POLITICAL GUILLOTINE FALLS ON SPORTS MINISTER!!!

Culled from The Nation:

Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdullahi was sacked yesterday over alleged security reports which indicated that he did not identify with the Peoples Democratic Party’s aspiration to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, The Nation last night.

The Presidency was angry that Abdullahi told the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP in the state that he is not a politician and distanced himself from the party’s activities, a source said.

Due to his apolitical nature, Abdullahi did not make any statement at the PDP rally in Ilorin on Monday, a development which infuriated President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

One of the reports also alleged that he was seen in the company of ex-Governors Bukola Saraki and Danjuma Goje, who are chieftains of the APC.

Another report faulted Abdullahi for allegedly breaching protocol by coming late to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin on Monday when the President was already seated.

According to sources, the Presidency was not happy that Abdullahi stayed away from the PDP when as a cabinet member he was aware that the President is nursing a second term ambition with Kwara State as a target.

It was learnt that some Presidency officials and Kwara PDP were uncomfortable with Abdullahi’s alleged refusal to contribute to the funding of the ruling party in the state.

A source said: “It is unfortunate that the President bowed to pressure to sack one of his best performing and result-oriented ministers, based on ‘petty’ security reports.

“The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP in Kwara State and his executives and stalwarts of the party had been complaining that Abdullahi refused to identify with the party in the state.

“Although Abdullahi was not found to be romancing with the opposition, PDP stalwarts felt the ex-Minister shunned their party in order not to confront his godfather and mentor, ex-Governor Bukola Saraki.

“They alleged that even if Abdullahi was apolitical, he could be funding PDP secretly as a pay-back for the opportunity given him to serve the nation by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“They sold a dummy to the President that Abdullahi was working against his re-election in 2015 and the success of PDP.

“At a point, the PDP Caretaker Committee reported Abdullahi’s activities to Vice-President Namadi Sambo, especially the ex-minister’s ‘I am not a politician’ declaration.

Sambo was said to have exclaimed, “This boy again!”

One of the key organisers of the PDP rally in Kwara State, who spoke on the phone with our correspondent, said: “We knew the game was up for the ex-Minister on Monday when he failed to openly identify with us at our rally. He did not make any statement to link him with PDP.

“Also, he came late to the Emir’s Palace on Monday during a visit to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari. I think he stayed away to avoid tension, which could mar the visit following security reports that some PDP members wanted to disgrace him. He was advised to keep off but the same advice was used against him.

“Even when he was invited to be part of the rally, he said he might not be around because he was going for World Indoor Athletics Championship. It took a lot of caution to persuade him to stay for the rally.

“So, we see him as not adding value to PDP electoral fortunes in 2015 and we made the President to realise on Monday. In fact, while at the VIP stand, a former member of the State House of Assembly openly confronted Abdullahi to the hearing of PDP stalwarts and other dignitaries.

“Some party members wielded placards against Abdullahi at the rally amid chanting of slogans. At a point, the President asked what they were saying and they told him that the party members wanted Abdullahi sacked.”

Another source linked Abdullahi’s removal to a security report indicating that he was seen in the company of ex-Governors Bukola Saraki and Danjuma Goje.

The source added: “Security report showed that he was with Saraki and Goje, who are opposition leaders, at odd hours.

“The government was not happy with such a meeting and it felt Abdullahi should step aside.”

A pro-Abdullahi source said: “The ex-minister had been apolitical since he was in the cabinet of Saraki. He did not play politics as a commissioner in Kwara State.

“As a matter of fact, he was the only commissioner who never went to the airport in Ilorin to receive Saraki as a governor. He concentrated on his job.”

The Kwara State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that Abdullahi’s sack is sacrificing excellence on the altar of politics.

In a statement by its interim publicity secretary, Sulyman Buhari, the APC said: “While we concede the fact that Mr. President reserves the powers to hire and fire, in the exercise of such powers however, international best practices demand that excellence and competence should not be traded on the altar of politics.

“That a President could sack a performing Sports Minister three months to the World Cup speaks volume of the quality of the Nigerian presidency. This nature of politics is anti-people and anti-development.

“It bears repeating that the achievements of Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi are known to Nigerians and can hardly ever be captured by any book. As the minister of sports, he steered the ministry’s ship to stardom and catapulted the nation’s sports sector to world class standard.

“His leadership heralded successes in Paralympics Games, 18th National Sports Festival (EKO 2012), 2012 Senior African Wrestling Championships in Morocco, 2012 Senior Africa Weightlifting Championships in Kenya, Boxing, Basketball, African Cup of Nations (AFCON), Under – 17 World Cup and qualification for World Cup 2014 in Brazil, to mention a few.

“Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi is the most successful Sports Minister in recent times and, arguably, the best minister in the Federal Executive Council (FEC). By this sack, the President Jonathan administration has lost what is remaining of its credibility.

“Though Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi is not a member of our party, but as an indigene of Kwara State, we are proud of his great achievements at the Ministry of Sports.”

• THIS IS WHY WE WILL NEVER MAKE PROGRESS AS A NATION.
• PARTISAN POLITICS, AND PATRONAGE....THE BANE OF NIGERIAN SOCIETY.
• SACRIFICING MERITOCRACY FOR MEDIOCRITY..IN THE NAME OF POLITICS.
• KILLING OUR PRODUCTIVE POPULATION.
• WAKE UP NIGERIA...ITS 4UKIN 21ST CENTURY.

JONATHAN SWEARS IN 11 NEW MINISTERS!!!

President Goodluck Jonathan has sworn in the 11new ministers cleared by the Senate. The President has also sacked the Minister ofSports, Bolaji Abdulahi.

Reeling out the portfolios of the newly sworn-in ministers, the President said Aliyu Gusau, a retired general and former spy master, will serve as Minister of Defence; while Musiliu Obanikoro, a former senator, will serve as Minister of State for Defence.

Mohammed Wakil is to serve as Minister of State Power, while Abduljelili Adesiyan will serve as Minister of Police Affairs, and Aminu Wali will serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Akon Eyakenyi will serve as Minister of Land and Housing, while Lawrencia Mallam will serve as Minister of Environment. Asabe Ahmed will serve as Minister of State for Agriculture, Boni Haruna will serve as Minister of Youth Development, and Khaliru Alhassan will serve as Minister of State for Health.

The President announced Tamuno Danagogo as new Minister of Sports, to replace Mr. Abdulahi, whose sack was later announced by Reuben Abati, the presidential spokesperson.

Speaking further at the short ceremony which held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, before the commencement of the weekly meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation, Mr. Jonathan announced that more ministers are expected to come innext week. He charged the new ministers to be creative and ensure they succeed in the tasks ahead of them.

“Next week more ministers will come in. After that we would have clear cut discussion of how the FEC will run,” he said.

He noted that being Nigerians, the new appointees already know the problems the country is facing as the challenges are projected on a daily basis by the media. He told the ministers that they have to succeed in their appointments.

“Public office is public trust and you owe the people a public good.

“We must listen to the people. I want you to see yourselves as servants. If by the time you are leaving, you cannot say that you have brought some innovations with your creativity, then you have failed,” he said.

“Your duty is to ensure that you bring positive changes. You have to relate well with your colleagues. Because of the conflict between the ministers and ministers of state, we will make sure we review the schedules to curtail such conflicts,” the president said.

He also urged them to work together and be team players.

Mr. Jonathan urged the new ministers to bring their experience to bear as the designations do not really matter. He assured them that they are eminently qualified serve as Nigerian ministers.

Source: Premium Times.

• Jonah is a CONFUSED MAN....its all d usual old BULL-SHIT!!! EYE-SERVICE, TOKENISM, TRIBAL PATRONAGE, AND COOKED-UP POLITICS OF INSENSITIVITY.
• Anyone seeing your demeanour knows you lack Confidence, and you dey too fear Mallams.
• What d hell is Boni Haruna doing in your Cabinet??? Do dis guys OWN Nigeria??? What is GERIATRIC Aliyu Gusau doing there as Minister of Defence??? Gusau has no idea of modern Warfare, and cannot even operate a Computer. Are you telling me all dis young Nigerians with Phd in STRATEGIC STUDIES from korrect Universities cannot fill dis damn post???
• Jonah...you dey dig your GRAVE...na Mallam go bury you alive....walahi.
• Are there no other more competent/educated human beings in Nigeria??? 
• I DEY SORRY FOR UNA.
• I could almost CRY....Never have so few owed so much to so many.

USA FREEZED ABACHA'S STOLEN MONEY, WHILE NIGERIA HONORS HIM!!!

SHAME ON YOU....NIGERIANS!!!
While your President is busy honoring a THIEF in the name of ABACHA, the United States of America is doing the right thing by Freezing his stolen assets. Money that could have been used to progress your poverty-infested population. Money that can be used to install refineries, and prevent Petrol queues on your POT-HOLED streets.
READ:

A week after President Goodluck Jonathan conferred the award for “Outstanding Promoter of Unity, Patriotism and National Development” to former Nigerian dictator, Sani Abacha, the American Department of Justice, Wednesday, froze more than $458 million (N73 billion) in corruption proceeds hidden in bank accounts around the world by the late military ruler and his conspirators.

AllAfrica.com, the pan African news platform, reported from Washington DC Wednesday that a civil forfeiture complaint unsealed in the United States District Court in the District of Columbia “seeks recovery of more than $550 million in connection with the largest kleptocracy forfeiture action brought in the department’s history.”

The restraint of funds announced Wednesday includes approximately $313 million in two bank accounts in the Bailiwick of Jersey and $145 million in two bank accounts in France. In addition, four investment portfolios and three bank accounts in the United Kingdom with an expected value of at least $100 million have also been restrained, but the exact amounts in the accounts will be determined at a later date.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Assistant Director in Charge Valerie Parlave of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.

“General Abacha was one of the most notorious kleptocrats in memory, who embezzled billions from the people of Nigeria while millions lived in poverty,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Raman. “This is the largest civil forfeiture action to recover the proceeds of foreign official corruption ever brought by the department. Through our Kleptocracy Initiative, we are seizing the assets of foreign leaders who steal funds that properly belong to the citizens they serve. Today’s action sends a clear message: we are determined and equipped to confiscate the ill-gotten riches of corrupt leaders who drain the resources of their countries.”

“We will not let the U.S. banking system be a tool for dictators to hide their criminal proceeds,” said Assistant Director in Charge Parlave. “This action demonstrates the FBI’s ability to combat international corruption and money laundering by seizing the assets of those involved. I want to thank the special agents, financial analysts and prosecutors whose hard work over the years resulted in today’s announcement.”

The over $458 million in frozen funds and the additional assets named in the complaint represent the proceeds of corruption during and after the military regime of General Abacha, who assumed the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a military coup on Nov. 17, 1993, and held that position until his death on June 8, 1998. The complaint alleges that General Abacha, his son Mohammed Sani Abacha, their associate Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others embezzled, misappropriated, and extorted billionsfrom the government of Nigeria and others, then laundered their criminal proceeds through the purchase of bonds backed by the United States using U.S. financial institutions.

As alleged in the complaint, General Abacha and others systematically embezzled billions of dollars in public funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria on the false pretense that the funds were necessary for national security. The conspirators withdrew the funds in cash and then moved the money overseas through U.S. financial institutions. General Abacha and his finance minister also allegedly caused the Government of Nigeria to purchase Nigerian government bonds at vastly inflated prices from a company controlled by Bagudu and Mohammed Abacha, generating an illegal windfall of more than $282 million. In addition, General Abacha and his associates allegedly extorted more than $11 million from a French company and its Nigerian affiliate in connection with payments on government contracts. Funds involved in each of these schemes were allegedly laundered through the United States.

• Why cant we ever get it RIGHT???

KANYE AND KIM PICK WEDDING DATE!!!

HURRAY!!!
Its going to be on 24th of May 2014.

• Okay o...and you better make sure its for good, and forever.
• Bcos all dis una celebrity wedding...we don taya.
• Na so so 4SHOW una dey!!!
• When man marry woman finish, na dat time ee go come SABI d woman well well. He go dey see NEW SIDE OF THE WOMAN everyday sef. D tin go come be like magic show.
• Abi I tok lie???

GUMSU ABACHA LASHES OUT AT WOLE SOYINKA!!!

The daughter of the late Nigerian Dictator, Gumsu Abacha, has attacked Professor Wole Soyinka for saying he refused the Centenary Award because the same award was accorded the late Nigerian Dictator, General Sanni Abacha.
Gumsu said:

“Sir, I believe brilliance is not perfection. I have grown and watched you criticize regime after regime and at that young and naive age I was thinking why wouldn’t this man just contest to be president so that Nigeria can be saved, I would have defiantly voted for Mr Soyinka if it would have brought an end to Nigeria’s woes. To my utter surprise, I heard about your FRSC leadership and how funds were misused and a great deal of it unaccounted for. “Oh my God! In the end he turned out to be just the same as everybody else” were my next thoughts. My hopes for you, all ended up in great disappointment”. 

• Hey...my friend...Shut up your big 4ukin mouth.
• Your fada TERRORIZED Nigeria big-time.
• Prof is not in the same league as your tyrannic Papa...SHIKENA.
• The truth is Bitter...Where d guy today??? Dat is a lesson for future tyrants.
• For all those making Nigeria unbearable for my people...WHEN UNA DIE FINISH, NA UNA CHILDREN MESS GO DEY SMELL FOR DEM BODY. God is alive!!!

OSCAR PISTORIUS FINDS LOVE AGAIN!!!

Pistorius and Reeva.


Malan (New Babe)

The famous South African amputee runner, Oscar Pistorius, who faced charges of murdering his 28 year-old girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, has suddenly found love again. He met his new teenage BABE, Malan, while on holidays in a Resort, and she has apparently been helping him to 'GET OVER' the trauma of the murder incident!!!

• You dey CRAZE o...like MAD.
• Na small pikkin dey worry Malan....u no get sense.
• Some of dis small girls dey like FAME and popularity....otherwise wettin person wey eem head korrect go go find near dis guy???
• Anyway na so Oyinbo own be.
• I trust my BLACK babes...dem no go touch am with 100ft pole. Black woman go say weda eem dey craze...make d bobo no go YAMUTU am like d other wan before before!!!
• Oscar...your own beta o...plus say you no even get LEG sef. Nawa for u o!!!

WOLE SOYINKA STANDS HIGH!!!

 'THE CANONIZATION OF TERROR'.....Read.

The sheer weight of indignation and revulsion of most of Nigerian humanity at the recent Boko Harma atrocity in Yobe is most likely to have overwhelmed a tiny footnote to that outrage, small indeed, but of an inversely proportionate significance.  This was the name of the hospital to which the survivors of the massacre were taken. That minute detail calls into question, in a gruesome but chastening way, the entire ethical landscape into which this nation has been forced by insensate leadership.  It is an uncanny coincidence, one that I hope the new culture of ‘religious tourism’, spearheaded by none other than the nation’s president in his own person, may even come to recognize as a message from unseen forces.

For the name of that hospital, it is reported, is none other than that of General Sanni Abacha, a vicious usurper under whose authority the lives of an elected president and his wife were snuffed out.  Assassinations – including through bombs cynically ascribed to the opposition – became routine. Under that ruler, torture and other forms of barbarism were enthroned as the norm of governance.  To round up, nine Nigerian citizens, including the writer and environmentalist Ken Saro-wiwa, were hanged after a trial that was stomach churning even by the most primitive standards of judicial trial, and in defiance of the intervention of world leadership. We are speaking here of a man who placed this nation under siege during an unrelenting reign of terror that is barely different from the current rampage of Boko Haram. It is this very psychopath that was recently canonized by the government of Goodluck Jonathan in commemoration of one hundred years of Nigerian trauma.

It has been long a-coming. One of the broadest avenues in the nation’s capital, Abuja, bears the name of General Sanni Abacha. Successive governments have lacked the political courage to change this  signpost – among several others – of  national self degradation and wipe out the memory of the nation’s tormentor from daily encounter. Not even Ministers for the Federal Capital territory within whose portfolios rest such responsibilities, could muster the temerity to initiate the process and leave the rest to public approbation or repudiation. I urged the need of this purge on one such minister, and at least one Head of State. That minister promised, but that boast went the way of Nigerian electoral boast.  The Head of State murmured something about the fear of offending ‘sensibilities’. All evasions amounted to moral cowardice and a doubling of victim trauma. When you proudly display certificates of a nation’s admission to the club of global pariahs, it is only a matter of time before you move to beatify them as saints and other paragons of human perfection. What the government of Goodluck Jonathan has done is to scoop up a century’s accumulated degeneracy in one preeminent symbol, then place it on a podium for the nation to admire, emulate and even – worship.

There is a deplorable message for coming generations in this governance aberration that the entire world has been summoned to witness and indeed, to celebrate. The insertion of an embodiment of  ‘governance by terror’ into the company of committed democrats, professionals, humanists and human rights advocates in their own right, is a sordid effort to grant a certificate of health to a communicable disease that common sense demands should be isolated. It is a confidence trick that speaks volumes of the perpetrators of such a fraud. We shall pass over – for instance – the slave mentality that concocts loose formulas for an Honours List that automatically elevate any violent bird of passage to the status of nation builders who may, or may not be demonstrably motivated by genuine love of nation.  According generalized but false attributes to known killers and treasury robbers is a disservice to history and a desecration of memory.  It also compromises the future. This failure to discriminate, to assess, and thereby make it possible to grudgingly concede that even out of a ‘doctrine of necessity’ – such as military dictatorship -  some demonstrable governance virtue may emerge, reveals nothing but national self-glorification in a moral void, the breeding grounds of future cankerworm in the nation’s edifice.

Such abandonment of moral rigour comes full circle sooner or later. The survivors of a plague known as Boko Haram, students in a place of enlightenment and moral instruction, are taken to a place of healing dedicated to an individual contagion – a murderer and thief of no redeeming quality known as Sanni Abacha, one whose plunder is still being pursued all over the world and recovered piecemeal by international consortiums – at the behest of this same government which sees fit to place him on the nation’s Roll of Honour! I can think of nothing more grotesque and derisive of the lifetime struggle of several on this list, and their selfless services to humanity. It all fits. In this nation of portent readers, the coincidence should not be too difficult to decipher.

I reject my share of this national insult.

Wole SOYINKA

• D wan wey dey make me shame be say we go dey give Lord Luggard Centenary Honour???
• For What??? Una be MUMU people....walahi.
• For ENSLAVING and ENTRAPPING us in awa present national Quagmire/Doldrums...abi?
• Ok O...Carry on, Jonah!!! Sebi dem say you be Doctor (PHD)??? I can see now dat your own na 'back-yard' Phd.