Armed operatives of the Department of State Security Service are currently at the residence of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, trying to force their way in to arrest the former minister, Mr. El-Rufai said. Phoot: Armed operatives storm Nasir El-Rufai's residence The operatives did not produce any arrest warrant, the former minister said. The former minister is currently not at home but he said he would rush back home after picking his children from school. The SSS had on Thursday invited Mr. El-Rufai, the Deputy National Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress, [APC] in connection with a statement credited him that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections were not free and fair. The former minister made the comment while speaking at the Transformed to Transform, T2T Nigeria, Conference and Career Fair, a leadership and empowerment initiative for the National Youth Service Corps members in Abuja on Wednesday. He was reported to have said the 2015 elections could be marred by riots and other forms of violence that might lead to loss of lives and properties unless the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies ensured they were free. The former minister however refused to respond to the SSS’ invitation on the ground that he had a pending suit against the agency over his detention in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, during the governorship election in that state last November 16. He also told the Director General of the Service, Ita Ekpeyong, that he was willing to meet with him in his home or office or that in the alternative the SSS should produce a warrant of arrest. Spokesperson of the SSS, Marylyn Ogar, declined comments when contacted on Wednesday night. But she had earlier issued a statement Thursday warning those making provocative statements ahead of the 2015 general election to desist from such or face the full weight of the law. Ms. Ogar said the attention of the service had been drawn to incessant provocation statements by some Nigerians threatening violence ahead of the election. She did not mention any name She urged Nigerians to remain law abiding and assist security agencies in ensuring the safety of all. READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/57528.html

Armed operatives of the Department of State Security Service are currently at the residence of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, trying to force their way in to arrest the former minister, Mr. El-Rufai said.

The operatives did not produce any arrest warrant, the former minister said. The former minister is currently not at home but he said he would rush back home after picking his children from school.
The SSS had on Thursday invited Mr. El-Rufai, the Deputy National Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress, [APC] in connection with a statement credited him that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections were not free and fair.
The former minister made the comment while speaking at the Transformed to Transform, T2T Nigeria, Conference and Career Fair, a leadership and empowerment initiative for the National Youth Service Corps members in Abuja on Wednesday.
He was reported to have said the 2015 elections could be marred by riots and other forms of violence that might lead to loss of lives and properties unless the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies ensured they were free.
The former minister however refused to respond to the SSS’ invitation on the ground that he had a pending suit against the agency over his detention in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, during the governorship election in that state last November 16.
He also told the Director General of the Service, Ita Ekpeyong, that he was willing to meet with him in his home or office or that in the alternative the SSS should produce a warrant of arrest. Spokesperson of the SSS, Marylyn Ogar, declined comments when contacted on Wednesday night.
But she had earlier issued a statement Thursday warning those making provocative statements ahead of the 2015 general election to desist from such or face the full weight of the law.
Ms. Ogar said the attention of the service had been drawn to incessant provocation statements by some Nigerians threatening violence ahead of the election. She did not mention any name She urged Nigerians to remain law abiding and assist security agencies in ensuring the safety of all.
SOURCE:NEWS.NAIJ.COM

SOURCE
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/57528.html

Economy Under Threat as Excess Crude Account Shrinks – Okonjo-Iweala

The Minister of Finance and the Supervising Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stated on January 22, 2014, Wednesday that Nigeria’s economy is under threat, following the continuous decline in its Excess Crude Account.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said this in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The Minister  said the depletion of the Excess Crude Account to about $2.5 billion, has made the country more vulnerable than it was in the past and put the economy of the country at great risk.
“We have tried to set the country’s main parameters in a very modest way. We have made our budget at a very reasonable benchmark price for oil.
“This is to shield us and to ensure we are not subjected to any volatility there may be in the oil markets,” she added.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala predicted growth of Nigerian economy at the level of 6.75 % in the year 2014, reminded that the previous year brought the growth of 6.5 %.
She noted that increased growth has also fuelled rising inequality in the country over the years:
“In Nigeria we are growing very fast, but that growth has come with increasing inequality and lack of inclusion of certain segments of the population,” she said.
The Excess Crude Account has been depleted from $8.65 billion at the end of 2012 to $2.5 billion currently, while Nigeria’s external reserves dropped 11 per cent from last year’s peak of $48.85 billion, recorded in May.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had on January 21, 2014, Tuesday, after its bi-monthly meeting, expressed concerns over the depleting fund, saying that the absence of such fiscal buffers “increases our reliance on portfolio flows thus, constituting the principal risk to exchange rate stability, especially with uncertainties around capital flows and oil price.”
Therefore, the CBN urged the fiscal authorities to block revenue leakages and rebuild fiscal savings needed to sustain confidence and preserve the value of the naira.

The agreement was signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa by representatives of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and rebel delegates loyal to ousted vice president Riek Machar, and was greeted by cheers from regional mediators and diplomats. Mediators from the East African regional bloc IGAD, which has been brokering the peace talks, said the deal will put in place a verification and monitoring mechanism for the truce. South Sudan’s government also agreed to release 11 officials close to Machar who were detained after fighting between rival army units broke out on December 15, although no timeline for their release was given. The status of the detainees had been a major sticking point in the talks. “These two agreements are the ingredients to create an environment for achieving a total peace in my country,” said Taban Deng, head of the rebel delegation. He said he hoped the deal would “pave the way for a serious national political dialogue aiming at reaching a lasting peace in South Sudan,” the world’s newest nation which only won independence from Khartoum in 2011. South Sudanese take refuge in the Malakal Catholic … South Sudanese take refuge in the Malakal Catholic Church on January 21, 2014 Government negotiator Nhial Deng Nhial said the negotiations, which have been dragging on in a luxury hotel in Addis Ababa for three weeks, were “not easy”. “We hope to be able to make haste towards an agreement that will end bloodshed,” he said, but voiced scepticism over the ability of the rebels, comprised of renegade army units and ethnic militia, to halt their operations. “What worries us is whether the agreement on the cessation of hostilities will stick (and) the capacity of the rebel group… to stop fighting,” he added. “We would like to take this opportunity to urge the rebel group to heed the voice of reason and abandon the quest for political power through violence.” Widespread atrocities After initial clashes broke out in the capital Juba more than a month ago, the conflict rapidly escalated into all-out war between the regular army, who have been backed by Ugandan troops, and breakaway army units and other militia. South Sudanese flee their homes to safety in Malakal … South Sudanese flee their homes to safety in Malakal on January 21, 2014 (AFP Photo/Harrison Ngethi) The violence also took on an ethnic dimension as members of Kiir’s Dinka tribe clashed with Machar’s Nuer group. Aid workers and analysts believe up to 10,000 people have died, while close to half a million have been forced to flee their homes, with atrocities allegedly committed by both sides. On Monday government forces recaptured the town of Malakal situated in the strategic oil-producing Upper Nile state and the last major settlement under rebel control. Large numbers of rebel forces, however, are still massed in rural areas and smaller towns. Malakal, the town of Bentiu in oil-producing Unity State and Jonglei State capital Bor have all been largely destroyed and emptied after weeks of sometimes intense combat. Jan Egeland, a former United Nations aid chief and now head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), on Thursday described the scale of the atrocities and war crimes — including the recruitment of child soldiers — as being as bad as those seen in Syria or Somalia. “We’re very, very concerned that there’s more and more killings along ethnic lines,” Egeland told AFP. “The gruesome slaughtering of defenceless civilians is as bad as in Syria, in Somalia, as elsewhere. The whole point here is that it can be avoided, it should be avoided, it must be avoided.” The United Nations has said it is investigating widespread reports of atrocities and war crimes, including massacres, gang rapes and summary executions.

The agreement was signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa by representatives of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and rebel delegates loyal to ousted vice president Riek Machar, and was greeted by cheers from regional mediators and diplomats.

Mediators from the East African regional bloc IGAD, which has been brokering the peace talks, said the deal will put in place a verification and monitoring mechanism for the truce.
South Sudan’s government also agreed to release 11 officials close to Machar who were detained after fighting between rival army units broke out on December 15, although no timeline for their release was given. The status of the detainees had been a major sticking point in the talks.
“These two agreements are the ingredients to create an environment for achieving a total peace in my country,” said Taban Deng, head of the rebel delegation.
He said he hoped the deal would “pave the way for a serious national political dialogue aiming at reaching a lasting peace in South Sudan,” the world’s newest nation which only won independence from Khartoum in 2011.

South Sudanese take refuge in the Malakal Catholic Church on January 21, 2014

Government negotiator Nhial Deng Nhial said the negotiations, which have been dragging on in a luxury hotel in Addis Ababa for three weeks, were “not easy”.
“We hope to be able to make haste towards an agreement that will end bloodshed,” he said, but voiced scepticism over the ability of the rebels, comprised of renegade army units and ethnic militia, to halt their operations.
“What worries us is whether the agreement on the cessation of hostilities will stick (and) the capacity of the rebel group… to stop fighting,” he added. “We would like to take this opportunity to urge the rebel group to heed the voice of reason and abandon the quest for political power through violence.”
Widespread atrocities
After initial clashes broke out in the capital Juba more than a month ago, the conflict rapidly escalated into all-out war between the regular army, who have been backed by Ugandan troops, and breakaway army units and other militia.

South Sudanese flee their homes to safety in Malakal on January 21, 2014 (AFP Photo/Harrison Ngethi)

The violence also took on an ethnic dimension as members of Kiir’s Dinka tribe clashed with Machar’s Nuer group.
Aid workers and analysts believe up to 10,000 people have died, while close to half a million have been forced to flee their homes, with atrocities allegedly committed by both sides.
On Monday government forces recaptured the town of Malakal situated in the strategic oil-producing Upper Nile state and the last major settlement under rebel control. Large numbers of rebel forces, however, are still massed in rural areas and smaller towns.
Malakal, the town of Bentiu in oil-producing Unity State and Jonglei State capital Bor have all been largely destroyed and emptied after weeks of sometimes intense combat.

Jan Egeland, a former United Nations aid chief and now head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), on Thursday described the scale of the atrocities and war crimes — including the recruitment of child soldiers — as being as bad as those seen in Syria or Somalia.

“We’re very, very concerned that there’s more and more killings along ethnic lines,” Egeland told AFP. “The gruesome slaughtering of defenceless civilians is as bad as in Syria, in Somalia, as elsewhere. The whole point here is that it can be avoided, it should be avoided, it must be avoided.”

The United Nations has said it is investigating widespread reports of atrocities and war crimes, including massacres, gang rapes and summary executions.

Buruji Kashamu Still Wanted By US Dept Of Justice

Contrary to claims by the estranged political associate of Olusegun Obasanjo and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun State, Buruji Kashamu, that he is no longer wanted by the United States authorities for drugs smuggling, the U.S. has confirmed that Kashamu is still very much wanted.
In an exclusive email obtained by AfricanSpotlight from the U.S Department of Justice in Illinois on January 23, Randall Samborn, Public Information Officer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago says, “There is still a warrant for his arrest in the United States, and the case remains pending.”
Samborn added that “Last week, his attorneys filed a new motion to dismiss the indictment in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and that is set for a status hearing on Jan. 31, at which time the Court will likely set a briefing schedule for both sides to submit written arguments before any decision is made.”

It would be recalled that news about The 20-year old case came to the fore recently when Kashamu was appointed leader of the PDP in the southwest.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a PDP heavyweight, rejected the appointment and threatened to leave the party, saying that Kashamu is a wanted man in the United States.
Mr. Obasanjo had, in an open letter to President Goodluck and the leadership of the PDP, frowned at Mr. Kashamu’s elevation as a party leader in the South-West geopolitical zone where the former president hails from, vowing not to participate at party functions if Mr. Kashamu remained at his post.
The former president described Mr. Kashamu, who is the Chairman of the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of PDP, South West, as a “habitual criminal” wanted by the United States government on drug charges.

To back his claim, Mr. Obasanjo forwarded to the president and the PDP leadership, a cache of incriminating documents on Mr. Kashamu, including court papers and media clippings.
One of the documents, a clip of the Chicago Tribune newspaper edition of November 14, 2013, marked No 1 by Mr. Obasanjo quoted the U.S attorney’s office as saying Mr. Kashamu “is still wanted on charges alleging his drug ring moved millions of dollars’ worth of heroin from Europe and Southeast Asia through O’Hare International Airport during the 1990s.”
Mr. Kashamu has denied wrongdoing, alleging that Mr. Obasanjo was crying foul because he had lost relevance in the PDP.
SOURCE: AfricanSpotlight | Saharareporters

Femi Fani-Kayode, Yvonne Nelson, Others Mourn Late BBC Presenter Komla Dumor

 
BBC TV presenter Komla Dumor suffered a sudden heart attack and died at the age of 41 in London, the U.K.
Dumor, who was born in 1972 in Accra, Ghana, was a presenter for BBC World News and its “Focus on Africa” program, the BBC reported on January 18, 2014, Saturday. He died in his home in London.

He joined the BBC team in 2007 as a radio broadcaster after spending 10 years in journalism in Ghana.
Among Dumor's accomplishments were being named in New African magazine's November 2013 list of 100 most influential Africans.
The magazine said Dumor “established himself as one of the emerging African faces of global broadcasting”, who had “considerable influence on how the continent is covered.”
He also won the Ghana Journalist of the Year award in 2003.
The renowned politician, essayist, poet and lawyer Femi Fani-Kayode took his Facebook to express his condolences:

My friend and brother Komla Dumor, the Ghanaian newspresenter at the BBC, passed on today. I am deeply wounded and utterly devastated. He was one of Africa's brightest and best. Such a kind, warm and wonderful man. We mourn you and we shall miss you brother. Rest in peace.

Screen diva, model and film producer Yvonne Nelson was also saddened by the death of Komla Dumor:

RIP komla...Waited for you to tweet all night....still can't believe it. I know you are in Heaven

BBC Global News Director Peter Horrocks, Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, journalist and publicist Dele Momodu, and hundreds of thousands people across Africa and around the globe expressed sorrow for Dumor’s sudden and untimely death.
May his soul rest in peace.

READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/57056.html

NBC Suspends Ban on 2Face, D'Banj, Wizkid Others

 

 

After weeks of discussions and bickering, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has ordered the Broadcasting Society of Nigeria (BON) and the Independent Broadcasting Society of Nigeria (IBAN) to lift the ban imposed on all Nigerian artistes registered with the Copyrights Society of Nigeria (COSON) and begin airplay of the affected artiste's songs.
The ban had been placed early December following the complete fall out between COSON and BON/IBAN over unpaid royalties of Nigerian artistes. COSON had been demanding that BON/IBAN release unpaid royalties of artistes amounting into millions of naira before the latter group got fed up and placed an airplay ban on the COSON artistes. The affected artistes included major acts like 2Face Idibia, D'Banj, Bany W, Onyeka Onwenu, Iyanya, Flavour, Ice Prince, Dr Sid, Olamide, 9ice, M.I, eLDee, Ruggedman, Wizkid, Asa, Waje, Omawumi amongst several others.
Following NBC's lift of the ban, several artistes have taken to social media to celebrate the news calling on radio stations to resume airplay of their songs.
2Face Idibi wrote: "Thank you NBC, Aluta Continua!" while Banky W sharing the sentiment wrote: "NBC just ordered radio stations to suspend the ban on Naija artistes. Please tell your fav OAP to 'Jasi'. "
Meanwhile what did you make of the ban, did you feel the absence of these artistes songs from your favourite radio stations?

Crowds Flock To ATM As It Starts Spewing Out Free Notes

 
Dozens of people flocked to a cash machine after word spread that it had started giving out free money.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/56695.htmlAround 60 people queued up at the ATM in Mansfield Woodhouse, Notts, before the fault was spotted by bosses and the cash machine put of service.
The Lloyds Bank ATM in Mansfield Woodhouse, Notts, malfunctioned and began spewing out notes as customers withdrew cash yesterday morning.
A spokesman for Lloyds Bank said investigations had begun into how the error occurred and the group would not be able to provide details on how much cash was taken from the ATM.
It is not thought that individuals who cashed in will not be pursued to reimburse the bank.
The spokesman said: "We're aware that an error occurred with a Lloyds Bank ATM in Mansfield Woodhouse, resulting in the ATM distributing incorrect amounts of cash.
The ATM is now out of service and the error is being investigated."

READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/56695.html

Tukur Finally Resigns

A senior member of the divided National Working Committee of the party, who spoke with Punch correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday, said President Goodluck Jonathan will inform the meeting of the National Caucus of the party tonight in Abuja about the development.
With the resignation, Tukur has escaped being suspended from the party by the members of the NWC.
If he had refused to resign, Tukur was to be suspended by about eight members of the NWC, while the National Executive Committee of the party would ratify his suspension on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan is said to be scheming to install Tukur’s successor.
The First Lady is said to be rooting for the appointment of the Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar.
His ministry is said to be under indirect supervision of the First Lady. However, the governors are resisting the move.

The Most Ridiculous Cake Ever (18+) Photo

can you eat this cake

Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon reacts to Mikel Obi’s lose at the CAF awards

Early this year The Chief of Staff, Edo State Government House, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon made a new year resolution that he will start speaking pidgin, the year is still early and he has already started his big grammaer, he has reacted to Nigerian/Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi’s CAF award loss, he considers it……….well, whatever you make of his speech.
Quote
“I am maniacally bewildered, overgassted and flabberwhelmed at the paraplegic crinkum crankum that characterised the Glo CAF awards culminating in an od oriferous saga cum gargantuan gaga! The jiggery pokery of CAF in crowning Yaya Toure instead of our very own prodigy John Obi Mikel is a veritable bugaboo that must be pooh-poohed by all compos mentis homo sapiens! The perfidy and Mendacity of all the apparatchic of sports suzerainty is not only repugnant but also insalubrious!
I said to my self: What an anathematous disdain of the citizenry! What a deprecable descent from the sublime to the ridiculous! Who will curb the odoriferous excesses of this machavellian and mephistophelean cabal in the Confederation? With this state of affairs, i dare say that African football is swimming in a pestilential aqua with a disastrious terminus ad quem inherently laden with avoidable cataracts, ice bergs and oxbow Lakes. It is sardonic and lugubrious!!!”

Senate, Reps disagree over funding of national conference

Proposals to hold a National Conference next month were yesterday in danger of derailing following disagreements between the two houses of the National Assembly over funding for the conference.
The disagreements between the two chambers came as eminent statesman, Professor Ben Nwabueze took the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue/Conference, Senator Femi Okurounmu, to task on the panel’s report, saying it was obvious that he, Okurounmu had neither read it nor understood it.
Professor Nwabueze’s comment came as a member of the Okurounmu panel, Mr. Solomon Asemota, SAN, dismissed the majority report as preconceived and deliberately skewed to promote interests contrary to the genuine interests of Nigerians.
Asemota’s submissions were contained in a letter made available to The Patriots, a group of elder-statesmen.

Disagreements between the two chambers of the National Assembly came in separate comments by the presumptive Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila and Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnanya Abaribe.
Gbajabiamila said the new All Progressives Congress, APC, leadership in the House would cut off funding for the conference and flayed the administration’s intentions on the national conference, saying it was meant to serve the interest of one party or one man as against the general interest of Nigerians.
He said: “Some of us in our party have asked for what appellation you want to give: National Dialogue, Sovereign National Dialogue. I think it is the normal thing that we need in this country. But because we asked for it, the timing also has to work.
“How do you organise a national dialogue with an election, with the primaries that are coming within the year? How do you do two major events that also have the capacity of breaking up the country? We said that it should be done immediately after an election so that nobody has the stake that will manipulate the election.
“You don’t do it towards the end of your tenure. Something is not quite right about that picture. So, yes, we support the national dialogue but we don’t support the national dialogue at this time. And I heard that they are asking for, I cannot remember, N11 billion or something like that. For a country that cannot pay salaries of civil servants, cannot pay ASUU, cannot pay workers left, right and centre, yet you are asking to appropriate N11 billion for a national dialogue that the timing is not right? This is where I think the legislature must come in.”
Reps ‘ll not appropriate fund for confab — Gbajabiamila
Gbajabiamila who is set to take over as the Majority Leader of the House following the defection of 37 members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC said:
“I will personally lead that charge that we will not appropriate money for that dialogue unless the President wants to do something illegal in which case, we will have to cross the bridge when we get there. But I will in my own personal opinion encourage our members, at least, in terms of appropriation, not to support a wasteful exercise that it appears to serve the purpose of one party or one man.”
Senate endorses funding
Senator Abaribe on his part in endorsing the conference said: “I am sure that if the President presents a budget proposal for the confab in 2014 Budget estimates, it would surely sail through.”
Throwing more light on why the request for a pre-conference legal backing may get the endorsement of the National Assembly, he said the 1999 Constitution as amended which the federal legislature relies on to carry out its functions remains the only document which could guide its activities.
Professor Nwabueze’s assertions follow Senator Okurounmu’s denunciations of Nwabueze’s criticism of the majority report at a press conference last week.
Nwabueze who flayed what he described as Okurounmu’s attack on his person in a riposte made available to the media said: “The impression one gets from the senator’s outpourings is that either he has not read the report of his committee or he read it without fully understanding it. The report was obviously not written by him but by someone else, by the secretary of his committee apparently, and he as chairman looked it over without fully digesting it.”

Noting what he said were attempts to shut-out Asemota from making contributions to the panel, Nwabueze said: “Report from Chief Asemota, SAN, his colleague in the Presidential Committee indicated that he was deliberately refused a copy of the report while other members were given copies. The report will also be kept away, concealed, from the public until government sees it fit to publish it. But we were nevertheless able to get hold of a copy. After all, the report is not a classified secret document.”
Flaying Okuruonmu’s assertion that he (Nwabueze) and the Igbo Leaders of Thought were wrong to have criticized the report, Nwabueze said: “If criticising the committee’s report without having seen or read it, as the senator alleged, is “unethical and unprofessional conduct”, is commenting on a letter which he had “neither seen nor read” not equally “unethical and unprofessional?” The country’s problems are indeed more serious than we appreciate when holders of public positions descend to using this kind of language.
“Okurounmu’s denigration of me as a person is particularly unsavoury,” Nwabueze said as he pledged not to respond to the panel chairman in same words.
“I want to repeat what I said to pressmen who met me this morning at Enugu for my reactions to Okunrounmu’s denigration of me. It is against my principle to make public statements impugning the character of people I do not know. Okurounmu and I have never met. He does not know me.
I do not know him. I had not heard of him before his appointment as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee. I cannot, therefore, in keeping with my principles, make public imputations on his character by way of a resort to his denigration of me. I would be glad if you can also publish this as my response to him.”
Asemota in his letter to members of The Patriots explaining why he had to write a minority report, said that he found out during the proceedings of the committee that “some of us were invited to promote viewpoints that are contrary to my conscience and learning.”
He said as a member of The Patriot and National Co-ordinator of the Ethnic Nationalities Movement, he would not betray Nigerians just to please any establishment, just as he urged President Goodluck Jonathan to look into the Minority Report so that Nigerians would have a conference free from manipulations.
Jonathan should look into the minority report — Asemota
Asemota in his letter to The Patriots said he decided to present the Minority Report because “experts were invited from outside including two SANs and all my attempts to ask members of the committee to listen to my viewpoint failed. The impression I got was that the opinion of members are irrelevant if they are different from those of the experts.
“All attempts to get members to look at my draft bill failed and the chairman never raised it. I was informed that because I handed the draft bill as my personal contribution, the committee refused to table it for discussion. On Thursday November 28, 2013 a member, Professor Funke Adeboye informed the committee that she had changed her position with respect to representation at the conference. She wanted to support the view that delegates should be elected from the senatorial districts but she was shouted down by some members and disallowed from doing so.
“In my case, I also informed the committee that I have changed my position from representation on zonal basis in support of representation from the senatorial districts but was ignored. As a result of these developments, I came to the conclusion that some of us were invited to promote views that are contrary to my conscience and learning. For these reasons, I have written a Minority Report notwithstanding the plea of the chairman that I should not do so.
“When the experts list was being compiled, my nominee Professor Onigu Otite was dropped. I insisted that he must be invited and volunteered to bear the cost. He was subsequently invited at no cost to me, but when he appeared some members tried to downplay his research by asking ridiculous questions such as the number of publications he has to his credit. Otite was Professor of Sociology at our premier University of Ibadan.”
The letter further said that “My insistence to submit a Minority Report has two objectives. To present to the President an alternative view point; to ensure that those who represent or speak for Ethnic Nationalities are true representatives and not agents of any godfather; to stop the violence of the invisible power bloc that asserts authority recklessly without corresponding accountability. We must make invisible, visible.
“To satisfy my conscience and promote the struggle over the years by both the true patriots and the Ethnic Nationalities Movement, any member of these organisations, I want to believe would have reacted the same way had they been in my position.”
“As a member of The Patriots and the National Co-ordinator of the Ethnic Nationalities Movement, it will be unfair to members of the two organizations scattered throughout the country for me to abandon all we have worked for in the last 20 years to please an establishment with a philosophy different from our own.
“The British who are our colonial masters are not proud of colonialism and one therefore wonders why elites in Nigeria want to be proud successors to colonialism. Our traditional rulers have done great things in the past and could do more in the future but like the British Crown, they must fit into the aspirations of their people,” it said.
SOURCE: Vanguard Nigeria

VIDEO: Seyi Shay – Ragga Ragga

Checkout the new video from the amazing sexy singing Diva Seyi Shay for her Ragga Ragga tunes which just dropped moments ago.

READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/56126.html

TOP 5 Naija Celebrities Produced by Reality Shows

Some Nigerian celebrities gained recognition using their parents’ financial strength, while many others, who were not so lucky to be born in rich families, attended auditions and finally battled it out with fellow contestants at reality shows before realising their dreams.

Check out the list of TOP-5 celebrities, who made their way to superstar status through reality shows.

1. Iyanya

The winner of the 2008 MTN Project Fame reality show is currently one of the hottest and most sought after musician in Nigeria. Iyanya bounced to stardom after the failure of his debut album with the release of monster hit ‘Kukere’. He would later release hit singles like, ‘Your waist’ and ‘Flavour’ before dropping a second album, Iyanya vs Desire, which became a success.

Iyanya who is the co-founder of his record label, Made Men Music, alongside his manager and business partner, Ubi Franklin, recently signed Abuja-based budding singer, Teckno.

2. Omawumi Megbele

This graduate of Law from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, did not win the first edition of West African Idol as she came second, but the mother of one returned to the studio after the show and released her first single ‘In The Music’, which became an instant anthem among Nigerians.

Omawumi became popular and was embraced as a brand ambassador by Globacom, Konga and Mortein. She also won the “Next Rated Act” award of the Headies and released her debut album ‘Wonder Woman’ in 2010. She returned to the scene in 2012 with a hit ‘Bottom Belle’ featuring afro-highlife act, Flavour, before treating her fans to her second studio album ‘The Lasso Of Truth’ in 2013.

3. O.C. Ukeje

O.C. Ukeje was born on July 15, 1981. He is arguably the biggest Nigerian actor to have emerged from a reality TV show. O.C. Ukeje began his career in acting from his first year at the University of Lagos, where he played a lead role in a stage play. He was a stage actor for four years before attempting and winning the reality TV show for actors, Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO).

He began a full career with a merger of stage and screen performances. His first screen appearance was in White Waters in 2008 alongside star actresses Joke Silva and Rita Dominic.

O.C Ukeje has since become a seasoned actor with appearances in movies like Comrade, Confusion Na Wa, Half of a Yellow Sun, HoodRush, Black November amongst others.

He was also on the repertory team that showcased three stage plays for the Nigeria House at the London Cultural Olympiad (2012).

4. Dare Art-Alade ‘Darey’

Darey is probably the first Nigerian celebrity to rise to fame on the back of a reality TV show after he participated at the 2004 edition of Project Fame Academy, a renowned reality TV show and emerged third in the contest. The award-winning musician and song writer is the son of iconic Nigerian entertainer, Art Alade.

Darey isn’t just a musician; he has over the past decade been a disc jockey, TV presenter, entertainment consultant, voice-over artiste and performing/recording artist and event host.

Darey’s real music journey started in 2006/2007 as his debut album ‘From Me 2 U’ which was laced with several hit singles, including ‘Fuji’ and ‘Escalade’ hit the Nigerian market under Storm Records. He returned to the studio, producing a highly anticipated follow-up album entitled ‘unDAREYted’. The album sold over 150,000 copies across Nigeria in its first two months of release.

The Soul Musik label executive would later cook a third album ‘Double Dare’ in 2010. He currently has female singer Zaina and R&B artiste MoEazy signed to his label while also organizing his own special valentine event, ‘Love Like A Movie’ in 2013 that featured American reality TV star, Kim Kardashian.

5. Uti Nwachukwu

Uni was born on August 3, 1982. He is one celebrity who has participated in multiple reality TV shows.

He first participated at the celebrated Next Movie Star before contesting at the highly watched Big Brother Africa reality TV show in 2008. He was evicted from the house on the 5th October 2008, spending only 42 days. He returned to the house in 2010 as a contestant in Big Brother Africa 5: All-Stars in which he lasted 91 days and ultimately won by defeating Munya with a final vote of 8 to 7.

Uti has since become a celebrity as he co-hosts the popular African Magic program, Jara while becoming a major event host across all sectors in Nigeria.

 
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/56128.html

Top 100 universities in Africa

The rankings of Africa’s top higher education institutions has been provided by the 4 International Colleges & Universities (4icu).

4icu is an international higher education search engine and directory reviewing accredited Universities and Colleges in the world. 4icu.org includes 11,160 Colleges and Universities, ranked by web popularity, in 200 countries.
The list shows that South African universities comes top, although South Africa ranks very low in the quality of education in the world.
Meanwhile the first Nigeria University on the list is at number 10.

See full list below

1 University of South Africa, South Africa
2 University of Cape Town, South Africa
3 Universiteit Stellenbosch, South Africa
4 University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
5 University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
6 University of Pretoria, South Africa
7 Cairo University, Egypt
8 University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
9 University of the Western Cape, South Africa
10 Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
11 Makerere University, Uganda
12 University of Botswana, Botswana
13 Mansoura University, Egypt
14 Rhodes University, South Africa
15 Alexandria University, Egypt
16 The American University in Cairo, Egypt
17 Zagazig University, Egypt
18 University of Johannesburg, South Africa
19 Assiut University, Egypt
20 University of Nairobi, Kenya
21 Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal

22 University of Zambia, Zambia

23 North-West University, South Africa

24 University of Lagos, Nigeria

25 Tanta University, Egypt

26 University of Ghana, Ghana

27 Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

28 Université Mohammed V – Agdal, Morocco

29 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa

30 Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa

31 Université d’Antananarivo, Madagascar

32 Ain Shams University, Egypt

33 University of Ibadan, Nigeria

34 Kenyatta University, Kenya

35 University of Namibia, Namibia

36 Universiteit van die Vrystaat, South Africa

37 University of Nigeria, Nigeria

38 The German University in Cairo, Egypt

39 University of Limpopo, South Africa

40 Université de la Reunion, Reunion

41 University of Khartoum, Sudan

42 Benha University, Egypt

43 Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique

44 Helwan University, Egypt

45 École Nationale d’Architecture, Morocco

46 University of Fort Hare, South Africa

47 Université Nationale du Rwanda, Rwanda

48 Al Akhawayn University, Morocco

49 Université Catholique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, Benin

50 Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

51 Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
52 Minia University, Egypt

53 Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

54 Fayoum University, Egypt

55 Moi University, Kenya

56 University of Ilorin, Nigeria

57 October 6 University, Egypt

58 South Valley University, Egypt

59 Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

60 Université Mouloud Maameri de Tizi Ouzou, Algeria

61 Université Mohammed V – Souissi, Morocco

62 Al-Azhar University, Egypt

63 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

64 Misurata University, Libya

65 Minoufiya University, Egypt

66 Université d’Oran, Algeria

67 Université Hassan II Mohammedia – Casablanca, Morocco

68 Polytechnic of Namibia, Namibia

69 Université d’Alger, Algeria

70 University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

71 University of Cape Coast, Ghana

72 The British University in Egypt, Egypt

73 Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunisia

74 University of Zululand, South Africa

75 University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
76 University of Malawi, Malawi

77 Université Cadi Ayyad, Morocco

78 Université Mentouri de Constantine, Algeria

79 Suez Canal University, Egypt

80 Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon

81 Egerton University, Kenya

82 University of Swaziland, Swaziland

83 Kafr el-Sheikh University, Egypt

84 Université Ibn Tofail, Morocco

85 Université de la Manouba, Tunisia

86 Université Hassan II – Casablanca, Morocco

87 Covenant University, Nigeria

88 University of Benin, Nigeria

89 École Nationale Supérieure en Informatique, Algeria

90 Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediène, Algeria

91 Durban University of Technology, South Africa

92 Strathmore University, Kenya

93 Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria

94 Université Ibnou Zohr, Morocco

95 Universidade de Cabo Verde, Cape Verde

96 Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan

97 University of Mauritius, Mauritius

98 Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania

99 Gulu University, Uganda

100 Vaal University of Technology, South Africa
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/56114.html

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha To Run For President In 2015

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, in a press release has made public his intention for running for President in 2015.
 According to the press release:
Against the backdrop of SunNews' report, the Imo State government wishes to put the record straight with regard to the ambition of the Imo State Governor in 2015. 
And to also correct the impression that the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is in the race for the Vice-Presidential slot of the APC, as the Daily Sun caption had suggested. 
The truth of the matter is that Governor Okorocha is not in the VP race in APC. 
There has been unprecedented pressure on the governor by Nigerians from all walks of life to vie for the Presidency and he has been consulting on that. 
His consultations have not been on the VP slot but on the presidency and at the end of the consultations, he would decide whether to throw his hat into the ring for the presidential race or not.

 The pressure is also on the Imo governor by well meaning citizens of Imo State, including the artisans, farmers, traders, students, etal in the state to ensure the completion of the transformation he has begun in the state by seeking re-election in 2015. 
And the governor is also yet to decide on that.
However, it is also good that the stakeholders said to have met according to the Daily Sun story where the name of the governor was mentioned for the VP race must have seen the qualities in him and what his administration has been doing in Imo that made them to consider him for the VP position. 
While we appreciate that, the fact remains that Governor Okorocha is not in the race for VP for 2015. However, everything depends on God who gives power.
Sam Onwuemeodo, Senior Special Assistant on Media
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/56101.html

Tha Suspect – Nsogbu ft. Ill Bliss & Phyno

Fresh from Capital Hill Music, Nigerian rapper, Tha Suspect pulls together his label mates, Phyno and Ill Bliss, to create a Hip hop track titled ‘Nsogbu’.
‘Nsogbu’ is a fast-paced single which is sure to appeal to the Hip hop purists. Tha Suspect delivers his lines in pidgin English, mixed with a bit of vernacular. Phyno and Ill Bliss together, gives the song a new dimension with indigenous rap.
Tha Suspect is signed to Capital Hill Music, which also has Afro Pop singer, Chidinma, on their books.

APC Hunts For Vice Presidential Candidate, SEE List

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has began its search for the party’s vice presidential candidate ahead of the 2015 general elections.
According to report, a closed door stakeholders meeting chaired by a chieftain from Ondo State, was held behind closed doors last weekend in Ogun State and having been convinced that the presidential flagbearer will surely come from the North, APC is now searching for a vice-presidential candidate from the South in preparation for the race.
According a report published in a national newspaper today, some of the names tabled for scrutiny with a view to being nominated include former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Edo State Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, his Rivers and Imo state counterparts, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Rochas Okorocha respectively as well as former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Richard, Adeniyi Adebayo.
An anonymous source at the meeting said, “if former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari eventually becomes the party’s presidential candidate, Tinubu will automatically pair with him because of their experiences and exposure as former rulers.
“If any of the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT), minister, Mallam el-Rufai, incumbent Speaker, Hon. Tambuwal or Governor Lamido eventually picks the party’s ticket, any one among Fashola, Oshiomhole, Amaechi, Okorocha and Adebayo can be nominated for the vice presidential slot.”
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/55869.html

Ladies, Bez Is Officially Off The Market!

Nigerian soul singer Bez Idakula married his sweetheart Bolatito Ladoja on Saturday 4th of january in Lagos. Bolatito, the daughter of former Oyo State Governor; Rashidi Ladoja walked down her husband with the incredible voice in a white lace dress by Love, Tims  while crooner of 'that stupid song' looked incredibly dapper in a blue suede suit by top Nigerian designer Mai Atafo and an eccentric hair cut.

Glo ambassador and multiple award winner, Bez put on a ring on it earlier in May 2013 and sealed the deal during a church ceremony at Guiding Light Assembly Church in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.

Photo Credits:
Bellanaija.com
Hotgistnaija.blogspot.c

I’m Hale And Hearty – Oshiomhole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has debunked rumors making the round that he was fatally injured in the December 28, 2013 auto crash in Ewu, Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.
Debunking the rumour that he was injured and flown abroad following the accident, the governor reassured the people that he is well and alive and that he had every reason to give thanks to God.
Oshiomhole spoke while presiding over the first state executive council meeting for the year. He said, “It is true that on December 28, 2013, at about 10am, I was heading from my village to Benin City to receive the Vice President who was visiting Uromi to attend the birthday celebration of Chief Tony Anenih.
Even though he was on a private visit, I am obliged by protocol to receive him. “I believe somewhere in Ewu, a bus that was packed with goods veered off its lane and headed straight to my car and hit the car. But for the fact that the car is armored, it would have somersaulted given its impact and the bus driver was clearly on high speed.
“The luck however was that we were not on speed and so it was possible for the vehicles in my convoy to stop, otherwise, all the vehicles would have ran into my car and one thing would have led to the other,” he said .
He added, “All of us in the car, my ADC, driver and myself were all having our seatbelts on. The airbags were all activated. Nothing happened to any of us. I still went to the airport to receive the vice president after the accident.
“They say the devil is a liar. It does not matter what they say. God delivered all of us, none of us was injured in any manner. All those stories about being hospitalized and being under intensive care in an undisclosed hospital are figments of the imagination of those who were parroting the story.
“The important thing for me is that anything could have happened. The driver passed the first three vehicles and went straight to hit the one that I was in. You would recall that on the eve of the campaigns for 2012 election, that same car was the one I was driving and a vehicle in a similar manner came and rammed into a car I was supposed to be in,” he added.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/55872.html

Essence Mag Profiles Dangote In Their '10 Things We're Talking About' List

Here's what Essence magazine wrote about Africa's richest man in their January 2014 issue..
"Aliko Dangote is putting part of his $16billion to good use.
The Nigerian tycoon is building a hospital in his home state, Kano, that will accommodate at least 1,000 patients.
And his charity, Dangote Foundation contributed $12million to the Murtala Mohammed Hospital, also in Kano."

READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/55874.html

High Court Bombed In Rivers State

A High Court in Ahoada East LGA of Rivers State was bombed this morning Monday January 6th, according to reports from the state.

The Will Nigeria reports The bombing of the court where Justice Charles N. Wali usually holds court, reportedly occurred on Monday morning a few hours before a politically charged suit against Hon Evans Bipi, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly and leader of a group of 6 lawmakers, who has been unlawfully parading himself as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Justice Wali had about a month ago ordered Bipi to stop parading himself as Speaker of the House as the tussle over control of the state government between loyalists of the Presidency and the Rivers Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, lingers with an end in sight. No casualties have been reported over the bombing as at the time of filing this report.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/55873.html

Red Star Express Auditor Murdered Yesterday In His Home

Tunde Olawuwo, an Area pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, and a senior manager at Red Star Express, a courier company, has been murdered.
His killers were not just content taking his life, they disembowelled him and placed his intestines on his chest, sources said.
Sources said Olawuwo was killed at about 4 a.m on Sunday at his residence in Magboro area of Ogun State, western Nigeria. The deceased, in his early 50s, was the Chief internal Auditor at Red Star Express PLC and an area pastor in Mount Zion Parish, Agiliti, Mile 12. The parish is under Lagos Region 2, Province 13, Gbagada.
Sources said the killers arrived the pastor’s house at about 2am but could not gain entrance into the house until 4am.
They broke in through the window and began shooting into the ceiling where the pastor was said to have hidden.
The deceased was said to have fallen from the ceiling and was shot several times by the killers. Sources said pleas by his wife were ignored as the killers cut him open and brought out his intestines and placed them on his chest.
SOURCE:news.naij.com

SOURCE: NEWS.NAIJ.COM
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/55865.html

Angry Mob Burns Boy Alive For Shooting Lady To Death In Ise Ekiti

According To New Reaching us from Waploaded News, A Guy has been Burnt Alive Just Yesterday For Shooting A Young Lady To Death.
Efforts Where Made Tirelessly By The Police To Stop The Killing Of This Young Man, But It Turned Out Fruitless, As The sect Of Angry Mob Had Grown Into Huge Anger As am Speaking To The The D.P.O of The Ise Ekiti Zonal Is In The Hospital Sustaining Huge Injuries.
Efforts Made By Our Media To fetch Picture of The Dead Lady Was Not Successful As The Fear Of The Mob Was Thus Our Wisdom’s Beginning

SOURCE: Waploaded News

Young Rapper Murders his Mother Takes her Life insurance money And Lives An Enjoyment Lifestyle

24 year Old Chicago actor, rapper and internet sensation Young QC Whos Real names are Qawmane Wilson Yolanda Holmes has been arrested and charged by Chicago police for orchestrating the murder of his own mother who was a successful business owner in Chicago, (She owned a hair salon called Nappy Hairs Salon) .
The police say Young QC wanted fame and money so much that he paid two of his friends to have his mother murdered. he  killed his mother to inherit her life  insurance money and $90,000 in her bank acct. After having his mother murdered Young QC withdrew 20,000 and shared out money in the hood
Young QC video taped and uploaded clips of him giving the money to his fans once he withdrew the money from his mom’s accounts. There were also two accomplices that assisted in the brutal murder where Young QC’s mother was stabbed and shot to death.
immediately after his mothers death, Young QC, who is her sole beneficiary, emptied her bank accounts, withdrawing over $90,000. He also was beneficiary of two of her life insurance policies, according to court documents.

The young rapper known for showing off money, cars, and new clothes on his instagram and Twitter pages and regularly posting videos of him flossing (talking about how rich he was, throwing away money, ripping and burying money) even had his Mothers face tattooed on his neck. Beyond belief. He’s obviously mentally disturbed
Law enforcements arrested Him and his friends Eugene Spencer, 22, and Loriana Johnson, 23 for the murder of his mother. They are currently being held with no bail.

Comedian Okey Bakassi & AY Flaunt Their Pretty Wives [PHOTOS]

Obama Said Nigeria Has The Potentials To Lead Africa If We Stop Being Selfish– Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that Nigeria has the potentials to lead Africa if public office holders, politicians and indeed, the citizenry, stop being selfish.
The President recalled his encounter with United States President Barack Obama when he  revealed that about 25, 000 medical consultants work in the U.S., the number which the US leader said, was crucial to the American economy.
Jonathan said that Nigeria has what it takes to lead the African continent, considering the country’s human and natural resources.
The President spoke at the New Year service held at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Catholic Church in Area 3, Abuja. The service was attended by dignitaries including Senate President David Mark.
He challenged politicians to plan for the next generation instead of wasting all energies on their own personal interests, adding that there was no need for anyone to heat up the polity in the struggle for political offices as the Constitution does not back life tenure for president and governors except members of the National Assembly.
Jonathan said Nigeria has great potentials to lead Africa as was observed by world leaders including President Obama, assuring that he was convinced that this year would be better than 2013.
“All what we need to do is to make sure that we continue to do things rightly. That is why I always plead with my fellow politicians that yes, we must play the politics, but let us take the interest of the country more than our own individual interest. And as we continue to play the politics in that direction, leaders will come and go, but the country will stay.
“Luckily, we have a Constitution that says that nobody will be a governor or president forever. It is only in the parliament that you can be there till you die. As long as we consider the interest of our country, children, grandchildren and we begin to plan for the next generation instead of wasting all our energies to think about ourselves, before we get to the next 100 years, the country will be better. Nigeria can even change in the next few years and things will be better for everybody.”
On security, he  said Nigeria is not an isolated case, assuring that the country will overcome the challenges. “Just like Senate President David Mark mentioned, the world as a whole is facing a lot of challenges within this period. If you switch on your television and if you flip through the newspapers, there are always breaking news and the breaking news are not positive news. Whenever I see breaking news, you know there is one crisis somewhere in the world.
“We are reading about crises everywhere. And our country too, unfortunately, we also have our own fair share of crises. There is the issue of Boko Haram and the excesses of the militia groups, kidnapping in southern Nigeria. Boko Haram terrorist activities in the northern part of the country, but government is committed to bring this to an end”, he said.

On the economy, the President said: “As we enter the New Year, we will surely get our economy to continue to move in the right direction and in the direction we want it to move. We shall continue to work hard to make sure that not just that the economy will be growing based on economic parameters and indices, but that jobs are available for our young men and women and that food is cheap in our markets for ordinary people to buy and eat. That is the commitment of government”.
To deliver more dividends of democracy and good governance, he promised to work hard with the National Assembly, his cabinet and other officers of government.
“Despite our challenges, all what we continue to request from you is your continuous prayers because we believe and luckily we are in a Christian congregation, we believe that no matter what an individual think he is, if God doesn’t want you to succeed in achieving anything, you will not. You will get so close to it but at the end of the day, you will not get it.
“I remember the second time I met President Obama after 2011 elections, he said that Nigeria has the potentials to lead Africa and Nigeria has the potential to be a great country. He said in America, we have over 25,000 Nigerian medical consultants working in the health system, not just people with MBBS but consultants, over 25,000. And that today, if all these Nigerians leave, they will have a lot of challenges in the health system of America. And that is the President of the number one country now. He believes that Nigeria has a lot of potentials.”
 He further said: “Surely, the country will get to where it wants to get to. Today is a special day, very special. January 1, 2014 because we have been informing you that the amalgamation of our country to what we now call Nigeria happened on the 1st of January, 1914. Today, modern Nigeria is one hundred years old.”
“The formal ceremony will take place by late February, the programme will soon be advertised for all Nigerians to see and know the areas they will participate because it is a programme for all of us. All the religious houses will be involved in one form of prayer or the other.”
“So, today, we are not just celebrating the new year but we are also celebrating a special new year. A new year that Nigeria, modern Nigeria is 100 years. And we use this period to begin to think what will be Nigeria in the next 100 years”, Jonathan said.