NAIJA NEWS

Dr. Olusegun Agagu, the 15th Governor of Ondo State is dead.

The death of the former Governor (May 2003 – February 2009) was announced yesterday Friday 13th September 2013 by Ayo Fadaka, the Public Secretary of the People’s Democractic Party, Ondo, Channels TV reports. 

He was 65 years old.
According to his wikipedia page,the former avaition minister reportedly died after he slumped in Lagos.

He reportedly died on Friday at about 8 pm in his Bodija, Ibadan residence 24 hours after returning from a foreign trip, family sources confirmed last night..The former governor was said to have been hale and hearty as he showed no sign of sickness before he suddenly slumped and died.It was gathered that Agagu had travelled to the United States of America (USA) for over three weeks. He returned to the country on Thursday.His death came as a shock and surprise to many, particularly his political associates and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.He was said to have held meetings with members of the party moments before his death.It was also learnt that the former governor had fixed next Thursday for a general meeting of the party members where he was expected to address them on the position of the state in the crisis rocking the PDP.

Besides, he was said to have held consultations with many party members in Ondo State on the way forward as he was bombarded with calls over the development.His death also came at a point he was to lead two other elders of the party from the southwest to deliberate and find solutions to the crisis in various states of the region.Olusegun Kokumo Agagu, born 16 February 1948, was Governor of Ondo State  from 29 May 2003 until February 2009.He commenced his elementary education at St. Luke’s Anglican School, (now known as St. Paul’s Anglican School) Okitipupa, in 1954. In January 1958, he moved to live with his cousin, Edward Fagbohun in Ibadan, where he continued his primary education at Ebenezer African Church School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. In 1959 he transferred to Kano  where he studied at the Ebenezer Methodist School and Baptist Primary School Sabon-Gari, Kano. He then moved back to Ebenezer African Church School, Ibadan where he completed his primary education in 1960. Thereafter, he was in Ibadan Grammar School between January 1961 and 1967 where he passed his West African School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate examinations. He was admitted to the University of Ibadan in 1968 to study Botany but later changed to Geology in which he graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Second Class Upper Division, in 1971. As an undergraduate, his academic record was replete with laurels and prizes.Agagu went to the University of Texas between 1973 and 1974 for his Masters degree in Geology. Returning to Nigeria, he obtained a Ph.D degree in Petroleum Geology from the University of Ibadan in 1978.Agagu was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo as his first minister of Aviation in 1999. On 29 June 2006 President Olusegun Obasanjo commended him for the work he had done leading Ondo State, saying “You have taken time to plan. We have also seen that the execution of the plan is now showing results.”

Sacked Ministers were Nominated by New PDP Chieftains

The Kawu Baraje-led factional new Peoples Democratic Party(New PDP),on Friday lamented the sack of some Ministers by President Goodluck Jonathan and alleged that those affected were sympathetic to or nominated by them.
According to THIS DAY LIVE, a statement issued by the NewPDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said the sack of the ministers was an act of vendetta since their removal stemmed from their being nominated by members of their party. 
Eze said “We are aware that these Ministers had been under surveillance and denied the necessary tools to work with – in short, they were programmed to fail immediately they were identified with us. Sadly, these innocent Ministers have been sacked while the most corrupt Ministers, whose atrocious activities are well known to Nigerians, are retained".
“The most pitiable case of these sacked ministers is that of our mother, the Minister of Housing, Ms Ama Pepple, whose crime was approaching Mr. President to plead with him, even kneeling down to beg him to forgive Governor. Amaechi for whatever sins he is assumed to have committed against him”, the New PDP claimed.
He assured that “They have nothing to be ashamed of; their fate is in the hands of God and their future is very bright".
The faction appealed to all former Heads of State, Religious Leaders, Royal Fathers, Civil Society Activists and all men of goodwill to intervene before the country was plunged into anarchy.
“This Country belongs to all of us and we can no longer sit and watch an over ambitious cabal intoxicated by power brazenly inflict needless pain on us on a daily basis”.
“We urge our supporters to continue to exercise patience and avoid the temptation to meet force with force so as not to play into the hands of our enemies. We also urge all Nigerians to intensify prayers for God to touch the hearts of our leaders so that these dark days of General Abacha during which people are haunted for expressing their views may be cut short”, the statement added.
Meanwhile more theories have continued to circulate as to the real reasons behind the sack of nine ministers last Wednesday with a minister in attendance who pleaded anonymity saying it was aimed at opening talks with some people from the zones affected.
The Ministers, especially those considered to be performing well on their portfolios, were mostly from states where President Jonathan seemed to be having issues with the PDP leadership.

We no longer have democracy in this country –

 Amaech

Rivers State governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Friday described his recent clash with men of the Nigeria police who denied him entry into the state house as the height of lawlessness and impunity, saying that there’s no more democracy in the country.The governor who stated this at an event in Port Harcourt explained that Nigerians were now living in an era where people no longer have respect for the rule of law.He said, “All of you saw how the former Speakers came down from the vehicle to tell them (police) where we were coming from, but the Police resisted. It is for Nigerians to see that we no longer have democracy in this country. We are now in a regime where the law is no longer supreme. We must rise up to challenge this impunity against our democracy.”“The National Assembly and the various state Houses of Assembly should address the retirement and welfare of ex-lawmakers, it is very important,” Amaechi added.Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the former Speakers’ Forum and ex-Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Simon Lalong, described the action of the police as the highest level of impunity in the nation.Lalong urged the National Assembly to call for the immediate resignation of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.Speaking on behalf of the ex-speakers, Lalong said that if the police could be so cruel to a governor, it means ordinary Nigerians were not safe.He said, “I don’t think it is really police overzealousness, but the police are been controlled by higher authorities. So, if that is what is happening, I think people should collectively call for the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police.“Very soon, maybe they will start arresting people in their houses. I wonder what is really happening. I think the President must intervene in this issue.”Similarly, a former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, has condemned the action of the police towards governor Amaechi.Mamora said, “I think, to say the least, that (roadblock) was quite unfortunate because we were coming from an inspection of projects. More than 70 former speakers were in the governor’s (Amaechi) entourage to inspect projects and on our way back to the Government House, we discovered that we just couldn't pass because the road had been blocked.”