Why S-South leaders moved against Oyegun, Dokpesi — Adasen, Delta SSPA chairman"

Why S-South leaders moved against Oyegun, Dokpesi — Adasen, Delta SSPA chairman" CHAIRMAN of the South-South Peoples Assembly, SSPA, Delta State, Dr. Brown Adasen in this interview explains why former Federal Commissioner for Information and South- South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, kicked against the appointment of the assembly’s former interim national chairman, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, as Chief of Staff to President Jonathan. He also speaks on why the SSPA aborted the leadership of one of its most intelligent and articulate officers, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, as national chairman. Excerpts: Will you say that President Jonathan has met the aspiration of those of you who canvassed for a president from the South-South? When the South-South people decided that they should have a President, it was not because we had one particular person in mind. We felt that we were a part of this country and so what other zones have enjoyed, we should also be entitled to those things. We say we were lucky to have gotten it, but we are not fighting to have a president that will only concentrate on the South-South development. That is not what we want, we want a president that will represent the whole country, a president who believes that the whole country is his constituency and that is exactly what I think the president is doing. We also want a purely civilian president and we have him and you can see the level of attack on him in terms of criticism. No president has been so criticized as Dr. Goodluck Jonathan However, I think he is doing well, we must not just criticize for criticizing sake, there must be a yardstick. Are you saying the South-South will support him in 2015 despite the opposition from the North? There is no opposition from the North against Jonathan. I want it qualified. Pull him down mission Some persons from the north are kicking against him, not the northern people. I say this because I know of a truth that many of the northern people and leaders are for this government. So, when you say leaders from the north, you give some few persons opportunity to feel that they are carrying the whole of the north in their pull-him- down mission, which is a lie. Majority of the north are for Mr. President because they know that he is working and have the interest of their people at heart. SSPA used to speak with one voice. But there appears to be a crack, as Chief Edwin Clark fought the emergence of a former leader of the group, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, as Chief of Staff to the President. What is amidst? It is said in politics that there is no permanent enemy or permanent friend, but there is permanent interest and I believe in it. What was the interest of the South-South people? We all knew what our interest was but before you knew it, the man who led us while we were in Calabar to make the declaration that the presidential candidates must all come from the South-South in all the political parties; that there will be true federalism and resource control and that no part of Nigeria be ceded to any part. But the man took another course outside of the common course of his people. To our further dismay in 2011, because the man he wanted to be president did not win the presidency, he again, outside of what we had all agreed, went to become campaign manager or so of another presidential candidate from the north. There was nothing wrong in it if it was any other person because we did not believe that South-South alone would produce president, but not the chairman of SSPA. The same person after doing that cannot because he is interested in a job, go back and say he is now for President Jonathan. What of if the other person from the north, who he went to work for had won? I believe that what he did was not good enough and a person like Chief Clark will not take that. Not only him, nobody in the South-South leadership will take it. Clark spoke the mind of so many people. It is not that he had something against him, no. Dokpesi could be considered a son to him and so, he should not have any reason to fight him. The question to ask is, did Clark make the statement so that he would be made the Chief of Staff? The answer is obviously no. You see, fair is fair. I think the statement by Clark was made on behalf of the people. There is nothing outside abnormal that Clark said about Dokpesi. He (Dokpesi) is aware of these things. Hiring people to attack Chief Clark is uncalled for because he did the right thing. Why was Chief John Odigie-Oyegun unceremoniously removed as SSPA chairman? (Laughs) Do not forget that he was made the chairman of SSPA before he became the running mate to Ibrahim Sheakaru, presidential candidate of defunct ANPP. SSPA is not partisan but we will doff our hat for any party that is able to bring its presidential candidate from the South-South. But he went to a party and in his party, he became a running mate. He sent a wrong signal about the seriousness of the South- South as far as the presidency is concerned. Being its former chairman, we did not expect him to compromise our stand. He is an intelligent and articulate man but his hands were tied in the defunct ANPP and his position ran contrary to our aspiration in SSPA. Who is the current national chairman? The national chairman is Air Commodore Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), former military governor of Akwa-Ibom State.

National Conference: FG names ex-CJN, Kutigi, chairman"

Southsouthpdp Lagos President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi, as the chairman of the National Conference. A statement on Monday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, named a former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, as the vice- chairman and the wife of the Director- General of the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, Dr. Valerie Azinge, as Secretary. The appointees are to resume duty tomorrow in Abuja. The Federal Government had in releasing the modalities for nominations for the proposed National Conference, said the conference was expected to hold in the Federal Capital Territory. It is expected to last three months. According to Anyim, 492 nominees will participate in the conference, which is to be held in the Federal Capital Territory. He stated that where consensus was not achievable, “it shall be by 75 per cent majority.” Anyim said that after the three-month deliberations, the conference itself would advise the government on the legal framework, procedures and options for integrating its decisions and outcomes into the 1999 Constitution. The SGF had stated that the conference would discuss any subject matter, except the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation. He had quoted the President as saying, “You will also recall that the President further stressed that, “sitting down to talk is one right step in calming down tensions and channeling our grievances, misgivings and suggestions into more positive use for the good of our country. “The President stated as well that in any case, Nigerians are already talking about their national challenges through the print and electronic media.” He observed that, “the only gap is that while these talks are sometimes weighty, they often lack direction.” Modalities for the conference as outlined by the SGF include 37 elder statesmen; one per state and the FCT, to be nominated by the President. The list also includes retired military and security personnel from each of the armed forces, the Police, the State Security Service and the Nigeria Intelligence Agency . Others are traditional rulers (two per zone and one for the FCT), retired civil servants; one from each of the geopolitical zones and the FCT, representatives of labour (the NLC and the TUC) whose nominations should reflect geopolitical and gender balance; and Organised Private Sector with two nominations from NECA, MAN, NACCIMA and NESG. The conference would also feature Nigeria Youth Organisations with one nomination each from the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NANS and others.

Jonathan sacks heads of Aviation agencies"

Jonathan sacks heads of Aviation agencies" In what appears like a move to cleanse the aviation sector, President Goodluck Jonathan , Tuesday sacked the heads of four aviation parastatals in the country. Those affected include Mr George Uriese of FAAN, Mr Fola Akinkuotu of NCAA, Engr. Nnamdi Udoh of NAMA and Mrs Chinyere Kalu of NCAT. This was contained in statement issued in Abuja, Tuesday by Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, Special Adviser on Media to Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation. According to the statement, Engr. Saleh Dumona (Director Projects, FAAN) is to replace Mr. George Uriesi as Managing-Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). The statement further showed that Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam (General Manager, Procurements, NAMA) is to replace Engr. Nnamdi Udoh as Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) while Capt. Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick (Government Safety Inspector & ICAO Focal Point for Nigeria on line Aircraft Safety Information Systems, OASIS) is to replace Capt. (Mrs.) Chinyere Kalu as Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). In the same vein, Capt. Muhktar Usman (Commissioner, Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, AIPB) is to replace Capt. Fola C. Akinkuotu as Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). However Usman’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate. In the meantime, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka is to act as DG, NCAA pending Usman’s confirmation by the Senate. Dr. Engr. Felix A. Abali (Director Licencing, NCAA) has also been appointed to replace Capt. Usman as Commissioner, Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB). However, Dr. Tony Anuforo retains his position as Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). It would be recalled that President Jonathan had barely three weeks ago sacked the former Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Oduah following her indictment over allegations that she used public funds to purchase two bullet- proof BMW cars at an inflated cost of N255 million. The House of Representatives which probed the scandal had also discovered that some of the Heads of parastatals under the ministry were also involved in the scandal.

Southsouthpdp

Jonathan launches 2nd Niger bridge on Monday"

Jonathan launches 2nd Niger bridge on Monday" President Goodluck Jonathan said on Tuesday in Abuja that he would do the “real ground- breaking” ceremony for the second Niger Bridge in Anambra on March 10. The president said this on Tuesday when he received a delegation of Anambra people led by Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, and Gov. Peter Obi. The delegation, which also included the governor-elect of the state, Willie Obiano, was on a thank-you and solidarity visit to the president. Jonathan said that the launch of the construction work on the bridge was in keeping with his promise to the people of Anambra, He explained that he could have launched the project long ago with fanfare but government must show commitment to its execution. He said that with proper planning and funding now put in place, he was ready to start the project in earnest. “The Minister of Works has briefed me that they have done a lot of mobilisation; we are coming to do real ground breaking ceremony of the second Niger Bridge and other projects,” he said. It will be recalled that the president had, during a recent visit to the state, pledged to launch the construction of the bridge before Obi leaves office on March 17. He commended Obi for maintaining a cordial relationship with the Federal Government. He also used the opportunity to admonish other elected officials and politicians to focus on developing their states rather than make a past-time of attacking and abusing the president. “A number of politicians feel that the best thing to do is to be abusing Mr. President, abusing the Federal Government and so on. “You are elected to develop your state and I think the best thing is to have good relationship with the centre; whether you have a pin or you do not have but one day it will come. “Wearing boxing gloves, jumping into the boxing ring to face Mr. President does not help the development of any state.” The president specifically commended Obi for his people-oriented programmes and for managing an opposition-controlled state assembly without a crisis. He pledged to give his successor, Willie Obiano, equal support to help him succeed. The president also promised to retain Obi in the Federal Government’s Economic Management Team even after he leaves office as state governor. Earlier, Obi had said that it would be difficult for a state governor to make meaningful impact without the support of the Federal Government. He specifically thanked the president for the support given to his state. “I have been governor under three presidents and I know the difference. “Anambra state is your home and we are committed to supporting you and your government,” he said.(NAN)

Southsouth pdp

President Jonathan Exchanging Pleasantries With Former Heads of States and Presidents As He Entered The Banquet Hall, Venue of the Centenary Awards.

President Jonathan Exchanging Pleasantries With Former Heads of States and Presidents As He Entered The Banquet Hall, Venue of the Centenary Awards.

"We may not have overcome our challenges, but neither have our challenges overcome us" - President Goodluck Jonathan.

"We may not have overcome our challenges, but neither have our challenges overcome us" - President Goodluck Jonathan.