JONATHAN HAS EARNED WORLD RESPECT —GHANAIAN PRESIDENT

FOR his act of statesmanship in conceding defeat in the March 28 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan, has earned the respect of Nigerians and the international community, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, has observed.
The Ghanaian leader was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, where he told State House correspondents after a private meeting with President Jonathan that he was in the country to congratulate him on the successful conduct of the general election.
He said: “I also took the opportunity to commend him for the statesmanship that was displayed after the election. We all knew that he congratulated president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari after the election and he conceded.
“I feel that was a very, very great sign of maturity and has earned the respect of all Nigerians and the international community for all what he did.”
Mahama reiterated that he was in the country in his capacity as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as a follow up of his pre-election visit, during which he showed the sub-region’s solidarity with Nigerians.

ZONING: APC MEETS TODAY

The National Executive Committee, NEC of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is meeting today to resolve the issues outstanding from the zoning of principal office positions in the party as recommended by the National Working Committee, NWC of the party last week.
The deliberation of the party’s highest decision making body is expected to quell rising anxiety within the party over the allocation of party positions that has seen zonal leaders position their interests against those of other zones.
The party NWC had reportedly zoned the position of Senate President to the North-Central a development that has seen two of the major gladiators from the zone, Senators Bukola Saraki and George Akume turning into the front leaders for the contest.
The zoning of the speaker and Deputy Senate President, according to sources is expected to be resolved today or possibly tomorrow by the party hierarchy.

AWAITING N40 PER LITRE FUEL

Tam David-West’s fame as Professor of Virology at the University tends to obscure his involvement in politics where his services as Commissioner for Education (Rivers State), Minister of Petroleum, and Minister of Mines, Power and Steel, all under military regimes, are well known. He is one of those tipped for cabinet membership in the in-coming government.
It could be on the authority of these pedigrees that he affirmed that Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari would reduce the price of fuel to N40 per litre. He did not say what the price of kerosene, a product majority of Nigerian urban dwellers use, as cooking fuel, would be. It is equally doubtful that he spoke on the authority of the President-elect, General Buhari. Did he speak, leaning on his understanding of the economics of oil and gas or as a counterpoise to government’s reduction of the price of fuel to N87 per litre, which some saw as a campaign gimmick?
Whatever informed the position, those who know that David-West, 78, was Buhari’s Minister of Petroleum, 31 years ago, may consider his proposed price of fuel to have some substance or was it David-West’s way of protecting his principal, in case the price of fuel became an election issue? How did he arrive at his figure?

ABBA FIT AS DPO, NOT IGP – GOV. WAMMAKO

Sokoto state governor, Aliyu Wammako, has stated that the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, is not fit to occupy the position that he holds but should at best be made a divisional police officer, DPO.
Wammako said this at the 12th edition of The Sun Awards held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, western Nigeria, after being honoured as the 2014 Man of The Year.
According to the governor, given Abba’s actions and double standard in carrying out his duties ahead of this year’s elections, the police chief is not qualified to manage such a sensitive office.
Wammako accused the IGP of being a threat to the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections, having allegedly violated the recent non-violence accord signed in Abuja by the leading political parties in the country and their candidates.

U.S. VICE PRESIDENT, BIDEN, URGES JONATHAN TO REMAIN GLOBAL LEADER

As global commendation continue to pour for President Goodluck Jonathan over his role in recent peaceful elections in Nigeria, U.S. Vice President, Joe Bidden called on Monday to commend for his leadership.
Mr. Bidden, who spoke with President Jonathan, urged him to “remain engaged and play a leadership role in global issues” as his presidency is gradually winding to an end in a month’s time.
A statement from the U.S Embassy in Abuja also congratulated the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory.

MEET THE NEW IG OF POLICE, SOLOMON ARASE

Solomon Arase, the new Acting Inspector General of Police, was, until his appointment, the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department,
The apex intelligence gathering arm of the Nigerian police, the Force CID is the only arm of the police that provides Intelligence on Crime and National Security.
Mr. Arase, 59, was born on June 21, 1956. He hails from Oredo Local Government Area of Edo state.
He enlisted into the Nigerian Police on December 1, 1981 after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1980, with a degree in Political Science.
A lawyer, Mr. Arase also has a Bachelor of Law degree and Masters of Law from the University of Benin and University of Lagos respectively.
He attended the Nigerian Law school and was called to the bar in 2000.
He also has a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.
Mr. Arase has served in various commands and formations of the Nigerian police, including being the Commissioner of Police for Akwa Ibom State.

SHOPRITE COMMENDS NIGERIANS’ COMPORTMENT

IN the wake of ongoing protests by Nigerians against the wave of Xenophobic attacks, South African company, Shoprite, has commended the comportment of Nigerians thus far, assuring that relevant pressure was being put on the South African government to arrest the trend.
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday, a cross section of Shoprite officials praised the lawful protests embarked upon by Nigerians and derided the attacks, describing it as an ill wind that blew no one any good with its unpalatable multiplier effect.
While expressing hope that the attacks will fizzle out soon, the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that the Shoprite management had initiated meetings with the South African government on the need to quell the violence as soon as possible. The officials wondered the basis for such killings, regarding any reason as unjustifiable.
When asked to respond to threats on social media to boycott South African companies, they remarked that it was yet to observe the development begin to take its toll on business.
In the same vein, South African President, Jacob Zuma addressing the National Assembly in Kwazulu-Natal on the violence attacks directed at foreign nationals, at the weekend, said the police had been directed to work round the clock to protect both foreign nationals and citizens, arrest looters and those committing acts of violence.

Apprehension High Over Brothel Cited Near Popular King Palace, In Anambra

Stories surrounding citing a brothel meters away from  the palace of a popular traditional rulers of Amaokpala  leave many questions unanswered.
Residents of the community in Orumba North LGA of the state have called on the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano and the state commissioner of police , to wade into the unceremoniously citing brothel close to the palace of His Royal Highness Igwe C.O Okeke who is percieved as a respected traditional ruler that commands greater influence in the community.
He sees the location of the hotel, which shares a perimeter fence with his palace, as desecration of the community’s traditional institution and an affront to his person.
Igwe Okeke alleged that the owner of the hotel deceived him by telling him the building was meant for students’ hostel only for him to use it as a brothel.
He said: “How proper is it for the palace of a traditional ruler to be surrounded at all times and invaded by sights and acts of crime and immorality, acts that are incompatible with our traditional ethos.

PRESIDENCY TO APC: LET JONATHAN BOW OUT PEACEFULLY ON MAY 29

The Presidency has asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to allow President Goodluck Jonathan to bow out peacefully and constitutionally on May 29.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe said in a statement yesterday that the fact that Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election was not a crime.
Okupe alleged in his Facebook post yesterday that the APC agents, all over the place, were unrelenting in their tirades of abuses, insults and lies against Jonathan, his aides and supporters.
“How many lies, deliberate falsehood and evil propaganda, outright curses and attacks must we suffer just because we lost an election in which we were never disgraced?” he asked.
Okupe warned that those talking to Jonathan “disparagingly” should respect the sentiments of the 12 million Nigerians who voted for him.
He said though the Presidency had its reservations about the results of the presidential election, “but we will pass on that for now.
“We are all Nigerians and having lost does not make us less. We should be allowed to bow out peacefully and constitutionally on the 29th of May,” he said.
The presidential aide said he had no regrets for any statements he made on the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, before the election.

JONATHAN SACKS IGP SULEIMAN ABBA, APPOINTS DIG SOLOMON ARASE

President Jonathan has sacked the Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba. He has also appointed DIG Solomon Arase as Acting IGP with immediate effect, according to a tweet by Dr. Reuben Abati, the spokesperson of the president.
IGP Suleiman Abba, NPM, NPOM, mni was the 17th Indigenous Inspector-General of Police and was appointed by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR. He formally took over on August 1, 2014 formally from former Police boss, IGP MD Abubakar (Rtd) who had successfully piloted the affairs of the Force from 25th January, 2012 when he was appointed to July 31, 2014, having completed 35 years of service.
Abba Suleiman hails from Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State holds degrees in History and Law and has attended several management and security courses within and outside Nigeria. He is an alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.
He is known for his vast experience in criminal investigation, intelligence-led policing and crime-fighting operations.