I am not on exile – Ex President tells ThisDay

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cleared the air on insinuations that he has gone on exile.

Jonathan, on Monday, May 23, 2016, placed a phone call to ThisDay and said he was resting in Cote d’Ivoire.

The former President also confirmed that he was in the United states for a while, adding that he had no reason to leave Nigeria.

GEJ said “Yes I am in Cote d’Ivoire, I have been here for a week resting and this is my second trip to the country since I stepped down as president.

“I have made sacrifices for Nigeria. I am praised all over Africa for averting bloodshed and for the peaceful transition from one government to another, but it seems Nigeria does not appreciate my efforts.

“I have done my best for this country and if I have to die for it, I will do so. However, I am taking it easy here (Cote d’Ivoire) and when I am ready, I will come back.”

Various people have called for the arrest of former President Goodluck Jonathan following revelations from those arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming he was aware of the disbursement of huge sums of money.

I don’t have confidence in INEC – Rivers Governor says

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has expressed his displeasure over the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Wike said he has lost confidence in INEC to conduct free and fair elections anywhere in Nigeria.

He said “I don’t have confidence in the present  INEC. It is too inconsistent and acts outside the  law. We are encouraging every candidate  to contest elections and emerge through popular  votes. We  will  not allow  impunity  or imposition.”

Wike also spoke on the upcoming elections in Edo state, saying “From what we have seen on ground in Edo State, this is the best time to capture the state. We have sent independent assessors to the state and they have adjudged that the PDP has the opportunity to  take over Edo.”

The Governor expressed surprise that INEC will set up a committee to look into the rerun election which was cancelled.

Wike also said the All Progressives Congress (APC) deceived Nigerians in a bid to win the 2015 elections.

State govt. accuses APC of sponsoring unrest

The government of Bayelsa state has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring unrest in the state.

The government says the opposition party in the state, has been masterminding killings, kidnappings and economic sabotage.

It also said the APC ‘s intention is to make Governor Seriake Dickson look like he does not have a firm grip of the security situation in the state.

Leadership reports that the Bayelsa State commissioner of Information and Orientation, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite said “The members of the APC are still pained by their landslide loss in the governorship election and have vowed to ensure that the second term of Dickson is frustrated through such attacks.

“These attacks which have claimed several innocent lives have heightened the security situation in the state which was brought back to normalcy by the restoration government after the last governorship election. Worried by the spate of attacks on security operatives and oil installations in Bayelsa State, the government of Hon. Seriake Dickson has severally expressed its readiness to work with the federal government and security agents to arrest the situation and bring to book, those behind it.”

Seriake Dickson was sworn in as Governor of Bayelsa state, for the second time, on Sunday, February, 14, 2016.

Former governor says president will lose in 2019

Alhaji Balarabe Musa who stated this in an exclusive interview with Pulse on Wednesday May 18, 2016, added that it is already impossible for Buhari to return as President in 2019 because many Nigerians who supported him in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 have lost confidence in him.

"As the president, Buhari has the means of transforming everything but obviously, it is quite clear that Buhari's popularity before 2015 elections and now have gone down drastically," Balarabe said.

Balarabe Musa who is the first civilian governor of Kaduna State said Buhari can only make it in 2019 if he can completely tackle the issues he promised.

"For instance, if today, he abandoned the leading role of the private sector in the economy in favour of the leading role of the state, he can't return because there will be cries everywhere."

"But if he ensures peace, equality, justice and promote human development, he can still win in 2019," Balarebe said.

"But as it is now, it is already impossible. Because as the president, he has the means of transforming everything. In Nigeria today, it is from one hardship to another."

"His military administration was passive. For one reason or the other, when he came to the civilian race in 2003, 2007 and 2011 he was forgiven. And now unfortunately, he has lost the confidence of Nigerians who voted him despite the military atrocities," Balarabe added.

Speaking on the current strike action, the former Kaduna State governor, Balarabe said the strike is more than in order, "and we support it absolutely."

"Our reservation is that, the strike should not be embarked by Labour alone. It should be jointly with NLC, TUC, CSOs, political parties and patriotic individuals."

"They should organise and conduct the protest under the leadership of NLC, TUC, Political parties and CSOs so that in the event that one of these opted out, Nigerians should have the benefit as it has always been the case since the Babangida era as Head of State of Nigeria. It also happened in 2012," Balarabe said.

"Other members should continue with the protest even if one or two members opted out. As it is today, we don't know the real position because there are many people saying industrial court has stop the protest which I don't think is the duty of industrial court to stop.  NLC is saying that the protest will go ahead. Some are also saying that TUC has opted out of the protest and so on."

"Now, what we should realised is that, it took a long time to bring Labour along in any National Protest against bad government. Labour was convinced to join in the protest and now that they have joined, they still have some tendencies of opting out before the aim is achieved."

"But even if one or two of them opted out of the protest against fuel increment, we have to realised that the people involved want good and quality of governance to Nigerians. We want good things for Nigeria. It is not a labour affair alone."

"The issue of how much fuel should be sell should be estimated by informed bodies. But all we know is that it should be easier for Nigerians to get access to cheat fuel than the non-oil producing countries. If we are an oil producing country, we should have free access to fuel at cheaper rate," Balarabe Musa added.

Watch out for Lagsaba Records

It began life on December 1, 2015 with the sole aim of providing young, talented and passionate artistes/producers the platform to showcase their God-given talents to a global audience.

The label is managed by the energetic Chinomso Anozie (CEEJOE) whose job is to harness the potential assembled. He is the brain behind the label’s smooth running.

Lagsaba Records is an indigenous record label founded and based in Lagos, Nigeria. The principles of Lagsaba Records believe in grooming and encouraging young artistic talents and also have a penchant for synergy.

The label recently signed on three young, talented artistes and a producer and is set to introduce them to the world.

They are comprised of the duo XXII (Jason Ombo and Royal Bright), the effervescent Lagsaba first lady – QueeModa (Chito Ann Deborah Akwueh), the sensational SteveRock (Stephen Edoka) and not forgetting the beats chef – Aybee1 BeatFac3 (Samuel Umukoro Abraham).

This is a feature by Lagsaba.

Buhari might meet with ex-president over Niger Delta attacks

President Muhammadu Buhari might meet with predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan over the resurgence of violence in the Niger Delta Region, reports say.

According to Daily Trust, Buhari and Jonathan may meet to discuss the chaos being unleashed by militant group, Niger Delta Avengers.

Jonathan is reportedly expected to visit the Presidential Villa this week to speak with Buhari on the issue.

The group has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on oil installations in the region and says that its goal is a sovereign state of Niger Delta.

BOT shuns party elders, says May 21 National Convention will hold

The Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given party's National Working Committee (NWC) go ahead on the planned May 21 national convention regardless of opposition from some party elders.

The newly elected Secretary of PDP BOT, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, made the position known in Abuja on Monday, May 16, while briefing newsmen after the Board's meeting.

"In spite of the well-articulated reservations by well-respected and articulate elders and members that the convention should not go ahead, the BOT has decided to support the NWC that our national convention should hold on May 21," Maduekwe said.

"Secondly, that all the grievances that have been well articulated by well-meaning elders and interest groups would be clearly look into in the process of party reconciliation to see how we can carry everybody along."

He said that the grievances that would be given attention would be those aimed at making the party stronger and not to pull it down.

The scribe said the party would look into states that encountered problems in their congresses and make amendment.

Maduekwe added that the committee also resolved to urge the National Executive Committee to make a resolution at the convention that the party's 2019 presidential candidate should come from the north.

"Part of our resolution is also that the review of the party constitution should be suspended," he added.

Maduekwe said that the party's mid-term convention has also been scheduled for 2018.

"When that happens the position of chairmanship will automatically shift to the south in accordance with PDP constitution."

Answering questions, Professor Jerry Gana, a member of the BOT, made clarification on an allegation that he obtained N500 million from a bank in the name of the party.

Gana said that the money was obtained from the bank by the Fund-Raising Committee for 2015 general elections as the party was unable to finance its activities and the fund-raising dinner.

He said that an account was opened for the money of which the party financial secretary and treasurer were signatories.

He said the expectation was that the party would pay back the loan from the generated fund, adding that the matter is already in court since the party refused to pay.

It was also gathered that Senator Walid Jubrin was elected the substantive chairman of the BOT at the meeting.