There is palpable tension in Akwa Ibom State as the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, was literarily chased out of Government House yesterday and told to resign within forty-eight hours.

Early signs that there was a crisis emerged late yesterday when an unusual number of heavily armed security operatives were noticed at the main gate and inside the premises of the Government House, Uyo. To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/30/aibom-ssg-chased-out-of-govt-house-to-resign-in-48hrs/

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has given some insight into why governors within his faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum are at war with the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This was as the Rivers number one man dismissed insinuations that he was teaming up with those opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan because of his own 2015 presidential ambition.

In an interview on the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), monitored in Kaduna on Saturday, Amaechi said his focus for now is not on 2015, but on how to bring about development to the people of Rivers State. According to him, “ ....To continue click here :http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/28/why-govs-are-at-war-with-pdp-amaechi/

A Nigerian, Justice Joseph Wowo, serving as acting Chief Justice of The Gambia, West Africa’s country of 1.7 million people, has been fired for demanding a bribe of N12 million barely a month after his appointment. He has been replaced with a Ghanaian, Justice Mabel M. Agyemang. Justice Wowo, a 1990 law graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who came into office late June this year, was removed by President Yahya Jammeh for soliciting for bribe from a Gambian-based Dutch businessman, Andre Klaarbergen, who was involved in a land dispute.To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/29/judge-sacked-for-demanding-bribe/

Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday held a public hearing on a law to establish the Lagos State emergency command and control centre, regulate the making of telephone calls to the centre and provide for other connected matters.

The bill which was sponsored by the Executive arm of government, seeks to provide emergency telephone numbers to be called by members of the public in time of emergency; ensure quick access of members of the public to emergency services and agencies; facilitate quick and efficient response to accidents, emergencies and disasters; educate the public on the use of emergency telephone lines and adopt appropriate measures to prevent the misuse of the centre’s facilities.To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/26/lagos-assembly-holds-public-hearing-on-emergency-calls/

A group – Middle Belt Dialogue - has urged the Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum, Dr. Babangida Aliyu and his counterparts from Kano, Adamawa and Jigawa States to stop shopping for a northern presidential candidate to replace President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, stressing that the region (Middle Belt) will not support the arrangement.

The group described the visit of the governors to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar as an attempt to report President Jonathan, assuring that the Middle Belt region will continue to support Jonathan beyond 2015. To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/27/middle-belt-group-rues-norths-quest-for-power/

Members of the Africa Caribbean Parliamentary and European (ACP-EU), Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) from the West African region and their European Parliament counterparts held a regional meeting in Abuja, from 17 to 19 July, 2013, where they agreed that all illegally sourced crude oil from Africa, particularly Nigeria, should not be bought in Europe. The members also expressed concern at the high rate of oil thefts, wastage and illegal bunkering which have led to substantial revenue losses and environmental degradation, calling on the Nigerian government to put in place appropriate mechanisms and measures to fight against this organized crime.To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/22/halt-buying-nigerias-stolen-oil-acp-eu-parliamentarians/

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday in Kaduna, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to disband the Amnesty Committee for lying on the Boko Haram ceasefire. The CAN said it was shameful that the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Mr. Kabiru Turaki, had last Monday announced that a deal had been struck with the Boko Haram sect, only for the group’s leader to flatly deny the existence of such a deal. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Northern CAN, Mr. Sunday Oibe, said it is apparent that the Amnesty Committee lied when it told Nigerians that the group, which had claimed the mass killing of at least 4000 persons in bombings and gun duel since 2009 in the northern states, had asked for forgiveness from its surviving victims.

Oibe, who spoke to newsmen yesterday in Kaduna, said the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor,... To read more cclick here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/15/boko-haram-ceasefire-disband-amnesty-committee-for-lying-can/

he Nigerian 1999 Constitution has generated so much interest and debate among all sections of the nation’s populace, especially among the human rights and pro-democracy families that it has become only one of the top issues of national discourse at any given opportunity. The issue stems from how the Constitution came about, as many have argued that though the Constitution in its opening statement claimed that it was a document that “we the people decided to give to ourselves,” but that “indeed the document lied against itself, as it was not we the people that gave it to ourselves, but the military gave it to the people.”

With that in mind, many of the groups, especially from the pro-democracy family that fought to ensure the return of democratic rule, it was either those in authority listen to their call for the convocation of the sovereign national conference or they will never stop shouting. While the hue and cry for a new constitution continued, the leadership of the National Assembly decided to assuage the nerve of Nigerians by setting up a committee to review it and at least attempt to address some of the pressing and contending issues. After many attempts however, the sixth Assembly finally succeeded in amending some aspects that has to do with transition of power from President to vice president, electoral reform and some other areas. To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/15/review-of-1999-constitution-nass-needs-to-do-more/

Not less than 195 police officers, both at senior and junior cadres, would face disciplinary committee for various misconducts.

The Chairman of the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), DIG Suleiman Fakai, stated that the committee has pencilled down 195 police officers, including four Assistant Inspector Generals of police (AIGs), 17 Commissioners of police (CPs), two Deputy Commissioners of police DCPs, six Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), for disciplinary action.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday at the Police Force Headquarter in Abuja, he stated that the committee was to deliberate on the misconduct of some police officers for the next one week and hand down the necessary judgement to any officers found guilty of any allegation. To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/09/4-aigs-191-others-face-disciplinary-committee/

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has described as fallacious the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that ACN’s governors in the South-West shunned the flag-off of the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway last week by President Goodluck Jonathan.

ACN, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also said only the governors of Lagos, Oyo and Ogun were invited to the ceremony, saying it is inaccurate to give the impression that all the ACN governors in the South-West were expected to be there.

It said while Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun State governor, personally attended the event, governors of Lagos and Oyo sent their deputies to represent them because both of them were out of the country at the time. To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/09/our-govs-didnt-shun-jonathan-acn/

• Amaechi, Lamido, Kwankwaso, Aliyu’s candidates fret

• Sports minister jumps ship, as Presidency shops for NDDC boss


Ministers who are loyalists of the nine Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors in Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s camp may start counting their days as imminent shake-up in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet may sweep them away. Just recently, on the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA), Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State listed the nine PDP governors who voted for the re-election of Governor Amaechi in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election as Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari (Kebbi), Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), as well as Governor Amaechi and himself.

Indeed, their position is said to have run directly against the directive of the PDP leadership which had chosen Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State as the party’s consensus candidate for the NGF chairmanship slot in the May 23, 2013 elections. The imminent shake-up, Daily Newswatch learnt, will also affect Federal departments and agencies where these governors have loyalists and nominees.
Presidency sources said since these governors are no longer in the good books of the president, it is obvious that their nominees cannot be wholly trusted any longer. To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/05/jonathan-set-to-remove-anti-jang-ministers/

By Taiye Agbaje, Abuja]

The African Union is moving to suspend Egypt from all its activities after the Egyptian military suspended the constitution and removed the elected president, Mohamed Morsi, from office on Wednesday, a senior AU source said yesterday. This is happening as Nigeria leads the condemnation of the coup in Egypt, saying it is an attempt to truncate a democratic process in the country. Reuters, quoting a source, who asked not to be identified, said members of the AU’s peace and Security Council would meet today and are likely to implement the AU’s usual response to any interruption of constitutional rule by a member state. “The belief is that the doctrine will be applied, which is suspension for any country where an unconstitutional change has taken place,” the source said. To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/05/coup-african-union-to-suspend-egypt/

By NATH OMAME & Gowon Emakpe]

The House of Representatives yesterday waded into the crisis between Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and the state Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, which the lawmakers said had affected security in the state. Only on Tuesday, Governor Amaechi threatened to stop its assistance to the state police command, saying it is no longer committed to securing the people of the state and their properties. He spoke when members of the governing board of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), led by its chairman, Chief Gordon Bozimo, paid him a visit in Port Harcourt.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the sitting, however, directed the House Committee on Police Affairs and Justice to liaise with the office of the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service Commission and the Rivers State Government in order to fashion out ways of improving the working relationship between the state police command and the Rivers State Government and report back to the House within one week. To read more Please click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/04/reps-wade-into-amaechi-rivers-cp-crisis-as-gov-cheats-death/

• Head of constitutional court installed as new leader

[i][/i]

By Chris Uba

Egypt’s military ousted President Mohammed Morsi from office, replacing him with the head of the country’s constitutional court. This ended days-long political crisis, but ushered in a new period of political uncertainty in the country. But Morsi’s office rejected the decision, which came in a terse televised statement by Defense Secretary, Gen. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, yesterday. The Presidency called on Egyptians to peacefully resist what it called a “military coup.”

Gen. Sisi announced that the head of Egypt’s highest court—Adly Mansour, a judge who had been appointed to the post the previous day—would take over from Mr. Morsi immediately. Mr. Mansour is tasked with leading a technocratic government that will be “inclusive of all political factions,” including youth, who Gen. Sisi said would be “empowered” under the terms of the new government. To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/04/military-coup-in-egypt/

[By THANKGOD OFOELUE, Benin]

A joint operation by soldiers and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) from Rivers and Edo states has led to the arrest of suspected kidnappers of Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, wife of the Supreme Court judge who was abducted in May this year with her daughter and driver. Austine Umuroko, Wisdom Ovwigho and Oghenero Ogheneriwe, all from Delta State, who were said to have confessed to the crime, were paraded at the SSS office in Benin, with other suspects still on the run. The state Director of the SSS, Bello Barkori, who met with Governor Adams Oshiomhole after the operation, said, “The three suspects who are members of the kidnap syndicate that abducted the justice’s wife were arrested at 77 Norouwa Street, off Upper Sakponba Road, Benin... To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/03/sss-parades-justice-rhodes-vivours-wifes-kidnappers/

By Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt]

The Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi, has again asked the Federal Government and the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the state Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, from the state as a matter of urgency. He said his administration would soon stop funding the police for its inability to deliver and protect the lives and properties of the citizens. The governor said, “I don’t want a commissioner of police that will work for me; I want a commissioner of police that will work for the interest of the state; that will work for Rivers people.’
Amaechi, who was receiving the Chairman of the Governing Board of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Chief Gordon Bozimo, said, “So, it is not only me that you should complain to, talk to Inspector-General of Police and those who transferred the commissioner of police that was working in the interest of Rivers people.” To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/07/03/amaechi-threatens-to-stop-police-funding/

By Mansur Oladunjoye and Helen Omotayo]

The duo of Assistant Politics Editor, Mansur Oladunjoye and Helen Omotayo during the week, tracked down the Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, for an interview. He declared that except President Goodluck Jonathan immediately reshuffles his cabinet to accommodate Yoruba people, he may not secure votes from the bloc in 2015. Excerpts:

What is your assessment of allocation of political offices to the regions as it relates to the South-West?

According to the statistics on the positions given to every zones based on states, the South-West is the lowest. Only some South-West states are given 42; whereas many northern states are given 45. The number given to Lagos State is just eight. The only state that has 42 in the entire South-West is Ogun; Oyo State got about 12; and Ondo State about 14. Other states got less than 15. We are talking of parastatals. When you talk of the hierarchy, you find that from number two to 10 in Nigeria today, no Yoruba man is there; the South-West is not there and when you are talking of juicy positions, how many were given to the Yoruba people? From the South-West, the only prominent position is the minister of External Affairs.

We have never witnessed anything like this in the history of our country; even in the time of military, they still gave the Yoruba its due. I had an opportunity to express my feelings to Mr. President some time back. I told him that our people are crying over the marginalisation of the South-West, and that he should do something about it. He told me that day that within two weeks the appointments will be evaluated, and that they would do something about it. It is almost three to four months now and we have not got the result.To read more click here :http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/29/2015-yoruball-give-conditions-to-support-jonathan-gani-adams/

By Raphel Adeyanju, Ado-Ekiti]

The Ekiti State Government yesterday insisted that it would go ahead with the probe of those that allegedly looted the state while at its helms of affairs. The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Tayo Ekundayo, who gave the clarification, said Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration believes in transparency and accountability, saying the government will not gloss over the gargantuan corruption allegedly committed through micro-credit scheme, Ikun Dairy Farm contract and others that were allegedly perpetrated under Segun Oni-led Administration. To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/29/no-going-back-on-onis-probe-fayemi-2/

[By Saminu Ibrahim, Abuja ]

• 15 in attendance

Against all odds, the Amaechi-led Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) meeting held yesterday in Abuja, with 17 governors on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conspicuously absent. The meeting put paid to speculations that the governors would not meet because of an earlier invitation for dinner with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sixteen governors had also attended an earlier meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum called by the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang.

Yesterday’s NGF meeting, which was officially slated for 8 pm saw governors, mainly of the opposition parties, arriving as early as 7 pm at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, venue of the meeting in Abuja.

However, the roll call at the meeting shows... To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/27/17-pdp-governors-shun-amaechis-ngf-meeting/

MIKAL MUMUNI, TOYIN ADEBAYO, Abuja, Gbenga Akingbule Ijagba, Maiduguri]

• I’m not sect’s sponsor – ANPP chair

The ongoing offensive by Borno State youths in fishing out Boko Haram members yesterday led to the capture of a sect member in Maiduguri, the state capital, who confessed to killing 23 persons in two days. Those said to have been killed by the suspect during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency included a village head and police officers, who were slaughtered, along with many other innocent civilians.

The Boko Haram member, who was captured at Ngomari ward ‘Bakin Borehole’ area of Maiduguri, was traced to the place by the youths, where he was said to have gone to fetch water. To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/27/i-killed-23-people-in-two-days-boko-haram-member-confesses/

Emmanuel Jime is the Chairman of House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory. He has been in the House of Reps since 2007 representing the people of Makurdi/Guma Federal constituency. This former speaker of the Benue state House of Assembly, in this interview with EMMANUEL IRIOGBE, shares his views on national issues as they concern the House, democracy and why he has proposed an amendment to the Constitution to presidential powers on pardon.

I have it on good authority that you just came back from Benue State, where you went to pay visit to your constituency. The House is on a two-week break after two years. What was the feeling at home? Are your constituents happy with you after these past two years based on impacting on their lives?

You are telling me to assess myself, analyse my performance. Yes, my constituents are happy with me 100 per cent. Again, you know that may not be true, since you cannot have it all. You cannot satisfy everyone. What drives me in my politics is consideration of greater number of people in terms of policy and what you are able to impact. We have been able to touch lives in positive dimension. I can safely say that we have offered representation to the constituency that with all humility that has never been offered before. When I came to the House in 2007, the first thing I had at the back of my mind was to hopefully make a difference and give a representation different from what has been there so that you can say that something positive has been done. I have always desired that anytime I get on the scene, I should be able to live it better than I met it. I do not think we can finish this interview if I am to start from 2007 to date on what I have been able to do. To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/26/prerogative-of-state-pardon-must-reside-with-nass-jime/

• To lead protest march
[b][/b]

[b][By NATH OMAME]

[/b]The Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has dared the state Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, to shoot him if he can, noting that he would soon lead a protest march against him. Amaechi is vexed that a local government chairman was chained to prevent him from coming to pay a solidarity visit to him (Amaechi). Amaechi spoke at the Government House yesterday, when the people of Orashi zone of the state, led by the Senator representing Rivers West senatorial zone, Wilson Ake, who is also a younger brother to the dethroned party boss, G.U. Ake, paid him a solidarity visit in Port Harcourt. The governor became angry when reports got to him that some of the groups coming to pay him solidarity visit were stopped. Local council chairmen from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West and Abual/Odual disclosed at the... To continue click here :http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/26/shoot-me-amaechi-dares-rivers-police-boss/

• As Presidency rejects state of the nation bill

[i][/i]

By Taiye Odewale, Abuja

Indication of a looming crisis between President Goodluck Jonathan and the two chambers of the National Assembly emerged yesterday as the president rejected the State of the Nation Address Bill forwarded to him by the National Assembly for assent since the first week of May. The rejected bill had proposed appearance of President Jonathan for the State of the Nation Address before the joint session of the National Assembly in the second week of July as practised in some other presidential democracies of the world, particularly that of the United States of America. But President Jonathan, in a letter addressed to the Senate President, David Mark, dated 10th June 2013, said there was no need for the bill as its intention has already been taken care of by section 67 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, aside some of the bill’s provisions running contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive and legislature. To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/26/jonathan-nass-draw-battle-line/

By BISI ADEDAYO, Ilorin]

Human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has asserted that the Judiciary was no longer the last hope of the common man, saying the high cost of justice in the country has made it impossible for the poor masses to access justice. He made the assertion while delivering a lecture at the launch of the annual law journal, The Jurist, of the Law Students’ Society (LSS), University of Ilorin. The lecture entitled: “The anti-corruption war in the Nigerian judiciary: How far? How well?”, the learned silk lamented that the common man was economically disabled from having a field day in the court. To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/25/judiciary-no-longer-last-hope-of-the-common-man-falana/

Alhaji Suleiman Yerima, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and human rights activist, is the founder of the Northern Friends of South-South, a political group at the forefront of the agitation for the development of the Niger Delta region. A believer in united Nigeria, Yerima is worried that the way some Northern governors are operating without regard for the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan could possibly lead to a crisis that may spell the end of the country. PATRICK OKOHUE met him recently in his Ikoyi, Lagos office.
[/b]

[b]Your group, the Northern Friends of South-South were one of those at the forefront of the ‘elect Dr Goodluck Jonathan’ campaign in 2011, even while the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was incapacitated, your group was also in the forefront of the campaign for the right thing to be done, few years down the line will you say you are fulfilled to have taken that position?[b]

I want to say it loud and clear that I am very fulfilled, not just because he is from the South-South, but more because as a Nigerian he has performed and to the best of my knowledge he has done well. So far I will score him 70 percent. I am sure in the remaining part of his tenure he will do better, nobody is perfect, the President has done what he is supposed to do as a person, that is number one, secondly as a Nigerian and thirdly as a leader, he has done his best.

With what has happened in this country in the past years, nobody would have done better than what the President has done. You can see the issue of insecurity in the country, as soon as he came, there were bomb blast all over the place. The bomb blast came in three dimensions, first it came from some political hoodlums who were conscripted by politicians to be used as weapons to fight their opponents and after their aim were achieved there boys were let loss, some of them became Boko Haram. At the early stage the President was trying to understand them and their motive, which was why it took him time to proscribe them as a terrorist group and if you notice all these years the President has refrained from describing them as a terrorist group... To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/25/if-nigeria-breaks-the-north-is-doomed-yerima/

By PETERCLAVER EGBOCHUE

A Civil Society Organisation known as Bauchi Conscience Group has condemned the recent decision of the Bauchi State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, to quite Northern Governors Forum.

The Coordinator of the group, Comrade Jafar Ibrahim Dass said told newsmen in Bauchi that the decision Governor Yuguda was against the interest of the people of the state who gave him their mandate saying he should as a matter of urgency retrace his step.

BCG noted that the outcome of the elections that brought the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum where emerged winner of the Forim (NGF) shouldn’t ... To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/25/yuguda-under-fire-over-absence-from-state/

By PETERCLAVER EGBOCHUE

Ohanaeze Youth Council has vowed to support the current campaign for a new socio-political identity and cultural renaissance by the United Middle Belt Youth Congress (UMBYC.)
The group reasoned that one way of actualising the new order is for the traditional rulers in the Middle Belt to unite under what it described as the Middle Belt council of traditional rulers, which will provide the needed synergy as well as traditional and ancestral links and guidance to the liberation movement.

In a statement signed by Francis Orji, Chukwuebuka Uzochukwu and Mazi Okwu Okwu, President General, Secretary General and Secretary, Board of Trustee respectively of the group at the end of its executive meeting in Lagos over the week, the group observed...To continue click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/24/ohanaeze-parleys-middle-belt-youths-for-new-political-identity/

Chief Frank Ovie Kokori is a labour leader respected for his role in the struggle to revalidate the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by business mogul, Bashorun Moshood Abiola. As Secretary General of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Kokori confronted the military junta by refusing to call off the strike action embarked upon by NUPENG, until he was apprehended and detained for some years at the Baga Prisons. In this interview, Kokori reveals to EMMANUEL UKUDOLO what June 12 stands for and why it is marked with public holiday in the South West.


What have we gained by the yearly celebration of June 12?


The military dictatorship of that era led by General Babangida annulled June 12, 1993 election and as you well know, the June 12 election was the freest and fairest election ever conducted in this country. The military did it arbitrarily because of their dictatorship, and it was at that time that the Nigerian civil society, including the labour movement and all the progressive elements in this country for the first time rose in unison to challenge the Nigerian military who felt at that time that no body, no organ of government can challenge them. And at that time, the people challenged the military and at the end of the day the Nigerian military was humiliated out of power. That was why Babangida stepped aside, and even with Abacha, the fight continued until the man dropped dead. And finally we now have our democracy. So, it is to celebrate the man who sacrificed his life to symbolise that struggle. That is Abiola. We will not let that memory die in the annals of Nigeria’s history. For you the younger generation if we don’t do it, you will not know what happened 20 years ago, to bring out this democracy that is the basis for this celebration. To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/24/state-legislators-kitchen-girls-of-governors-kokori/

Director-General and Chief Executive, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Barrister Chris E. Onyemenam, has said that about 70 per cent of the national identity cards currently in circulation are fake.

Onyemenam, who made this assertion at a forum organised by NIMC added that more than 100 million Nigerians especially in the rural areas have been living without national identity cards.

The NIMC DG said the concentration of populations and activities in the urban areas has compelled rural dwellers to suffer serious neglect during national identity card registration processes.

Onyemenam said national identity card enrolment units of NIMC are to be established in each of the 774 local government headquarters in the country before the third quarter of this year.

Onyemenam stated that previous efforts at registering Nigerians focused on the issuance of identity cards, NIMC this time around would introduced novel parameters to ensure that the process meets international standards.

He said NIMC is poised to create awareness on the importance of registration, saying national identity cards in the future would become the basis for all government transactions in the country.

Also speaking, chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Interior, Umar Bature, who spoke through a member of the committee, said the identity card scheme would help in crime prevention and control.

He stated that the registration would provide reliable database for national planning as well as ease the process of infrastructural management in the country while facilitating the provision of other social services.

:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/24/70-national-id-cards-fake-dg/

By BAYO AKOMOLAFE

Visitors from Nigeria who stay more than six months in the United Kingdom (UK) will henceforth be made to forfeit a deposit of N780,000 (3,000 pounds). This will take effect from November this year.

The same thing is applicable to India, Pakistan and other Asian and African countries classified as high-risk.

They would be forced to pay a hefty cash bond before...To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/24/uk-visit-nigerians-to-forfeit-n780000-deposit-for-overstaying/

By PASCHAL NJOKU, Abuja

Plateau State governor and factional chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Jonah Jang, has approached an Abuja High Court, praying the court to strike out a suit instituted by Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, which sought an order of the court restraining him from parading himself as chairman of the forum.

In a preliminary objection filed at the weekend by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) on behalf of Jang, 1st defendant, and Osaro Onaiwu, 3rd defendant, he held before ... To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/24/jang-goes-to-court-seeks-dismissal-of-fasholas-suit/

By Clement Nwoji
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday refuted reports making the round insinuating that President Goodluck Jonathan has directed him to resign his position. The refutation came as the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) met with President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, to regularise the positions of its national officers. Tukur led members of the NWC.
The meeting was ahead of another two separate meetings of PDP leadership and PDP caucus scheduled for later yesterday night, all at the Presidential Villa. Tukur maintained that in PDP, there is no vacancy for National Chairman just as he claimed that there was no cause for his resignation. The regularisation of the officers is, however, on the heels of observation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the election of the party’s officers did not follow due proces. To read more click here:http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/2013/06/19/president-didnt-ask-me-to-resign-tukur/