Madrid rout Schalke, Chelsea draw in Greece. Real Madrid cruised to a rare victory on German soil as they romped to a 6-1 win at Schalke 04 in Wednesday’sChampions League’s last 16, first-leg clash.
Chelsea earned a 1-1 draw in Istanbul, in their testy match with Galatasaray.
But the scoresheet gave Chelsea an upper hand.
The visitors led at half-time thanks to an early goal from Fernando Torres, but Galatasaray improved in the second half and restored parity after the hour mark when Cameroon defender Aurelien Chedjou found the net.
A draw was a fair reflection of the way the game went, but Chelsea will now hope to finish the job in the return at Stamford Bridge on March 18.
Real are now all but guaranteed a quarter-final place regardless of the return leg in Madrid on March 18 after Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale both netted twice in the rout.
Real’s Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo also scored twice to see him take over from Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the competition’s top-scorer with 11 European goals this season.
Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a 91st-minute consolation goal for Schalke, but the Royal Blues still suffered their heaviest defeat in European competition.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real are now unbeaten in their last 27 games dating back to October.
The huge victory went some way to correcting Real’s terrible away record in Germany as they made the Royal Blues of Schalke look anything but regal.
This was only Real’s second win in 26 visits to Germany after 18 defeats, including their 4-1 drubbing at Borussia Dortmund in last season’s Champions League’s semi-final.
Real needed just 13 minutes to take the lead at the Veltins Arena as their star-studded attack clicked into gear.
Wales winger Bale cut in from the right, Ronaldo flicked his pass into space and Benzema beat the Welshman to the loose ball and fired past Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann.
Schalke almost immediately equalised as teenage midfielder Max Meyer fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy after Ilker Casillas had blocked Julian Draxler’s shot.
Schalke were punished for wasting their rare opportunity and with 21 minutes gone, Bale held off two Schalke defenders to make it 2-0 with La Liga leaders in full control.
Schalke’s situation was not helped by Ronaldo effortlessly switching with Bale from the left to the right wing midway through the first half, only to revert back after the break.
Schalke came out all guns blazing for the second-half as Kevin-Prince Boateng forced Casillas into a rare save.
But Ronaldo finally got on the scoresheet at the fourth attempt to claim his 10th European goal of the season in his sixth Champions League match.
He effortlessly turned Cameroon centre-back Joel Matip inside, then out before tucking the ball just inside the far post with 52 minutes gone.
Just five minutes later, his deft backheel fell into Benzema’s path for the Frenchman to drill home his second of the night and Real’s fourth past the despairing Faehrmann.
It was one-way traffic by now and Bale scored his second and Real’s fifth when Sergio Ramos’s through ball was driven low into the bottom left-hand corner on 69 minutes.
Ronaldo then grabbed his second on 89 minutes to leave him with 36 goals in 33 games for Real before Huntelaar finally put Schalke on the board just before the final whistle.
The Royal Blues face another tough challenge ahead of the return trip to Spain as they face European champions Bayern Munich away in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Wednesday 26 February 2014
Ike Uche Lacks Technical Discipline And Won't Go To The World Cup - Stephen Keshi
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has closed the door on striker Ikechukwu Uche for the World Cup, saying he lacks tactical discipline.
Uche has been one of Nigeria’s reliable goal scorers and has scored 12 goals this season for Villarreal.
On Monday night, the striker returned to action after he was sidelined by injury for two weeks.
He last featured for Nigeria in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations against Burkina Faso.
Keshi speaking to MTNFootball.com from his base in the United States said, "Ikechukwu Uche is not a player I have not seen play. Ike Uche problem is not knowing how to play football.
“His problem is that he wants to dictate how we play in Super Eagles, he wants to tell us the system we’re playing is not good.
"Uche he has a very bad habit, that if you put him in the game he is not playing to instructions and he did that in the final of AFCON against Burkina Faso, he almost cost us.
“Again he did that against Zambia, in the second match when (Efe) Ambrose was given a red card. What we told him to do, he was doing the opposite."
Keshi added: "And if you don't respect your team mates and you don't respect the team, then there is no point. I know he cannot do that in his club, then why do it in the national team?
"I don't think I need a player like that in the team."
Uche has been one of Nigeria’s reliable goal scorers and has scored 12 goals this season for Villarreal.
On Monday night, the striker returned to action after he was sidelined by injury for two weeks.
He last featured for Nigeria in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations against Burkina Faso.
Keshi speaking to MTNFootball.com from his base in the United States said, "Ikechukwu Uche is not a player I have not seen play. Ike Uche problem is not knowing how to play football.
“His problem is that he wants to dictate how we play in Super Eagles, he wants to tell us the system we’re playing is not good.
"Uche he has a very bad habit, that if you put him in the game he is not playing to instructions and he did that in the final of AFCON against Burkina Faso, he almost cost us.
“Again he did that against Zambia, in the second match when (Efe) Ambrose was given a red card. What we told him to do, he was doing the opposite."
Keshi added: "And if you don't respect your team mates and you don't respect the team, then there is no point. I know he cannot do that in his club, then why do it in the national team?
"I don't think I need a player like that in the team."
After Boarding School Massacre Nigerian Senate Orders Army To North East
With school children dead in Yobe State, the Senate Defence Committee ordered the Nigerian Army to the North East today to provide protection.
On Wednesday, school children at a boarding school in Yobe state were burned or shot when the Islamist group, Boko Haram set the school on fire.
Boko Haram means “Western education is sinful,” in the Hausa language.
President Goodluck Jonathan called the attack “callous and senseless murder…”
The Senate Defence Committee, chaired by Senator George Thompson Sekibo suspended budget hearings to pass a resolution which ordered the Nigerian Army to the North East.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah was ordered to provide security for all schools and health institutions in the Boko Haram affected areas to include Maiduguri and Yobe.
General Minimah thanked the Committee for its concern and said, “…it will be the last of such from the insurgents.”
The resolution, introduction by Senator Ojudu from Ekiti Central, was critical of the military’s failure to pick up intelligence before the attack and its slowness to respond to the attack for five hours.
Ojudu said, “The North East calls for special attention and we should not be seating down here in Abuja discussing budget while our young ones are being slaughtered in cold blood.”
The motion by Senator Ojudu, was seconded by Senator Jubrilla Bindo, Vice Chairman of the Committee.
The resolution condemned the atrocities caused by Boko Haram and the Committee regrets the killing of school children in Yoba.
It ordered the army to develop a strategy to curb to the attacks of Boko Haram using all military resources, and relocate to Maiduguri temporarily.
All schools and health institutions to be provided with special security.
And the Committee of Defense invited the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide the Armed Forces with what it needs.
The Committee of Defence will tour the three affected states when the Senate resumes it plenary.
The budget hearing was suspended until a future dat
On Wednesday, school children at a boarding school in Yobe state were burned or shot when the Islamist group, Boko Haram set the school on fire.
Boko Haram means “Western education is sinful,” in the Hausa language.
President Goodluck Jonathan called the attack “callous and senseless murder…”
The Senate Defence Committee, chaired by Senator George Thompson Sekibo suspended budget hearings to pass a resolution which ordered the Nigerian Army to the North East.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah was ordered to provide security for all schools and health institutions in the Boko Haram affected areas to include Maiduguri and Yobe.
General Minimah thanked the Committee for its concern and said, “…it will be the last of such from the insurgents.”
The resolution, introduction by Senator Ojudu from Ekiti Central, was critical of the military’s failure to pick up intelligence before the attack and its slowness to respond to the attack for five hours.
Ojudu said, “The North East calls for special attention and we should not be seating down here in Abuja discussing budget while our young ones are being slaughtered in cold blood.”
The motion by Senator Ojudu, was seconded by Senator Jubrilla Bindo, Vice Chairman of the Committee.
The resolution condemned the atrocities caused by Boko Haram and the Committee regrets the killing of school children in Yoba.
It ordered the army to develop a strategy to curb to the attacks of Boko Haram using all military resources, and relocate to Maiduguri temporarily.
All schools and health institutions to be provided with special security.
And the Committee of Defense invited the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide the Armed Forces with what it needs.
The Committee of Defence will tour the three affected states when the Senate resumes it plenary.
The budget hearing was suspended until a future dat
Why Girls Were Spared And Only Boys Were Killed in YOBE ATTACK
Mass killing of school children at the Federal Government College in the Buni Yadi area of Yobe was shrouded in mystery after reports revealed that only male students were killed.
It has been learnt, however that the extremists intentionally spared the female students.
According to the officials, female students at the co-ed school were spared – and that the attackers instead told them to go home and get married and to abandon their Western education (Boko Haram – meaning “against Western education”).
It would be recalled that the attackers set a locked dormitory on fire in the early hours of Tuesday.
The terrified students escaped through the windows, they were shot and their throats were slit. Some were burned to ashes.
The massacre was followed by violent reactions by Nigerians and top politicians, urging the authorities to put an end to bloodshed in the country.
It has been learnt, however that the extremists intentionally spared the female students.
According to the officials, female students at the co-ed school were spared – and that the attackers instead told them to go home and get married and to abandon their Western education (Boko Haram – meaning “against Western education”).
It would be recalled that the attackers set a locked dormitory on fire in the early hours of Tuesday.
The terrified students escaped through the windows, they were shot and their throats were slit. Some were burned to ashes.
The massacre was followed by violent reactions by Nigerians and top politicians, urging the authorities to put an end to bloodshed in the country.
Sanusi Sues President Jonathan, Questions His Suspension From Office
Suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has dragged President Goodluck Jonathan before a Federal High Court siting in Abuja over his suspension from office.
The ousted apex bank boss is urging the court to restrain the president, the attorney general of the federation and the inspector general of police from giving effect to his purported suspension from office as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, pending the determination of his suit.
He also wants the court to make an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from obstructing, disturbing, stopping or preventing him in any manner whatsoever from performing the functions of his office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and enjoying in full, the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office of the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.
In the suit filed on behalf of the ousted CBN boss by his lawyers led by Chief Kola Awodein, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sanusi told the court that his interlocutory application was necessary because of the issues raised in the suit and that delay might likely entail irreparable and serious damage and mischief on him in the exercise of his statutory duties as the CBN governor.
He urged the court to exercise its discretion in his favour by granting the interlocutory injunctions as the president’s continuing unlawful interference with the management and administration of the apex bank, unless arrested, posed grave danger for Nigeria’s economy and justified the court granting his application which would result in maintaining status quo ante bellum for his return to his office as the governor of the CBN.
In the affidavit deposed in support of his application, the suspended CBN boss averred that in the course of his duties, that he discovered certain discrepancies in respect of amounts repatriated to the federation account from the proceed of crude oil sales between the period of January, 2012 and July, 2013 and that he expressed concern in respect of the said discrepancies and had cause to inform the National Assembly of the said discrepancies because they affected the revenue of the federation and the national economy.
He further stated that the actions of President Goodluck Jonathan, in purporting to suspend him from office, was aimed at punishing him for these disclosures.
He also stated that he was challenging the president’s power to suspend him from office noting that the president neither approached nor obtain the support of the Senate, based on his discussions with several senators, including Senator Bukola Saraki.
“I have been informed, and I verily believe the information given to me by Senator Bukola Saraki to be true and correct that the Senate did not give the president any support for my purported suspension and removal from office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Sanusi further stated that the actions of the president in suspending him from office was contrary to provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act relating to the appointment and removal of the CBN governor and that his purported suspension amounts to unlawful interference in the administration and management of the apex bank and was illegal, null and void and urged the court, in the interest of justice, to grant his reliefs.
The suit which was filed late Monday afternoon is still at the Federal High Court’s Registry in Abuja awaiting to be assigned to a judge for the hearing of the suit.
The ousted apex bank boss is urging the court to restrain the president, the attorney general of the federation and the inspector general of police from giving effect to his purported suspension from office as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, pending the determination of his suit.
He also wants the court to make an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from obstructing, disturbing, stopping or preventing him in any manner whatsoever from performing the functions of his office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and enjoying in full, the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office of the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.
In the suit filed on behalf of the ousted CBN boss by his lawyers led by Chief Kola Awodein, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sanusi told the court that his interlocutory application was necessary because of the issues raised in the suit and that delay might likely entail irreparable and serious damage and mischief on him in the exercise of his statutory duties as the CBN governor.
He urged the court to exercise its discretion in his favour by granting the interlocutory injunctions as the president’s continuing unlawful interference with the management and administration of the apex bank, unless arrested, posed grave danger for Nigeria’s economy and justified the court granting his application which would result in maintaining status quo ante bellum for his return to his office as the governor of the CBN.
In the affidavit deposed in support of his application, the suspended CBN boss averred that in the course of his duties, that he discovered certain discrepancies in respect of amounts repatriated to the federation account from the proceed of crude oil sales between the period of January, 2012 and July, 2013 and that he expressed concern in respect of the said discrepancies and had cause to inform the National Assembly of the said discrepancies because they affected the revenue of the federation and the national economy.
He further stated that the actions of President Goodluck Jonathan, in purporting to suspend him from office, was aimed at punishing him for these disclosures.
He also stated that he was challenging the president’s power to suspend him from office noting that the president neither approached nor obtain the support of the Senate, based on his discussions with several senators, including Senator Bukola Saraki.
“I have been informed, and I verily believe the information given to me by Senator Bukola Saraki to be true and correct that the Senate did not give the president any support for my purported suspension and removal from office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Sanusi further stated that the actions of the president in suspending him from office was contrary to provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act relating to the appointment and removal of the CBN governor and that his purported suspension amounts to unlawful interference in the administration and management of the apex bank and was illegal, null and void and urged the court, in the interest of justice, to grant his reliefs.
The suit which was filed late Monday afternoon is still at the Federal High Court’s Registry in Abuja awaiting to be assigned to a judge for the hearing of the suit.
Boko Haram Gunmen Kill 40 Students At Federal Govt. College In Yobe, Jonathan condemns killing
members has in early hour of today attacked and killed dozens students of Federal Government College Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State. Yobe state Police Commissioner, Sanusi A Rufai confirmed that twenty nine male students were killed and twenty four structures that include the Administration block, students hostel and staff quarters were burnt down.
A resident in the area said he has counted 39 lifeless bodies within the premises. “The attackers started the operation around 12:15 unpertubed until after 4 am, the students were slaughtered and fired with guns.
I counted 39 copses” he said. Daily trust gathered that the assailants stormed the school premises in 6 Hilux pick up vans and motorcycles and separated only the male students before they opened fire on them. “It was too horrible because, some of the students were slaughtered, some were burnt inside the hostel”, a source said.
He said that many school structures were burnt down along with the occupants including the staff quarters residents in Gujba.
The source also stated that three ambulances passed to the school to convey the dead and injured. Armed Security operatives were seen moving to the town, although there was no telecommunication network in the area. Army spokesman, Captain Eli Lazarus confirmed the attack adding that they are yet to know the number of casualties.
Our dear president needs to stop condemning and start preventing, biko. See a State House Press Release condemning the attack below...
A resident in the area said he has counted 39 lifeless bodies within the premises. “The attackers started the operation around 12:15 unpertubed until after 4 am, the students were slaughtered and fired with guns.
I counted 39 copses” he said. Daily trust gathered that the assailants stormed the school premises in 6 Hilux pick up vans and motorcycles and separated only the male students before they opened fire on them. “It was too horrible because, some of the students were slaughtered, some were burnt inside the hostel”, a source said.
He said that many school structures were burnt down along with the occupants including the staff quarters residents in Gujba.
The source also stated that three ambulances passed to the school to convey the dead and injured. Armed Security operatives were seen moving to the town, although there was no telecommunication network in the area. Army spokesman, Captain Eli Lazarus confirmed the attack adding that they are yet to know the number of casualties.
Our dear president needs to stop condemning and start preventing, biko. See a State House Press Release condemning the attack below...
Sunday 23 February 2014
Suspension Of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi: An Indication Of Corruption Fighting Back
MALLAM SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria is nothing but a fight back by the powerful forces of corruption in the structure of the Nigerian State. It is sad that a regime that seeks to be perceived as fighting corruption can have the effrontery to suspend a CBN governor who has been revealing leakages in the fuel subsidy scam in Nigeria.
The position of the law is that the right to suspend must be expressly stated; it cannot be implied (See Warburton v. Taff Vale Railway Co. (1902) 18 TLR. 420). Section 8(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 provides that the Governor and Deputy Governors “shall be appointed by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate”. In the same way, the proviso to section 11 (2) of the CBN Act states that the removal of the Governor, Deputy Governor and Director of the CBN by the President is subject to being supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate. From the foregoing provisions of the CBN Act, there is no provision for the suspension of the CBN Governor, Deputy Governor or Director. The suspension of MALLAM SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI is therefore not only illegal, it is ultra vires the powers of Mr. President.
The legal fight to resist the illegal removal of MALLAM SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI should not be left to Sanusi alone but should be taken up by the National Assembly, whose role in a removal process has been usurped by Mr. President. The Senate should not only reject the nominees of Mr. President to replaceMALLAM SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI, it (Senate) should also invoke the provisions of the Supreme Court (Additional Jurisdiction) Act, No. 3, 2002 CAP S16, LFN 2004 and challenge, in the court of law, the patent illegality of the usurpation of the statutory role prescribed for the Senate in the suspension of Sanusi as the CBN Governor.
Although I do not agree with MALLAM SANUSI that the NNPC ought not to be subsidizing kerosene on the ground that a Presidential directive had allegedly terminated subsidy on this product, which is used by majority of poor Nigerians, the import of SANUSI’s position, which we should not lose sight of, is that fuel (petrol and kerosene) subsidy has been used as a pretext of looting public wealth by a few. From this standpoint, Sanusi and the anti-corruption cause he represents should be supported by well meaning Nigerian masses. Although Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had advocated certain anti-worker and anti-people positions in the past, particularly on rationalization of mass sack of workers, removal of petroleum subsidy, and so on, all those retrogressive positions he had taken in the past are no basis for supporting the injustice being meted out to him at the present time. Injustice must be condemned at all times, regardless of the person or class of persons who happens to be the victim.
The position of the law is that the right to suspend must be expressly stated; it cannot be implied (See Warburton v. Taff Vale Railway Co. (1902) 18 TLR. 420). Section 8(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 provides that the Governor and Deputy Governors “shall be appointed by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate”. In the same way, the proviso to section 11 (2) of the CBN Act states that the removal of the Governor, Deputy Governor and Director of the CBN by the President is subject to being supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate. From the foregoing provisions of the CBN Act, there is no provision for the suspension of the CBN Governor, Deputy Governor or Director. The suspension of MALLAM SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI is therefore not only illegal, it is ultra vires the powers of Mr. President.
The legal fight to resist the illegal removal of MALLAM SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI should not be left to Sanusi alone but should be taken up by the National Assembly, whose role in a removal process has been usurped by Mr. President. The Senate should not only reject the nominees of Mr. President to replaceMALLAM SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI, it (Senate) should also invoke the provisions of the Supreme Court (Additional Jurisdiction) Act, No. 3, 2002 CAP S16, LFN 2004 and challenge, in the court of law, the patent illegality of the usurpation of the statutory role prescribed for the Senate in the suspension of Sanusi as the CBN Governor.
Although I do not agree with MALLAM SANUSI that the NNPC ought not to be subsidizing kerosene on the ground that a Presidential directive had allegedly terminated subsidy on this product, which is used by majority of poor Nigerians, the import of SANUSI’s position, which we should not lose sight of, is that fuel (petrol and kerosene) subsidy has been used as a pretext of looting public wealth by a few. From this standpoint, Sanusi and the anti-corruption cause he represents should be supported by well meaning Nigerian masses. Although Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had advocated certain anti-worker and anti-people positions in the past, particularly on rationalization of mass sack of workers, removal of petroleum subsidy, and so on, all those retrogressive positions he had taken in the past are no basis for supporting the injustice being meted out to him at the present time. Injustice must be condemned at all times, regardless of the person or class of persons who happens to be the victim.
Thursday 13 February 2014
Jonathan told me he would not serve more than one term – Obasanjo
Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday restated his argument that President Goodluck Jonathan promised to serve just one term.
This is coming barely two months after the politician-turned pastor in a controversial letter disclosed that Jonathan vowed to serve for just four years.
Speaking to Bloomberg News, a London-based tabloid, yesterday, Obasanjo said during the 2011 election campaigns, Jonathan promised not to serve beyond a single term.
“President Jonathan said, not only once, twice, publicly, not only in Nigeria, outside Nigeria, that he would have one term, and said that to me,” Obasanjo said.
In the interview, Obasanjo challenged Jonathan to be a man of his words while reminding the president of the implication of not keeping one’s vows.
“One of the things that is very important in the life of any man or any person, is that he should be a man or person of his word,” Obasanjo said, adding that “If you decide that your word should not be taken seriously, that’s entirely up to you.”
In the report, Bloomberg News added that its effort to reach the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, proved abortive as his phones were switched off.
“Reuben Abati, Jonathan’s spokesman, could not be reached on his mobile phone for comment, as it was switched off,” Bloomberg News stated.
Obasanjo in a letter he wrote to Jonathan stated that the president told him he would seek one term in office. The letter read in part: “Up till two months ago, Mr. President, you told me that you have not told anybody that you would contest in 2015. I quickly pointed out to you that the signs and the measures on the ground do not tally with your statement. You said the same to one other person who shared his observation with me
“And only a fool would believe that statement you made to me judging by what is going on. I must say that it is not ingenious. You may wish to pursue a more credible and more honourable path. Although, you have not formally informed me one way or the other, it will be necessary to refresh your memory of what transpired in 2011. I had gone to Benue State for the marriage of one of my staff, Vitalis Ortese. Governor Suswam was my hospitable host.
“He told me that you had accepted a one-term Presidency to allow for ease of getting support across the board in the North. I decided to cross-check with you. You did not hesitate to confirm to me that you are a strong believer in a one-term of six years for the president and that by the time you have used the unexpired time of your predecessor and the four years of your first term, you would have almost used up to six years and you would not need any more term or time. Later, I heard from other sources including sources close to you that you made the same commitment elsewhere, hence my inclusion of it in my address at the finale of your campaign in 2011…”
But in its reply to the former president’s letter, President Jonathan said,“You quoted me as saying that I have not told anybody that I will seek another term in office in 2015. You and your ambitious acolytes within the party have clearly decided to act on your conclusion that ‘only a fool will believe that statement’ and embark on a virulent campaign to harass me out of an undeclared candidature for the 2015 presidential elections to pave the way for a successor anointed by you.
“You will recall that you serially advised me that we should refrain from discussing the 2015 general elections for now so as not to distract elected public officials from urgent task of governance. While you have apparently moved away from that position, I am still of the considered opinion that it would have been best for us to do all that is necessary to refrain from heating up the polity at this time.
“Accordingly, I have already informed Nigerians that I will only speak on whether or not I will seek a second term when it is time for such declarations.
Your claims about discussions I had with you, Governor Gabriel Suswam and others are wrong, but in keeping with my declared stance, I will reserve further comments until the appropriate time.”
Jonathan sacks Oduah, three other ministers
Less than 48 hours after ordering his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, to resign, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday sacked four ministers from the Federal Executive Council.
The affected persons are the ministers of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah; Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe; Police Affairs, Navy Cpt. Caleb Olubolade; and the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama.
All the ministers, except Oduah, attended the FEC meeting on Wednesday at which Jonathan announced their exit.
Oduah had been in the eye of the storm since last year over the purchase of two bulletproof BMW cars for N255m on her behalf by a parastatal under the ministry, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Apart from the amount spent on the cars, which was found to be grossly above the market value, Nigerians also queried the propriety of the purchase by a parastatal that was finding it difficult to train key personnel responsible for aviation safety.
The House of Representatives, based on the report of a committee it set up to investigate the matter, had asked Jonathan to review Oduah’s appointment.
Following public outcry that greeted the news of the car purchase, Jonathan had set up a three-man administrative panel headed by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello, to investigate the matter.
Although he had on November 24, 2013 publicly acknowledged receipt of the panel’s report, the President did not disclose the content of the report nor take any decision based on the report for many weeks.
Briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly FEC meeting on Wednesday, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said the President informed the council that he had asked the affected ministers to step out of his cabinet to enable them to pursue other political and private interests.
He said, “Today, the President announced further changes in the Federal Executive Council. He said a number of ministers have been asked to step out of the council to further their own interests; some in politics, others in their own private focus.
“Clearly, what the President did today (Wednesday) was to allow the ministers who have indicated interest in pursuing further goals in the polity, in the economy and in the life of the country, to go.
“Those asked by the President to go include the following: Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama; Minister of Police Affairs, Navy-Capt. Caleb Olubolade (retd.); Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; and Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.”
Maku added, “In announcing the acceptance of their decision to participate in the polity, the President thanked them very sincerely for the great job they have done in helping the government realise the goals that have been achieved under the transformation agenda.
“The President believes that they have done so well for this administration and is generally happy with what they have done, particularly in their various sectors, to help the administration realise the goals we have seen today in the results we have arrived at under the transformation programme of the government.”
When asked to clarify if the ministers resigned their appointments or were asked to step down, Maku said, “The President said he had asked them to go because of their interests. They have indicated interests in pursuing higher and deeper interests in the polity; and so, he has decided to allow them to go and pursue those interests. You have to get that correctly so that you won’t go and say something like what was said in the case of the former Chief of Staff (to the President).”
When further asked whether the President, in sacking the ministers, made any reference to the report of the committee he set up to probe Oduah or preferred to confine the report to the dustbin of history, Maku paused for a few minutes before saying, “I have just reported exactly what the President said. Also, don’t forget that an allegation doesn’t necessarily mean guilt, and I think the press should always take some time to be patient.
“But the truth of the matter is that they left because they indicated interest in playing deeper roles in the politics of the country and the President has decided to let them go.”
Pending when substantive ministers would be named, Maku said the President had directed some members of his cabinet to take over at the affected ministries in acting capacity.
Under the arrangement, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, will be supervising the Aviation ministry; the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide, will supervise the Police Affairs ministry; the Minister of State, Niger Delta, Mr. Dairus Ishaku, will assume control over the ministry; while the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will take over Ngama’s duties.
Olubolade and Orubebe left the Presidential Villa shortly after the FEC meeting before the news of their removal filtered to journalists.
Ngama, on his part, declined granting an interview to journalists covering the State House, insisting that he would only talk to Hausa correspondents, whom he engaged in discussion for several minutes before walking out of the Villa.
The last time Jonathan sacked ministers was on September 11, 2013 when he showed nine members of his cabinet the way out.
The ministers who were then affected included that of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufai; Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Ewa; Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru; Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia; National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman; and Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple.
Others were the ministers of State for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada; Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijani; and Power, Mrs. Zainab Kuchi.
Reacting to the sacking of Oduah, the President, Aviation Roundtable, Capt. Dele Ore, said, “Whether it is sacking or resignation is immaterial. The important thing is that she is off the back of the ministry; and now, the Ministry of Aviation can move forward. During her tenure, I would say the aviation industry was moved 60 years backwards.
“On the issue of whether she should be prosecuted or not, I can’t comment on that; I am only interested in aviation safety and things to do with the industry.”
The Chief Executive Officer, Centurion Security and Safety Consult, Group Captain John Ojikutu, said, “Well, I think the resignation or removal is long overdue. Her cup was full.
“I think she has given some of us in this industry the last laugh, which lent some credence to what we have been saying since; forget all the talk about remodelling, that one was just an ambience thing. I should have expected people to look beyond all that. In my opinion, she messed up the entire aviation ministry.”
Saturday 8 February 2014
WAEC Introduces 39 New Subjects To Begin May/June 2014
The West African Examinations Council has announced the introduction of 39 new subjects in its examinations, said the acting head, Test Development Division, Mrs. Olayinka Ajibade.
The new subjects expected to commence in this year’s May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination was in accordance with the Nigerian Education Research and Development Council’s new secondary school curriculum, Ajibade noted.
She made the announcement while delivering a paper titled “The New Senior Secondary Education Curriculum in Nigeria: Implications for Assessment” at the council’s monthly seminar in Lagos on Friday.
“The implementation of the new SSCE curricula began in September 2011, meaning that the maiden public examinations based on the new/ revised curricula are expected to be held in May/ June 2014?
“Each WASSCE syllabus is derived from the senior secondary education curriculum. In addition to the 39 new subjects for which NERDC engaged in curriculum development, curriculum review was also carried out for 35 existing subjects.”
In the new curriculum, four new subjects- Computer Studies, Insurance, Store Management and Office Practice- are in the electives category, while the remaining 35 subjects are in the Trades category.
Painting and Decorating, Photography, Salesmanship, Plumbing and Pipe Fitting, and Upholstery are in the trade category.
Ajibade added that under the fresh directive, students would be required to take four core subjects, comprising English Language, General Mathematics, Civic Education and Trade/ Entrepreneurial Studies.
The candidates, she added, would be required to choose three or four subjects from Humanities, Science, Technology and Business Studies depending on their potential and interest.
The new subjects expected to commence in this year’s May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination was in accordance with the Nigerian Education Research and Development Council’s new secondary school curriculum, Ajibade noted.
She made the announcement while delivering a paper titled “The New Senior Secondary Education Curriculum in Nigeria: Implications for Assessment” at the council’s monthly seminar in Lagos on Friday.
“The implementation of the new SSCE curricula began in September 2011, meaning that the maiden public examinations based on the new/ revised curricula are expected to be held in May/ June 2014?
“Each WASSCE syllabus is derived from the senior secondary education curriculum. In addition to the 39 new subjects for which NERDC engaged in curriculum development, curriculum review was also carried out for 35 existing subjects.”
In the new curriculum, four new subjects- Computer Studies, Insurance, Store Management and Office Practice- are in the electives category, while the remaining 35 subjects are in the Trades category.
Painting and Decorating, Photography, Salesmanship, Plumbing and Pipe Fitting, and Upholstery are in the trade category.
Ajibade added that under the fresh directive, students would be required to take four core subjects, comprising English Language, General Mathematics, Civic Education and Trade/ Entrepreneurial Studies.
The candidates, she added, would be required to choose three or four subjects from Humanities, Science, Technology and Business Studies depending on their potential and interest.
50,000 as Monthly Allowance for Virgins at National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
It’s good news for Virgins who are currently partaking in this year’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program as President Goodluck Jonathan through the NYSC Director General, Brig. Gen. Nnamdi Okorie-Affia has just announced that, instead of N19,800, Virgin Corps Members will be receiving N50,000 as monthly allowance.
The President said it was an incentive for “Girls to keep themselves for their husbands” and also as a way of congratulating girls who “managed to keep their hymens intact in such a trying times as we have today”.
So far, only 28 girls nation-wide have been confirmed as virgins and have recieved their 1st N50,000 allowance. Pharmacies have also reported a 234% increase in demand for Alum, womanliness tighteners and Hymen Reforming creams and drugs.
Boys have also protested, saying Male Virgin Corps Members also deserve N50k, but the NYSC says there’s no way to confirm that.
Some girls also protested at NYSC Headquarters this morning, claiming theywere virgins up until Camp Fire night, so theyshould qualify to receive the N50k. Their pleas have fallen on deaf ears so far.
The President said it was an incentive for “Girls to keep themselves for their husbands” and also as a way of congratulating girls who “managed to keep their hymens intact in such a trying times as we have today”.
So far, only 28 girls nation-wide have been confirmed as virgins and have recieved their 1st N50,000 allowance. Pharmacies have also reported a 234% increase in demand for Alum, womanliness tighteners and Hymen Reforming creams and drugs.
Boys have also protested, saying Male Virgin Corps Members also deserve N50k, but the NYSC says there’s no way to confirm that.
Some girls also protested at NYSC Headquarters this morning, claiming theywere virgins up until Camp Fire night, so theyshould qualify to receive the N50k. Their pleas have fallen on deaf ears so far.
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