Nigeria Governors attack Jonathan over Sanusi’s suspension, demand accountability on missing $20 billion

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, on Tuesday lambasted President Goodluck Jonathan for suspending Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido, weeks after he blew the whistle on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for allegedly diverting not less than $20billion of the country’s oil revenues. The apparently angry governors said at the end of their meeting in Abuja, which ended in the early hours of Tuesday, that the president’s action was meant to divert attention from the ongoing national discourse on the missing millions. They faulted Mr. Jonathan for the action, saying he lacked the power to unilaterally send the CBN governor on suspension. The President had insisted during a televised media chat on Monday that he had oversight powers over the CBN and therefore had absolute power to suspend Mr. Sanusi. But the governors disagreed, saying the President’s action was a clear breach of the CBN Act 2007, which demands the president to consult the Nigerian senate before activating any process that might lead to the removal of the bank’s governor. “The suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, by Mr. President is in clear breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the CBN Act, 2007,” the governors said in a communique read to journalists by their chairman, Rotimi Amaechi. “The suspension is aimed at diverting attention from the current national discourse on the missing $20billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Account, allegations of corruption and questionable accountability.” The governors demanded accountability on the missing billions, and backed “the call of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Senate Committee on Finance for a forensic audit of the NNPC Account”. The governors also condemned the Federal Government for failing to convene the meeting of the National Economic Council, NEC, in the last seven months, an action they believe was hindering the constitutional opportunity to discuss the state of the nation’s economy. They appealed to the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, to accelerate hearing on constitutional cases such as those on the Excess Crude Account and illegal deduction of oil subsidy. The Forum also deliberated on the deadly insurgency in the North-East geopolitical zone and urged the Federal Government to be more responsive to its responsibility of protecting lives and tackle the spate of terrorism attacks in Borno State. “We expect that the Federal Government should wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property in the country, especially in the North-East,” they said. The Forum, however, commended the Federal Government’s efforts at curbing Boko Haram insurgents in the North and urged the government to up their strategies. While condemning the current spate of killings in the North- East, it applauded the effort of the Nigerian military and other security agencies, which were tackling the insurgents. The governors also accused the Federal Government of illegally plotting to impeach Governor Tanko Al- Makura of Nasarawa, describing the action as a renewed assault on constitutional democracy. The NGF is an umbrella association of the 36 elected state governors of the federation, irrespective of party affiliation. Tuesday’s meeting was attended by governors of Rivers, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kano, Lagos and Imo, while Osun, Borno and Edo were represented by their deputies. A former Governor of Kwara, Bukola Saraki, now a senator, also made a brief appearance at the meeting. Mr. Saraki was Mr. Amaechi’s immediate predecessor as chairman of the Forum. Read full communique below. ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 3RD MEETING OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM HELD ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24 2014, AT THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR’S LODGE, ASOKORO, ABUJA We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting today, at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja deliberated on a number of issues and resolved as follows: 1. The suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, by Mr. President is in clear breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the CBN Act, 2007. The suspension is aimed at diverting attention from the current national discourse on the missing $20billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Account, allegations of corruption and questionable accountability. We support the call of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Senate Committee on Finance for a forensic audit of the NNPC Account. 2. Forum reiterates its concern about the deliberate refusal of the presidency to convene the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting for seven months. This has emasculated the constitutional opportunity to discuss the perilous state of the Nigerian economy thus plunging the nation into an economic and political crisis. In addition, members appeal to the Judiciary particularly the Supreme Court to accelerate the hearing on the constitutional cases especially the case of the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and illegal deductions on oil subsidy. 3. Members condemn in totality the current spate of killings in the North East. We commend the Nigerian military and other security agencies in their effort to quell this. However, we expect that the federal government should wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property in the country especially in the North East. 4. It has come to our notice that the presidency is plotting to illegally impeach the Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. We condemn this renewed assault on constitutional democracy. Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum

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Sunset At Noon – By Adekoya Boladale

An Elegy in memory of the young ones murdered in Yobe and Borno

Adekoya Boladale

Sorrow feels the heart when hopes are lost,
Bitterness consumes the soul when dreams die
In wake of the day they came
Before cock crows they were by their bedside
Waking the beautiful Angels with guns and Matchet
Oh how tender their skins were
Oh how soft were their cheeks

It was not a call to worship
No, it was not a call to pray
The monsters from the deepest pit of hell have come
The seeds of evil sowed by beast in high places are here for harvest
Oh poor little children
Oh little subtle ones

In the tenderness of their slumber
In the kindness of their sleep
They cast their spears beneath their hearts
Their arrows found succor within their belly
Hajia tried to run but her legs were heavy
Aminat screamed for life but her lungs were dry
Oh how low the tempo of their agonies were.

In the pool of their blood they gaps for breath
Wallowing with crawling fingers calling out to mum for help
Helpless and tried they scream in pains
Tears could not come visiting for the lake of flames sucked them up
Oh how tender skin turn to ashes
Oh how hope turn to winds

All is calm now
The princesses are gone
The beast have gotten their bounty
And all that is left are fading smokes of agony

But who will calm their nerves?
Who will suck up their grief?
Who will wipe off their tears?
Who will call them mama?
Who will call them papa?
The drivers on whose back they rode to our realm

Who dare whisper to these ones that the night guard went on recess?
Who is manly enough to tell them the King was cruising in the bosom of his beloved when evil came?
They said the guards fled
They said they fought but were too weak.

Oh little Princesses,
Be still and wipe off your tears
Mummy will be okay
Daddy will be fine
Rejoice for the troubles and agony of this world will no longer hunt thee
Pains, broken promises, deceit and lies you shall see no more.

Be wary not for the lost is theirs
Ponder not for a nation that went to merry at your grief
Wipe your tears for they feel not your pains
Their condolences have been written on facebook
Their Elegy scripted on the pages of twitter
The King has declared a feast to mark a Centenary.

To the bounty hunters who have killed the body
Hope it makes them live forever.
To them who have killed the dreams,
Hope the future of their generations become blissful
To them who have murdered hope
It is left to divine to give them peace.

I will miss your smile
I will miss your laugh
I will miss the mouth that speaks no evil
I will miss the lips that bares no curse
I will miss the hearts that feels no hatred
I will miss the souls that nurse no bias.
Adieu Angels, Adieu.

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See The Ridiculous Amount Ministerial Nominees Paid As Taxes

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Roberto Mancini: Chelsea 80% certain to beat Galatasaray

Roberto Mancini	Roberto Mancini

Uefa Champions League - Galatasaray v Chelsea      Venue: Turk Telecom Arena, Istanbul     Date: Wednesday, 26 February     Kick-off: 19:45 GMT  Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website, plus live audio commentary on BBC Radio 5 live.

Galatasaray manager Roberto Mancini believes Chelsea have "an 80% chance" of beating his side to advance into the Champions League quarter-finals. 

The Premier League leaders visit the Turkish champions on Wednesday for the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Ex-Manchester City boss Mancini insists Chelsea, who have won the Champions League and Europa League in the past two seasons, are strong favourites.

"They have fantastic players used to playing games like this," he said.

"I think they have an 80% chance of going through."

Mancini, who took charge of the Istanbul club in September, believes the Blues are capable of winning trophies this season, despite Jose Mourinho claiming his team were "too young" to challenge for major honours.

"They have really good players - these players who can change the game at any moment," added the Italian.

Mancini says ex-Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who is facing the Blues for the first time since leaving in 2012, and Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder are vital to Galatasaray's hopes of reaching the last eight for the second successive season.

"Didier was an important man, an important player for Chelsea," said the Italian. "Wesley won a Champions League at Inter Milan under Mourinho.

"They have a good relationship with him, but today, for 90 minutes, I think they will be enemies.

"After 90 minutes, they can go and have a dinner together. But for 90 minutes they should play at more than 100%. We need Didier and Wesley to play very, very well."

Earlier this week, Mancini claimed some of the credit for that Champions League win - Mourinho succeeded the Italian at Inter.

But the Chelsea manager dismissed Mancini's influence in the 2010 success: "From 11 players, he didn't work with six of them. So he made a five-a-side team because I played with only five players from his team."

Wednesday's tie will not be the first reunion between Drogba and his old boss Mourinho, who signed him for the west London club from Marseille in 2004.

The Ivory Coast striker played for Galatasaray in a Champions League quarter-final tie against Mourinho's Real Madrid side last season, although the Portuguese boss admits it is still a "difficult and strange feeling" to face Drogba.

"But we have to do our job. We know he wants to do his job," he said.

"Last year it happened the same. I want to do my job to help my team, and he tried to do his by scoring goals, which he did.

"But I admit it's a strange feeling we have to try and forget during the game." 

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APC condemns Yobe school attack, urges the President to visit state

Yobe Killing

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday condemned the horrific attack on the Federal Government College Buni Yadi, in Yobe. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that insurgents reportedly murdered about 40 students of the college on Feb. 25. In a statement issued in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC described the attack as “extremely gory even by the scorched-earth tactics of the terrorists. ”What a sad day for Nigeria and indeed for all of humanity, when innocent school children were used as soft targets by a group of cowardly terrorists.” According to Mohammed, the attackers have “shed their toga of humanity on the altar of a meaningless ideology. ”We condole with the families of the victims as well as the government and people of Yobe over this abominable crime. “We urge the State and Federal Governments to work together to ensure that schools in the state are adequately protected,” it stated. APC, however, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to visit the state to offer succour to the families of the victims and the state government. (NAN)

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Race to become Ondo new Speaker hots up, three names shortlisted

The death of Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Samuel Adesina Ajayi, has created a platform for a fresh race in the state Assembly.
Although, many of his colleagues have declined to comment on his death, it is hoped that the zoning formula in the state will be maintained.
Since the Governor is from the Southern Senatorial District, while his Deputy is from the North, automatically, the South should retain the vacant seat of the Speaker.
Presently, three lawmakers from the South are supposedly fit for the position.
They are: Oyebo Aladetan.
Aladetan who is from Ilaje Constituency 1 is a second termer in the Assembly. He is presently the Chairman, House Committee on Information. He was former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before he defected to the ruling Labour Party.
Aladetan was part of the palace coup that put an end to the reign of the PDP in the Ondo State House of Assembly. He was also one of the lawmakers who did not attend the budget presentation in the Assembly last year. He is one of the lawmakers that may be considered for the position of Mr. Speaker
Victor Akinwe
Victor Akinwe is from Odigbo Constituency 11. He is not also a green horn as this is his second term in the Assembly. A former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. He may also be considered for the plum job.
Gbenga Edema:
He is a trained lawyer who is highly intelligent but a first timer. He is
from Ilaje Constituency 11.
Against all odds, the Governor may however ignore the political zoning
formula if he wishes, but the step is logical.
Despite all these, the influence of Governor Olusegun Mimiko on who should emerge as the speaker of the State must not be put aside.
It would be recalled that in order for Mimiko to take over the Assembly in 2010, the former Speaker, Taofik Abdulsalam was impeached, leading to a mass defection of PDP lawmakers to the ruling Labour Party (LP).
Therefore, Mimiko’s factor may prevent any of the name mentioned above from getting the slot which favour them due to the senatorial zone system, especially, if he finds out that none of them is loyal to him.

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