The Youth wing of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has called on the Senate Majority Leader, Senator George Akume to resign his position as the voice of the opposition in the National Assembly to clear his name over an allegation of certificate forgery raised against him in an Abuja Federal High Court.
Comrade Danelsi Momoh who addresses a large crowd of youths who thronged the National Assembly Complex with a letter addressed to Senator George Akume and copied the Senate President David Mark, National Leaders of ACP General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed and ACP Senators in the red chambers said the need for Akume to resign as the voice of the minority became necessary to enable him enough time and opportunity to save the image of the newly formed party from degenerating to what the People’s Democratic Party has been known for over the years.
He queried that the newly formed All Progressive Congress is a virgin platform that has been birthed to liberate Nigeria on the path of truth, honour and glory and any attempt to harbour such unholy personalities at it’s highest echelon is to send negative signals to the minds of Nigerians that the much awaited alternative platform for the realization of their dreams is still yet to arrive the shores of the country.
He further applauded the duo of General Muhaammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their thoughtfulness to salvage Nigeria from the hopelessness and helplessness which have greeted it in the last few years but warned that the only thing that will make the difference is if truly we are ready to live by the realities of self esteem, integrity and love of nation irrespective of our personal attachments.
“We as Youths and a supporters of our great party, the All Progressives Congress youth wing are calling on our Distingusihed Senator George Akume to Honourable resign his office as Minority Leader of the Senate to face the grievous allegations of Certificate Forgery starring at his face.”
“It is evidently clear that our leader might not have forged his certificate as alleged by the plaintiff in the matter but it is too tasking a job for Senator Akume to be serving in this tasking office and still have time to defend himself in the court of law, hence the need for him to quit in order to save the collective image of our newly formed great party in Africa.”
“With the commendations that our leaders, General Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Ahmed have received so far from well-meaning Nigerians and members of the international community, it is quite glaring that we are coming to reshaped the political landscape of Nigeria to a better society, in the same vein we must still learn to act like the Americans when such simple but grievous matters are raised against us in order to sustain the tempo of the ovation that has trailed our outing,” he also added.
The battle for the heart of the political capital of northern Nigeria, Kaduna State appears to be turning new surprise corners in the State. This is as information reaching 247ureports.com indicates that the battle for political control by the Vice President of Nigeria, Architect Namadi Sambo – of his home State, Kaduna may have begun exhibiting signs of desperation on the part of the Vice President – as he prepares broad power consolidation against a probable presidential run in 2015 under the banner of the People Democratic Party [PDP].
The latest exhibition of political desperation played out today at the Kaduna State University – first convocation ceremony.
The University which was established in 2004 by the then governor of Kaduna, Moh’d Makarfi – held its first graduation convocation today’s morning [March 16, 2013]. The ceremony saw the attendance of the Vice President of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo, the one time governor of Kaduna, Senator Moh’d Makarfi, the governor of Kaduna, Yero – along with other dignitaries. The Vice President was slated to address the event along with Senator Makarfi – as the special invited guests at the convocation – largely due to the peculiar roles the two individuals played in the development of the institution.
But in a move deemed genius and at same time dubious, the Vice President rose as the main speaker at the event to tell the organizer of the event that he will not speak or address the event. This, he made clear during the convocation. As gathered, the Vice President’s refusal to speak will also deny Senator Makarfi a speaking opportunity at the event.
Informed participants at the event, including some of the lecturers at the institution told 247ureports.com that when the institution was set up in 2004 under the Makarfi administration – the development of the institution for accreditation by the National University Commission [NUC] was in progress – until the administration of Sambo arrived. The Sambo administration was reported to have abandoned the university project. The abandoned infrastructures were further damaged by environmental degradation – until the arrival the late governor, Patrick Yokowa and his deputy, Yero. The duo launched a broad campaign for the aggressive revamp of the institution. The school, under late Yakowa’s watch saw the accreditation of the school and its many programs – except Mathematics. The Yakowa revamp of the institution took less than two years.
So politically, it became apparent for the Vice President [at the convocation event] that he was not to allow the Senator a speaking opportunity – to highlight the accomplishments of an administration that wasn’t Sambo – especially since the institution was the brain child of the Senator. And knowing that as protocol demands, if the Vice President refuses to speak – the Senator will not speak.
With the refusal of the Vice President to speak, the Vice Chancellor, Prof William B. Qurix, was forced to bring the event to an abrupt end by announcing to the graduating students that the convocation “has come to a close“. The announcement immediately brought annoyance to the attendees of the event. The Senator was visibly annoyed – but refused to address the Press on the event that unfolded.
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The graduating students did not take the VP’s actions or refusing to speak lightly.
A lot has been said about Aba, the commercial destination of Nigeria. I am not about to join issues with all the various positions that may have been advocated, whether for or against. But I will reiterate our avowal as publicly pledged, during the inauguration of our mandate, to the effect that we will faithfully live up to the aspiration of our people. Aba is not an exception to that pledge and this has been variously demonstrated by a glaring sincerity of purpose in addressing major challenges in Aba.
For a retrospective brief, it is a common knowledge that the gateway status of Aba is a follow up to the business adventures of our Igbo brothers. The city accommodated their strategic business interest in terms of proximity to railway and seaport through nearby Port Harcourt and accessibility to other states. Aba did well as a market town ably administered by retinue of Igbo merchants who ventured into various trades and vocations.
With the passage of time, these Igbo produce merchants flourished in their trade and consequently the British Colonial masters were attracted to designate Aba as one of their administrative enclaves.
Before the exit of the British Colonial Masters, Aba had become a household name in Nigeria and subsequently, made it to the African map as a commercial hub of note. Naturally, the status of the city compelled her to grapple with the influx of human beings who as it where came in droves. The consequence is that indecency and flagrant disregard for environmental friendliness has become a way of life in Aba.
It became so mountainous that successive government’s shied away from making a remarkable input in expanding the already over-stretched infrastructure in the City of Aba. But our genuine desire to comprehensively turn Aba into a huge construction site was fiercely challenged, Firstly, by incredible security challenge and secondly by the financial wherewithal to adopt emergency zone approach. However, the enormity of decay, prompted government to conscientiously prioritized interventions and constantly reconciled it with available resources vis-à-vis the expected necessity of allocating similar values to other geopolitical enclaves of the state.
Those who disdained our promises as being empty, would have been jolted by the reality of rehabilitations going on in sixteen roads in Aba, viz Azikiwe road, Cemetery road, Milverton Avenue, Eziukwu/ Okigwe round about, Ama Ogbonnay, Nwala by Faulks road to brass junction, linking Aba Owerri road, Ngwa road, Ohanku road, Eemelogu road (completed awaiting drainage) Ehere road, Omoba road, Umuola road, Ikot-Ekpene road from Opobo junction to Bata, Omuma by ACCN, Nwigwe by Nwagba Avenue, geometric access road, and Aba-Port Harcourt road.
Government had earlier rose to the challenge of rehabilitating and dualizing the impassible Aba-Owerri road and notorious Ukwu-Mango, and others. When it became environmentally expedient that Abayi-express market and in its place build a lush green and life enhancing relaxation garden, government swung into action.
The investment gateway extended to Geometric Energy Limited will emphatically jumpstart every latent enterprise in Aba and redefine access to energy for optimum business delivery.
Our state and federal legislatures elected to protect the interest of Aba political block have combined beautifully well with the state government to jointly promote the interest of Aba our commercial pride. The strategic importance of repositioning Aba, gave rise to our support and deployment of resources towards the creation of Aba State. We had reasoned that its attainment would facilitate the mobilization of facilities for accelerated development of both states. A monthly federation allocation of three billion, five hundred million Naira and minimally improved internally generated revenue is abysmally inadequate to scratch the surface of Aba’s infrastructural challenge. This is regardless of the inevitable necessity of having to allocate two billion, five hundred million naira, monthly from the same next to nothing allocation to pay workers salaries.
Let us draw from the wisdom of history, as we recall the horrendous past, when evil repeatedly danced in the square of the righteous, until the heart-rending cry of the state attracted the intervention of heaven. Abia once cajoled and derided is now playing host to stake holders & interest groups, who are desirous of a practical recipe to security challenges residing in their domain.
Our irreversible commitment to Aba will continue to drive the vision of sanitizing the city, for the enhancement of our people’s well being. Our regime of matching words with action will see to it that blocked drainages are thoroughly desilted and illegal structures obstructing the rehabilitation and construction of new ones are summarily demolished. Armed with the survey report of a seasoned professional in urban challenges, we have resolved to critically approach head long, a comprehensive enumeration of properties in Aba and other urban areas of the state with a view to streamlining all forms of levies and development funds.
Government also considered it appropriate to partner with the market unions of Ariaria International market, and others with a view to rehabilitating sectional roads in the market.
Our sincerity of purpose in that regard was practically demonstrated by a genuine commitment of allowing the market union unfettered access to revenues accruing from the market for intervention in critical road situations and Government also subventing it
Suffice it to say that the government of Abia State believes in Aba and is practically committed to its re-engineering.
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T.A. Orji – the Governor of Abia State wrote in from Umuahia
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks with reporters after announcing the U.S. will add 14 interceptors to a West Coast-based U.S.-based missile defense system, at the Pentagon, March 15, 2013
WHITE HOUSE — The United States is strengthening ground-based missile defenses after threats by North Korea against South Korea and the United States. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with reporters in Washington.
Fourteen interceptors capable of destroying ballistic missiles in flight will be added to an existing West Coast defense system.
North Korea conducted its third nuclear test last month. Pyongyang has threatened a preemptive nuclear attack on the United States and South Korea, and ratcheted up threats linked to joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises.
The North also has threatened to void the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War.
Hagel said the U.S. is acting to stay ahead of challenges posed by North Korean, and Iranian, development of longer range ballistic missile capabilities.
“The United States has missile defense systems in place to protect us from limited ICBM attacks, but North Korea in particular, has recently made advances in its capabilities and has engaged in a series of irresponsible and reckless provocations,” he said.
The 14 additional interceptors will increase to 44 the number in the United States. Hagel said this will provide a 50-percent increase in defense capability.
Also announced is a plan to build an additional radar facility in Japan, and environmental studies for an additional interceptor site in the United States.
Part of the European Phased Adaptive missile defense system will be shifted to bolster U.S. ground-based defenses. Hagel said this does not lessen the U.S. commitment to NATO missile defense or affect plans for 23 interceptors in Poland.
Undersecretary for Defense Policy James Miller said the U.S. informed South Korea and Japan about the plans. He said China was informed as well, but he declined to characterize Beijing’s response.
Admiral James Winnefeld, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, referred to a speech this past week by President Barack Obama’s National Security Adviser, Tom Donilon, who said the U.S. was fully capable of responding to North Korean actions.
“We not only intend to put the mechanics in place to deny any potential North Korean objectives to launch a missile at the United States, but also to impose costs upon them if they do, and we believe that this young lad [North Korean leader Kim Jong Un] ought to be deterred by that and if he is not, we will be ready,” said Donilon.
Winnefeld spoke about concerns the U.S. has about a speeding up of North Korean ballistic missile development, elevated after a North Korean Taepodong-2 launched a satellite into Earth orbit last year.
Undersecretary Miller said at least one reported North Korea missile type, the KN-08, probably does have the range to reach the United States, although he declined to go into details of intelligence assessments on the missile’s development status.
Plans call for the new interceptors to be fielded by 2017 at a cost that officials put at about $1 billion. Officials said some additional testing will take place in coming months.
R- l: Mr Peter Obi, CON; MD, Julius Berger, Wolgang Goetsch; Hon Minister of works, Arc Mike Onolememen; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe and the Igwe of mbaukwu, Peter Anugwu at the Stakeholders Sensitization meeting on the Construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge at Ime Obi, yesterday
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The Federal Government disclosed yesterday at a stakeholders meeting held at the palace of the Obi of Onitsha, HRM, Igwe Alfred Achebe that all was set for work to commence
on 2nd Niger Bridge.
Addressing a mammoth crowd, the Minister of Works, Architect Mike Onolemomen who came with a high calibre of technical team that comprised mostly civil servants and building experts, said the time had come now for serious action on the 2nd Niger Bridge.
He commended Governor Peter Obi for his relentless effort towards the move to realize the project adding that without him the project would have died long time ago. He recalled many letters and visits by the Governor to the President, himself and relevant stakeholders pleading and reqesting the commencement of the project. “Even at our last event at Transcorps Hotel Abuja, Gov. Obi was there and made strong point on the imperative of commencing the bridge now”, the Minister said.
According to the Works Minister, the project would be completed before the expiration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in 2015 as part of efforts to deliver on the campaign promises of the present government.
The Minister further disclosed that the need for the completion of the second bridge across the River Niger was apt to ease transportation problemsas well as in line with the fulfillment of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign promises.
Mr. Onolememen who traced the history of second Niger Bridge said it was Governor Obi’s efforts that enlivened the project otherwise, it would have been a closed chapter, adding that the project will span from Asaba to Ozubulu and Ogbaru areas.
He said he was in Onitsha to acquaint Anambrarians with the latest development about the s Bridge and that the project was designed in such a way that there would be a ring road from Asaba to Onitsha to ease traffic challenges.
In his contribution, Governor Peter Obi described the project as very gigantic and assured the Federal Government that the state government would provide adequate security and other necessary sacrifices that will enhance effective completion of the project.”Once the project commences, I will relocate to Onitsha and turn myself into one of the project supervisors,” Obi said. He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for fulfilling his promise of building the bridge which he said would, among other things, bring the sufferings travellers face in the state to an end and assured federal government of proper supervision to ensure hitch free exercise.
The Managing Director of Julius Berger Construction Company, Mr. Wolfgang Goetsch who was there with other technical crew from the company pledged to carry out the project successfully according to specifications and time and commended the federal government for considering them as the preferred consortium.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe expressed delight that the project is actually taking off and awarded to a very competent construction firm which he said was a testimony that the federal government was determined to fulfill their promises to the electorate.He said there would be unity among the communities where the bridge would pass through and that the project would help to transform the country. In his own remarks, Igwe Peter who was there commended the Federal Government and Gov. Obi whose relentless efforts led to the realization on the project. Describing him as an exemplarily leader, he said Anambra State would never remain the same for having a governor like Obi.
WASHINGTON — An Iranian fighter jet approached a U.S. surveillance drone over the Persian Gulf but broke off its pursuit after the pilot of a U.S. escort plane radioed a verbal warning, the Pentagon said Thursday.
Pentagon press secretary George Little said the incident occurred Tuesday and that the unarmed MQ-1 Predator surveillance drone as well as two U.S. military escort planes remained over international waters at all times.
Little said the drone was conducting a “routine classified” surveillance mission.
He said the Iranian F-4 plane came as close as 16 miles to the drone before it departed.
Little initially said that a U.S. escort plane discharged a flare to warn the Iranian pilot, but he later retracted that statement, saying instead that the Iranian plane broke off its pursuit after receiving a U.S. “verbal warning.”
Lt. Col. Wesley Miller, a Pentagon spokesman, said he could not explain where the Pentagon got the incorrect information about a flare. Miller also said he could not say how close the U.S. planes came to Iranian territorial waters.
In November an Iranian fighter fired upon, but did not hit, an unarmed Predator over the Gulf. In the aftermath of that incident, the U.S. told the Iranians that it would continue to conduct surveillance flights “consistent with long-standing practice and our commitment to the security of the region,” Little said.
“We also communicated that we reserve the right to protect our military assets as well as our forces and will continue to do so going forward,” he added.
Information reaching 247ureports.com indicates that the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) has suspended – Mr. Obafaiye Shem, the Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC.
Shem’s suspension comes after his embarrassing ordeal at the Channel Television – while he was a guest of their morning show – Sunrise Daily.
The Anambra State House of Assembly yesterday passed into law the state’s 2013 appropriation bill of One hundred and ten billion, nine hundred and fourty nine million, nine hundred and seventy three thousand naira(N110,949,973,000) for her projects and services this fiscal year.
From the report of the committee on Finance and Appropriation as presented by its chairman, Princess Nikky Ugochukwu, they recommended some upward and downward adjustments in the estimates for various sectors of the state’s ministries and departments including that of the Assembly.
Others sectors include the Environmental Health/Pollution Control, Education, Information, Culture and Tourism, General Administration, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, and the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission.
The committee, Ugochukwu added, recommended an increase of sixty million naira, representing .054% when compared with the total estimate of one hundred and ten billion, eight hundred and eighty nine million, nine hundred and seventy three thousand naira as presented by Governor Obi.
The Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili expressed the readiness of the Assembly to continue to work together in support of the executive to achieve its desired goals.
The United Progressive Party (UPP) calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible, transparent and acceptable FCT Area Council elections on Saturday 16th March, 2013. The Commission should provide a level playing field to all the political parties contesting various elective offices as the only way to deepen our frail democracy and meet the aspirations of millions of FCT voters.
UPP calls on the good people of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to come out en masse and vote for UPP candidates who are strongly determined to provide democracy dividends to the impoverished people of AMAC and achieve the Federal Government’s transformation agenda.
We urge the AMAC electorate to vote wisely and protect their votes. UPP AMAC chairmanship candidate, Hon. Chambers Okorie and Vice Chairman, Hon. Danladi Iliya are the dream team and best candidates for the offices on AMAC Chairman and Vice Chairman. We urge the electorate to vote them to power as they are well qualified, tested and trusted to lead AMAC residents into the promised land. They will not disappoint the good people of AMAC if voted into power as their campaign manifest is well spelt out in tandem with the UPP progressive ideology.
A UPP government in AMAC will provide quality education, primary healthcare, basic infrastructure, social amenities, security and mutual co-existence among various ethno-religious groups in AMAC.
Equity, fairness, and good governance shall be our watchwords as we jointly build a strong, virile and prosperous AMAC. It is time for change. Chambers Okorie is the change agent we can believe in. It is time to end tyranny and mismanagement by political jobbers masquerading as democrats. The time for change is now, vote UPP for good governance.
