TODAY NEWS
Rebelling PDP Governors, President Jonathan, Agree To ‘Ceasefire
A group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors which met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Rock villa tonight agreed to observe a “ceasefire” until final discussions on October 7 to iron out differences they have with the president.
An aide to President Jonathan said the air around the meeting gave them hope that the disagreements between the president’s faction and the ‘New PDP’ might be resolved on that date.
But one of the governors in attendance told SaharaReporters the meeting specifically achieved only the specific purpose of compelling both sides to avoid escalating the issues further.
He some of them were opposed to issuing a statement at the end of tonight’s out of concern that it could be manipulated by the president’s team.
He pointed out that before they could iron out any differences, the governor of Cross Rivers State, Liyel Imoke, had already drafted a statement to which they agreed so as to give peace a chance. the handwritten statement was later read by the Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu
The focus of tonight’s meeting was mostly Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who members of Mr. Jonathan’s team presented as being too “belligerent” and having had an upper hand in the media.
The president reportedly told Amaechi to allow a statement to be issued if he doesn’t have anything personal against him.
Governor Amaechi reportedly replied he does not, adding that it would however make more sense to wait till October 7 before any statement was issued.
The meeting with the governors preceded the enlarged meeting at the villa today where they agreed not to question Mr. Jonathan’s firing of Ministers offloaded last week.
First Lady denies involvement in Enugu Disco
Patience Jonathan has denied reports that she involve in the sale of the Enugu Disco an electricity distribution company.
The statement signed by Ayo O. Adesugba (Mrs.) Director of Information, Office of the First Lady said that the repot was devoid of facts.
The statement read thus
Our attention has been drawn to an on-line article published in Sahara Reporters titled
“Nigeria’s First Lady, Vice President behind the Enugu Disco Sale Fiasco.” Normally, the hearsay and conjectures in the article should have been ignored due to the fact that it is speculative journalism at its worst. Additionally, the article as it pertains to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is devoid of any concrete evidence or supporting documents. However, since the First Lady’s name has been mentioned in the article we are duty bound to respond so that the public will not be unwittingly misled.
According to Sahara Reporters “A major source in the Presidency disclosed that Mrs. Jonathan is the unseen hand behind the constant bending of rules for Interstate by both the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the National Council on Privatization (NCP).”
The report further states that, “The reason for the First Lady’s meddling is that Emeka Offor, leader of the Interstate consortium, has convinced her he would protect her secret business interest in the consortium.”
The article goes further to claim that, “Mr. Offor confided in associates early this week that he had advised Mrs. Jonathan, who hails from Rivers State as Persister, to put pressure on the NCP technical committee chairman to “take it easy because this is Nigeria, and not America or London.”
We state categorically that there is no truth or veracity whatsoever in these aforementioned statements. The First Lady is not interested and has no link whatsoever to the sale, or bending of rules, if any, for the sale of any public enterprise. The article is not only speculative and uncharitable but also extremely unfair and provocative.
The report runs counter to the basic ethics of journalism by failing to be fair and balanced. Nobody from Sahara Reporters requested the First Lady’s own side of the rumoured story.
It is our hope that in future Sahara Reporters will present concrete facts to buttress whatever claims it has, so that we can examine facts and not respond to hearsay or rumour from unidentified sources.
We wish to reiterate that there is no truth in the report. The First Lady’s attention is firmly focused on her philanthropic roles through her NGOs and on promoting peace in her capacity as the President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission.
Dame Patience is also working with commitment to ensure greater on-line security for Nigerian children in her capacity as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Child On-line Protection Champion. Unfounded and speculative reports such as the one carried by Sahara Reporters are unnecessary distractions which we hope all well-meaning Nigerians should ignore.
Ondo gov declares seven days mourning
Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has declared a seven-day mourning period for the former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, who died on Friday.The period of mourning, according to a statement by Mimiko’s media aide, Eni Akinsola, will commence on Monday (today).The statement read, “The Ondo State Government has declared a 7-day mourning in honour of the late former governor beginning from Monday 16th September.“It has also ordered that a condolence register be opened at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure; the state’s liaison offices in Lagos and Abuja and the headquarters of the 18 local government areas of the state.“The governor also called on indigenes and residents of Ondo State to remember the Agagu family in their prayers.”Mimiko described the late Agagu as an early achiever who scaled dizzying heights in the academic, political and social circles in the country.He spoke on Sunday during a condolence visit to the Ikoyi home of the deceased.Mimiko dsecribed the late Agagu as “a very brilliant man who possessed a remarkable ability for hard work which was evident as he gave his best to the state, first as deputy governor (in the old Ondo State) and later, as governor.”He assured the family of the love and prayers of the people and government of Ondo State at this period and said the government was willing to work with the family towards giving the former governor the befitting burial.Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi said he was shocked by the death of Agagu.In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Festus Adedayo, Ajimobi said the South West, nay Nigeria, had lost one of their most cerebral and intellectual politicians ever.The Oyo State governor recalled that Agagu left imperishable legacies in Ondo State where he was governor between 2003 and 2007, stating that he was particularly outstanding for the incomparable road infrastructure that he brought to the state.“Dr. Agagu can never die; when the people tread those roads constructed by his administration in Ondo State, when they pass by those imperishable legacies he left, the foremost geology teacher will live in their hearts and they will confront his great love for the people of the state afresh, even decades to come,” he said.Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke expressed grief over the sudden and painful death of the former governor of Ondo State.Imoke, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, described Agagu’s death as painful and recalled his time with the late former governor as Minister of Power. He said Agagu was an “astute administrator, a consummate professional and a team player.”“It is with a great sense of shock and loss that I received the sad news. Nigeria, Ondo State and the Peoples Democratic Party will definitely miss him, particularly at a time his wealth of experience is needed most,” he said.Senator Bode Olajumoke also described the death of the ex-governor as a great loss to Nigeria and the people of Ondo State.In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, Olajumoke said the PPD had lost a formidable member within its ranks.“His death has come too soon at 65, and the PDP political family of Ondo State and Nigeria have lost a formidable member, an intellectual and a great tactician and organiser,” he said.He prayed that God would grant his wife and children the fortitude to bear the loss.Former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni also commiserated with the family of the deceased.Oni, in a statement on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said the death of Agagu left him ‘personally hollow and empty.’He said, “This death has left me personally hollow and empty. I am, indeed, short of words. Right now, all that we can do is to pray for the family.“It is my prayer that the good Lord will grant the deceased eternal rest and also grant his family, associate, members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State and the entire people of the state the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”Ex-Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje said the death of Agagu shocked him. Goje was Minister of State in the Power and Steel ministry when Agagu was the substantive minister between years 2000 and 2002.
Youths kill policeman in retaliation
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