Plateau south and their quest to stop Governor Jonah Jang

Plateau south and their quest to stop Governor Jonah Jang Okechukwu Jombo ,Plateau South’s quest to stop Governor Jonah Jangs anointed candidate for the 2015 gubernatorial seems to have thrown up challenges never envisaged Plateau state like most Peoples Democratic Party PDP held states are facing Confusion state over imposition by their governors hence their effort to pick a consensus candidate from the Southern zone to challenge Governor Jonah Jang’s candidate for the governorship seat. But the move seem not to be going as planned as report have it that efforts by a group known as the Equity and Justice Movement to handpick a consensus candidate from the southern part of the state might not be realistic.This is because some of the aspirants are already rejecting the idea of pruning down the number of governorship aspirants from the Southern axis by a segment of the PDP elders’ forum. They are accusing the forum of taking side with one of the candidates. As such, they have opted to go to the primaries, expected to hold in December, without consensus. The Elder’s forum, under the banner of PDP Equity and Justice Movement, led by Prof. Dakum Shown, recently met in Jos, the state capital, with seven aspirants from the zone. The aspirants at the meeting were Deputy Governor Ignatius Longjan, former governor Fidelis Tapgun, former Director General of Industrial Training Fund Prof Longmas Sambo Wapmut, Senator Victor Lar, Architect John Alkali, Engineer Jimmy Cheto and Godfrey Oman Miri. This was with the view to adopting a consensus candidate. However the candidates sense foul play and belief that they are being sponsored and are playing the script of one of the aspirants to ensure his emergence. They challenged the integrity of the leadership of the forum, for that reason five out of the seven aspirants are opting out of the consensus deal on the grounds that the position and action of the elders’ forum failed in the very basic sense to be subjected on any foundation of credibility and transparency. They further belief rightly or wrongly that the criteria they intend to adopt in selecting their preferred aspirant remains unknown to them and unacceptable. Longjang and Lar are the two top contenders for the group’s endorsement, but majority of the members are plotting for the emergence of Longjang for selfish gains. Those against the choice of Lar argued that he lacks acceptability in his home front, Langtang. Some members of the group from his locality were said to have given the movement the impression that Lar would be difficult to sell to the electorate and compelled to opt for Longjang, who, according to the source, was favoured because he is the present deputy governor and could easily be presented to the electorate as someone with the knowledge of the workings of government. Some of the elders also believed that if Longjang, who is seen as humble and over 70 years old, eventually emerges as governor, he can easily be manipulated and some of them can be relevant in the corridors of power. But when the speculation on the choice of Longjang filtered to the other aspirants, some of them, who believe they have the capacity to win the primaries, vowed to reject any selection not done on the basis of transparency, a development that is presently fueling the speculations that a consensus candidate may never emerge from the zone. Even as the confusion continues the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirant in the state, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has said that the APC in the state has not selected any of the four contestants as a consensus candidate. Dalung who is reacting to a report which indicated that Alex Kwapnoe, another governorship aspirant, could serve as the party’s consensus candidate, said it was wishful thinking for anyone to think that the party had anointed one of the four contestants at this time. While speaking to newsmen in Jos, the governorship hopeful said, “if there is any consensus reached it could be the figment of the imagination of a great dream of an individual who woke up from his bedroom and dreamt that he was taking oath of office as a governor so he addressed the press to say he was already there. The reality of the situation is that the APC must be more democratic than the PDP to be able to win power. So even if we are going to do consensus, it must be the consensus of the contending interests.” He however said getting a consensus candidate was not completely ruled out as the four contestants are quite understanding and recognise that each one is competent to lead the state, adding that they will be prepared to go into the primaries if that fails. Outside party lines elders of plateau south ahead of the 2015 governorship primaries have started mapping strategies with the principal purpose of producing a consensus candidate from Plateau South Senatorial District of the state. It was gathered that the Council of Elders from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state on recently held a secret meeting at the Jos residence of Jeremiah Useni, which lasted several hours. The meeting, which was between PDP Equity and Justice Movement, also had in attendance seven governorship aspirants of the PDP, all from Plateau South. They included the Deputy Governor, Ignatius Longjan; a former Governor, Fidelis Tapgun; a former Director General of the Industrial Training Fund, Prof Longmas Sambo Wapmut; Senator Victor Lar; Architect John Alkali; Engineer Jimmy Cheto; and Godfrey Oman Miri. In the meeting guidelines and principles are being introduced to the gubernatorial aspirants in view of having one of them emerge as a sole candidate from the South to challenge Governor Jonah Jang’s anointed candidate, G.N.S. Pwajok. The Southern zone, within last few weeks, has been spitting fire over alleged planned efforts by Governor Jang to impose the senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Pwajok, on the people as the next governor. Pwajok and Governor Jang, who hails from Du in Jos South Local Government Area, have decided to swap positions, a development that is facing stiff protest. This, according to report, is in the interest of justice, equity and fair play. They argued that the 2015 governorship ticket ought to be zoned to the Southern zone, pointing to the fact that the Central and Northern zones have had their shares, leaving the southern zone.

Supreme Court sacked Taraba Ag Governor, orders Deputy sworn in

Supreme Court sacked Taraba Ag Governor, orders Deputy sworn in. Taraba State Acting Governor Umar Garba has been sacked by the Supreme Court. The Apex court on Friday also directed that the Deputy Governor, Abubakar Danladi be sworn in. It will be recalled that Danladi had approached a Federal High Court in Taraba, following his impeachment by the by Taraba State House of Assembly in September 2012. The lawmakers had found him guilty of gross misconduct and engaging in private businesses. But the Federal High Court ruled that Danladi was impeached in line with the provisions of the Section 188 of the constitution. The ruling was also upheld by a five-member panel of the Justices of the Court of Appeal, who dismissed the case as lacking in merit.

Police NASS invasion: My ordeal

The Nation was last week greeted with news of Police invasion of National Assembly complex which yours sincerely witnessed very early in the morning of that Thursday.I was in fact denied access to the National Assembly complex by security men for not carrying my identity card which had been missing for two days before that time. All my pleas fell on deaf ears as they insisted that they were under very strict instructions not to allow people without identity cards in. I was curious because even when I had my ID card they never bothered me and that was why I had not gone to process a new one. However I went back to the car park to think of how to access the complex and decided to walk out of the gate and access the place by hitching a ride with a colleague which I did but was still pointed out by the security men and told to come down at the gate. As I was still contemplating what to do after coming down The Speaker of the House of Representative Hon. Aminu Tambawal’s motor Cade came along but was stuck in the traffic. After some minutes the speaker came down from his car with other House members of the All Progressive Congress APC who were with him and walked to the gate which was already locked by policemen but was denied entry. It however took the ingenuity of members in their scores that saw the Speaker and members gain entrance to the complex after they beat the security network to force the main gate to the National Assembly open. Some members, including the Minority Leader, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Minority Leader, Hon Abdulraham Kawu, Bimbo Daramola, Samuel Adejare, among others, were forced to climb through the gate before they could gain entrance into the National Assembly complex. Older men like senator Bukar Abba watched in awe as the younger once scaled the gate Immediately the Speaker and some members who were with him gained entrance into the National Assembly, policemen who were preventing them from entering the complex resorted to the use of tear gas to scare them away including myself but members had to cover up the Speaker and they made straight to the chamber of the House. The following dialogue ensued between the Speaker and the security operatives: Speaker: (Laughs) Excuse me, can I please access the premises of House of Representatives for me to go and preside over the House? My name is Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Speaker of this House. Can anyone answer me, please? Speaker: Officer how are you? Approach me please. Have you identified me? Mr Wilson, please come.. Even when he introduced him self as the speaker the policemen ignored him which led to the anger of other APC house members who started shaking the gate and shouting ''Kill us all Kill us all'' At this time tempers had risen and Members buoyed by the shouting started climbing the gate to the amazement of the crowd that had gathered Seeing that they couldn't stop what was happening the policemen opened the walkway for the Speaker who now walked into the complex but had to trek to the chambers were all hail was let loose as Policemen tried to prevent him from gaining access into the Chambers of the House of Representatives started firing tear gas at the advancing lawmakers On entering the lobby of the NASS the whole place had been engulfed with smell of tear gas many people were seen running from the building with their hands covering their nose it was totally pandamonic . Staff and visitors alike deserted the ever busy lobby of the complex. The only place I could run into was the press centre and thank God it was open. What a day.

Fayose's invasion of Ekiti House of Assembly is barbaric and condemnable -Ekiti APC

Fayose's invasion of Ekiti House of Assembly is barbaric and condemnable -Ekiti APC Our attention has been drawn to the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly (EKHA) this morning by Gov Ayo Fayose and his attempt to arm twist the house to do his bidding to tinker with the constitution and confer functions on the caretaker chairmen he has set up for the Local Government councils. He is forcing his way to inaugurate them in spite of the due legislative process. In his characteristic manner, Fayose this morning went to the hallowed chamber in company of armed soldiers and policemen, dreadfully garbed, and unleashed terror on the innocent assembly workers, forced his way in and compelled his 7-man PDP house members to sit and do his bidding. We condemn the act in its entirety and we call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support our clarion call to call Gov Fayose to order. We have not minced words to point out the series of constitutional infringements being committed by Fayose as Ekiti State governor and this is just one in many. We are cock-sure that this impunity will not stop. The predictable chaos is here already and we are back to witnessing the reign of terror in Ekiti State. We also learnt that realising that it would require 9 members to form a quorum in a 26-member house, Fayose also brought some strange men into the hallowed chamber to impersonate Honourable Assembly members in his attempt at ensuring a constituted quorum. He insisted that they must appoint a speaker among them and go ahead with legislative matters, forgetting that the house doesn't hold plenaries on Monday. How badly can an impunity be? We condemn in categorical terms Fayose's lawlessness and executive recklessness. His bully and arm-twisting tactics know no bounds and he is acting like an emperor who cannot be stopped. He has hijacked and pocketed the Judiciary and he believes there is nothing stopping him from taking over the legislative functions, as long as his gun-totting soldiers are at his beck and call. Seeing Fayose move about with battalion of gun-totting soldiers is dreadful and harrowing. Military men who are supposed to be defending the territorial integrity of the country, following a governor about, unleashing terror on the innocent people and deliberately holding the state capital to ransom. This reminds one of the civil war era. Peace is fast eluding us in Ekiti and we are back to the season of anomie We are chronicling all the constitutional breaches by Gov Fayose, who has taken over the executive, legislative and judiciary functions in Ekiti State and we are hopeful that the law will find him out one of these days. We saw it coming. Now that it has come, we are hopefully that the heavens, the law and concerned citizens of the land will sooner than later rescue our beloved Ekiti State from the claws of Emperor Fayose. When he told the people that he was a changed person, we thought it was for good, least did we suspect that it was for the worst. We will neither retreat nor surrender to his evil whims and satanic caprices. He who the gods must destroy, they will first make mad. This time shall pass but history will not forget Fayose's invasion of our peace. Signed: Hon. Taiwo Olatubosun Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Ekiti State Chapter

Senate to confirm Muhammed as CJN

Senate to confirm Muhammed as CJN ------Recieves President Jonathans letter on State of Emergency in Bornu,Yobe And Adamawa By Okechukwu Jombo Senate will today screen and possibly clear Justice Mahmud Muhammed president Goodluck Jonathans nominee for the seat of Chief Justice of the Nation CJN He is to replace retiring CJN Justice Aloma Muhktar who steps down November 20. Senate will also receive President Goodlucks letter on the State of Emergency imposed on Bornu,Yobe,Adamawa which expired yesterday.He might ask for full Emergency ruleon the troubled states The emergency rule was first declared in the affected states on May 14, 2013 by President Goodluck Jonathan over the continued activities of members of the Boko Haram sect. Since that first declaration of six months, the emergency rule had been extended twice. The third tranche of six-month emergency rule expires on Thursday While declaring emergency rule in the three states in 2013 in a nationwide broadcast, Jonathan had invoked Section 305 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. He had announced that regardless of the state of emergency imposed, the political structures in the affected states would remain intact. Following continued violence in the state in spite of the emergency rule, there were calls for the sacking of the state governors to pave way for the appointment of military administrators. The Presidency had however said it was unconstitutional for the President to sack state governors. Mahmud’s name had been sent to the lawmakers in a letter by President Goodluck Jonathan dated November 10. The letter indicated that the nomination was in line with section 231 sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Speaking at last Thursday’s plenary, Senate President David Mark told his colleagues that the screening would hold next Tuesday “in the committee of the whole.” The lawmakers in committee will also meet over the Petroleum Industrial Bill PIB which had been in the Legislatures since last year

5 Efficiency Tips for Working Mothers

5 Efficiency Tips for Working Mothers Work-life balance may remain elusive, and even being a stay-at-home-mum is a full time job, but you can still stay on top of your game with these 5 tips from wives and mums around the country. 1. Plan ahead: Sit down on Sunday night and visualize everything you need to get done for the week; then write them down, making a to-do list in your diary or handheld device. Be sure to include everybody who is important in your plans; husband, nanny, older children, etc. Balance out your meetings in order to conserve energy. Try to schedule most of your out-of-office meetings around the same time so you make the most of your being out, and schedule late meetings close to home, so you’re not stuck in traffic faraway when you should be home with family. 2. Double up: This is my personal favourite; it has been of great value to me over the years. Make the best use of those pockets of time you have during the day. Go everywhere with working material or a book you need to finish reading. Make that phone call you’ve been meaning to while you do the dishes. Touch up your nail polish in the cab on your way to the seminar. Listen to your Bible while you sort the laundry. Pack it in, double up! 3. Use services that make life easier: I shop online often, and have my things delivered to me. You’re a wife, a mother, a professional (not to mention daughter, sister, friend) and with such a great demand on your time and attention it’s more than okay to take all the help you can get. When I need to get a nice outfit quickly, I order from So Necessary and they always deliver. And when I need to cook I skip the market bit and shop at Jaramall and they deliver fresh groceries to me. My husband loves spring cleaning, but I’d rather he spent time with me and our son, and I can count on AnyWork Services to handle that. There are no awards for “suffer-head” in the 21st century. Get with the programme, girl! 4. Take your R & R seriously: You know there’s rarely free time lying around waiting to be spent in bed napping, or drinking tea while reading a book. You need to create time for that, and treat it with the same seriousness you would a meeting with a client or an appointment at the doctor’s. You need it to be the best you. 5. Take care of your body: Make sure you eat right and keep fit. Whether you choose to do yoga, run, dance, swim, power-walk or use a skipping rope at home, make sure you’re keeping your body fit, strong and healthy. Getting to and from work, doing the school run, attending meetings and functions, picking up little children, having amazing sex…all these things take a lot out of a wife and mother and they require an abundance of energy. You need that body to serve you well; it’s the only one you’ve got. Keep it strong and healthy. About the author: Joy Ehonwa is a writer, editor and online proofreader who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a copy-editing, ghostwriting and transcription business, and blogs at www.anafricandiva.wordpress.com and www.girlaware.wordpress.com - See more at: http://connectnigeria.com/articles/2014/10/18/5-efficiency-tips-for-working-mothers/#sthash.qmIE9WrB.dpuf

Kalu submits Senate nomination form

Kalu submits Senate nomination form Former Governor of Abia State and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Orji Kalu, on Monday submitted his Expression of Interest and Nomination form to vie for Abia North Senatorial District seat on the platform of the party in the 2015 general elections. A few weeks ago, Kalu’s aides under the auspices of Aides of OUK had picked and paid for the form for their boss. According to Kalu’s aide, Ugochukwu Obialo, who submitted the form on his principal’s behalf: “Today marks a new beginning in the history of Abia North, as an astute politician has accepted the clarion call by his people to run for Senate in 2015. I commend the national leadership of the PDP for their commitment to internal democracy as all party processes remain transparent and this is the beauty of democracy”. “Considering the accomplishments of Dr. Kalu in business and political spheres, he is the best man to represent the people of Abia North. I say a big thank you to our followers, supporters, loyalists, friends and colleagues for their moral, spiritual and financial support so far. I salute everyone.” The former governor’s aide assured the people of Abia North Senatorial District that his boss will ensure a better representation for them in the 8th National Assembly. Obialo acknowledged the positive impact of the transformation agenda of the present administration and called on Nigerians to vote en masse for President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office in 2015. In a similar development, a group of professionals from Abia North Senatorial District, Patriotic Professionals, has joined in the campaign for Dr. Kalu as Senator for Abia North in the upcoming general elections. In a statement signed by the group’s coordinator, Engr. Kalu Andrew, on Sunday, they promised to ensure that the forthcoming elections in Abia State are devoid of rigging and other irregularities. Andrew said: “Time has changed and we will not allow the intimidation that occurred in the last election to repeat itself especially in Abia North, as our people are ready to sacrifice for democracy. We urge all sons and daughters of Abia North, in the interest of our district, to vote for Dr. Orji Kalu in the next election.”