CJN, NOT AGF, DIRECTED ME ON WIKE'S INAUGURATION —BAYELSA CJ

BAYELSA State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, on Wednesday, cleared the air on her involvement in the inauguration of Rivers State governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike, on May 29.
In an exclusive telephone chat with the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday evening, she disclosed that it was the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, that directed her to conduct the constitutional exercise and not the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
Adoke had personally issued a statement on Tuesday, disclosing that the Federal Government had directed her to conduct the swearing-in, to forestall imminent constitutional crisis in Rivers State on May 29, when the tenure of incumbent Governor Rotimi Amaechi would lapse.
Rivers State judiciary has been in crisis over the choice of CJ, with the state president of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Peter Agumagu, also suspended by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The involvement of Adoke as the directing authority had been generating controversy, though it was generally agreed that the directive was constitutional.
Apparently not comfortable with the media reports that she was directed by Adoke, she explained that it was the CJN that wrote to her to carry out the constitutional duty, while the only involvement of Adoke was writing to the CJN to point out the imminent constitutional crisis and the position of the law on the political situation in Rivers State.

JONATHAN ASKS NIGERIANS, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT BUHARI’S ADMINISTRATION

Outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday asked Nigerians and the international community to support the administration of the incoming President, Muhammadu Buhari, to enable him deliver on his promises.
The president made the request as he received members of the African Ambassadors Group, who were on a farewell and solidarity visit.
“The President-elect is not new to governance in Africa so I want you to show the same commitment to him as you have to me. The President-elect knows that our commitment is always to project Africa. I am urging you to extend the same warmth and solidarity you have shown to me to him,’’ he said.
President Jonathan further enjoined African leaders to encourage trade within the continent by building infrastructures and institutions that promote trade and relationships.
The President recalled working extensively for more than five years with other African Presidents to forestall crisis in some African countries, especially in the West African sub-region, and also leading peace efforts in some of the countries like Cote ‘d’Ivoire, Mali and Guinea Bissau.
“I have been involved in solving many problems in African countries for more than five years and I know the enormity and cost of conflicts, especially on the citizenry. We cannot afford that in Nigeria.
“If we were to have a political conflict in Nigeria, I am not sure the sub-region will be able to accommodate our citizens. My commitment is to always put the country before my personal ambition and that is what I have demonstrated,’’ he said.

JONATHAN TO HAND OVER MINISTRIES, AGENCIES’ BRIEFS TO BUHARI MAY 28

In preparation to leave office, President Goodluck Jonathan will on May 28 hand over ministries and agencies' briefs to the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, in a brief ceremony at the Presidential Villa.
Jonathan will also take Buhari on a guided tour of the villa on the same day.
This is just as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved five universities.
The council will equally hold its valedictory session next Wednesday.
This was disclosed Wednesday when the Information Minister, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki, jointly briefed State House correspondents with Education Minister, Ibrahim Shekarau at the end of the council meeting.

WE’RE INHERITING NIGERIA’S WORST ECONOMY IN HISTORY – OSINBAJO

The Vice President-elect, Prof. Yomi Osinbajo, on Wednesday said Nigeria’s economy is in its worst shape in history.
He put the nation’s local and international debt profile at US$60billion with a 2015 debt serving bill of N953.6billion, representing 21 per cent of the 2015 budget.
Osinbajo gave these statistics in his remarks at the opening of a 2-day Policy Dialogue on the Implementation of the Agenda for Change, which began in Abuja on Wednesday.
He noted that an estimated 110 million, out of the nation’s over 170 million population, live in extreme poverty while the largest chunk of the benefits of our national wealth accrues to a small percentage of the population.
According to him, the nation’s dwindling oil revenues has made it difficult for two thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states to pay salaries.

CRACK NNPC IF YOU MUST SUCCEED, BLAIR TELLS BUHARI

Former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair has asked the incoming Nigeria’s president, General Mohammadu Buhari to overhaul the Nigerian National Petroleum corporation, NNPC, saying it was one sure way of tackling corruption and saving more money for infrastructural development.
Blair also asked the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC to switch from its opposition status and assume the posture of head of an organization, stressing that the days of persuasion and agitations were over.
He further stated that Buhari and the APC must be true to their words at all times, saying that the action of the incoming government within the first 100 days in office would determine the kind of goodwill it would eventually have.

PDP crisis: I resigned for Jonathan to take over BoT – Anenih

THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was in ferment last night after its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu and chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih resigned their positions.
Mu‘azu resigned in a letter addressed to his erstwhile deputy, Prince Uche Secondus, while Anenih’s letter was fetched from his residence last night after the National Working Committee, NWC, issued a deadline due today for him to review his position.
Anenih in his resignation, however, said that he was resigning in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan to take over as Chairman of the BoT, a suggestion that a senior member of the NWC, last night, dismissed as untenable.
National Secretary of the party, Professor Wale Oladipo in accepting the letter of resignation, however, said that the Secretary of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin would hold fort pending the election of a new BoT chairman.
The NWC had in a stern communiqué earlier in the afternoon confirmed Mu‘azu’s resignation, and affirmed that it would today make a firm pronouncement on Anenih’s fate.
In a related development, the party also, yesterday, directed its Osun State chapter to confirm the status of presidential campaign spokesman, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode as a member of the party with the intent of applying disciplinary measures on him.
The wrath of the PDP NWC was also turned on the deputy national organising secretary, Chief Okey Nnadozie, who was accused of withholding N2.5 million set aside as transportation allowances to state chairmen of the party for the national convention.
Also yesterday, the party constituted a seven-man disciplinary committee which is expected to decisively address issues of insubordination to the party hierarchy.
Mu’azu’s resignation was effected in a letter he addressed to the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, the next in the party hierarchy who is to also take over from him as acting national chairman pending the appointment of a substantive chairman from Mu‘azu’s Northeast geopolitical zone.

I MET MY WIFE A VIRGIN, SAYS OSHIOMHOLE

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State who remarried recently has revealed that he met his new wife a virgin.
Oshiomhole spoke during testimony time at a thanksgiving service organised for him for his wedding to his Cape Verdian heartthrob.
He advised the youth members of the church to kick out corruption in all its ramifications, including domestic and moral corruption.
He boasted that with an APC Comrade as the helmsman of the country’s politics, a revolutionary change has swept over the whole country.
“I implore all of you to fight corruption today because the APC government is one that will not condone corruption, not even domestic corruption.

BBC Apologise Over Anambra Restaurant Selling Human Flesh Report As ANSG Reacts

                                          

The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to a false and malicious report circulating on social media over the purported closure by the Nigeria Police of a restaurant selling human flesh in Anambra state. This story, as reprehensible and false as it is, was also published by a national daily which has since retracted it and apologised, having found it to be untrue.

How President Jonathan’s cousins Was Abduct in Bayelsa

Armed gunmen have again struck in the creeks of Bayelsa State, kidnapping two maternal cousins of President Goodluck Jonathan at Akipelai in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
The victims, both female, identified as Patience Egbeni, 35, and Kate Eni, were reportedly seized, Tuesday, at gunpoint and whisked away from the sleepy riverine settlement, home town of the President’s mother.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the six unidentified gunmen, clad in military camouflage, stormed the community at about 8.30a.m. and abducted the women from their provision stores along the waterfront.
The gunmen were said to have forced their victims into a waiting speedboat and disappeared into the creeks.
An indigene of the area, who identified himself as Kingsley, said: “The victims are two maternal cousins of the President.

I CONCEDED DEFEAT TO KEEP NIGERIA ONE – JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said he conceded victory to Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 Presidential election because of his desire to keep the country away from conflict.

He said having been involved in solving many problems in African countries for more than five years, he knew the enormity and cost of conflicts and would not want Nigeria to witness such.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted the President as speaking while receiving members of the African Ambassadors Group, who were on a farewell and solidarity visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said he would always be committed to strengthening democracy in Nigeria and Africa.

Jonathan added that his decision to concede victory was to show example to the world that democracy can survive and thrive in Africa without conflicts.

The President said, “I believe that character matters in leadership. And it is not just about who becomes the President of a country, but somebody has to be there and the person needs the support of all to succeed.