ECOWAS leaders bid Jonathan farewell, hail Nigeria’s transition

ECOWAS leaders on Tuesday in Accra paid glowing tribute to President Goodluck Jonathan for his contributions to regional peace, security and overseeing the conduct of successful elections in Nigeria.
Speakers at the opening of the 47th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government hailed President Jonathan for conceding defeat to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election in Nigeria.
The one-day summit was Mr. Jonathan’s valedictory appearance at the regional summit, as President of Nigeria, before the May 29 inauguration of Buhari.
President John Mahama of Ghana, the Chairman of the ECOWAS, opened the tributes when he described Mr. Jonathan’s conduct in the aftermath of the elections as “a personal show of mature statesmanship’’.
Mr. Mahama’s speech was greeted with a resounding applause to Jonathan by delegations at the summit.
“I believe that his name (Jonathan) will be recorded in a special place when the history of Nigeria’s democracy will be written.
“Let me also on this occasion salute Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for his victory in the presidential election,” Mahama said.
The ECOWAS chairman expressed the hope that the successful conduct of the general elections in Nigeria and Togo would be replicated in forthcoming elections in Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

Zoning not in APC agenda – Bisi Akande

The former Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Bisi Akande, has said that zoning of political offices has never been the position of the party and rejected the notion that the party was standing in the way of any qualified senator in its fold to contest the position of Senate President.

The APC chieftain said it was the Peoples Democratic Party that brought zoning into Nigeria’s polity and that no way would his party adopt the debilitating tradition.

“Zoning is not part of APC,” he said. “It is a PDP arrangement and we will not practice it. What you see with the Senate Presidency is us trying to ensure there is no rancour amongst the senators. Of course, we want the best man to emerge and that is what will happen.

I am Hale & Hearty Now – Pastor Tunde Bakare

Outspoken Nigeria pastor, Tunde Bakare, who collapsed Monday while giving a lecture to a group of investors in Lagos is “hale, hearty and in good spirit though in need of rest,” his church, the Latter Rain Assembly said through its social media handles. 

While thanking followers of Mr Bakare, who is also an influential social activist and one of the most relentless critics of governments, for their outpouring of love and concern, the church said he needs “the space and time to fully recuperate over the next few days”.

Okonjo-Iweala, govs trade words over alleged $20 bn oil money

The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and governors of the 36 states of the federation have continued to trade words over allegations that the outgoing administration has not accounted for about $20 billion that was realised as excess crude revenues in the last two years.

The governors, under the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, on Tuesday asked the Minister to give explanations as to what happened to about $20 billion that accrued in the Excess Crude Account during the period.

Presenting the communique at the end of the meeting in Abuja, Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, said members of the forum was interested in knowing from the Minister how the accumulated revenue was disbursed.

“In the light of the fact that funds in the Excess Crude Account were last disbursed in May 2013, there is need for the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to provide explanations for accruals to this account from June 2013 to April 2015, which is estimated at over $20 billion,” Mr. Amaechi said.

Jonathan would’ve suffered worse defeat if we didn’t help – Fani-Kayode

Former minister and spokesperson for President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode, has debunked claims that hate campaign by some members of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation caused the party’s defeat at the March 28 presidential election.

Mr. Fani-kayode, who served as Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan would have lost the presidential election by at least 10 million votes but for the intervention of his campaign team.

Mr. Jonathan lost the election by less than 3 million votes.

Read 10 Ways to Repair U.S.-Nigeria Ties – Ambassador Carson

As Nigeria prepares for a democratic transition of presidential power on May 29, the United States needs to act fast, wisely and comprehensively to strengthen relations by reaching out to the new government of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria’s elections were a political triumph for its people and for the future of democracy across sub-Saharan Africa. There was widespread apprehension that the elections would undermine stability, that there would be violence, that Boko Haram insurgents would disrupt voting, that those displaced by violence would not be able to vote and that new voting technology would lead to chaos and confusion at the polls.

DON’T CALL ME GENERAL AFTER MAY 29 –BUHARI Media team unveils official portrait

The Directorate of Me¬dia and Publicity for the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari Media Team has unveiled the official portrait and nomen¬clature of President-elect and Vice-President-elect in Lagos yesterday.
At a brief interaction in La¬gos, the Director of the media team, Mallam Sheu Garba said, “from May 29, 2015 the President-elect and Vice-Pres¬ident-elect are to be respec¬tively known and addressed as Muhammadu Buhari, Presi¬dent, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The official portraits were then unveiled to journalists.

My Life In Danger, SUG Preisident Of UNIZIK Eyisi

The  Students Union Government (SUG)  President,of  Nnamdi Azikiwe  University, Awka, Anambra State, Mr Noble Eyisi has accused the management of the institution of  planning to expel him from the institution for championing the cause of students.

He also alleged that the University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku paid an undisclosed amount to his colleagues in SUG leadership to facilitate his impeachment.

Eyisi in a press briefing in Awka yesterday said his aides are currently being detained in a cell in the school, alleging that plans were on by the management of the institution to also arrest him.

In an earlier response however, the Public Relations Officer of the school, Dr Emma Ojukwu insisted that Eyisi and other members of the executives of the SUG were like their children, and that despite the defamatory letters being circulated by the president of SUG against the Vice Chancellor, Prof Joe Ahaneku, the school will not take action, but hopes he will change.

World Communications Day: Bishop Ezeokafor Calls for Better Welfare Packages for Journalists ..Says Media Job Is A Risky Profession

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor has called on the government at all levels as well as private sectors to protect journalists across the 36 States of the federation and as well offer them better welfare packages noting that media job is most risky profession.

Bishop Ezeokafor who stated this at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Awka on Friday 15 May, 2015 while briefing newsmen on the theme of this year's World Communication Day celebration entitled Communicating the Family: A Privileged Place of Encounter with the Gift of Love which
was in continuity with the previous year’s message said 'Every job is risky but the media is more risky profession. The practitioners should be well remunerated.

JOHN KERRY TO LEAD US DELEGATION TO BUHARI’S INAUGURATION • Revenue slump may force President-elect to Issue Eurobonds

The United States’ President Barack Obama has named his Secretary of State, Hon John Kerry as the head of the American "Presidential delegation" to the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as the president of Nigeria, come May 29, 2015.
THISDAY confirmed last night from a statement from the White House that other members of the US delegation will be announced on a later date.
The United States has been specially particular in its support for the democratic growth in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s deteriorating fiscal position, may force the incoming Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to tap from the international capital market by issuing Eurobond.
A rally that drove yields on Nigerian Eurobonds to six-months low has created an opportunity for the president-elect’s government to tap international markets soon after he is sworn in on May 29, Bloomberg reported monday.
Rates on Nigeria’s $500 million of securities due July 2023 fell to 5.45 per cent this month, the lowest since November 4. Yields have dropped by more than 300 basis points since reaching a record high of 7.83 per cent on February 11. Nigerian dollar debt has returned seven per cent this year, compared with the 2.8 per cent average for peers in Africa and the Middle East, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.