2015 ticket: 8 governors, senators may dump PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears headed for major turbulence, this time sparked by last Thursday’s call for automatic tickets at the 2015 elections for President Goodluck Jonathan, ‘performing’ first term governors and legislators. The idea was floated by Chief Tony Anenih, chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).

Many in the party view the statement as the clearest indication yet of what to expect ahead of the elections, coming as the proposal did from Anenih, a close confidant of the President.

Those aspiring for the Presidency, governorship and legislative seats are worried by the statement and are already considering their future in the party, it was gathered yesterday.

Among those said to be seriously contemplating their future in the party are eight governors and some National Assembly members who may quit the ruling party.

The governors are believed to have the support of influential northern leaders and some former governors in the North-East and North-Central. They are said to be weighing options like outright formation of a new party, or adopting an existing one.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the eight governors include four from the North-West, two from the North-Central, one from the North-East and one from the South-South.

It was gathered that the eight governors have started holding talks with political leaders of like mind on the way forward. They want to retain their grip on their states and control the direction of their political future.

It was gathered that the governors are unhappy that the President is eroding internal democracy in the party by manipulating the PDP leadership to do his bidding ahead of 2015 primaries.

They are equally worried that the PDP was sliding towards regional sentiments with the President more at home with the South-East and South-South.

A reliable source, who is involved in the ongoing talks, said: “Their grouse borders on lack of internal democracy in PDP. They believe the 2015 poll is already skewed in favour of the President. They also feel that the way Jonathan is going, he might end up determining their political fate in 2015.

“Having hijacked the party structure, the governors are of the opinion that the President controls all the delegates from the South- East, South-South, South-West; Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and Kogi in North-Central; all the delegates in the North-East states and Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna in the North-West states.

“Based on the party structure at Jonathan’s beck and call, it is sure the PDP ticket is up for him to grab. So, it is better for governors who are not on the President’s side to look elsewhere for platform.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “These governors want to present a credible candidate against PDP. You will see that PDP is gradually taking a regional party line with recent events with the President leaning mostly on the South-East and the South-South.

“They don’t want to remain in PDP because it’s very glaring the president will win PDP primaries, but the general election he can’t win with the present mood of the nation.”

The chorus of outrage heightened yesterday with the statement by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar denouncing Anenih’s position as undemocratic and unconstitutional.

The release by Atiku’s Media Office demanded an open contest for all aspirants.

It restated the former VP’s rejection of the “consensus arrangement” and “adoption” rather than transparent elections to produce candidates for all elective offices, including the presidency.

It recalled that Atiku was repeatedly in courts to “challenge this undemocratic arrangement and that the courts ruled that the policy was alien to the PDP and Nigerian constitutions.”

The statement read further; “The former Vice-President said the principle for which he opposes this unjust policy, which he described as a ‘travesty of democracy’ has not changed since then.”

The statement quoted Atiku as saying: “My position remains that as far as PDP constitution is concerned, any attempt to change the party’s rule to favour the President as a sole candidate in the event of his willingness to re-contest is unconstitutional.

“The contest should be open to all desiring to pursue an ambition on the platform of the PDP.”

The statement added: “While acknowledging that President Jonathan is entitled to seek the party ticket in 2015, the former Vice President, however, insisted that Jonathan should submit himself to a transparent and fair process just like any other party member.

“By foreclosing free and fair process of selecting its presidential candidate, Atiku said the PDP might be sending the wrong message to Nigerians about its commitment to conduct free and fair elections for the entire country.”

Gunmen Invade Obasanjo Farms, Kidnap 2

It was gathered that the kidnappers who were said to have stormed the farm in a taxi, shot sporadically to scare people away from the farm and immediately kidnapped the two persons and took them to a waiting boat near the seaside.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a resident of the area narrated that, “Today in Mfamosong, kidnappers came and kidnapped two white men inside the company premises. They came in a taxi to a farm that used to belong to former president, Obasanjo but has been sold out to a Chinese company. The kidnappers drove inside the premises of the company, shooting sporadically and abducted two white men into their taxi and drove straight to the waterside where they put them in a speed boat and left with them,” he stated.
A member of the community said that the kidnappers were yet to make demands and that the victims were of Indonesia and Malaysian origin.
He said, “It was in the morning around 7:30 – 8am when the two persons were kidnapped. There was no security at the farm that morning. The security operates only at night, not the daytime.”
He said that the place where the incident took place belong to Akwa Ikot Effanga and Mfamasong and that the suspected kidnappers must have come from that Akwa Ikot Effanga side.


“They came with a small car and left with a flying boat, the driver of the car hid in the waiting car and there was nobody to pursue them. They were shooting into the air, went inside the premises, kidnapped the men and dashed inside the river” he said.
He said that the victims were staff Obasanjo;s former farm, now taken over by Wilma, a Chinese company, adding that the duo whose names were yet to be known go to the farm everyday.
When the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. John Umoh, a Deputy Superintendent of Police was contacted, he said he had not been briefed.
He said, “I am not aware of that report. Let me call you latter; let me get in touch with the DPO there.”
However, the PPRO did not call again and even efforts made to hear from him did not yield any result as he did not pick up his calls and also did not respond to text messages.

We supported Amaechi to disgrace Jonathan — APC

The All Progressives Congress has said its governors supported Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to disgrace President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party.

The spokesmen for the APC told SUNDAY PUNCH that the merger of major opposition parties was to oppose the interests of the PDP and the President in the NGF election, the way opposition did during the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, said the opposition parties were out to oppose any attempt by Jonathan to act as an authoritarian.

He said, “If you look at the actions of the progressives, you will notice that we have been consistent for quite some time. If you will recall that at the election of the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, the PDP had already zoned the position to the South-West, because they had nominated Mulikat Akande-Adeola, who is now the Majority Leader. But because of the cooperation of the lawmakers from the progressive parties, Tambuwal got the position.

“It is exactly the same thing we are witnessing now. With the cooperation of the progressive governors, Amaechi disgraced Jonathan, by winning the NGF election despite the federal might that was against him. Let it be clear to Nigerians that what happened at the NGF election is a dress rehearsal for 2015.”

Fasakin added, “The progressive parties will always do anything that will stop Jonathan from assuming an imperial status. We will continue to oppose Jonathan’s authoritarian tendencies. We supported Amaechi because Jonathan’s intervention in the governors’ forum election was self-serving. As a progressive opposition party, our duty is to oppose that. So, we have no apologises for that.”

When asked if APC was wooing Amaechi and the PDP governors in his faction of the NGF, Fashakin said some of the governors were afraid of openly opposing Jonathan.

“We saw that when the chips were down, some of the governors who were purportedly against Amaechi voted him in the secret ballot.  Just wait, there are many more surprises awaiting Jonathan and the PDP,” he said.

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said the decision to support Amaechi was taken at the APC governors’ forum, not at the party level.

He said, “All ACN governors are in support of Amaechi but the decision was taken at the APC governors’ forum. It was not discussed at the party. You know the APC has its forum and they discuss their affairs as it concerns the merger. Remember they were all in the Maiduguri and Yobe and they hold meetings regularly. So, they decided to vote for Amaechi at the NGF election. Is there anything wrong with that?”

BBA: The uncensored Natasha Interview: "I'm a prostitute"

Natasha

In just few hours the fate of the 5 housemates up for eviction will be decided, to know who will stay and who will go and Natasha, who is representing Malawi in the BBA, the chase, is among the nominated housemates up for eviction today. In this video, she opens up about her private life as a prostitute and the product of a daughter who is both deaf and dumb. Watch the video here.
http://bigbrotherafrica.dstv.com/Video/Play.aspx?vid=266314&site=fullsite

Governors shift battle to court

The fight for the control of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum between Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Plateau Governor, Jonah Jang, took a different turn on Friday as pro-Ameachi governors, represented by Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, went to court to stop Jang from parading himself as the chairman of the NGF.

Fashola, who filed the suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in his capacity as a member of the forum, asked the court to declare that Jang is not competent to be called the elected chairman of the NGF.

Apart from Jang, other defendants in the suit are the Director-General of the NGF, Asishana Okauru; the Sole Administrator purportedly appointed by Jang, Osaro Onaiwu, and the Registered Trustees of the NGF vested with the power to administer and manage the trusts of the NGF.

In the writ of summons filed by a former Lagos Attorney General, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and former West African Bar Association President, Femi Falana (SAN), Fashola maintained that 35 governors participated in the election that returned Amaechi as the NGF chairman.

He, therefore, asked the court to stop Jang from parading himself “as the elected chairman of the NGF in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”

Fashola is also seeking a declaration that the first defendant (Jang) is not competent to relocate the secretariat of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum from No. 1, Deng Xiaoping Street, Off AIT Junction, Asokoro Extension, Abuja to No. 2, Nana Close, by Ene Crescent, Off Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja or to any other place.

The plaintiff revealed that Okauru had been under pressure from Jang to handover the assets and documents of the NGF to him (Jang).

He therefore asked the court to declare that Okauru “is not competent to handover the assets and documents of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to the first defendant, his agents, privies and servants in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”

Apart from these, the Lagos State governor also asked the court to declare that the second defendant (Okauru) is not competent to use the name Nigeria Governors’ Forum in respect of any other organisation which does not have the 36 governors as members and/or in any other manner inconsistent with the constitution of the governors’ forum.

He is also seeking an Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining Okauru from handing over the property and documents of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to Jang, his agents, privies and servants in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.

In addition to these, Fashola asked for, “an Order of Injunction restraining the third defendant from parading himself as the Sole Administrator of the forum in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”

In the statement of claim, Fashola stated that he would rely on the NGF’s registered constitution at the trial.

He averred that the election into the post of the chairman of the NGF took place at the Rivers State Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja on Friday, May 25, 2013.

“The governors of Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Zamfara states took part in the said election.

“The four candidates who submitted nomination forms for the election were the governors of Bauchi, Katsina, Plateau and Rivers states. The nomination forms will be relied upon at the trial of this suit. Before the said election, the governors of Bauchi and Katsina states withdrew from the election leaving the contest for the governors of Plateau and Rivers states. Thereafter, the 35 governors voted for the candidates of their choice.

“At the end of the voting, the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, scored 19 votes while his rival, the Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Jonah Jang, scored 16 votes.

“Consequently, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was declared the winner of the election. At the trial of this suit, the plaintiff will rely on the video recording of the election which has been broadcast by theAIT and Channels Television stations.”

The Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that pro-Amaechi governors were fully behind Fashola.

Speaking through his Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration, Mr. Ajibola Basiru, Aregbesola said Fashola, as a member of the NGF, had the right to challenge any illegality by the forum.

Aregbesola said, “Any action to further entrench democracy is supported by Osun. This suit is one of such actions. Jang’s action is ridiculous. Recent developments have shown that he didn’t win the election.

“When he wanted to inaugurate the forum’s secretariat in Abuja, he sent invitation cards to governors and only 16 governors, including himself, honoured the invitation. If you truly won an election and you feel you are being denied your mandate, you go to court. You don’t resort to self-help.”

Similarly, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State said he was fully in support of his Lagos State counterpart action’s to stop the pro-Jang governors from operating through the court action.

Fayemi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said Amaechi won the NGF election which was credible and that the opening of another secretariat was illegal.

He said, “Mr. Governor is fully in support of the court action. He is aware of it and he is throwing his weight behind Governor Fashola on this matter.”

Reacting to Fashola’s court action, the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Prof. Shedrack Best, said if pro-Amaechi governors were in the majority, there was no need for a law suit.

“If Governor Fashola claims that his camp has the majority, he does not need to go to court. Let him call them and showcase them.”

Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who is in Jang’s camp, also said governors were free to stop being members of the forum “because it is a free association.”

He said, “We are not proud of what has happened. We are saying we must sit for what is just. It is an association of equals. It is a voluntary association. Anybody can pull out without any consequences.

“A situation where a chairman of a forum of equals decided to contest election while holding the position is not right.

“Some of us argue that he (Amaechi) was there by consensus and we expected that he should step down. Immediately he indicated his interest, I said he must dissolve the house then elect a pro tem chairman. Yes, it has always been a consensus issue and we know that the PDP endorsed Jang. If somebody planted a camera somewhere because it was his own house or because of lack of respect for others,  it is too bad.”

Efforts to speak with the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, on Friday were futile. When one of our correspondents called him on the phone, there was no response from Metuh. Subsequent calls made to his phone were not picked.

Jang who is believed to have the backing of President Goodluck Jonathan had lost the chairmanship election to Amaechi by 19 votes to 16.

He, however, refused to accept defeat and instead proclaimed himself as the authentic chairman of the forum.

Jang also appointed a sole administrator in place of the director-general of the forum.

Few days after Amaechi won the election with the support of opposition governors, the PDP suspended him as its member.

Jang’s faction of the NGF also opened a parallel secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.

Jennifer Eliogu is back

The beautiful Nollywood actress, Jennifer Eliogu, who has been off the scene for an extended period, stepped out of her comfort zone last weekend. The mother of two attended the COSON Song Awards night and not a few persons were surprised to see her.

Eliogu who was dressed in an asymmetrical floor-length dress upped her style ante and the paparazzi would not let her be. Many wondered what she now does for a living since she is no longer a regular in movies

UK politicians caught in lobbying scandal

LONDON (AP) -- Three members of Britain's House of Lords are denying wrongdoing after apparently being caught in a newspaper sting agreeing to lobby Parliament in return for cash.

Labour peers Brian Mackenzie and Jack Cunningham and Ulster Unionist John Laird were recorded by Sunday Times reporters pretending to represent a solar energy firm. The men appeared to agree to push the firm's cause in Parliament.

On Friday, lawmaker Patrick Mercer left the Conservative party in Parliament ahead of allegations of lobbying irregularities due to be aired in a BBC documentary.

Mercer is alleged to have taken money from a fake firm professing to work for the government of Fiji.

British parliamentarians are barred from using their political positions to make a profit. Critics say the rules are too loose.