done in Rome and not everywhere in the world, so it is not part of our history. "We mark Christmas with the singing of songs as a day, which has now been consecrated

Money Bag: Blogger Linda Ikeji Surprises Parents With Multi Million Naira Duplex For Christmas

Nigeria’s top blogger Linda Ikeji has surprised her parents with the multi million naira duplex pictured bellow for Christmas. Her sister posted the photo on Instagram this afternoon with the caption:
@officiallindaikeji’s gift to our parents. God bless u every second of your life. N may ur Xmas wishes come true.
the house was built in their village… well
congrats

Alariwo of Africa Brutally Beaten By Area Boys

On December 19, 2013, the wife of popular On Air Personality (OAP), Soji Omotayo, Ewade’s album entitled, Olore Ofe was launched in Lagos. It was a joyful day for all music and movie people who gathered to see the berth of the new artiste. However, it was not the same for music icon and compere of the event Rotimi Martins, otherwise known as Alariwo of Africa, as he was thoroughly beaten by area boys. Information available to us indicate that the problem started for Alariwo when he intentionally looked down on popular female musician, Bisola Oke a. k. a Eleyele. He deliberately ignored her presence even when he acknowledged the person next to her. He worsened the already built up crisis by indicating that people who he did not recognise should send their names to him. Immediately, Eleyele allegedly informed people sitting close to her that Alariwo has repeatedly behaved the same way to her. According to her, it was not his first time of ignoring her presence in event. She equally disclosed that her problem with Alariwo kicked-off because she does not give him undue respect of addressing him as ‘brother’. Meanwhile, what people inside the hall did not actually understand was how area boys hanging outside the venue got hint of Alariwo’s attitude towards Eleyele. Alariwo concluded the event and stepped out unaware that area boys have laid ambush for him. Julia Blaise was told that he received slaps and thorough beating from every angle that he took off in search of the nearest building to take cover. It was equally revealed that the hoodlums screamed that he has disgraced Eleyele a lot and deserves some beating.

Unilorin Lecturers To Teach From Homes By 2014 – Registrar

The Registrar University of Ilorin, Mr Emmanuel Obafemi, has said that the institution would, from January 2014, be fully digitalised. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ilorin, Obafemi said that the development would make it possible for lecturers to be able to send assignments to their students via the Internet. “As from Jan. 2014, University of Ilorin lecturers would be able to send assignments to their students through the Internet from the comfort of their homes,’’ adding that students would also be able to respond respond via the same channel. He said that the school had ordered for 25,000 pieces of mini iPads from the U.S. for the students, to enable the lecturers to send assignments to them from home. He noted that the iPads were already fully loaded with the students’ courses and each student would get one as they resume in January. Obafemi confirmed that because the iPad was produced in large quantity, the university had subsidised its price, noting that the whole school had already been connected to the Internet. He expressed the readiness of the institution’s administration to make the university one of the best in Nigeria and Africa. Obafemi noted that the school would continue to encourage programmes and policies that promote global best practices in the education system. The registrar gave an assurance that the institution would sustain the legacy of the past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. “If you come here in another five months, you will see a positively different Unilorin and well managed institution,” Obafemi said. He commended the management of the institution and expressed delight in the fact that the university had not. gone on strike in 13 years.

Surveillance Cameras To Help Identify Vessels Used In Oil Theft-Chief Of Naval Staff

Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba Installation of surveillance cameras along the nation’s territorial waters is very important as it would aid security agencies to monitor vessels involved in crude oil theft and other vices, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, has said. Commissioning the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Centre, RMAC, in Yenagoa and Brass last Friday, Admiral Ezeoba said the hi-tech equipment would provide the Navy with the capacity to leverage on all the tactical pictures of vessels and contacts within and around its area of responsibility. “What we have done is that we have added impetus to our capacity to deliver on Mr. President’s mandate. The domain awareness centre satisfies the requirement of one of the legs of our trinity of action, which is surveillance capability.” He noted that with the RMAC centre, it would be easier for the Navy to identify and classify vessels according to the International Maritime Organization, IMO’s standard. “We can identify vessels in accordance with IMO classification that says every vessel that is registered and is a flagged vessel must have Automatic Identification System, AIS. That gives you the total character of the vessel and what she is supposed to be doing. “Where we find that such vessel does not have such AIS identification, what we do is to begin to question its authenticity,” he added. According to him, the equipment has been installed at the length and breadth of the nation’s coastline. He said the challenge before the Navy now was the capacity to respond to the threats posed by ‘strange vessels’ and the ability to sustain the hi-tech equipment that had been installed. More importantly, according to Ezeoba, is the capacity of the judiciary to prosecute suspects arrested in the quest to keep the nation’s territorial waters safe.

Atiku Shares Link To His Autobiography

t.co/h4wC1Z6XA9

Jan 1966 Coup: Ironsi Detained Me Over Balewa’s, Okotie-Eboh’s Decomposing Bodies — Ex-police Chief

Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Babankowa, in his late '70s, was a police commissioner. In this
interview, Babankowa recounts how he led an operation during the January 1966 coup to discover the bodies of the Prime Minister, Sir Tafawa Balewa, his Finance Minister, Chief. Okotie Eboh, and other members of the federal
cabinet who the coup makers had taken to the outskirts of Sango-Otta, then in Western Region but now in Ogun State, and shot dead. He also shares his thoughts on some national issues. How has it been since more than 30 years back that you retired? Quite interesting. I have seen a lot of things which I never thought could happen but are
happening. Some of them come as a surprise and sometimes shocking. It is really amazing how things are going on in this country. What role did you play during the 1966 coup and where were you at that time?
I am not a coupist and I didn't play any role other than my normal police role. However I can tell you what happened. It was not only the night
of the coup but it continued for about three days later when we discovered the bodies of the prime
minister and some of his cabinet members. First of all, I was at Sango- Otta during the coup
where I had been transferred. I was initially at Mubi. They called it Southern Province which is the
present Adamawa State. It used to be called. Gongola State. I was drafted to the Western Region during the Operation Wetie crisis. I was
drafted from Mubi to Kaduna and then to take riot unit to Ibadan. On my arrival at Ibadan, my
late commander, Peter Pam, told me that Akure, Ondo and Owo were burning and I was moved to
Akre, then to Owo and then Arigidi, a border town between the West and the North. While I was there, Shomolu in Lagos was burning.
I then deployed to Shomolu, and suddenly, they said Agege to Abeokuta was burning as they were
doing Oro (cult). Then I was later moved to Sango- Otta where I was on the fateful night of the coup. I was manning a road block which was primarily to check the menace of the Operation Wetie. Suddenly we saw a convoy of military trucks and cars. It was in night, it was when they moved closer that we realised that army officers were in the convoy. We were happy and comfortable seeing them
because our assumption was that they were also helping out in fighting the crisis, and we allowed
them to pass and they moved on to Abeokuta which was the direction they were headed not kknowing that in that convoy were the Prime
Minister, Tafawa Balewa, the Minister of Finance, Okotie Eboh, Abogu and Kuru Muhammed. Not
more than half an hour later, the convoy returned and headed for Lagos. We didn't take any notice
of anything not knowing that these leaders were actually taken into the bush and shot dead, six of
them. It was the next morning we heard that there was a coup; and that Tafawa Balewa and co were killed. Now the Western Region crisis was no longer an issue because of the coup. Few days later, I had cold and had to go to hospital for treatment. I understand a bit of Yoruba language, it was in
the hospital at Sango -Otta that I was listening to some patients talking about some odour of
some dead bodies in their vicinity. They were complaining about the odour. Meanwhile the nation was already talking about
the missing bodies of these leaders. So, when I got to the office, I divided my men into groups,
while some went to the particular place where the patients in the hospital talked about, others went
the other way. Lo and behold, the bodies of these leaders were there on the ground, already
decomposing. Tafawa Balewa's body was in his white attire, his cap on the floor and his rosary
near the cap and maggots had started coming out of it. That was the most terrible sight I have
ever seen in my life. So I reported the matter to
the authorities. It was Kam Salem that was
around at that time because Louis Edet was on
leave. Kam Salem was the acting IG.
Knowing how difficult it could be to get the IG, I
decided to go to Ikeja Police Station, I knew the
officer in charge, Alhaji Kafaru Tinubu. I told him I
wanted to see the IG, and I told him the reason.
So we called the IG in Tinubu's office and he said
I should come right down to the Force
Headquarters in Lagos immediately. On getting
there, Ironsi had abandoned his barracks and
took refuge at the police headquarters. He was
operating from the police headquarters. Why
would he leave the barracks that is more fortified
for the police headquarters?
I will tell you. When there is a coup, everybody is
suspecting his colleagues. He already had loyal
troops around the police headquarters protecting
him. Tanks were everywhere. He probably
thought he was safer with the police and loyal
troops protecting the place than staying in the
barracks where he would not know who was for
him or who was against him. On my arrival, I was
taken straight to the office of the IG where he
was sitting with Ironsi on the same table in the
conference room. I was marched to the place
bare footed and without cap or belt, this was
after my pistol had been taken away from me. I
can understand why.
The first question came from Ironsi. 'You said
you saw the dead body of the prime minister?' I
said, 'Yes, I did sir'. He was talking to me in
Hausa. He spoke fluent Hausa. He was just like
Odumegwu Ojukwu's father who also spoke fluent
Hausa. He then asked how I knew it was Tafawa
Balewa and I told him that I knew him very well
because I was security officer to the late
Sardauna.
We normally came to Lagos to see Tafawa
Balewa and he knew us as security officers of
Sardauna. He then ordered that I should be
arrested and detained in the naval base, Apapa.
Kam Salem pleaded that I should be detained in
our own cell and anytime I was needed, he would
produce me. I was then marched out of the room
and later I was marched in again before Ironsi
now said Kam Salem could detain me and I was
taken to Yaba Police Station. I was there till 1.30
am the following day. And suddenly I was hearing
a voice saying 'where is this Ibrahim Ahmed?'
And so I was brought out. I saw Maitama Sule,
Madawaki of Bauchi whom I knew very well in
Tafawa Balewa's house, and Balewa's ADC,
immediately I knew they wanted me to take them
to the site. When we got out, I saw trucks and
ambulances and so I was asked to lead the way
to Sango- Otta. This was in the night. Could you
believe that my policemen who I asked to guard
the place were still there when we got there?
That is the difference between the police of that
time and those of now. These were officers that
didn't eat from the previous day till the following
night that we got there. If it were these days,
they would have left there .
Which police would you leave with a decomposed
body for 24 hours now?
We packed the bodies. Six of us flew Tafawa
Balewa's body to Bauchi: Myself, Kam Salem,
Madawaki Bauchi, Mataima Sule, William Garuba,
ADC to IG, Tapgum, Tafawa Balewa's ADC, in a
small aircraft while the Balewa family members
flew in a bigger aircraft. We arrived Bauchi on
Sallah day. People were coming out of the prayer
ground and running down to the airport to
welcome the prime minister but, unknowingly to
them, we were bringing the dead body of Balewa.
From there, Kam Salem said I should move my
unit back to Kaduna and then to Mubi and then
start my annual leave.
It is alleged that the police are partisan compared
to the one you operated in, in your days. Do you
agree?
This is an area I know very well. The policeman
is like the district officer of those days. But the
police are now being controlled by whoever is in
power. In my days, the police was independent.
Their allegiance was to the nation, not individuals
as we now see these days. In those days,
whoever was in power could not control the
police as he or she wished. It was run according
to rules and regulations. What you find now is a
police which are more or less in disguise as state
police. The one in Rivers State is completely a
different one. But you find in some other states
that whoever is the governor controls the police.
Thought it is the Federal Government through the
police Inspector General of Police that controls
the police.
You are right but don't forget that the governors
have their own line of communication with the IG
such that whatever the governor wants, once he
contacts the IG, the IG passes the information to
the commissioner and his biddings are carried
out. The police, unlike before, are not structurally
based but controlled by individuals instead of
being institutional. However, the problems with
our police, in my opinion, started in 1983 when
there was a military coup that ousted the
President Shehu Shagari administration. Sunday
Adewusi was the IG; I was still in the force at
that time.
The army realised that the police was getting too
powerful and they did not want that because they
wanted to rule without hindrance. So they tried to
render it ineffective. It was starved of funds,
salaries were poor; even the allowances were not
forthcoming, arms and ammunitions including
logistics were not forth coming, that was when
the police began its descent and, up till now,
nobody is willing to do anything about it. Don't
ask me if we are ripe for state police because my
answer would be no. Until there is justice,
sincerity and fair-play, I will never subscribe to
state police. We cannot handle state police now.

Jonathan Replies Obasanjo In An Attempt To Clear His Name

His Excellency,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR
Agbe L’Oba House, Quarry Road,
Ibara, Abeokuta.
RE: BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
I wish to formally acknowledge your letter
dated December 2, 2013 and other
previous correspondence similar to it.
You will recall that all the letters were
brought to me by hand. Although both of us
discussed some of the issues in those
letters, I had not, before now, seen the
need for any formal reply since, to me, they
contained advice from a former President
to a serving President. Obviously, you felt
differently because in your last letter, you
complained about my not acknowledging
or replying your previous letters.
It is with the greatest possible reluctance
that I now write this reply. I am most
uneasy about embarking on this
unprecedented and unconventional form of
open communication between me and a
former leader of our country because I
know that there are more acceptable and
dignified means of doing so.
But I feel obliged to reply your letter for a
number of reasons: one, you formally
requested for a reply and not sending you
one will be interpreted as ignoring a former
President.
Secondly, Nigerians know the role you
have played in my political life and given
the unfortunate tone of your letter, clearly,
the grapes have gone sour. Therefore, my
side of the story also needs to be told.
The third reason why I must reply you in
writing is that your letter is clearly a threat
to national security as it may deliberately
or inadvertently set the stage for
subversion.
The fourth reason for this reply is that you
raised very weighty issues, and since the
letter has been made public, Nigerians are
expressing legitimate concerns. A response
from me therefore, becomes very
necessary.
The fifth reason is that this letter may
appear in biographies and other books
which political commentators on Nigeria’s
contemporary politics may write. It is only
proper for such publications to include my
comments on the issues raised in your
letter.
Sixthly, you are very unique in terms of the
governance of this country. You were a
military Head of State for three years and
eight months, and an elected President for
eight years. That means you have been the
Head of Government of Nigeria for about
twelve years. This must have, presumably,
exposed you to a lot of information. Thus
when you make a statement, there is the
tendency for people to take it seriously.
The seventh reason is that the timing of
your letter coincided with other vicious
releases. The Speaker of the House of
Representatives spoke of my “body
language” encouraging corruption. A letter
written to me by the CBN Governor alleging
that NNPC, within a period of 19 months
did not remit the sum of USD49.8 billion to
the federation account, was also
deliberately leaked to the public.
The eighth reason is that it appears that
your letter was designed to incite Nigerians
from other geopolitical zones against me
and also calculated to promote ethnic
disharmony. Worse still, your letter was
designed to instigate members of our
Party, the PDP, against me.
The ninth reason is that your letter conveys
to me the feeling that landmines have been
laid for me. Therefore, Nigerians need to
have my response to the issues raised
before the mines explode.
The tenth and final reason why my reply is
inevitable is that you have written similar
letters and made public comments in
reference to all former Presidents and
Heads of Government starting from Alhaji
Shehu Shagari and these have instigated
different actions and reactions. The
purpose and direction of your letter is
distinctly ominous, and before it is too late,
my clarifications on the issues need to be
placed on record.
Let me now comment on the issues you
raised. In commenting I wish to crave your
indulgence to compare what is happening
now to what took place before. This, I
believe, will enable Nigerians see things in
better perspective because we must know
where we are coming from so as to
appreciate where we now are, and to allow
us clearly map out where we are going.
You raised concerns about the security
situation in the country. I assure you that I
am fully aware of the responsibility of
government for ensuring the security of the
lives and property of citizens. My
Administration is working assiduously to
overcome current national security
challenges, the seeds of which were sown
under previous administrations.  There
have been some setbacks; but certainly
there have also been great successes in
our efforts to overcome terrorism and
insurgency.
Those who continue to down-play our
successes in this regard, amongst whom
you must now be numbered, appear to
have conveniently forgotten the depths to
which security in our country had plunged
before now.
At a stage, almost the entire North-East of
Nigeria was under siege by insurgents.
Bombings of churches and public buildings
in the North and the federal capital became
an almost weekly occurrence. Our entire
national security apparatus seemed
nonplussed and unable to come to grips
with the new threat posed by the berthing
of terrorism on our shores.
But my administration has since brought
that very unacceptable situation under
significant control. We have overhauled our
entire national security architecture,
improved intelligence gathering, training,
funding, logistical support to our armed
forces and security agencies, and security
collaboration with friendly countries with
very visible and positive results.
The scope and impact of terrorist
operations have been significantly reduced
and efforts are underway to restore full
normalcy to the most affected North
Eastern region and initiate a post-crisis
development agenda, including a special
intervention programme to boost the
region’s socio-economic progress.
In doing all this, we have kept our doors
open for dialogue with the insurgents and
their supporters through efforts such as the
work of the Presidential Committee on
Dialogue and the Peaceful Resolution of the
Security Challenges in the North-East. You
also know that the Governor of Borno State
provided the items you mentioned to me as
carrots. Having done all this and more, it is
interesting that you still accuse me of not
acting on your hardly original
recommendation that the carrot and stick
option be deployed to solve the Boko
Haram problem.
Your suggestion that we are pursuing a
“war against violence without
understanding the root causes of the
violence and applying solutions to deal
with all the underlying factors” is definitely
misplaced because from the onset of this
administration, we have been
implementing a multifaceted strategy
against militancy, insurgency and terrorism
that includes poverty alleviation, economic
development, education and social
reforms.
Even though basic education is the
constitutional responsibility of States, my
administration has, as part of its efforts to
address ignorance and poor education
which have been identified as two of the
factors responsible for making some of our
youth easily available for use as cannon
fodder by insurgents and terrorists,
committed huge funds to the provision of
modern basic education schools for the
Almajiri in several Northern States. The
Federal Government under my leadership
has also set up nine additional universities
in the Northern States and three in the
Southern States in keeping with my belief
that proper education is the surest way of
emancipating and empowering our people.
More uncharitable persons may even see a
touch of sanctimoniousness in your new
belief in the carrot and stick approach to
overcoming militancy and insurgency. You
have always referred to how you hit Odi in
Bayelsa State to curb militancy in the Niger
Delta. If the invasion of Odi by the Army
was the stick, I did not see the
corresponding carrot. I was the Deputy
Governor of Bayelsa State then, and as I
have always told you, the invasion of Odi
did not solve any militancy problem but, to
some extent, escalated it. If it had solved
it, late President Yar’Adua would not have
had to come up with the amnesty program.
And while some elements of the problem
may still be there, in general, the situation
is reasonably better.
In terms of general insecurity in the country
and particularly the crisis in the Niger
Delta, 2007 was one of the worst periods in
our history. You will recall three incidents
that happened in 2007 which seemed to
have been orchestrated to achieve sinister
objectives. Here in Abuja, a petrol tanker
loaded with explosives was to be rammed
into the INEC building. But luckily for the
country, an electric pole stopped the tanker
from hitting the INEC building. It is clear
that this incident was meant to exploit the
general sense of insecurity in the nation at
the time to achieve the aim of stopping the
2007 elections. It is instructive that you,
on a number of occasions, alluded to this
fact.
When that incident failed, an armed group
invaded Yenagoa one evening with the
intent to assassinate me. Luckily for me,
they could not.  They again attacked and
bombed my country home on a night when
I was expected in the village. Fortunately,
as God would have it, I did not make the
trip.
I recall that immediately after both
incidents, I got calls expressing the
concern of Abuja. But Baba, you know that
despite the apparent concern of Abuja, no
single arrest was ever made. I was then
the Governor of Bayelsa State and the PDP
Vice-Presidential candidate. The security
people ordinarily should have unraveled
the assassination attempt on me.
You also raised the issues of kidnapping,
piracy and armed robbery. These are
issues all Nigerians, including me are very
concerned about. While we will continue to
do our utmost best to reduce all forms of
criminality to the barest minimum in our
country, it is just as well to remind you that
the first major case of kidnapping for
ransom took place around 2006. And the
Boko Haram crisis dates back to 2002.
Goodluck Jonathan was not the President
of the country then. Also, armed robbery
started in this country immediately after the
civil war and since then, it has been a
problem to all succeeding governments.
For a former Head of Government, who
should know better, to present these
problems as if they were creations of the
Jonathan Administration is most
uncharitable.
Having said that, let me remind you of
some of the things we have done to curb
violent crime in the country. We have
reorganized the Nigerian Police Force and
appointed a more dynamic leadership to
oversee its affairs. We have also improved
its manpower levels as well as funding,
training and logistical support.
We have also increased the surveillance
capabilities of the Police and provided its
air-wing with thrice the number of
helicopters it had before the inception of
the present administration. The National
Civil Defence and Security Corps has been
armed to make it a much more effective
ally of the police and other security
agencies in the war against violent crime.
At both domestic and international levels,
we are doing everything possible to curb
the proliferation of the small arms and light
weapons with which armed robberies,
kidnappings and piracy are perpetrated. We
have also enhanced security at our borders
to curb cross-border crimes.
We are aggressively addressing the
challenge of crude oil theft in collaboration
with the state Governors. In addition, the
Federal Government has engaged the
British and US governments for their
support in the tracking of the proceeds
from the purchase of stolen crude.
Similarly, a regional Gulf of Guinea security
strategy has been initiated to curb crude oil
theft and piracy.
Perhaps the most invidious accusation in
your letter is the allegation that I have
placed over one thousand Nigerians on a
political watch list, and that I am training
snipers and other militia to assassinate
people. Baba, I don’t know where you got
that from but you do me grave injustice in
not only lending credence to such baseless
rumours, but also publicizing it. You
mentioned God seventeen times in your
letter. Can you as a Christian hold the Bible
and say that you truly believe this
allegation?
The allegation of training snipers to
assassinate political opponents is
particularly incomprehensible to me. Since
I started my political career as a Deputy
Governor, I have never been associated
with any form of political violence. I have
been a President for over three years now,
with a lot of challenges and opposition
mainly from the high and mighty. There
have certainly been cases of political
assassination since the advent of our
Fourth Republic, but as you well know,
none of them occurred under my
leadership.
Regarding the over one thousand people
you say are on a political watch list, I urge
you to kindly tell Nigerians who they are
and what agencies of government are
“watching” them. Your allegation that I am
using security operatives to harass people
is also baseless. Nigerians are waiting for
your evidence of proof. That was an
accusation made against previous
administrations, including yours, but it is
certainly not my style and will never be.
Again, if you insist on the spurious claim
that some of your relatives and friends are
being harassed, I urge you to name them
and tell Nigerians what agencies of my
administration are harassing them.
I also find it difficult to believe that you will
accuse me of assisting murderers, or
assigning a presidential delegation to
welcome a murderer. This is a most
unconscionable and untrue allegation. It is
incumbent on me to remind you that I am
fully conscious of the dictates of my
responsibilities to God and our dear nation.
It is my hope that devious elements will not
take advantage of your baseless allegation
to engage in brazen and wanton
assassination of high profile politicians as
before, hiding under the alibi your “open
letter” has provided for them.
Nevertheless, I have directed the security
agencies and requested the National
Human Rights Commission to carry out a
thorough investigation of these criminal
allegations and make their findings public.
That corruption is an issue in Nigeria is
indisputable. It has been with us for many
years. You will recall that your kinsman, the
renowned afro-beat maestro, Fela
Anikulapo-Kuti famously sang about it
during your first stint as Head of State.
Sonny Okosun also sang about corruption.
And as you may recall, a number of Army
Generals were to be retired because of
corruption before the Dimka coup.  Also,
the late General Murtala Mohammed
himself wanted to retire some top people in
his cabinet on corruption-related issues
before he was assassinated.  Even in this
Fourth Republic, the Siemens and
Halliburton scandals are well known.
The seed of corruption in this country was
planted a long time ago, but we are doing
all that we can to drastically reduce its
debilitating effects on national
development and progress. I have been
strengthening the institutions established to
fight corruption. I will not shield any
government official or private individual
involved in corruption, but I must follow
due process in all that I do. And whenever
clear cases of corruption or fraud have
been established, my administration has
always taken prompt action in keeping with
the dictates of extant laws and procedures.
You cannot claim to be unaware of the fact
that several highly placed persons in our
country, including sons of some of our
party leaders are currently facing trial for
their involvement in the celebrated subsidy
scam affair. I can hardly be blamed if the
wheels of justice still grind very slowly in
our country, but we are doing our best to
support and encourage the judiciary to
quicken the pace of adjudication in cases
of corruption.
Baba, I am amazed that with all the
knowledge garnered from your many years
at the highest level of governance in our
country, you could still believe the spurious
allegation contained in a letter written to
me by the Governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN), and surreptitiously obtained
by you, alleging that USD49.8 billion, a
sum equal to our entire national budget for
two years, is “unaccounted for” by the
NNPC. Since, as President, you also served
for many years as Minister of Petroleum
Resources, you very well know the
workings of the corporation. It is therefore
intriguing that you have made such an
assertion. You made a lot of insinuations
about oil theft, shady dealings at the NNPC
and the NNPC not remitting the full
proceeds of oil sales to the of CBN. Now
that the main source of the allegations
which you rehashed has publicly stated
that he was “misconstrued”, perhaps you
will find it in your heart to apologize for
misleading unwary Nigerians and
impugning the integrity of my
administration on that score.
Your claim of “Atlantic Oil loading about
130, 000 barrels sold by Shell and
managed on behalf of NPDC with no sale
proceeds paid into the NPDC account” is
also disjointed and baseless because no
such arrangement as you described exists
between Atlantic Oil and the Nigeria
Petroleum Development Company. NPDC
currently produces about 138, 000 barrels
of oil per day from over 7 producing
assets. The Crude Oil Marketing Division
(COMD) of the NNPC markets all of this
production on behalf of NPDC with
proceeds paid into NPDC account.
I am really shocked that with all avenues
open to you as a former Head of State for
the verification of any information you have
received about state affairs, you chose to
go public with allegations of “high
corruption” without offering a shred of
supporting evidence. One of your political
“sons” similarly alleged recently that he
told me of a minister who received a bribe
of $250 Million from an oil company and I
did nothing about it. He may have been
playing from a shared script, but we have
not heard from him again since he was
challenged to name the minister involved
and provide the evidence to back his
claim. I urge you, in the same vein, to
furnish me with the names, facts and
figures of a single verifiable case of the
“high corruption” which you say stinks all
around my administration and see whether
the corrective action you advocate does not
follow promptly. And while you are at it,
you may also wish to tell Nigerians the true
story of questionable waivers of signature
bonuses between 2000 and 2007.
While, by the Grace of God Almighty, I am
the first President from a minority group, I
am never unmindful of the fact that I was
elected leader of the whole of Nigeria and I
have always acted in the best interest of all
Nigerians. You referred to the divisive
actions and inflammatory utterances of
some individuals from the South-South and
asserted that I have done nothing to call
them to order or distance myself from their
ethnic chauvinism. Again that is very
untrue. I am as committed to the unity of
this country as any patriot can be and I
have publicly declared on many occasions
that no person who threatens other
Nigerians or parts of the country is acting
on my behalf.
It is very regrettable that in your letter, you
seem to place sole responsibility for the
ongoing intrigues and tensions in the PDP
at my doorstep, and going on from that
position, you direct all your appeals for a
resolution at me. Baba, let us all be truthful
to ourselves, God and posterity. At the
heart of all the current troubles in our party
and the larger polity is the unbridled
jostling and positioning for personal or
group advantage ahead of the 2015
general elections. The “bitterness, anger,
mistrust, fear and deep suspicion” you
wrote about all flow from this singular
factor.
It is indeed very unfortunate that the
seeming crisis in the party was instigated
by a few senior members of the party,
including you. But, as leader of the party, I
will continue to do my best to unite it so
that we can move forward with strength
and unity of purpose. The PDP has always
recovered from previous crises with
renewed vigour and vitality. I am very
optimistic that that will be the case again
this time. The PDP will overcome any
temporary setback, remain a strong party
and even grow stronger.
Instigating people to cause problems and
disaffection within the party is something
that you are certainly familiar with. You will
recall that founding fathers of the Party
were frustrated out of the Party at a time.
Late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was pushed
out, Late Chief Solomon Lar left and later
came back, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Chief
Tom Ikimi also left. Chief Okwesilieze
Nwodo left and later came back. In
2005/2006, link-men were sent to take
over party structures from PDP Governors
in an unveiled attempt to undermine the
state governors. In spite of that, the
Governors did not leave the Party because
nobody instigated and encouraged them to
do so.
The charge that I was involved in anti-
party activities in governorship elections in
Edo, Ondo, Lagos, and Anambra States is
also very unfortunate. I relate with all
Governors irrespective of political party
affiliation but I have not worked against the
interest of the PDP. What I have not done
is to influence the electoral process to
favour our Party. You were definitely never
so inclined, since you openly boasted in
your letter of how you supported Alhaji
Shehu Shagari against Chief Obafemi
Awolowo, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and others
in the 1979 presidential elections while
serving as a military Head of State. You
and I clearly differ in this regard, because
as the President of Nigeria, I believe it is
my duty and responsibility to create a level
playing field for all parties and all
candidates.
Recalling how the PDP lost in states where
we were very strong in 2003 and 2007
such as Edo, Ondo, Imo, Bauchi, Anambra,
and Borno, longstanding members of our
great party with good memory will also
consider the charge of anti-party activities
you made against me as misdirected and
hugely hypocritical. It certainly was not
Goodluck Jonathan’s “personal ambition or
selfish interest” that caused the PDP to lose
the governorship of Ogun State and all its
senatorial seats in the last general
elections.
You quoted me as saying that I have not
told anybody that I will seek another term
in office in 2015. You and your ambitious
acolytes within the party have clearly
decided to act on your conclusion that
“only a fool will believe that statement” and
embark on a virulent campaign to harass
me out of an undeclared candidature for
the 2015 presidential elections so as to
pave the way for a successor anointed by
you.
You will recall that you serially advised me
that we should refrain from discussing the
2015 general elections for now so as not to
distract elected public officials from urgent
task of governance. While you have
apparently moved away from that position,
I am still of the considered opinion that it
would have been best for us to do all that
is necessary to refrain from heating up the
polity at this time. Accordingly, I have
already informed Nigerians that I will only
speak on whether or not I will seek a
second term when it is time for such
declarations. Your claims about
discussions I had with you, Governor
Gabriel Suswam and others are wrong, but
in keeping with my declared stance, I will
reserve further comments until the
appropriate time.
Your allegation that I asked half a dozen
African Presidents to speak to you about
my alleged ambition for 2015, is also
untrue. I have never requested any African
President to discuss with you on my
behalf. In our discussion, I mentioned to
you that four Presidents told me that they
were concerned about the political situation
in Nigeria and intended to talk to you about
it. So far, only three of them have
confirmed to me that they have had any
discussion with you. If I made such a
request, why would I deny it?
The issue of Buruji Kashamu is one of
those lies that should not be associated
with a former President. The allegation
that I am imposing Kashamu on the South-
West is most unfortunate and regrettable. I
do not even impose Party officials in my
home state of Bayelsa and there is no zone
in this country where I have imposed
officials. So why would I do so in the
South West? Baba, in the light of Buruji’s
detailed public response to your “open
letter”, it will be charitable for you to render
an apology to Nigerians and I.
On the issue of investors being scared to
come to Nigeria, economic dormancy, and
stagnation, I will just refer you to FDI
statistics from 2000 to 2013. Within the last
three years, Nigeria has emerged as the
preferred destination for investments in
Africa, driven by successful government
policies to attract foreign investors. For the
second year running, the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Investments
(UNCTAD) has ranked Nigeria as the
number one destination for investments in
Africa, and as having the fourth highest
returns in the world.
Today, Nigeria is holding 18 percent of all
foreign investments in Africa and 60
percent of all foreign investments in the
ECOWAS Sub-Region. Kindly note also that
in the seven years between 2000 and 2007
when you were President, Nigeria attracted
a total of $24.9 Billion in FDI.  As a result
of our efforts which you disparage, the
country has seen an FDI inflow of $25.7
Billion in just three years which is more
than double the FDI that has gone to the
second highest African destination. We
have also maintained an annual national
economic growth rate of close to seven per
cent since the inception of this
administration. What then, is the
justification for your allegation of scared
investors and economic dormancy?
Although it was not emphasized in your
letter of December 2, 2013, you also
conveyed, in previous correspondence, the
impression that you were ignorant of the
very notable achievements of my
administration in the area of foreign
relations. It is on record that under my
leadership, Nigeria has played a key role in
resolving the conflicts in Niger, Cote
d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea Bissau and others.
The unproductive rivalry that existed
between Nigeria and some ECOWAS
countries has also been ended under my
watch and Nigeria now has better relations
with all the ECOWAS countries. At the
African Union, we now have a
Commissioner at the AU Commission after
being without one for so long. We were in
the United Nations Security Council for the
2010/2011 Session and we have been
voted in again for the 2014/2015 Session.
From independence to 2010, we were in the
U.N. Security Council only three times but
from 2010 to 2015, we will be there two
times.
This did not happen by chance. My
Administration worked hard for it and we
continue to maintain the best possible
relations with all centres of global political
and economic power. I find it hard
therefore, to believe your assertions of
untoward concern in the international
community over the state of governance in
Nigeria
With respect to the Brass and Olokola LNG
projects, you may have forgotten that
though you started these projects, Final
Investment Decisions were never reached.
For your information, NNPC has not
withdrawn from either the Olokola or the
Brass LNG projects.
On the Rivers State Water Project, you were
misled by your informant. The Federal
Government under my watch has never
directed or instructed the Africa
Development Bank to put on hold any
project to be executed in Rivers state or
any other State within the Federation. The
Rivers Water Project was not originally in
the borrowing plan but it was included in
April 2013 and appraised in May.
Negotiations are ongoing with the AfDB. I
have no doubt that you are familiar with the
entire process that prefaces the signing of
a Subsidiary Loan Agreement as in this
instance.
Let me assure you and all Nigerians that I
do not engage in negative political actions
and will never, as President, oppress the
people of a State or deprive them of much
needed public services as a result of
political disagreement
I have noted your comments on the
proposed National Conference. Contrary to
the insinuation in your letter, the proposed
conference is aimed at bringing Nigerians
together to resolve contentious national
issues in a formal setting. This is a sure
way of promoting greater national
consensus and unity, and not a recipe for
“disunity, confusion and chaos” as you
alleged in your letter.
Having twice held the high office of
President, Commander-In-Chief of the
Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, I trust that you will understand that
I cannot possibly find the time to offer a
line-by-line response to all the
accusations and allegations made in your
letter while dealing with other pressing
demands of office and more urgent affairs
of state.
I have tried, however, to respond to only
the most serious of the charges which
question my sincerity, personal honour,
and commitment to the oath which I have
sworn, to always uphold and protect the
interests of all Nigerians, and promote their
well-being.
In closing, let me state that you have done
me grave injustice with your public letter in
which you wrongfully accused me of
deceit, deception, dishonesty,
incompetence, clannishness, divisiveness
and insincerity, amongst other ills.
I have not, myself, ever claimed to be all-
knowing or infallible, but I have never
taken Nigeria or Nigerians for granted as
you implied, and I will continue to do my
utmost to steer our ship of state towards
the brighter future to which we all aspire.
Please accept the assurances of my
highest consideration and warm regards.
GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN