How Jonathan Forced Tukur To Resign

 
More facts have emerged on the sudden exit of tough-talking Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Impeccable sources within the PDP and the presidency told LEADERSHIP Weekend that President Goodluck Jonathan forced Tukur to tender his resignation letter following Tukur’s assertion that the president could not force him to leave office.
Although Jonathan allegedly asked Tukur to make the sacrifice to protect the ruling PDP and the office of the president, our correspondent learnt that Tukur’s statement angered the presidency.
President Jonathan had presented Tukur’s resignation letter to the 63rd meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party on Thursday, a few hours after Tukur had boasted that no one, including the president, could force him out of office.
The Presidency and PDP sources said that it was the statement that eventually consumed Tukur as he was immediately invited to meet with the president and a few top political associates such as the chairman of PDP Board of Trustees Chief Tony Anenih, Vice President Namadi Sambo and a few aides where he was confronted with the statement. He answered in the affirmative and this led the president to ask him to resign in order to save the office of the president and the party.
Tukur had reportedly said: “I am an elected national chairman, I have my certificate of return, I cannot resign. The PDP convention brought me, so it has to take the convention that brought me for me to resign. Not even the president can ask me to resign. Remember, some members of the NWC were asked to go recently because the election that brought them was flawed; so Mr President cannot tread that route again.”
One of the presidency sources said: “In fairness to him, Tukur corroborated the media but claimed that he was quoted out of context, but President Jonathan advised him to save the party and the honour of the office of the president by doing the right thing (writing his letter of resignation). He apologised profusely to the president but it was too late for him.”
He further disclosed that the president reminded him that his NEC members had deserted him, and that 37 of the state chairmen had abandoned him including the governors and advised him to do the right thing that could save his integrity and that of the party.
“Tukur was reminded that party officials had left him in the cold, as did the 37 state chairmen, an indication that the PDP governors are no more with him. President Jonathan said since there was no possibility of holding another convention where he could tender his resignation letter as he said, the only way out is to resign but promised that his political career and integrity would be protected.”
Our source explained that the failure of Tukur to reach out to the aggrieved governors on time was his undoing. And instead of reconciling with them, “he was boasting that even the president could not ask him to resign, using the INEC to blackmail. The PDP governors came to meet with the president and urged him to call Tukur to order in the interest of the party. And that was all,” the source said.
When asked who would be named as the acting chairman, the source said the odds favoured former governor of Bauchi State Adamu Muazu, but most members were yearning for Babayo Shehu.
“It is too early to know who the president supports. Some are rooting for Adamu Muazu but some are saying he and his governor are not relating well and this could bring a replica of Tukur and Nyako fiasco; some want Babayo Shehu, a political associate of Chief Anenih, but the fact that he was supported by former vice president Atiku (Abubakar) may work against him,” he said.
North-east governors meet Jonathan
The governors who met with President Jonathan yesterday were Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe), acting governor Garba Umar (Taraba) and Bala James Ngilari (deputy governor of Adamawa).
Governor Yuguda of Bauchi, who did not admit that they were in the villa over the issue of the new party chairman, also denied that the governors were not ready to accept any chairman that emerges from their states.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Yuguda asked: “Are we God? It’s God that gives power. Supposing he gives somebody from my state, a PDP state, what will I do? I will follow him. Let us not go into that kind of imagination.”
Tukur’s exit, internal democracy at work – PDP
Basking in the resolution of the controversy that preceded the resignation of its national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the ruling PDP yesterday described the resignation as an exhibition of political maturity and the expression of the internal democratic mechanism within the party.

To Oppose The Signed Anti-Gay Marriage Bill is To Oppose Democracy – Dr. Peregrino Brimah

The media is awash with passionate, intellectual outputs, decrying Nigeria’s President signing the anti-gay bill into law.

The Senate passed this since December 2011. The bill has been on the President’s desk since May 2013, when the House passed it; he just got to signing it.

Here are some peculiar points to note in this matter.

Timing of the Protest against the Signing

The 13th hour timing is totally off. This bill has been on Nigeria’s Presidents table for months. Some of us have written and expressed our minds in relation to this topic, prior to his signing the bill.

Recently there was an initiation of legislation to punish so-called facebook activists. People responded promptly and prevented legislation moving forward in that case.

If Nigerians seriously opposed this anti-gay bill, we should likewise have moved forward firmly and strongly against the initial stages of it passing the senate and House before it got signed. Protests after the last minute are simply not serious.

These are Anti-Democratic Protests

For those who believe in our western styled democracy, the anti-gay bill got signed into law following due democratic process. Challenging it at the thirteenth hour questions our character and abidance with democratic process.

Nigerians love breaking and disobeying laws. Do we really believe in democracy or do we silently push for authoritarian rule? We voted in lawmakers, they proposed the bill, the house and senate who represent us overwhelmingly voted for the bill, this was passed to the President, who signed in the bill ‘we’ presented as represented by our representatives.

To challenge this bill will be to challenge the entire democratic process and system. I would go for that. I am interested in an entire review of the western democratic model we have adopted. It is however conflicting and disingenuous to pick on single items that are the direct consequence and product of the democratic system ‘we’ believe in, and demand the President single-handedly veto the best results.

Do we likewise wish him veto all majority senate and House choices?

Universal Human Rights?

What is that? Nations choose their rights as best applies to them or as is defined by religions. There is no such thing as universal rights. This is an illusion that usually starts from a 5 man lobby in a westerncountry.

Are there rights for a single woman to marry two men if all consent? Are there rights for limitless polygamy? Are there rights of brothers marrying sisters or fathers daughters?

As odd as these might seem, these are ‘legitimate’ rights of consenting adults so long as religious boundaries and principles are not employed.

Marriage is a religious institution, owned and defined by the religions. It is not a natural or biological one. Incest is religious terminology and not scientific or biological restriction.

Adults can demand rights to incestual relationships. People who do not believe in God are actually demanding such rights.

Therefore rights must be determined by societies in keeping with their cultures and religions and what they can handle.

There is a limit to what Africa can handle and test.

So far, the societal health and herd social implication of long term, prevalent homosexual relationship is just being determined. How this impacts children, heterosexuals, the society at large.

The cost for utilities, etc…The cost of extra, third and fourth orientation bathrooms. Tasking healthcare costs being felt in the western world, secondary to the additional risks of MSM (Male-Sex-Male) anal sex.

Teaching little children new definitions of marriage, banning words like ‘mom’ and ‘dad,’ and the like, as is required and being instituted in true plurisexual societies.

These are complex equations the western world is just figuring out.

We must admit that the signing of this bill was a true dividend of democracy… at its best. I believe opposed Nigerians should respect the law and process of our ‘beloved’ democracy. Or be more honest and challenge democracy itself and the nations that constitute the larger Nigeria if those who wish Jonathan did not sign, desperately wish to have their revered ‘western universal laws,’ enforced in some new western culture nationettes, that reject the more popular African socio-culture.

This is my advice. Democracy did this, not Jonathan.

This is not one case where we can throw jabs at Joe.

Confessions of wizards

 
• 5 men own up to killing own children, others

FROm JOE EFFIONG, UYO
For the people of Idiaba Ikot Udotan in Nsit Atai local government area of Akwa Ibom State, the last Christmas was a period of communal deliverance from the bondage of witches and wizards. It was a period where five old men who claimed to be elders of the wizards’ coven, which they call Nka Ibak (wicked association) freely came out to confess their atrocities.
Nobody in the community had suspected that the very religious Sunday Charlie, Michael Charlie who are blood brothers, Edet  John Tom, Noah Akpanakpan and Udo Edet Tom,  have any link with the death of their own children and other evils ravaging the community since in the past 10 years.
Relief however came to the community through the mysterious death of one Miss Imaobong Charlie,  a daughter of one of the wizards, who took ill immediately she returned from Aba where she went to buy some goods (ladies’ clothes) to sell during the Xmas season.
It was learnt that the lady, a widow, who had earlier lost her Hausa husband, forcing her to return to her family home, had taken ill on 22nd and died on December 23. Attempt by the father to bury her the same day attracted suspicion and as a result, the community blocked him from burying the corpse.
While that was going on, another child of one of the wizards was battling with death alleging that his father had tied him and was about to kill him.
As a result of the alarm, the youths of the community besieged the compound only to behold the man tying a white goat, which was later realised that he was to kill as a spiritual replication which would have resulted in the son’s death.
When confronted, the man allegedly admitted that he wanted to kill the son by killing the goat, pretending it was for Christmas celebration.
“When the youth tortured him, he confessed that he was a wizard and that they were many in the community. It was he who mentioned the other four members of the group who the youth immediately swooped on, but they were saved by the elders”, the acting village head of the community, Chief Charles Akpan, told Saturday Sun. He added that when the five men confessed to wizardry after the youths had stormed their compounds, the community elders had to rush to the police division at the local government headquarters, Odot, but the police declined involvement, saying they didn’t want to get involved in spiritual matters.
“We had to summon the entire village to listen to them  which confessed and promised that those  they they had held in captivity would be released. They came with the white goat through which one of them wanted to kill his son,” Chief Akpan said.
It was gathered that, to confirm whether the five men were actually wizards,  a child who had been claiming to be a witch in the neighbouring community was brought and she identified all the five men as members of her coven.
According to him, “One of them who wanted to deny being involved soft-pedaled immediately the little girl came round and commanded them to speak up. It was there that all of them agreed that on December 29, they would set free six young men and women that they had planned to kill before the end of January.
“So by midnight of that day, we, the elders, went to where they directed us; they had bought another goat and other items which they said would be used for deliverance. And they conducted the deliverance in their own way. It was as if we were watching Nollywood. If we had known we could have contracted a video camera man to cover it. They went through spiritual protocol unimaginable to us the laymen; killed the goat, mixed the blood with palm wine, native gin plus some other concoction and drank among while sitting on logs on banana stems. After this they took an oath that those they held captives had been freed and that no young person would henceforth die in the village through their manipulations.
“To tell you the truth, I was afraid; and I immediately felt like leaving the village and return to where I used to reside until my father died and I was asked to come home and be the interim village head till a new one is appointed,” Akpan said.
He said but for the maturity exhibited by the elders, the youth would have killed the wizards and that could have plunged the community into a serious problem since the police who had earlier declined intervention, would have descended on the village to arrest people. Those who the wizards claimed to have been held captives for killing, would  equally not have been rescued because if  any of the wizards had been killed the process of recuing their captive would have been blurredimpossible.
One of those held captive by his wizard father and was equally rescued, an 18-year old Emem Sunday Charlie, expressed delight that he and the entire family had be rescued from the witchcraft gulag that their father, Sunday Charlie, had dragged them into.
Emem, an electrical technician, who resides in Port Harcourt, told Saturday Sun; “We used to have bad dreams in the entire family. Our father once said he had sold our sister to a spirit husband as such she would wake up naked every night even when she was well dressed before going to bed. And I personally used to experience severe pains in the neck. But after they delivered us, the pain is no more.”
The entire village is now waiting to see whether the atrocities the old wizards used to cause at the end and beginning of every year, would stop, or whether the deliverance was a ruse to momentarily save their neck from the irate youths. But the youths have vowed to kill them should any anything happen to any young person in the village or outside henceforth.

MI, Kelly Hansome end five-year disput

Music stars, Kelly Handsome and M.I who have been engaged in a five-year old dispute performed together on stage during the CARNIRIV festival late last year.

According to reports, Kelly Handsome reached out to M.I and made peace with him.You will recall that trouble started between the duo when Kelly Handsome dissed rapper M.I in one of his tracks ‘Maga don pay’ several years ago.
This resulted in an exchange of hate tracks between Kelly and M.I
The two musicians are now friends!

First photos from Bez and Bolatito Ladoja’s wedding in Lagos today

Soul singer, Bez is officially married.

The superstar is presently walking down the aisle with the love of his life, Bolatito Ladoja, the daughter of the former Governor of Oyo state, Rasheed Ladoja.
Their reception ceremony will kick off by 2 PM at the Landmark Village, Victoria Island, Lagos.
See first photos below:

 Their reception ceremony will kick off by 2 PM at the Landmark Village, Victoria Island, Lagos.

See first photos below:

Watch your tongues, Baba Aladura tells Jonathan, Obasanjo

From  Moshood Adebayo, Abeokuta
The Chairman and spiritual father of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide (Ayo Ni O), Most Reverend Samuel Abidoye has cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan and former president Olusegun Obasanjo against heating up the polity  through their actions and inactions.
Abidoye, in his New Year message to members of the CSMS Worldwide and Nigerians entitled: ‘Be Hopeful, My Beloved Country,’  advised the  duo of Jonathan and Obasanjo to demonstrate maturity in their handling of the political differences between them.
On corruption, he said  it would not be enough for the government to just have the various anti-graft agencies without putting them on the proper footing to function effectively.
According to him, ‘lack of insincerity usually demonstrated by the government regarding its much-vaunted anti-corruption crusade had further emboldened the perpetrators of the act to continue in their nefarious and unGodly activities’.
He  enjoined the  Federal Government to  punish corrupt political and public office holders as well as individuals involved in corruption ‘rather than paying lip service to combating the anti-social behaviour’.
His words: “Instances of corruption by government officials and lack of diligent prosecution of those caught in the act by the government tend to send wrong signals to observers about our sincerity in fighting sleaze in government. The Otedola/Farouk Gate, the Oduah Gate, the Maina Gate are some instances that could be mentioned.”
He added: “Also, what has happened to those accused of robbing the country blind in the oil sector through illegal collection of fuel subsidy? It is not enough to posture about intolerance for corruption; offenders should be prosecuted to drive home the point.
The government needs to prove that they deserve our trust before they start another round of electioneering to ask us to vote them back into power.”
The  spiritual leader also cautioned the nation’s past and current leaders about their conduct, particularly whenever they disagreed over issues affecting the country.
Apparently referring to the recent face off between Obasanjo and  Jonathan, he wondered why the leaders should  “wash their dirty linen in public.”
“In terms of governance in general, there needs to be a display of more maturity by our leaders, both in and out of government. Dancing naked in the market place just to prove that one can do so is going too far. A leader is expected to exhibit decorum and behave with certain dignity that will make people to respect them. How can we as civilised people be washing our dirty linen in the public? Having political differences does not need to make us enemies of one another. At least, we can disagree to agree as we have always done.”

Conflict resolution expert urges Clark to intervene in Jonathan, Amaechi’s rift

From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE Warri
A conflict resolution expert, Prince Clement Bebenimibo, has pleaded with the leadership of the South-South, Chief Edwin Clark, to intervene in the raging impasse between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, saying it will scuttle 2015 political dispensation if it is not nipped in the bud.
Bebenimibo whose appeal was contained in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, also expressed deep fear over the lingering crisis, describing it as an ill-wind that would not do anybody any good.
“It is disheartening and unbelievable for a governor from the South-South to be fighting Mr. President. It  is like a son fighting the father who made him what he is today,” Bebenimibo said, explaining that the governor should have a rethink and retrace his steps.
“Above all, Governor Amaechi should remember how he started his political career and his legal battle with political opponents. He should not be overwhelmed with what he has acquired and to challenge the presiden.
By all standard, he should be a dogged fighter by supporting Mr. President even in his 2015 presidential bid,” he stated.
Bebenimibo pleaded with Chief Edwin Clark to convene an urgent meeting to resolve the impasse between President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi.
“We all know that Chief Clark, a former information minister, is a vibrant, meticulous and persistent leader of the South-South who is capable of resolving the issue within the shortest possible time,” he said, adding that the two leaders should find a way of developing the marginalized Niger Delta region rather than dissipating energy on meaningless things.

Controversial and attention seeking singer, Maheeda went completely naked in her new video, which she shot today at Ikeja. The supposed gospel singer turned sex goddess appeared naked in the video of her ‘Naija bad girl’ song, directed by Frizzle and Bizzle films.
According to information available to Vanguard newspaper, the singer has hired ‘agents’ to circulate the nude photographs with the hope it will be viral on the internet before the end of today.
It will be recalled that Maheeda, Beverly Osu and Juliet Ibrahim came under fire  for posting X-rated Christmas cards of themselves.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/01/maheeda-goes-completely-naked-ikeja/#sthash.3pA28kMl.dpuf

Controversial and attention seeking singer, Maheeda went completely naked in her new video, which she shot today at Ikeja. The supposed gospel singer turned sex goddess appeared naked in the video of her ‘Naija bad girl’ song, directed by Frizzle and Bizzle films.
According to information available to Vanguard newspaper, the singer has hired ‘agents’ to circulate the nude photographs with the hope it will be viral on the internet before the end of today.
It will be recalled that Maheeda, Beverly Osu and Juliet Ibrahim came under fire  for posting X-rated Christmas cards of themselves.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/01/maheeda-goes-completely-naked-ikeja/#sthash.3pA28kMl.dpuf

Mourinho To Let Mata Leave?

January 4, 2014
by Ashley B

The January transfer window has opened with the sensational revelation, which we reported a couple of days ago, that Mata is free to leave. This came post Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Southampton yesterday. Mata started the game for the Blues but he was substituted very early on in the second half, much to the frustration of the Spanish international.
Mourinho decided to take him off for Brazilian midfielder Oscar, who he has taken a strong liking to ever since his arrival at Stamford Bridge. A clearly baffled and angry Mata vented out his frustration by blatantly ignoring Mourinho while coming off, and steaming down to the substitutes’ bench while cursing his manager’s decision.
Mourinho was then asked about Mata’s reaction post the match where he dropped the bomb that even though he wants him to stay, he will not be stopped if he wishes to leave. Yahoo! Eurosport reported the Portugese as saying, “I want to keep him. I want to keep him. I don’t want him to go. That’s my opinion, my wish. But my door is open and the club’s door is open too. When a player wants to speak with us we are there waiting.”
The return of Mourinho to Chelsea has clearly not done any good for the 25-year old, who has gone from being a pivotal player to just being a squad player this time around. Given this recent development, do you see him seeking a move away, now that the transfer window has swung open? With teams like Tottenham and Manchester United serious admirers there would be no shortage of buyers for Mata but Mourinho is way too cute to empower one of his rivals with such a talent who would have a point to prove.

Mourinho Keen On Signing Former Real Madrid Striker, Gonzalo Higuain

January 4, 2014
by Andrei Marin

According to Metro, Chelsea could help Napoli close one of the most profitable deals of the season. Higuain who came to Italy from Real, cost the Neapolitans £34.5 million. He became a fan favorite in no time and also became the team’s top scorer. His deal with the Italian side is set to expire in 2018 which is going to be a problem for the Blues who need the Argentinian as soon as possible considering how poorly Chelsea’s current attacking line is doing.
Mourinho is very keen on working with his former Real Madrid player who might just leave for London if Napoli and Chelsea agree on the transfer fee. Apparently the Blues were already turned down after offering a whopping £50million for Higuain.
The 26 year old would be a great addition to the team though. Mourinho’s determination to sign him points to the fact that he is a sure thing, unlike Falcao or other just as expensive players who have not had the chance to work with the Special One.
Higuain is in great form, scoring more goals this season than all of Chelsea’s strikers. He has proven himself both in the Spanish and the Italian Championships and might be up for grabs if you consider the fact that Napoli failed to make it to the next stages of the Champions League. Being left to play in the Europa League means they lost a great deal of money which they might be tempted to recover by making a £20 million profit off of the Argentinian. The only thing that could stop Chelsea from signing Higuain, is Napoli’s desire to win some trophies, which would be a lot easier if the striker stayed with the Italian side.