2015 : Women for Good Governance Calls for Credible Election ... Lambasts Oduah ... Supports Umeh

By Abuchi Onwumelu

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Women for Good Governance, Anambra State chapter, call for credible, free and fair general election on February, in order to sustain and deepen the nation’s emerging democracy.

Speaking on behalf of the group , the Coordinator APGA Women for Good Governance Anambra State chapter, Mrs. Grace Chike said the success of the forthcoming presidential election would boost Nigeria’s global democratic image and bring honour and dignity  to the nation once seen as the giant of Africa and arsenal of democracy in the sub-region.

She urged INEC to be firm and decisive in conducting the polls and give equal opportunity to all participating political parties.

A Feast of Colour in Aguleri as Igwe Ogalagidi Marks 115th Ovala

The ancient kingdom of Aguleri exploded in a kaleidoscope of colours at the weekend to mark its 115th Ovala Festival. It was a feast of culture and opulence as the illustrious sons and daughters of Aguleri turned up in their largest number to celebrate with their Igwe – Eze C. N Idigo IV (Ogalagidi) as he marked yet another great year on the throne of his fathers. The 4-day cultural festival began on Friday with a rich display of the once dreaded Ada Masquerade which drew a mammoth crowd of youths from the neighbouring towns. There was also a ceremony for the induction of new members into Igwe’s Cabinet as well as the ceremonial firing of royal cannons and a lot of drumming and dancing.

Photos from the Traditional Marriage Ceremony of the President's Daughter in Otueke

The Crème de la crème of Nigerian leadership including the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano were in Otueke, Bayelsa State on January 3, 2015 to witness the Traditional Marriage Ceremony of Inebharapu Paul, daughter of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the First Lady, Dr. Dame Patience Jonathan, and Dr. Simeon Onyemechi of Umudioka, Awka, Anambra State. 

We bring you the highlights of the event in pictures: 

Photos from the Traditional Marriage Ceremony of the President's Daughter in Otueke

The Crème de la crème of Nigerian leadership including the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano were in Otueke, Bayelsa State on January 3, 2015 to witness the Traditional Marriage Ceremony of Inebharapu Paul, daughter of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the First Lady, Dr. Dame Patience Jonathan, and Dr. Simeon Onyemechi of Umudioka, Awka, Anambra State. 

We bring you the highlights of the event in pictures: 

Who will stop this looting spree?

The contradictions in our failed economy are probably best captured by the stark reality of deepening poverty and unbridled unemployment despite the celebrated recent increase in our Gross Domestic Product, with increasing revenue and bountiful external reserves to boot for almost two decades!

We may recall that despite the paltry $4bn national reserves during the Gen. Sani Abacha years, when Nigeria also remained a pariah nation, our country and our people continued to enjoy credible ratings as a developing country with great promise with the naira exchanging for just N80=$1.

Ironically, Nigeria became a regular contender in the list of the world’s poorest nations only in recent years when our dollar reserves hardly fell below $30bn with the attendant more favourable, extended payments cover for our import bills.

Indeed, a closer examination of prevailing fiscal and monetary strategies may suggest that we are in denial of the deeply rooted causes of deepening poverty.

For example, it is inexplicable that a country with acute infrastructural deprivation will progressively tilt its annual budgets in favour of consumption, such that the 2015 Appropriation Bill presently allocates barely 20 per cent for supportive social infrastructure.

Desperation In The Jonathan Camp In Anticipation Of Defeat-A Can Of Worms Nigerians Should Be Ashamed Of By Dr. Wumi Akintide

The debate currently going on whether or not a 4 star General has requisite qualifications to be certified as a candidate in the next election is a development that would come back to haunt Jonathan long after he loses the election on February 14. It is a development that can open a can of worms on the first Prime minister and most of the past Presidents of Nigeria from the North who were flag bearers of the same PDP and its predecessors like the NPC, the NPN and NRC. What qualification did Tafawa Balewa have to qualify him as the first Prime Minister of Nigeria? The same people raising the question should tell me what qualifications did Ahmadu Bello have to emerge as the pre and post- Independence leader of the Northern Peoples’ Congress and de facto leader of the whole country?
What paper qualifications did Aguiyi Ironsi have to lead Nigeria after the January 15 coup of the Majors in Nigeria led by Chukwuma Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna?  What qualification did Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha or Abdulsalam Abubakar to qualify them as Heads of State in Nigeria? Umaru Yar Adua who succeeded Obasanjo in 2007 had a Master’s degree and could be said to be the most educated by way of paper qualification among the rest of his predecessors.

Judge threatens to jail Ohanaeze leaders

An Enugu State High Court judge, Justice Romanus Odugu, has threatened to jail some leaders of the Igbo pan cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for contempt if they disobey an order restraining them from conducting an election to elect a new executive committee for the organisation.
The threat was contained in a Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order (Form 48) issued by the court on the Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftains, including an elder statesman, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi, Senator Chris Ngige, Chief Enechi Onyia, SAN, Dr Eze Agbogu, Prince Richard Ozobu, Prince Chukwuemeka Onyesoh, Chief Raph Obioha and Chief Chekwas Okorie.
Others are Prof. Ukwu I. Ukwu, Senator Offia Nwali, Dr. Jumbo Offor, Dr. Zed Chukwujama, Prof. Elochuchukwu Amucheazi,   Elder Oyibo Chukwu and Lady Maria Okwor.
The court warned that unless they obey the directives contained in the order, they would be guilty of contempt of court and liable to be committed to prison.
The court had earlier issued an interim injunction, restraining Amechi and four others from holding any election in December 2014, or before January 7, 2015, to elect a new executive for the organisation.

Even Babangida Comments: I Never Looted Nigeria's Money

A former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has said that he is not corrupt as being insinuated in many quarters.
He asked any Nigerian with facts on corruption against him to release them to the public.
He also said the $12.4billion Gulf Oil War windfall of 1991 was not stolen.
Babangida made the clarifications in an exclusive interview with a team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s press crew for the agency’s in-house magazine, “Zero tolerance.”
The EFCC released the transcript of the interview to journalists in Abuja on Monday.
He denied looting billions from the treasury, challenged anyone with proof of corruption against him to reveal it.
He said: “Let me tell you something, maybe you have a hand in it. I have been the most investigated President Nigeria has ever had. By now, somebody should have come forward to say here it is.
“Every government that came after me investigated me because of that perception because they wanted to retrieve the billions I stole.”
He said he and those who served in his administration were saints and angels going by the level of corruption in the country.

PRESIDENTIAL POLL: We’ll deal with Jonathan – Ndigbo reveal why they are angry with president

MAJORITY of South-East and Igbo votes may not go to President Goodluck Jonathan in the February 14 presidential polls contrary to expectations unless the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) takes the complaints of the zone seriously, Founder of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) and Deputy Secretary of the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), Evangelist Elliot Uko, has said.

To make amends and continue to enjoy the support of the Igbo, Uko urged President Jonathan to unveil his plans and blueprint and what he had done for the zone in the last six years.

In an interview with Vanguard, Uko said the polls would be fierce but assured that ‘’This time around, Ndigbo will vote right, we have learned painfully over the years that if we vote right, it will be well for everybody. Ndigbo do not want to make mistakes any more.’’

INEC gets positive signals over N75bn budget

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday said it had been receiving positive signals from the Federal Government on the disbursement of N75bn budget for the 2015 general elections.
The commission also said it was the duty of relevant security agencies to enforce laws whenever political parties breached their code of conduct.
Mr. Kayode Idowu, chief press secretary to INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said this while reacting to enquiries by The PUNCH on efforts being made to get the money few weeks to the 2015 elections and sanctions for violation of code of conduct by parties.
“I don’t know where the indicated figure (N75bn) will be sourced. INEC is in talks with relevant authorities on disbursement of outstanding and is receiving favourable consideration,” he stated.
The Political Parties’ Code of Conduct 2013 reflects the determination of parties and INEC as major stakeholders in the Nigeria democratic project to establish an enduring platform for sustained and constructive political engagement, within and between political parties and then between parties and the commission.