How President Jonathan’s cousins Was Abduct in Bayelsa

Armed gunmen have again struck in the creeks of Bayelsa State, kidnapping two maternal cousins of President Goodluck Jonathan at Akipelai in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
The victims, both female, identified as Patience Egbeni, 35, and Kate Eni, were reportedly seized, Tuesday, at gunpoint and whisked away from the sleepy riverine settlement, home town of the President’s mother.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the six unidentified gunmen, clad in military camouflage, stormed the community at about 8.30a.m. and abducted the women from their provision stores along the waterfront.
The gunmen were said to have forced their victims into a waiting speedboat and disappeared into the creeks.
An indigene of the area, who identified himself as Kingsley, said: “The victims are two maternal cousins of the President.

I CONCEDED DEFEAT TO KEEP NIGERIA ONE – JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said he conceded victory to Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 Presidential election because of his desire to keep the country away from conflict.

He said having been involved in solving many problems in African countries for more than five years, he knew the enormity and cost of conflicts and would not want Nigeria to witness such.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted the President as speaking while receiving members of the African Ambassadors Group, who were on a farewell and solidarity visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said he would always be committed to strengthening democracy in Nigeria and Africa.

Jonathan added that his decision to concede victory was to show example to the world that democracy can survive and thrive in Africa without conflicts.

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

5 Years On, Dagrins' Vehicle Overgrown With Weed In LASU for N20,000 Debt

Five years after his untimely death, the car crashed by Oladapo Olaitan Olaonipekun popularly known as Dagrin in the ill-fated accident that led to his death, has been abandoned at the Lagos State University, Ojo Campus.
Ashiwaju.org  investigations revealed that the car was abandoned due to a misunderstanding between the Lagos State University Students’ Union and show promoters who brought the crashed car to the institution.

Govs reunite to fight Okonjo-Iweala

The nation’s governors, yesterday, put aside the two-year feud that factionalised the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, and demanded an account of the estimated $20 billion they claimed accrued to the Excess Crude Account, ECA, while the NGF crisis lasted.
The demand which was directed at the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was immediately rebuffed by the minister, who asked the governors to seek clarification from their finance commissioners.
Reflective of their new unity, the governors by consensus, adopted Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State as the new chairman of the NGF to take over from Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who presided at the session. Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who had claimed chairman of the other faction of the NGF, was absent at the meeting that was, however, attended by several members of his faction.

BREAKING NEWS: PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN ADAMU MUAZU RESIGNS

The crisis rocking the PDP took a turn for the worst as the national chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu has resigned as the national chairman.
His resignation took effect immediately.
Also , it was reliably gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the chairman of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Anthony Anenih to resign his office as the BOT chairman. But it is not known whether Anenih has accepted to resign or not.

Online tracking of buildings begins in Abuja

The Department of Development Control of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has began online tracking all ongoing building developments in the territory.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Mohammed Sule, Chief Press Secretary to Sen. Bala Mohammed, FCT Minister in Abuja on Tuesday.
“The scheme, known as Development Control Information System (DevCIS), and Mobile App for an online transfer of Site Assessment Reports (SAR), is to ensure total computerisation of all the department’s activities’’, it stated.
The statement noted that Mohammed, while inaugurating the scheme, directed that all land related departments in the FCT must work together to further reduce business time of developers.
It called for closer collaboration among Development Control; Urban and Regional Planning and Land Administration, Survey and Mapping and Abuja Geographic Information Systems.
“This would go a long way in fast tracking development of the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the territory.

Why I’m fighting the elite – Ben Bruce

                                                               Ben Murray -Bruce
Media mogul and senator-elect, Ben Murray Bruce has stated that he is fighting the elite because they consume the resources of the country at the expense of the poor.
Bruce, who is known to champion the cause of the masses, noted that it is absurd that a few elected officers monopolise the resources of the country, living a champagne life while majority of Nigerians live below a dollar a day.
“I am fighting against the elite. Definitely, I am fighting them. When they drink that champagne that can educate a child, they should know that I am fighting them. You don’t fly a first class in government while in your private life, you fly economy. I am totally against their lifestyles,” he said
The chairman of Silverbird Group added that the level of poverty and unemployment in the country is devastating and more worrisome is the wide gap between the rich and the poor.

INFORMATION MINISTER DISPELS RUMOUR ON DISSOLUTION OF JONATHAN’S CABINET

Lagos – The Minister of Information, Mrs Patricia Akwashiki, on Tuesday dispelled some media reports that the Federal Executive Council would be dissolved on Wednesday.
The minister made the clarification at a familiarisation visit to the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) in Lagos.
“I just want to seize this opportunity to say that I noticed in the Daily Trust of today (Tuesday) that it was said the minister confirmed that the executive council will be dissolved by tomorrow.
“At no time did I say anything like that.
“There was no reason for me to say anything like that, because all of us know that we are terminating together with the President on the 29th.
“At no time last week, did I say to anybody, especially, the Trust reporter that this government is terminating on the 20th.

Buhari’s election altered ‎negative perception about Nigeria – Gemade

FORMER National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and  Senator representing Benue Northeast senatorial zone, Senator Barnabas Gemade‎, said yesterday that the major threat to the nation’s unity, tolerance and peace was  lack of deep understanding and appreciation of one another by Nigerians.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at  the official unveiling of a book, ‘Fragrance of Diversity’, Senator Gemade noted that the election of Muhammadu Buhari as President- elect during the March 28 Election has altered what he termed, negative perception about Nigeria, especially at the global stage.
The former PDP National Chairman , now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC  urged Nigerians to sustain the momentum brought up by the successes recorded in the elections as that would help move the country forward.
‘Fragrance of Diversity’, a book which is written by Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, the Special Assistant to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed on Media, demonstrates how some of Nigeria’s cultural traits and diverse names which have often been misapplied as divisive tools can be transformed into positive instruments of unity.

Open letter to all Igbo elected politicial leaders

YOUR Excellences, Kindly permit me to use this medium to congratulate all of you on your most deserving but hard earned victory at the polls. I thank God for finding you worthy to occupy this position of responsibility and pray for wisdom and good health to enable you succeed in this national assignment.
It is very obvious that by this victory, you have been elevated to a position of honour and political leadership of both the Igbo nation and Nigeria as a whole. It is by this recognition that I wish to draw your kind attention to some critical issues which I consider pertinent to the political and economic development of Nd’Igbo in this new dispensation.
I believe that the political environment in Nigeria today has not only placed Nd’Igbo at a cross-road but at the same time at a political strategic advantage depending on how we play our card. There is no doubt that today the Igbo nation has become a powerful bloc that can influence, if well managed, the direction of political and economic activities in Nigeria to the advantage of our people in particular and Nigeria in general. You therefore need to be very creative in thinking and exhibit a high sense of political sagacity in order to discover the best route and a new role that will re-launch us into political reckoning in this new dispensation. I believe that the first test of this new political alignment shall be consummated with your role in the upcoming election of the Leadership of the 8th National Assembly.