PRESIDENT SET TO COMMISSION N9.2BN STOVES

All is set for President Goodluck Jonathan to commission the N9.2 billion clean cook stoves procured for onward distribution to rural women.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Lawrencia Mallam said during an inspection to the Velodrome of the National Stadium where the stoves are being assembled that Mr. President would commission the stoves on May 26th.
Mallam who blamed the media for publishing falsehood capable of misleading the public on the good intension of government, however failed to tell journalists how many out of the 750,000 clean cook stoves ordered by government had arrived for Mr. President to commission.
She also refused to entertain questions from journalist saying that anybody that has a question on the stoves should come to the Velodrome on the 26th.
“You media people have been publishing lies and misleading the public on the situation of the stoves. Did you people come to the ministry to ask the relevant officials? I’m aware you people have sources within the ministry that tell you things but do you bother to ask the permanent secretary or me? She asked.

JONATHAN: BUHARI NEEDS MORE PRAYERS THAN I DO

President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari needs the prayers of Nigerians more than I do, President Goodluck Jonathan has said.
Jonathan said while he would be leaving office to manage his private businesses, Buhari would be coming to manage the whole country.
According to him, his decisions after leaving office will affect him personally; while whatever mistakes Buhari makes will affect the whole nation.
Jonathan spoke at the National Christian Church Abuja today during the 2015 Presidential Thanksgiving and Inauguration Interdenominational Church Service themed “Give Thanks in All Circumstances”.
“I call on you to pray for us who are leaving because today is the last day I’ll speak with you in this place as the president of Nigeria. If I’ve the opportunity of standing here again, I’d be speaking as a former president. Pray for me, my wife and family, members of my government, ministers and others as we leave. 

RIVERS CPS, MILITARY COMMANDERS REPORTING TO PATIENCE JONATHAN –AMAECHI

The Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, on Sunday said his disagreement with President Goodluck Jonathan, was due in part to Mrs. Jonathan’s meddlesomeness.
He said this after the premiere of a documentary on the Amaechi years, at the Silver Bird Galleria, Abuja.
According to him, the President and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, would have taken him to the cleaners, if they had found anything incriminating against him.
Amaechi said, “We had a disagreement in principle between me and the President. Have you seen a country where the Commissioner of Police is reporting to the wife of the President? It’s in Rivers State.
“Have you seen a country where the Brigade Commander or the Navy Commander or Air force Commander is reporting to the Wife of the President? It’s in Rivers State.”
He explained that he was convinced that such conduct would not help in the development of any nation and he took a stand against it.

SENATE PRESIDENCY: TINUBU LOBBIES DAVID MARK, PDP SENATORS

The battle for the post of Senate President appeared to have created a wedge between two leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the party’s national leader, Bola Tinubu.
Indications emerged on Sunday, that the duo were going different routes on the issue of Senate presidency, as Atiku met with senators backing Senator Bukola Saraki, barely 24 hours after meeting with supports of Senator Ahmed Lawan, who is gunning for the same position.
Supporters of Senator Lawan, under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum had met with Atiku and Tinubu in Abuja, on Saturday, shortly after announcing their backing for the Yobe Senator.
It was learnt that the resolve to meet Atiku was to woo him as a leader of the North East.
It was also gathered that Tinubu and Senators from the South West, who had adopted Lawan as the best candidate for the Senate Presidency decided to put Atiku into the plan, especially as the Turakin, Adamawa is also a leader of the North East, where Lawan hails from.
Sources however told the Nigerian Tribune that Atiku only met with the Lawan group without showing firm commitment to the group.

JONATHAN MISMANAGED NIGERIA –OBASANJO

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo fired a fresh salvo the way of President Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday, when he looked back at the last eight years and returned with a verdict: The country had been poorly managed under Jonathan.
Obasanjo said this when the Iyalode of Yoruba land, Chief Alaba Lawson, led a delegation of South-West women leaders on a visit to his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta.
The 78-year-old leader said owing to the mismanagement of the country in the last eight years, the incoming administration of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, should be prepared to face the daunting challenges that lay ahead.
He said, “The country had been poorly managed in the last eight years and it would take some time for Buhari’s government to correct the anomalies. But I want to tell him not to be frightened.”
Calling on Nigerians to exercise patience with the incoming administration, Obasanjo said the damage that had been done to the country in the last eight years could not be corrected overnight.
“What I would say is that we should all put our minds at rest. He (Buhari) is someone that will perform but we must exercise patience because what has been destroyed for eight years cannot be undone overnight.

HISTORY WILL NOT FAVOUR JONATHAN — JUNAID MOHAMMED

Convener of the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, in this interview, evaluates the government of President Goodluck Jonathan
What do you think are the highlights of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration?
I believe, for most Nigerians, the highlight of Jonathan’s administration is the heightened terrorist activities in the country. Another is the enormous corruption, which, even by the standard of Nigeria, is unprecedented. There has never been any government in this country as corrupt, indolent and irresponsible as this government. Also, for a nation which has so many ethnic groups, religious differences, and identities, one was expecting a measure of inclusiveness. Unfortunately, Jonathan and his cabal are the most divisive set of people to have been at the top of an administration in this country.
Frankly speaking, I can’t think of anything I would regard as a positive highlight. Everything that I can think of, which I consciously or otherwise associate with this President, is terribly negative. I hope I am not disappointing you, but I have nothing positive to say about the government.
Why is corruption believed to have thrived under Jonathan’s administration, despite the checks and balances that the constitution provides?

NO APOLOGY FOR ANTI-BUHARI CAMPAIGN — FANI-KAYODE

The Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in this interview, dismisses the claim that hate campaign was responsible for the loss of President Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28 election, blaming the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) for it.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) blamed the loss of the party at the March 28 presidential election on hate speeches from some party officials, particularly some members of its Presidential Campaign Organisation. How do you react? 
I am sorry that you asked me this question because this is an assertion that I have refused to comment on since the allegation was made. Ever since the conclusion of the presidential election, I have been asked the question you just asked me more than any other and I believe that, for posterity’s sake, it is time to set the record straight.
Everywhere I go. this question of hate campaign is raised and, frankly, I am tired of it. Worse still, some people are beginning to believe the rubbish because we have refused to clear the air. We cannot be expected to remain silent forever when faced with such a grave allegation. This is all the more so because it is my directorate (the Directorate of Media and Publicity) and team that they sought to target, malign and discredit more than anyone else even though they did not mention my name or my directorate. The truth is that I have no hate in me and neither did anyone in the PCO or in my directorate.

FUEL CRISIS CRIPPLES NIGERIA

The fuel scarcity situation in the country has taken a turn for the worse as reports on Saturday indicate.
Investigations by our correspondents all over the country showed that most filling stations in the land are not selling Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol.
This, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt, escalated the already dire situation, forcing motorists and other consumers to the black market.
Investigations also showed that the pump price of the product in the few filling stations who had it ranged from N120 to as high as N400 per litre.
The high price of the product, according to our correspondents, has caused a hike in transport fare with the increase as high as 300 per cent in some places. Many commuters who were caught unawares by the development were seen trekking long distances to their destinations while others were forced to return home.
Most filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory have shut down following the non-availability of the commodity.

OKONJO-IWEALA VOWS NOT TO PAY MARKETERS •Calls N159bn subsidy payment claim fraudulent

The federal government is spoiling for a fresh showdown with oil importers over subsidy payment.
This is coming as there is no end in sight yet for the current face off between the two sides that has grounded the nation for several days now.
Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday accused them of submitting to government suspicious payment claims to the tune of N159billion in exchange rate differentials.
The payment claims, according to her, reeked of fraud.
She told reporters at a farewell meeting in Abuja that she would not approve payment of the claims unless verified by the relevant authorities.
“Marketers were asking for N159 billion for exchange rate differentials from the outstanding N200 billion. There has been so much fraud and scam so I have refused to sign for that money but have agreed that a committee be set up involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to verify marketers’ claims,” she said.
”Marketers just want to make Nigerians suffer,” she added.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT FUEL SUBSIDY MEANS– BUHARI

In a new interview with Daily Trust, President elect, Buhari expressed reservations over claims by the government of subsidizing the petroleum sector. He spoke on how during his time as Military leader, they were able to make fuel available at all times. Below are excerpts of what he said in the interview

One burning issue is fuel subsidy. I believe you are aware of the queues in major cities like Lagos and Abuja. The fuel importers say they are unsure of the direction of the new government in this area. Have you considered maintaining or withdrawing this subsidy or are you questioning whether it didn’t exist at all?

One of the problems I have, other than the military, is the petroleum industry where I served for three and a half years under General Obasanjo. When people start talking about this subsidy I honestly get confused. I will tell you this, and I hope it will answer what you want to know. Back then we had a refinery in Port Harcourt, which was refining 30,000 barrels a day of Nigerian crude. Later, it was upgraded to refine 100,000 barrels a day.