Former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said President Goodluck Jonathan cannot win in a free and fair election in 2015 presidential poll.
The Congress for Progressive Change candidate for the 2011 presidential election said Jonathan’s adoption by some leaders of the South-South should not be taken seriously.
Buhari spoke in his Kaduna residence when he received the party’s governorship candidate for the October 20 election in Ondo State, Mr. Soji Ehinlanwo.
Ehinlanwo was accompanied to Buhari’s home by the CPC National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, and other party officials.
The former head of state said, “I don’t take the decision of South-south leaders seriously. The South-South people said it is Jonathan or nothing; I know they are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, let them vote for him.
“In a free and fair election, let us see if they can give him the ticket against other geo-political zones. Let them give him the primary ticket first. Let them vote for him when 2015 comes and let us see if he would win.”
He urged the elite to participate in the 2015 election to ensure that election was free and fair.
He added, “It is also up to the elite to participate and ensure that elections are free and fair. It is not necessary for them to be card-carrying members of political parties. They know how to participate; they should not sit and look. They can go to their constituencies to identify and enlighten their people on the need to entrench free and fair election to stabilise the country.”
Buhari said it was only in Nigeria that people who worked for 10 to 35 years retire and die queuing to collect their entitlements.
He also lamented the non-prosecution of those indicted in the pension, subsidy and other fraud, saying “this can only happen in Nigeria”.
The CPC chief added, “Why are those officials not prosecuted to retrieve the stolen money? It is only in Nigeria that fraud of this magnitude takes place and this incompetent government is doing nothing about it.”
Tufton offended by Zimbabwe president’s reported comments
Nedburn Thaffe, Gleaner Writer
A diplomatic stand-off between Jamaica and Zimbabwe seems to be bubbling following recent comments attributed to the president of the African country, Robert Mugabe, who has been quoted as labelling Jamaican men “drunkards and perennially hooked on marijuana”.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade A.J. Nicholson said yesterday his office would be seeking to verify the statements, after which Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller would respond.
But going one step further, Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr Christopher Tufton described the statement as unfortunate and said if it were found to have been made by Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president would have a responsibility to shed light on his comments, as well as provide an apology.
“I think that he should be called on to provide an explanation as to what he meant. It’s inappropriate and, frankly speaking, rude. He should apologise to the Jamaican people,” Tufton declared.
“It certainly is in poor taste and does not generate confidence in the relationship. It is inappropriate and it threatens to undermine the relationship that Zimbabwe and the people of Zimbabwe have had with Jamaica and the people of Jamaica over many years,” Tufton told The Gleaner.
Tufton went on to add that the comments generate questions as to whether Mugabe should retain membership in the Order of Jamaica, which was conferred on him during a state visit to the island back in 1996.
“If he thinks that way about Jamaica, then what I would certainly say is, why did he accept that award that was offered to him? Now that he has that impression of Jamaica, then perhaps he should consider returning the award and I have no difficulty with that. He has insulted the Jamaican people.
“Clearly, he does not place much value on the relationship that we have,” Tufton said, while adding that the diplomatic channels must be utilised to call for the Zimbabwean president to clarify his statement.
Yesterday, Nicholson told The Gleaner that the Government “strongly rejects the suggestions contained in the news item”, while adding that Jamaica is a nation characterised by adherence to democratic principles and the rule of law.
“Jamaican men and women from all walks of life have made valuable contributions to national development and have made their mark on the world stage, be it in the field of politics, diplomacy, medicine, science and technology, or sports and culture, among many others,” he said.
“We take immense pride in the acknowledged contribution that Jamaica has made to the liberation of southern Africa and are gratified that nations such as South Africa and Zimbabwe enjoy the right to choose their own destiny,” Nicholson said.
In the online article posted on Friday on a Zimbabwean radio station, Mugabe, who was speaking during a distinguished lecture at a university function, reportedly urged Zimbabweans never to follow in the footsteps of Jamaicans whose influence on the country is all too pervasive.
“In Jamaica, they have freedom to smoke (men are always drunk) and universities are full of women.
“The men want to sing and do not go to colleges (some are dreadlocked). Let us not go there,” the African president was quoted as saying.
(Reuters) – President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney are expected to set aside their political differences later this month to speak at Bill Clinton’s eighth annual philanthropic summit.
Obama and Romney were invited earlier this summer to attend the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), a summit official said, well before Clinton’s Democratic National Convention speech last week where he gave a rousing endorsement of Obama and a detailed attack on the Republican presidential candidate.
Obama and Romney will address separate sessions on September 25, the final day of the three-day summit in New York City that brings together heads of state, business leaders, humanitarians and celebrities to make commitments to tackle the world’s woes.
It was not known what topics they planned to speak about.
“I’m grateful that President Obama and Governor Romney are taking time to join leaders from all parts of society who choose to address our greatest global challenges through the Clinton Global Initiative,” Clinton said in a statement on Monday.
“CGI is built on the spirit of non-partisan, cross-sector collaborations that drive action and I’m proud that, since we began in 2005, CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments that are already improving the lives of 400 million people all over the world,” he said.
Clinton, who this week is due to campaign for Obama in the critical swing states of Florida and Ohio, gave point-by-point criticism of Romney and his vice presidential running mate, congressman Paul Ryan, during a prime-time address to the Democratic convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Relishing being back in the political spotlight, Clinton said Obama should not be blamed for the poor economy he inherited in 2009 and has set the foundations for strong growth – if voters will give him more time and re-elect him on November 6.
But campaigning is expected to be set aside for the Clinton Global Initiative. A summit official said the philanthropic summit was traditionally a non-partisan event.
“The president of the United States, G20 heads of state and U.S. presidential nominees of both parties have always been invited,” the official said.
“Senator Obama and Senator McCain both addressed the CGI annual meeting in September of 2008,” he said, referring to 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
“The invitations to President Obama and Governor Romney for the 2012 annual meeting were extended earlier this summer, prior to the conventions,” the official said.
Clinton’s wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – who lost the Democratic presidential nomination to Obama in 2008 – is also slated to appear at the Clinton Global Initiative, along with her Republican predecessor at the State Department, Condoleezza Rice.
The world’s richest man, Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee, Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Jordan’s Queen Rania are also due to attend.
The idea for the summit came from Clinton’s frustration while president from 1993 to 2001 at attending conferences that prompted no action. So far the Clinton Global Initiative says it has produced more than 2,100 pledges valued at nearly $70 billion.
The full agenda for the summit can be seen at www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/2012
(Reuters) – Israel and the United States are in discussion on setting a “red line” for Iran’s nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
“We’re discussing it right now with the United States,” Netanyahu said in an interview with Canada’s CBC television aired late on Sunday.
In the interview, two days after Canada suspended diplomatic relations with Tehran over its nuclear project, Netanyahu again signaled that a clear boundary – which he has yet to define publicly – could obviate the need for military action.
Netanyahu’s recent calls for world powers to set a “clear red line” that would show they were determined to stop Tehran’s nuclear drive has suggested a growing impatience with the United States, Israel’s main ally.
Washington, which has resisted the idea of laying down red lines for Iran in the past, has been pressing the Israeli leader to give diplomacy and sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic more time to work to rein in Iran’s nuclear work peacefully.
Recent heightened Israeli rhetoric has stoked speculation that Israel might attack Iran before the U.S. elections in November, believing that President Barack Obama would give it military help and not risk alienating pro-Israeli voters.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made comments, interpreted by Israeli media as rejecting Netanyahu’s call for a red line, that drew admonishment from a senior Israeli government official.
In an interview with Bloomberg Radio, Clinton was asked about Netanyahu’s demand that a red line be set and also whether she thought a time limit should be put on negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
Clinton responded only to the second part of the question, saying, “We’re not setting deadlines.”
Israeli media seized on those comments as a rejection of Netanyahu’s red-line demand, which she did not mention in her answer.
The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Without a clear red line, Iran will not cease its race towards a nuclear weapon. These statements will not stop Iran’s centrifuges from spinning.”
“Unfortunately the opposite could well be true. These statements won’t serve to deter Iran but could well put it at ease,” the official said.
DIFFERENCES IN ISRAELI LEADERSHIP
But Netanyahu has faced opposition to any go-it-alone attack from Israeli security chiefs and its popular president, Shimon Peres. Opinion polls show a majority of Israelis do not want their military to strike Iran without U.S. support.
“I don’t think that they (Iran) see a clear red line, and I think the sooner we establish one, the greater the chances that there won’t be a need for other types of action,” Netanyahu said, appearing to refer to military steps.
“If Iran saw that, there’s a chance, I won’t say it’s guaranteed, but there’s a chance they might pause before they cross that line.”
Israel and the West believe Iran is working toward nuclear weapon development capability. Israel, widely thought to be the Middle East’s only atomic power, says a nuclear-armed Iran would be a threat to its existence. The Islamic Republic says its nuclear work is for peaceful energy purposes only.
A senior Israeli government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said talks were being held with “the American administration,” as to the red lines. He declined to elaborate.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz said on Monday Netanyahu had told German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle that if Iran enriched uranium above 20 percent, that would provide a red line as it would prove Tehran had chosen to exceed the level of refinement suitable for civilian energy and “break out” with an atom bomb.
Enrichment to 90 percent fissile purity is the typical threshold for weapons-grade nuclear fuel. Haaretz said Netanyahu stressed that from the moment Iran decided to make a nuclear bomb, it would need only six weeks to enrich to 90 percent.
Many independent analysts say, however, that Iran would need additional time – from several months to a year or more – to fashion weapons-grade material into a nuclear warhead and fit onto a missile capable of delivering the payload.
Netanyahu, who met Westerwelle on Sunday in Jerusalem, is scheduled to travel to the New York and address the U.N. General assembly about Iran later this month.
A meeting with Obama, who is deep in his re-election campaign and due to speak to the forum two days before Netanyahu arrives, has not been finalized, the Israeli official said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has ordered an immediate evacuation of citizens living along the River Niger plains. This alert comes because the dams have attained their highest water levels in 29 years which is unprecedented in the history of Jebba and Kainji hydroelectric power dams. The threat has created a high risk of imminent flooding in the downstream of the river.
The residents of the communities are urged to move to higher grounds for safety. The states at risk of the flood are Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Anambra and Delta.
Already the agency has notified the affected states to take the necessary precautionary measures by relocating people from the flood prone areas and activated the National Contingency Plan as well as alerted all stakeholders to take necessary actions in line with their various mandates. The states are to ensure compliance with the threat in order to avert imminent loss of lives and properties that would certainly arise in the event of flooding.
Furthermore, information available indicates that the gauge for monitoring the flow of water in the river has already exceeded the maximum height by over one meter.
A rapid assessment team comprising officers of NEMA and the stakeholders has left for Jebba and Kainji to further inspect the situation.
Fort Pierce, Florida (CNN) – President Barack Obama got a warm embrace on Sunday – one that lifted him about a foot off the ground.
While campaigning in Fort Pierce, Florida, the president stopped into Big Apple Pizza and Pasta Restaurant, where about 10 customers were gathered inside, and greeted the shop’s owner, Scott Van Duzer.
“Scott, what’s going on man,” the president said as he walked in. “Scott, let me tell you, you are like the biggest pizza shop owner I’ve ever seen.”
Van Duzer, 46, stands 6-foot-3, weighs 260 pounds and says he can bench press 350 pounds, according to a pool reporter who was at the restaurant.
“Everybody look at these guns,” Obama said, pointing to Van Duzer’s chest. “If I eat your pizza will I look like that?”
Laughing, Van Duzer hugged the president, arched his back and hoisted him off his feet.
“Look at that!” Obama said after he was back on the ground. “Man are you a powerlifter or what?”
Talking to reporters afterward, Van Duzer said he didn’t know the president was coming to his restaurant until about 40 minutes beforehand. The Florida business owner rushed from the driving range to get there in time.
Describing himself as “a big political person,” Van Duzer said he was “just overcome with excitement” and lifted the president. Van Duzer said he was a registered Republican who voted for Obama in 2008 and plans to cast his ballot again for the president in November.
Asked if he was concerned about a Secret Service reaction to the hug, Van Duzer said he was informed that “I was all right as long as I didn’t take him away.”
The president said he wanted to stop by the shop and express appreciation to Van Duzer for leading community efforts that encourage blood donation.
“I still wonder how he got these biceps, but what we know is that the guy’s just got a big heart along with big pecs,” Obama said. “So we’re very proud of him and we just want to say thank you for all the great work.”
The president wasn’t the only Obama to receive a big boost recently. A female Olympic wrestler picked up his wife, Michelle, while the first lady was in London to watch the opening ceremony and lead the presidential delegation.
“Even before she made the rounds I thought I can’t just hug her like everybody else,” the wrestler, Elena Pirozhkova, said. “I think she was nervous. I went slow. I just picked her up. I wanted to ask her permission. There was security all around. And she gave it. I will only meet her once. I wanted to do something different.”
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– CNN’s Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
Your excellency, I am very happy for the good work you are doing in Anambra State. I appreciate your efforts to invest in what we know that works. May the good Lord guide, protect and give you knowledge and wisdom with which to impact positively on the lives of our people which will ultimately put smile on their faces for delivering on your campaign promise.
I am writing this mail to you on behalf of Ogwuaniocha people in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, who have suffered decades of neglect in many ways by previous and current administration. Ogwu-Aniocha , my town has remained one of the food baskets of Anambra State. For instance, these communities ; Umu-Nekpu, Umu-Ngasi, Umu-Ezeoma, Umu-Eleke and Oblo, do convey on daily basis an average of 100 tonnes of food items through Ihiala and other parts of the state, instead of Atani, the headquarters of Ogbaru because of the impassable nature of Atani road among other roads that need your urgent attention and action.
I urge you to come over to Ogwuaniocha to see for yourself the near squalor those who voted for you in the last governorship election, with the hope that you will extend the dividend of democracy to them are facing and help us with some of these things my people need. What we need now and quickly too are; good road from Atani to Ogwu-Aniocha , functional cottage hospital with state of the art facilities and seasoned medical doctors to man it, electricity, pipe-born water supply to the five communities, making up the town. These are what any responsible government that has the security and welfare of its people at heart should do.
I must commend you notwithstanding contrary views for your efforts in the area of health, education, infrastructural development etc which is mainly concentrated in the urban area and your initiative among other people who contributed in making Anambra an oil bearing State not minding the current dispute about the rightful owners of the oil well. As we continue to count on you as a good leader to provide the above amenities for us, we pray God will help you to remember rural dwellers who have been expecting you to provide basic social facilities for them.
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The recent discovery by a Civil Society group that the Interior Minister in Jonathan’s cabinet, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro has engaged himself in another arms smuggling deal is generating serious tension amongst Nigerians and the international community on the sincerity of President Goodluck Jonathan to tackle the present security challenge occasioned by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.
The revelation which took the prying eyes of the National Anti-Terrorism and Peace Network to unravel through the office of the National Security Adviser to uncover is connected with a large cache of arms and ammunitions imported into the country by the Federal Government to empower the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDS) tactically in protecting Nigerians from subsequent attacks by Boko Haram and other elements in the country.
Honourable Minister of Interior Comrade Abba Moro
This recent investigation might not be far from the earlier acceptance by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the wake of public outcry against incessant attacks on ordinary citizens and properties worth millions of naira that members of the sect have infiltrated his administration and some even live in the State House with him. President Jonathan had in a public event addressed Nigerians and the rest of the world early this year that members of the religious sect now exist in his cabinet which makes several attempts to halt their evil activities against the state very difficult to combat.
According to a letter written to the United States Government and other international agencies by the Coalition, and made available to elombah.co, the National Security Adviser had advised Mr. President to demand the immediate resignation of Comrade Patrick Abba Moro who came on board with a huge moral burden bordering on his ongoing trial before an Abuja Magistrate Court on gun running. Our sources informed us that Comrade Patrick Abba Moro while serving as Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area between 1999 and 2007 was caught at Abuja with a short service pistol without any permission or presidential directive to bear arms and was subsequently arraigned before a court of law.
A copy of the internal security report with the National Security Adviser with subject titled, “Error in Ministerial Clearance by D. S. S,” shows that the Department of State Security Service has knowingly or unknowingly cleared Comrade Patrick Abba Moro prior to his nomination as Minister designate by Mr. President.
On assumption of office in 2011, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appointed some Nigerians to serve as Ministers amongst whom was one Comrade Patrick Abba Moro. At this point the Nigerian Civil Society drew the attention of the Senate to a pending case of illegal possession of firearms otherwise referred to as gun running against the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro, a nominee of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the position of Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Senate confirmed the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro without recourse to the moral burden and his ongoing trial at an Abuja Magistrate Court on an offence against the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The group said they are greatly alarmed that “despite the public criticism that accompanied Mr. President’s deployment of this controversial character to the Ministry of Interior especially at a time of high scale coordinated terrorist attacks against the people of Nigeria and even foreigners who visit the country for other relationships, the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro still remains in office to perpetuate nefarious activities like arms dealing, recruitment of miscreants into strategic internal security organizations and continuous misdirection to the entire administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as a whole.”
“We are imploring the government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to as a matter of urgent national concern cause full investigation of the activities of the Interior Minister viz:
“The recent disappearance of a large cache of fire arms imported into Nigeria for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) alleged to have been confiscated by the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro as Minister of Interior. Our sources within informed us that Moro’s response to this grievous criminal offence was that he has the powers as Minister to personally retain some arms on behalf of the Federal Government but this he has done in order to arm another set of youths in north central Nigeria in preparations for the 2015 general elections. This is not only a security threat to the nation but the International Community at large considering the volatile nature of north central Nigeria and its poverty margin which has in turn made the youths very vulnerable to deception and selfish antics of disgruntled politicians in the country.
“The government of the United States and the United Nations should also know the rationale behind the sack of General Andrew Azzazi and Dr. Bello Haliru as National Security Adviser and Minister of Defense respectively leaving behind Comrade Patrick Abba Moro who is in charge of Prisons, Immigrations and Civil Defense Corps to propagate his clueless and directionless policies while innocent citizens are being cut down in their prime on daily basis. This is time for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to act fast and not to stamp the impression that he has conceded certain parts of his administration to political elements in settlement for his last victory.
“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan we are aware has been advised by his National Security Adviser after a detailed checks at the Chief Magistrate Court Registrar’s office and office of the Attorney General of the Federation to quietly relieve Comrade Patrick Abba Moro of his position to strengthen government’s strategies on the war against terrorism, corruption and in furtherance of the rule of law principle. Attached is a copy of an internal communication between the National Security Adviser and the Intelligent Operations on 24th day of April, 2012 showing details of their investigation on the above subject matter for your kind perusal.
“The common people of Nigeria are still in shock that despite these chilling revelations from Mr. President’s inner security agent the Federal Government has continued to look the other way round while lives and properties are being lost on a daily basis. This is the time for Mr. President to act in order to convince Nigerians that the present crisis is not being sponsored by the government against the citizenry.”
