“You Came By Court, You Will Go By The Court” – Wike, Others Predict End Of Amaechi

“You Came By Court, You Will Go By The Court” – Wike, Others Predict End Of Amaechi

Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike has dared the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to expose the sins of his opponents in the state.

Wike gave the challenge at the Grassroot Development Initiative, GDI, programme held in Port Harcourt Local Government council.

Governor Amaechi had at the Port Harcourt Book Festival threatened to open-up on every detail that concerned his political opponents.

The Minister who is also the grand patron of GDI also alleged that Governor Amaechi had succumbed to defeat by responding to all his moves and actions with the GDI.

According to him, “I hear that anywhere we visit, they try to balkanize the place. They have been so ridiculous that they now send their commissioners to go on pages of newspapers to say they hate us. If they say so, it means they are loyal. You know, when government has reduced itself to that level, when government has collapsed they will begin to find something to fake.

“In fact if for nothing else, praise yourself. For the first time in the history of this country, you push a Governor to be a complainant in the Human Rights Commission.

“I heard somebody (Amaechi) was talking over the radio that he would soon expose people. It is too late. Everyday we hear you will expose. What is holding you? You are still manufacturing facts? We still tell them, if you say 1 we will say 20″.

Wike also made reference to the alleged failed assassination attempt on his life adding that Amaechi was calling for the transfer of the state Commissioner of police because the latter had failed to do his bidding.

“Let me expose what most of you didn’t know. It is not that they want Mbu to go, it is because Mbu has refused to co-operate and compromise.

“I challenge them, in 2007 when I was to be assassinated, they stopped the police from investigating the matter. Ask them, where is the police report”?

In their separate speeches, other speakers at the event including the National Deputy Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, Austin Opara, Kinglsey Chinda, Sergeant Awuse, Senator George Sekibo, Ken Chikere accused Governor Amaechi of balkanizing the chieftaincy stools in the state.

Former Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Lee Maeba predicted the termination of Amaechi’s tenure through the court that brought him to power.

“Port Harcourt, please do not accept to be deceived. Let me tell you (Amaechi) something God has asked me to tell you. The way you come is the way you will go. You came by the court, you will go by the court”, he said.

On his part, a PDP Chieftain in the state, Prince Emma Anyawu declared “Rotimi Amaechi in Government House has only a number of days, not more than 30 days, you will leave that place”.

In a related development, factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Felix Obuah has said that six aides to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi have confided in him declaring their allegiance to the GDI.

He said the aides are commissioners holding key positions in the state.

“What do I want to say but to weep for this state. I weep for our Governor. A gentle man that is supposed to be a celebrity will be ending in such a way.

“But I have a good news for you, 6 Commissioners have asked me to tell you that in the next rally of GDI they will come out openly to declare for GDI because they are fed-up with the administration of Rotimi Amaechi”, he said.

Obuah also appealed to the Rivers State Governor to reconcile with their group and apologize to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Source: Daily Post

I Was Never Beaten Up – Jide Kosoko

I Was Never Beaten Up – Jide Kosoko

Earlier in the week, the news about town was that veteran actor, Jide Kosoko was assaulted and beaten by video club owners. It was said that the actor who is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Video Rental Operators of Nigeria was mediating in a crisis in the association when he was assaulted and injured during a fracas.

But the actor, in a telephone chat with Saturday Beats, said he was never beaten.
Kosoko, who was reluctant to talk about the incident as it was against his principle to grant telephone interview however said it was impossible for anybody to beat him up.

“I was never beaten up. I am a member of the board of trustees of the Video Rental Operators of Nigeria and there was a crisis in the association. I was there to mediate and find way to resolve the crisis. While that was happening, there was a fracas with the video club owners as they began fighting one another. Someone threw a plastic bottled water and it hit me in the eye. That was it,” he said.

Confirming what her father said, Sola Kosoko said it was impossible for anybody to beat her father up.

Sola said she heard about the story on the radio and wondered how they came up with such story.

She said, “I heard about the news on radio but how could anyone have beaten up my father? It is not possible.”

"Nadia Buari's BF, Jim Iyke Is Responsible For My Pregnancy" - Lagos Based Business Man's Daughter Cries Out

Too bad!! This is definitely not going to be a good time for the celebrity couple Jim Iyke and Nadia Buari who had plans of tying the knot early next year.

According to reports reaching us, a top Lagos based business man’s daughter opened up to her father, Mr Alofinaka, that James Ikechukwu Esomugha popularly called “Jim Iyke” is responsible for her pregnancy, the mass communication girl, Nancy Alofinaka, from university of calabar also explain how Jim collected close to 2million in the disguise to renovate his house in lagos.

Nadia Buari in an interview, told news men yesterday that, the girl was paid to tarnish James Ike’s reputation.

APC LEADERS, REBEL GOVS’ MEETING RATTLES PDP

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was rattled by the meeting of the leadership of the All Progressive Congress and some of the aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto, Sokoto State on Tuesday.

The APC leaders, who were in Sokoto for the inauguration of the Sokoto State University , where the meeting was held, were a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Members of the New PDP who were in attendance were the governor of the state, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko; Governors Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); and Sule Lamido (Jigawa).

Three of the aggrieved governors, Aliyu Babangida(Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), were absent at the event.

However, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal, was at the event, where no Federal Government official was present.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that the meeting of the APC leaders with the rebel governors was a topic for discussion among members of the National Working Committee of the PDP on Wednesday.

A member of the committee, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said it was almost certain that the rebel governors were out of the ruling party.

He said the NWC of the party was surprised that the rebel governors were no longer hiding their disdain for the party.

He said though the issue was not on the agenda of the Wednesday’s meeting, the matter was discussed informally among the NWC members.

The source said, “Though the gathering was about opening of a university, why was the event dominated by those who are against us?

“We have been hearing that these governors are planning to defect to the APC. Maybe that was why they invited the leaders of the party and used the opportunity to concretise their discussions. We are watching.”

Reacting to the issue, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Ibrahim Jalo, told our correspondent that the party believed that the gathering had no political undertone.

Jalo  said the party believed what Wamakko said, which was that the event was for the inauguration of the state university.

He said, “The event was a mere gathering. We also believe that it was, according to the governor, meant to open the state university as stated by the governor.

“Apart from that, we believe that these people are free to meet and discuss as guaranteed by the Constitution. The Constitution guarantees freedom of association.”

However, the party said it had directed party leaders in zones, states, local government areas and wards to establish disciplinary committees in accordance with its constitution.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the action was in tandem with the  “focused determination of the national leadership of the PDP to ensure discipline and loyalty at all levels.”

NO REGRETS OVER CLASH WITH FORMER CJN –JUSTICE SALAMI

NO REGRETS OVER CLASH WITH FORMER CJN –JUSTICE SALAMI

Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, including a former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and a former military Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday in Abuja, made a surprise appearance at the public presentation of a book written in honour of the retired President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.

The book titled, “Isa Ayo Salami: Through Life and Justice,” was written to mark Salami’s retirement from service.

The former PCA retired while still serving a suspension placed on him by the National Judicial Council following a disagreement he had with a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

The APC delegation, which arrived shortly after the commencement of the event, also included the party’s National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, the governors of Osun, Ekiti and Zamfara states, Rauf Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, respectively.

Others include the APC party’s spokesperson, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, as well as several national and state lawmakers in the party.

On behalf of ‘eleven progressive governors’ of the APC, Yari, the chief presenter, purchased 250 copies of the book in the sum of N55m.

According to him, the books are to be donated to Nigerian universities.

In an address at the event, Justice Salami, who retired after reaching 70 years on October 15, 2013, said he had no regrets for refusing to pervert the course of justice, as he was allegedly instructed by the former CJN, Justice Katsina-Alu, even though the development led to his suspension from office.

He said, “I realise the public interest that my feud with the NJC and former CJN Katsina-Alu generated. It is obvious that people want to know what the fuss was actually about, and briefly put, this is it.

“I was invited by the then CJN, Justice Katsina-Alu to his chambers on the 8th of February, 2010, using Justice Dahiru Musdapher’s phone, and when I got there, I met them together (Justice Musdapher was the next in line to him at the Supreme Court).

“He (Katsina-Alu) instructed me to direct the Justices of the Sokoto Appeal to dismiss the appeal of the Democratic Peoples Party governorship candidate and I responded that I could not do so.

“Contrary to the deposition of Justice Katsina-Alu that he called me into his Chambers in respect of leakage in the judgment of Sokoto matter which he gathered from petitions, there were no petitions against me or the Justices in the Sokoto Appeal Panel as at the 8th day of February, 2010, on Sokoto matter or any other matter.

“Ironically, the petitions in question only emerged on the 15th of February 2010, seven days after I had unequivocally informed the CJN that I would not direct a competent court on what its judgment should be.”

Justice Salami added that, after showing him the petitions on the 15th of February, Justice Katsina-Alu asked him to disband the Sokoto Appeal Panel in view of the petitions.

“I responded that I would not disband the panel as the petitions did not contain any allegation of impropriety against the members. In my response to the petitions, I made known what transpired at our meetings of 8th and 15th February, 2010.

“It was in his own submission to the NJC on my response that he now alleged that the reason for calling me was that the judgment in the Sokoto matter has leaked and that he gathered the allegation that the judgment had leaked from petitions written against me,” he said.

The former PCA maintained that the Investigating Panel set up by the NJC under Justice Umaru Abdullahi (former President Court of Appeal) rejected Justice Katsina-Alu’s claim that there was an allegation of leakage in the petitions.

“In spite of this they concluded that he (Justice Katsina-Alu) was acting in good faith. On this, I won’t say more.

“I thank the Almighty God that I refused to pervert the course of justice. Disbanding the panel or persuading them to dismiss the appeal was not the right thing to do.

“It would have offended the principle of the independence of judges which I so much respect and believe in.

“As a matter of fact, I will simply say that if I had done what the then head of the Nigerian judiciary had wanted me to do, I would not have this honour and if at all this book was published, it would be shameful and hypocritical of me to stand before you and talk about honour and integrity – two things which define a fine judicial officer alongside the grasp of the law,” he said.

The chairman of the event, and a former CJN, Justice Mohammed Uwais, stressed that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had no powers to suspend, or recall Justice Salami.

The NJC had after deciding to suspend Justice Salami, written President Goodluck Jonathan to approve the suspension.

Also, after deciding to recall him, the Council had written to the President to approve the decision. The President had declined, arguing that the matter was sub judice.

Justice Uwais said the NJC erred by referring the issue to the President.

He noted that the NJC was not fair to Justice Salami.

“It follows that Justice Isa Ayo Salami has been unfairly treated by the NJC. It is disturbing, to say the least, that the NJC, whose membership consists of eminent and experienced judges and lawyers, should act in the manner they treated Justice Salami,” he said.

In a short remark at the event, Tinubu extolled Justice Salami’s courage and perseverance.

“Thank you Justice Salami for teaching us courage, thank you for teaching us perseverance.

“In the ocean of corruption you have provided a craft.

“At this critical time in the history of our country we need more men like you who can stand and confront the abuse of power,” he told the retired PCA.

In a keynote address, titled “Justice is never siddon look,” Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, spoke against all forms of injustice in the country, particularly in the judiciary.

Forbes Names Dangote Africa’s Most Powerful Man

AfRICA’S BIG BOY!

Forbes Names Dangote Africa’s Most Powerful Man

The President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been named the most powerful man in Africa and 64th in the world by the Forbes magazine.

Dangote, who Forbes says is by far Africa’s richest man with a net worth of $16.1bn as of March 2013, was ranked ahead of the likes of Fifa President, Sepp Blatter (69); Speaker, United States House of Representatives, John Boehner (66); and Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mohammed Ibrahim (71).

The 56-year-old, Dangote, whose company is considered one of the most diversified on the list, is currently ranked 43 on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires with his net worth over time said to be on the rise.

In August, the industrialist had announced plans by the Dangote Group to build a $9bn refinery and petrochemical complex in Nigeria, a move which is expected to help the group further diversify its current business model and increase his net worth.

Away from his business interests, mention was also made of his philanthropic efforts in his profile on the Forbes website.

It reads in part, “Inspired by fellow billionaires, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, Dangote is making a name for himself on the philanthropic circuit and has given away millions to education, health and social causes in Africa.”

Apart from Dangote, Ibrahim is the only other African on the list, which contains 72 people.

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, topped the list, displacing United States President, Barrack Obama, who dropped to the second spot for the first time in three years.

Chinese President, Xi Jinping, occupies the third spot, while the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, debuts on the list at number four.

Pope Francis, who was elected in March this year, leads 12 other new entrants.

Other notable new names on the list are Samsung Chairman, Lee Kun-Hee (41); Volkswagen’s Martin Winterkorn (49); South Korean President, Park Geun-hye (52); and Janet Yellen (72), who has been nominated by President Obama as the next leader of the US Federal Reserves.

The Executive Editor of the New York Times, Jill Abramson (68), makes a return appearance after dropping off the list in years past.

Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, aged 29, and North Korean leader, Kim Jung-un, aged 30, are the youngest people on the list. Zuckerberg occupies the 24th place, while Kim is ranked 46th.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, who occupies the eight spot, is the oldest person on the list. He is 89 years old.

The world’s richest man, Carlos Slim, is, however, not the most powerful man. The América Móvil honorary chairman occupies the 12th position.

According to Forbes, the Most Powerful People in the World list is an annual snapshot of the heads of state, financiers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs, who truly rule the world.

“It represents the collective wisdom of top Forbes editors, who consider hundreds of nominees before ranking the planet’s top 72 power-brokers – one for every 100 million people on earth – based on their scope of influence and their financial resources relative to their peers,” the magazine explained.

This year’s list features 17 heads of state, who run nations with a combined Gross Domestic Product of some $48tn.