ECOWAS Court Of Justice Orders FG To Protect Niger Delta’s Environment

The Community Court of Justice of ECOWAS has ordered the federal Government of Nigeria to protect the Niger-Delta environment and ensure sustainable livelihood for its inhabitants.

In a unanimous judgment delivered in Ibadan by the court presided by Justice Nana Awa Daboya, ECOWAS court ruled that the nigerian government has not done enough to protect the people of Niger Delta. 

Delivering judgement in a case filed by some concerned citizens of the area, the justices rejected one billion reparation being demanded by the appellant for lacking specification as to who will claim the said money and capable of causing conflict in the region. 

Instead, the court ordered the Attorney General of the Federation Bello Adoke (SAN) who is the chief executor of ECOWAS judgement to ensure full execution of the judgment.

The court asked the nigerian government to direct and ensure that the Niger-delta Development Corporation carries out its duties and guarantee the fundamental human rights of people of the region.

Oyo/Osun Constitute Technical Committee On LAUTECH

 The governors of the two owner-states of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso have constituted a committee of technocrats to review the operations of the institution, vis-à-vis the laws establishing it.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State disclosed this while briefing the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III in his palace, shortly after he (Ajimobi) and his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, met with principal officers of the institution on the way forward.

The governor said that the committee, headed by the former Head of Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, was saddled with the responsibility of setting up a guideline that would be strictly in compliance with the law establishing the university.

This, he said, would ensure that nobody took undue advantage of the laws setting up the institution.

While re-affirming the joint ownership of the institution by the two owner-states, Governor Ajimobi said that the states would continue to fund it and make the best out of the university, adding ``we will ensure that we spend all the necessary money there, so that LAUTECH can be a role model among its peers in Nigeria’’.

Governor Aregbesola also told the monarch that the crisis which had almost torn the institution apart was as a result of the thoughtlessness of the immediate past governments of Oyo and Osun States.

He, however, said that he and his Oyo State counterpart had decided to work together to uplift the institution and use it to project Ogbomoso, its host town, even beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Oba Ajagungbade, in his response, expressed happiness at the stand of the two governors, saying that the South-West zone had always been noted for its commitment to educational development.

Earlier, after three hours of deliberations, Governor Aregbesola had read out the communiqué at the Council Chamber of the institution, saying that the governors were worried by the incessant acrimony which had been the bane of the university in the past.

He said that the meeting was held in the interest of the university, the students as well as the image of the governments of the two owner-states, stressing ``we are determined to ensure that LAUTECH remains the citadel of learning that will be second to none in Nigeria’’.

The governor also said that everything necessary would be done to ensure that the institution became a model for regional collaboration in higher education.

He said that the College of Health Sciences would remain at Osogbo, and that the two teaching hospitals in Ogbomoso and Osogbo would be recognized.

Governor Aregbesola also stated that the Governing Council of the university would be constituted as soon as possible to direct the affairs of the institution.

At the meeting were the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs. Grade Laoye-Tomori and some top government officials from the two states.    

Federal Executive Council Concludes Proceedings For The Year With Special Session For Victims Of Helicopter Crash; Memos Dropped Till 9th January 2013

The last Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the year was shelved in honor of late Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, former National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi, their aides, Dauda Tsoho and Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal and the pilots, Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba  and Lt. Adeyemi  O. Sowole, that were involved in  the ill-fated military helicopter crash.

President Goodluck  Jonathan, presiding over the one and a half hour ceremony, described December 15th as a black Saturday in the history of the nation as all the victims served their country selflessly.


The solemn ceremony saw condolences messages from ministers from the Kaduna and Bayelsa states, South-South, North-East, North-Central, South-East and South-West.

Part of the ceremony included a minute silence in the memory of the victims and the signing of two condolence registers for Governor Yakowa  and Gen. Azazi, by all cabinet members present

President Jonathan described the late Governor Yakowa as a different breed of politician who never exploited ethnic nor religious sentiments for selfish ends and who believed in the unity of the country.

On the other hand, he said General Azazi was a fine and selfless officer who served his country meritoriously and who meant well for this country. 

Vice President Namadi Sambo said he received the news with great shock and deep pain, especially the death of Governor Yakowa, a peaceful and selfless gentleman who he said he knew and interacted with for over 25 years .

As for General Azazi, Vice President Sambo said he was a fine gentleman, who he knew when he became General commander commanding one Division Kaduna.

Information Minister,  Labaran Maku, who moved the motion for the council to condole Mr. President, Vice President and the Nigerian People, narrated how he escaped death by whiskers saying that itwas simply twist of fate that kept him, Timi Alaibe and Umar Sani from boarding the same helicopter

And so the accolades swung back and forth from Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Abba Moro, Ministry of Interior Affairs , Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME), and Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,National Planning Minister, Shamsudeen Usman and Minister of Niger Delta Development, Godsday Orubebe

Though on a sad note, the Council of Ministers has concluded its business for the year and is to resume on the 9th of January

OGUN PDP: Security Men Take Over Party’s Secretariat

 There is chaos amidst the people's Democratic Party in Ogun State as the two renowned factions of the Obasanjo led as well as Buruji Kasamu led, recently rioted  over the owner of the the PDP secretariat Ogun State.                                            

  The crisis which newsmen gathered began last night has led to the arrest of about 5 thugs with fully armed security men around.    

                                                    

Ogun  State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye,who arrived as at the time of newsmen said that his men were there to maintain peace and order. 

He explained that he came around as soon as he heard there was 'little problem in the PDP secretariat.             

   
Okoye however assured the residents not to worry promising that the police men has taken over the secretariat.

NNPC Cautions IOCs over False Allegations of Stalling Projects

The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has raised eyebrows on media reports credited to some International Oil and Gas Companies, IOC’s accusing it of deliberating stalling the execution of some multibillion dollar projects in the sector. 

The NNPC, through a statement made available to STV, held that it will not be stampeded or browbeaten into abandoning its firmly established process of contract award by what it termed calculated media blackmail ostensibly by the IOCs and other interested parties.

  The statement which was signed by the Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Fidel Pepple noted that while the Industry concern is normally expected in the process leading to the award of major Oil and Gas Projects, ``NNPC has an established procedure of contract and project approval which includes conduct of economic analysis to establish project viability and Federal Government’s take from investments in the upstream’’.

 

NNPC laments On Activities Of Pipeline Vandals

the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC on Wednesday decried the unending incidents of pipeline hacking and product theft which is currently posing great danger to the efficient distribution and supply of petroleum products in some parts of the country.  

Speaking against the backdrop of the recent line break in Ije-ododo community in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, Engr. Andrew Yakubu stated that if left on checked, the nefarious activities of pipeline marauders could cripple the smooth operation of the downstream sector of the industry.  

Engr. Yakubu who in Abuja explained that less than one week after the vital system 2B was restored after extensive repair work on the ruptured Arepo point, the Corporation has been compelled to shut the line owing to Monday’s attack on the Ije-ododo point.  

He informed that though the NNPC is working hard to ensure effective distribution of petroleum products across the country through increased trucking, the trucking option comes with enormous cost which is totally unsustainable insisting that with or without PIB or privatization, no industry can survive under this kind of arrangement.  


Records indicate that with the incessant attacks on the nation’s vast artery of pipelines about 70 percent products distribution is through trucking into the hinterlands which requires massive fleets of petroleum product trucks of up to 1,212 trucks load out from the depots every day to meet the daily estimated national consumption.
NNPC laments On Activities Of Pipeline Vandals the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC on Wednesday decried the unending incidents of pipeline hacking and product theft which is currently posing great danger to the efficient distribution and supply of petroleum products in some parts of the country.  

Speaking against the backdrop of the recent line break in Ije-ododo community in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, Engr. Andrew Yakubu stated that if left on checked, the nefarious activities of pipeline marauders could cripple the smooth operation of the downstream sector of the industry.  

Engr. Yakubu who in Abuja explained that less than one week after the vital system 2B was restored after extensive repair work on the ruptured Arepo point, the Corporation has been compelled to shut the line owing to Monday’s attack on the Ije-ododo point.  

He informed that though the NNPC is working hard to ensure effective distribution of petroleum products across the country through increased trucking, the trucking option comes with enormous cost which is totally unsustainable insisting that with or without PIB or privatization, no industry can survive under this kind of arrangement.  

Records indicate that with the incessant attacks on the nation’s vast artery of pipelines about 70 percent products distribution is through trucking into the hinterlands which requires massive fleets of petroleum product trucks of up to 1,212 trucks load out from the depots every day to meet the daily estimated national consumption.

At an average vehicle turnaround of about 8-10 days from the South to the North and back, a minimum of 10,000 trucks are required to ply the roads daily.    

Despite the challenge posed by the shut- down of the system 2B line as a result of the attack, the GMD remains optimistic that Nigerians would not suffer undue hardship during the yuletide season as according to him the NNPC has a fall back strategy which we have already activated to ensure un-interrupted supply of products. 

Engr. Yakubu called on Nigerians across board from the community to local government and up to state government levels to embrace protection of pipelines.

At an average vehicle turnaround of about 8-10 days from the South to the North and back, a minimum of 10,000 trucks are required to ply the roads daily.    

Despite the challenge posed by the shut- down of the system 2B line as a result of the attack, the GMD remains optimistic that Nigerians would not suffer undue hardship during the yuletide season as according to him the NNPC has a fall back strategy which we have already activated to ensure un-interrupted supply of products. 

Engr. Yakubu called on Nigerians across board from the community to local government and up to state government levels to embrace protection of pipelines.

Miss USA is Miss Universe

Miss USA Olivia Culpo has been crowned the 2012 Miss Universe.

The 20-year-old beauty queen beat out 88 other contestants, including first runner-up Janine Tugonon of the Philippines, to win the highly-coveted title broadcast live on silverbird television last night.

Culpo takes over the honour from last year’s winner, Leila Lopes of Angola.

Nigeria was represented by the MBGN Miss Isabella Ayuk at the glamorous pageant held in Las Vegas

A repeat broadcast of the event will be on the Silverbird television at 12pm today

Virginity Test: Ogun Suspends School Principal

Ogun State Government  waded into the reported case of a school principal in charge of one of its schools, Mrs. Olufunke  Olatundun Aladeojebi who was alleged to have conducted virginity test on some female students of Ajuwon High School, Iju Ajuwon in Ifo local Government Area.

 After preliminary investigations conducted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Aladeojebi has been suspended from work. In a statement sing by Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology  Barrister Segun Odubela said the Ministry had invited and interrogated the school principal to give her fair hearing.

 Odubela added that a five-man panel consisting of officials of both the Ministry and Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has been set up to further investigate the case and make appropriate recommendations on how to deal with the matter. The panel has 14 days to submit its report.
Odubela added that the government is always concerned about the welfare and interest of the students and therefore will not tolerate any act that will compromise their fundamental rights or jeopardise their future.

 “We equally believe in the need to maintain discipline in our schools and to follow due process in the handling of this particular case. We appeal to the parents of the students involved to be patient and allow us to handle the case as dictated by the law of the land and service rules.

EFCC Declares Ex-Gov Abubakar Audu Wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has declared former governor of Kogi State , Abubakar Audu wanted for offences bordering on conspiracy, stealing and misappropriation of public fund.

The action followed the failure of the suspect to respond to invitation by the anti- graft agency.

Attempt by the EFCC to arrest Audu at his 32, Sulaiman Barau Street , Asokoro, Abuja residence on December 11, 2012 failed as he allegedly evaded arrest.

The former governor is alleged to have fraudulently enriched himself to the tune of over N4 billion while he held sway as governor of Kogi State between 1999 and 2003.

The move to arrest the ex- governor followed a Supreme Court ruling of November 23, 2012, which dismissed the ex-governor's appeal to continue to protract his corruption trial by EFCC.

The Commission implores any one having useful information about the whereabouts of the suspect to notify its offices in Abuja , Port Harcourt , Lagos , Kano and Enugu or report at the nearest police station.

NGO Organizes Football Tourney To Fight Illiteracy

Corporate bodies have been assured that funds donated for sports development will not be misappropriated or misuse.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Youth & Social Develoment ENITAN BADRU, who was represented by SAKA ABDULATEEF at Play For Literacy Football Tourney said that government is willing to partner with corporate bodies to promote grassroots sports development.

 The convener of the event Ifeoma Adibe who is also the Executive Director of Youth & Change Initiative (NGO) said that the initiative is designed to mobilize corporate bodies in a drive to create awareness and support the campaign illiteracy in Nigeria through sports.

Some of the corporate participants like Microsoft and HP said sports development is   part of their corporate social responsibility.

NASS Agree On 78 Dollar Per Barrel For Budget

The two Chambers of the National Assembly have agreed on a Seventy Nine Dollar benchmark for the Medium term Expenditure Frame work submitted by the Executive arm of government.

This means the 2013 budget will be based on seventy nine dollars for a barrel of crude oil.

The agreement followed the adoption of a Conference report which harmonised the versions of the two Houses on the issue.

 The additional funds arising from the Four Dollar  increase is expected to be used for the  reduction of  domestic borrowing and deficit as well as funding critical infrastructures.

The Senate and the House of Representatives had on the 9th and 16th Oof October respectively passed the Frame work seting the stage for the harmonization of the two reports.

In those reports, the Senate had settled for 78 dollars per barel while the House had insisted on 80 dollars per barrel; this waqs against the 75 dollar per barrel presented by the executive arm.

This took place on the 7th of November when the Committee adopted a unified version.

In the agreed version, the Federal Government should was urged to exercise extreme caution on foreign borrowing while Corporate Tax and VAT rates of 30% and 5% respectively are to be adopted for 2013-2015.

The lawmakers also rejected  the structures being set-up in States, Senatorial Zones and Local Governments in respect of Federal Government SURE-P intervention programmes;

The National Assembly also agreed that Crude oil production levels  be retained as 2.526mbpd 2013, 2.611mbpd 2014 and 2.648mbpd 2015;

The Executive arm was urged to increase funding for frontier exploration services to increase the nation crude oil resources; while Ministeries and its Agencies must comply fully with the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

While the lawmakers accepted that the habit of poor budget implementation and return of unspent funds may continue in the medium term, this indefensible fiscal habit, they held,  is at variance with the hallmarks of best practices and should not be encouraged, government must ensure full implementation of the budget.

Ogun Customs Generate N1.2bn in 3months

 Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Command said it had generated N1,2bn within the last three months as against N961,290,067.61 recorded within the same period last year, representing an increase of N253,366,690.11 in the last three months.

STV correspondent in Ogun Report that the  Command also disclosed that it had seized 3000 shortgun catridges intercepted at Agosasa axis of the state valued N900,000; 117 bags of cannabis Sativa worth N1,770,000 and bales of textile materials, second-hand clothes and accessories worth N11,028,870, being smuggled into the country in the past three months.


The Area Commander, Ade Dosunmu, while addressing a press conference on Today at the Customs Command in Abeokuta, disclosed further that "the command confiscated 171 vehicles, 2058 cartons of frozen products, 465 kegs of 25litre vegetable oil, four drums and 112 kegs of 25litres of petrol and 567 bags of imported rice.

"While eight suspects were also arrested by the command in the past three months, six have been arraigned in court and one has been convicted and sentenced to two years in jail with an option of N200,000.00 fine".


  Dosunmu put the Duty Paid Value of all the seizures made within the last three months by the command at N258, 960, 952million and the Duty Paid Value of the 171 vehicles seized by his men in the past three months at N228, 893, 362.000.

Guinness Certifies World’s Longest Soul Train Line

A Soul Train line featuring 291 dancers has been certified as the world’s longest by Guinness World Records.

The previous record of 211 dancers was set at a California high school last year.

The organiser said the record-setting attempt was inspired by the death of long time “Soul Train” host Don Cornelius on Feb. 1.

PDP And ACN Clash Over Road Construction

 Governor Kayode Fayemi has assured the people of Ekiti  state that most of the on going road in the State capital will soon be complicated in this December.

The Governor said this while inspecting some of the road at Ojumose/Okeyinmi and Atikankan dual carriage  road not minding the claims of the People Democratic Party in the state  accused Governor of plunging the state into unprecedented  debt, saying the  Ekiti debt profile has hit a sum of N31 billion.

This is one of the occasion when the governor went out to inspect some of the project under construction in the state

He can not hide his feelings has he said all plan is on the way to make sure that the road construction is concluded before the end of the year for most of the indegene that will become for the Christmas holiday

                       

While the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, accused Governor of plunging the state into unprecedented  debt, saying the  Ekiti debt profile has hit a sum of N31 billion.

The party also accused Fayemi of engaging in contract inflation, which he described as avenues being used  to perpetrate what he termed systematic-collective looting of the state’s commonwealth.

                       

Meanwhile special senior  adviser on road and infrastructure honourable Adumo Rufus said the people democratic Party supporter in the state were jobless that is why they were saying what is not right that they can come to his office for information than guessing what is not right.

                   

Meanwhile the work is on going in all the project in the state to change the face look of the state capital.

Eko 2012: Ogun Redeems “Instant Cash Award” Pledge

 The Ogun State Government has redeemed its pledge to give “instant cash awards” by paying out the sum of N1.21m to all its medal winners at the just concluded 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012.

  

 A breakdown of the money showed that all the 15 gold medal winners got N30,000 each, amounting to N450,000, the 22 medalists were rewarded with N20,000 each totaling N440,000 while the 31bronze-medalists were awarded N10,000 each which summed up to N310,000.

Speaking on the “instant cash award” gesture of the State Government, Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Olugbenga Otenuga said it is a way of thanking the athletes for doing the State proud and encourage others to put more effort so that they can benefit from such gesture in the nearest future.
 

 Mr. Otenuga also praised the athletes for giving their best, saying that most of them were grassroot athletes discovered recently during the State Grassroot Games.
  

 While noting that they competed and brilliantly too against professionals, the Commissioner advised them to continue with their training for better future performance, reiterating the State Government’s resolve to always encourage grassroot sports development.

 Ogun State came 7th on the overall medals table with 15 Gold, 22 Silver and 31 Bronze medals.

President Jonathan Orders Re-Allocation Over Three Thousand Plots To Their Owners

Owners of plots of land revoked by previous administrations in the FCT may now heave a sigh of relief as President Jonathan directed for immediate re-instatements of 3,645 plots allegedly allocated under questionable circumstances

It would be recalled that the Senate in 2008 recommended to late President Yar’Adua Administration to revoke some plots allocated during Mallam Nasir El-Rufai Administration in the Federal Capital Territory.

The reason given by the legislators for passing the revocation resolution was that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was already dissolved as at the time the plots were allocated

The current FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed (CON) in a statement said the affected plots are the ones allocated between the 17th and 28th of May 2007 in FCT but alleged to have been irregularly allocated within the above time frame

Statement signed by Mohammed Sule , Chief Press Secretary to the minister hinted that  the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) later discovered that that the FEC was not dissolved until 29th May 2007 when power was transmitted to the succeeding federal government of late president Yar’Adua.

The minister enjoined the holders of the restored titles to reciprocate this kind gesture of Government by ensuring speedy development of their plots within the covenanted terms of the Right of Occupancy and also directed the Department of Development Control to consider all submissions for building permit and grant for accelerated approval.

Pictures: Nigerian Leadership Summit

Participants @ The Event

Special Guests

The Discussion Panel

Guests & Participants  During The Anabel Leadership Summit.

Ben Bruce Acknowledging Cheers From The Audience As He Mount  The Podium to Deliver His Speech

Senator Ben Obi  & Donald Duke In A Warm Embrace During The Event

L:R Senator Ben Obi, Professor Dora Akunyili And Daughter  During The Event

Professor Pat Utomi  Answering   Questions From A Journalist

Chairman of The Silverbird Group, Ben Bruce  Answering   Questions From A Journalist

Adesuwa of STV News Interviewing Senator Ben Obi On The Event Sideline

Lunchtime!! 

L-R A Participant, Azuka Onwuzor & Adesuwa of STV News During the Nigerian Leadership Summit.

Pictures Of 2012 Achebe Colloquium On Africa In U.S

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) delivering his Keynote address on the sub-theme,’ West Africa: Regime Change, Ethno-Religious Insurgency and Statecraft in the 21^st Century at the Achebe Colloquium on Africa 2012 with the theme ,’ Governance, Security and Peace in Africa ‘, held at the Martinos Auditorium, Granof Center , Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island , United States 

Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji  and Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers, Mr Sam Omatseye listen with rapt attention in the audience as lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) delivers his Keynote address on the sub-theme,’ West Africa: Regime Change, Ethno-Religious Insurgency and Statecraft in the 21^st Century’  at the Achebe Colloquium on Africa 2012 with the theme ,’ Governance, Security and Peace in Africa ‘, held at the Martinos Auditorium, Granof Center , Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island , United States

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) delivering his Keynote address on the sub-theme,’ West Africa: Regime Change, Ethno-Religious Insurgency and Statecraft in the 21^st Century’ while the Convener and Professor of Africana Studies, Brown University, Chinua Achebe, his wife, Christie Achebe and Founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim (third row) among others listen with rapt attention at the Achebe Colloquium on Africa 2012 with the theme ,’ Governance, Security and Peace in Africa ‘, held at the Martinos Auditorium, Granof Center , Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island , United States

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) with the acclaimed novelist and Professor of Africana Studies at the Brown University , Providence, Chinua Achebe  and one of his sons, Dr. Chidi Achebe shortly before the Governor delivered his Keynote address on the sub-theme,’ West Africa: Regime Change, Ethno-Religious Insurgency and Statecraft in the 21^stCentury at the Achebe Colloquium on Africa 2012 with the theme, ‘Governance, Security and Peace in Africa‘, held at the Martinos Auditorium, Granof Center , Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island , United States 

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) with the acclaimed novelist and Professor of Africana Studies at the Brown University , Providence, Chinua Achebe  shortly before the Governor delivered his Keynote address on the sub-theme,’ West Africa: Regime Change, Ethno-Religious Insurgency and Statecraft in the 21^st Century at the Achebe Colloquium on Africa 2012 with the theme ,’ Governance, Security and Peace in Africa ‘, held at the Martinos Auditorium, Granof Center , Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island , United States

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola ,SAN  (middle) and Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji  being interviewed by Senior Research Specialist, Innovations for Successful Societies Programme,Princeton University, Gabriel Kuris shortly after the Governor  delivered  his Keynote address on the sub-theme,’ West Africa: Regime Change, Ethno-Religious Insurgency and Statecraft in the 21^st Century’  at the Achebe Colloquium on Africa 2012 with the theme ,’ Governance, Security and Peace in Africa ‘, held at the Martinos Auditorium, Granof Center , Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island , United States

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) with the former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Walter Carrington  shortly after the Governor delivered his Keynote address on the sub-theme,’ West Africa: Regime Change, Ethno-Religious Insurgency and Statecraft in the 21^st Century at the Achebe Colloquium on Africa 2012 with the theme ,’ Governance, Security and Peace in Africa ‘, held at the Martinos Auditorium, Granof Center , Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island , United States

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) with the Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed  shortly before the Governor delivered his Keynote address on the sub-theme,’ West Africa: Regime Change, Ethno-Religious Insurgency and Statecraft in the 21^st Century at the Achebe Colloquium on Africa 2012 with the theme,’ Governance, Security and Peace in Africa ‘, held at the Martinos Auditorium, Granof Center , Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island , United States 

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN  (right),  Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed (middle) and former Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. Mamphela Ramphele (left) shortly after the Governor  delivered  his Keynote address on the sub-theme,’ West Africa: Regime Change, Ethno-Religious Insurgency and Statecraft in the 21^st Century’  at the Achebe Colloquium on Africa 2012 with the theme ,’ Governance, Security and Peace in Africa ‘, held at the Martinos Auditorium, Granof Center , Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island , United States

Remains Of President Jonathan's Younger Brother Laid To Rest At Otuoke.

 The remains of the younger brother of President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Meni Innocent Jonathan has been laid to rest.

Meni Innocent Jonathan was buried at his hometown in Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.


Dignitaries from all walks of life including the Chairman of Silverbird group Ben Murray- Bruce and his brother Guy Murray-Bruce attended the ceremony.

Okonjo-Iweala' Mother Kidnapped

 Gunmen Sunday afternoon kidnapped the mother of Nigeria's finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Professor Kamene Okonjo believed to be in her late 70s was taken from her family home in Ogbe-Ofu, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta North Senatorial District.
 
Her husband, Professor Chukwuka Okonjo, the traditional ruler (Obi) of Ogwashi-Ukwu was away in Abuja when the gunmen attacked.

University Of Ibadan NASU & ASUU Strike Paralyze Administrative Activities In The Institution.

Administrative activities were today paralyzed at the premier university, University of Ibadan as member Senior Staff Association and Their Non-academic counterpart begins a-week warning strike to ask for the payment of earned-allowances 

As early as 7am the entrance gates of the institution were put under lock and key while vehicular movement was restricted with log of wood.

The academic master in the faculty of education had to be postponed while the faculty of the social sciences seemed to have made arrangement for the strike as students were seen writing their exams

Heavy traffic gridlock was noticed at the front of the gates as many who had business to do within the campus had to treck distances while some left disappointed

18th National Sports Festival (Eko 2012) Closing Ceremony

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (right), Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi (2^nd right), Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2^nd left) and his Delta State counterpart, Mr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (left) during the official closing ceremony of the 18^th National Sports Festival tagged (Eko 2012), held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos 

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) presenting the Trophy to the Lagos State Team leader who won the 3^rd place position during the official closing ceremony of the 18^th National Sports Festival tagged (Eko 2012), held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2^nd right), his Osun counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), Deputy Governor, Hon. (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (left) and the Lagos Team leader after receiving Najim Mayegun Trophy for the 3^rd place position during the official closing ceremony of the 18^thNational Sports Festival tagged (Eko 2012), held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos 

FRESH Rejects Purported Deregistration

The purported deregistration of our party, FRESH (Fresh Democratic Party) as announced by Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday, December 6, 2012 came to us as a rude shock, even though the commission only made good its long standing threat to embark on this undemocratic action against all rationale thinking and public opinion.

It is also an affront on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the decision of the Court of Appeal on the vexed issue.

We condemn and reject this unilateral and anti-democratic action which is designed to further shut out the opposition from the democratic space; and we would seek legal redress for this injustice in the court of law. It is obvious that the ruling party, the PDP is afraid of the growing stature and acceptability of our party and therefore uses this arm twisting tactic to remove our party from the list.

It is unheard of that a ruling party will unilaterally decide that the size, spread and strength of opposition parties should be the basis of their existence, when the constitution provides for freedom of association of groups or persons   of diverse creed or political persuasions and philosophies.

 You will recall that the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division in an appeal filed by Peoples Redemption Party and others on the issue of registration stated succinctly and unambiguously  that INEC had no power to refuse to register a party that has fulfilled the required constitutional provision; and by extension no power whatsoever to de-register a party that has fulfilled all constitutional stipulations.

    

At no time in our political history did those criteria formed the basis of party existence. It is, therefore, without precedent and should not stand.

The PDP cannot adjudicate in a matter in which it has a clear, vested interest. It cannot determine by force of its present numerical strength in the federal legislature to decide which parties it approves to be its opponent in electoral contests. To allow this unlawful deregistration to stand in this era of deregulation is to condone a perpetration of injustice by the ruling party against the opposition. It would amount to a tyranny of the majority.

It is widely acknowledged that the PDP’s majority was secured through a combination of scientific rigging and other fraudulent devices as the upturning of some of its ‘electoral victories’ at governorship levels have shown.

 Moreover, INEC erred by refusing to base its decision on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria relying solely on the Electoral Act 2010, which runs foul and is inconsistent with the Constitution.

Every party is evolving. The young shall grow, as they say. A small party can grow into a big party over time. A regional party can, through mergers for instance, grow into a big national party. We have seen that happen everywhere including here in our beloved country. Our nascent democracy is only 13years old and the PDP is already writing off smaller opposition parties, which it obviously perceives as threats to its hegemony because of the strong personalities behind these parties.

The most the government could have done is to discontinue the funding of parties it deems ‘’weak’’ and see if they’d die a natural death. This option is open to INEC but it chooses to play the tune discharged by its piper- PDP. It should be noted that some of the parties, have a subsisting suit in court that challenges INEC’s decision on party deregistration , yet without regard for the rule of law, the commission went ahead to effect this illegality.

While pursuing the option of seeking justice, we urge our teeming supporters to remain calm. What we stand for is at the heart of the Nigerian project and it cannot be legislated out of existence.