TB JOSHUA'S LAST NIGHT PROHPECY FOR 2014

Renowned Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua has declared 2014 as a year of ‘crossing the bridge’, prophesying it to be a year of destiny where corruption would be corrected in Nigeria as corrupt leaders would go down.
It was an electric atmosphere in The Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) where large crowds thronged to usher in the New Year 2014. T.B. Joshua came out around 11pm to deliver his much anticipated prophetic message in a broadcast beamed live via the churches popular television station Emmanuel TV.
He first counseled believers to stay steadfast in faith despite the challenges that would arise in the coming year. “We are tempted so that we may pray the more. Afflictions are meant for our spiritual benefit,” he encouraged the congregants and television viewers.
Moving on, he spoke about what was to be expected in the New Year, attendees listening with rapt attention and scribbling notes as he spoke. “This New Year 2014 is not like any other year in the past. It is a year of crossing bridge. To cross the bridge, you need to grab onto faith,” he began. “This is not going to be easy for the mighty. Many of the mighty will fall. Pray for them. The rich, famous and popular people – many will fall this 2014 because crossing the bridge is not going to be easy; they need God. Many of them believe it is their own making to be great in their own area of expertise.”
He went on to decry the effect this ‘fall’ would have on the business world as, according to him, “98% of businesses and companies are owned by these people.” Specifying a field of business that would especially be affected, he said the airline industry would face multiple challenges, leading to an unprecedented rise in ticket prices, particularly noting that African airlines would be most affected. Joshua further declared 2014 to be a year of destiny for those would ‘follow the ways of the Lord’. “Many people that are not known will be rise by destiny,” he prophesied.
Talking about the current Nigerian political situation, Joshua said, “There will be a leadership tussle on who will lead and who will be presidential candidate in APC which will affect them as a political party. They should be vigilant. Many are with them in flesh but not with them in spirit.” Talking about the current crisis Nigeria’s ruling party PDP are embroiled in, the prophet stated that they would ‘pay any price to unite’ but that the issue of who would be the presidential candidate would cause challenges.
“Many of the key leaders in political parties will go down in 2014,” Joshua then announced to the somber audience. “If many key leaders go down with 2014, what will now happen in 2015? Pray for 2015 to be fulfilled. The beginner is not the owner but the finisher.”
He then stated to thunderous applause that 2014 would see a positive improvement for the nation in the area of corruption. “What will happen in 2014 will result in the correction of the corruption in Nigeria because many corrupt leaders will go down in 2014.”
Joshua then prayed for the congregants who all lit candles to symbolize the dawn of the New Year. “God has promised that 2014 is the year of destiny. Your destiny cannot be changed. This New Year, your destiny cannot be tampered with. I command your dream to come true, your dream to come to fulfillment, in Jesus’ name.”

Jonathan holds media chat tomorrow

President Goodluck Jonathan will tomorrow speak on current national issues during a Presidential Media Chat to be broadcast live at 7pm, local time.

In a release by Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said, President Jonathan will in the course of the programme, answer questions from a panel of journalists on current national issues and events, as well as policies and actions of his administration.

He further asked members of the public who have questions for President to respond to on the programme to send via Twitter to @mediachatng1.

According to Abati, the programme will be broadcast live on the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Voice of Nigeria (VON).

What are your expectations on the President’s chat? What are your questions? Do write your expectations and questions on the comments section below.

Mall Attack: FG to offer assistance to Kenya

Abuja –  President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday in Abuja said Nigeria would give support and render assistance to Kenya in its efforts to curtail the scourge of terrorism.
This is contained in a statement issued by his spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, condemning Saturday’s terrorists’ attack on a Nairobi shopping mall in Kenya.
According to the statement, the attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi by terrorists suspected to be of the Al-Shabab sect reportedly left about 59 people dead.
Most of those killed in the attack, the statement added, were women and children, while more than 150 were reportedly injured.
President Jonathan, according to the statement, said the assistance was in line with the spirit of recent agreements for enhanced bilateral co-operation between both countries.
“Nigeria will assist Kenya to avoid a recurrence of the heinous attack,’’ it said.
The statement said Jonathan also extended heartfelt condolences to President Uhuru Kenyatta and all Kenyans over the loss of lives in Saturday’s terrorists’ attack.
It added that President Jonathan and Nigeria joined the rest of the world in condemning “the atrocious, callous and abominable attack on defenceless Kenyans and foreign nationals’’.
The statement said Jonathan assured Kenyatta and the people of Kenya of Nigeria’s full solidarity as they grapple with the attack’s consequences and strive to end the terrorist siege.
“The President prays that God Almighty will comfort all those who lost their loved ones in the attack and grant the injured speedy recovery,’’ it said.(NAN)

Nigeria: Ibori Stole Delta's N80 Billion, Ribadu Tells UK Court

 London — Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that James Ibori "stole or wasted" more than half of all the money that accrued to Delta state when he was governor from 1999 to 2007.

Ribadu spoke in evidence at the ongoing assets confiscation hearing against Mr Ibori at Southwark Crown Court in London yesterday.

He said the state earned more than $1 billion within the period, "so Ibori must have stolen or wasted $500 million (equivalent N80 billion) or more of Delta state money."

PDP Adults Behaving Badly: House of Reps goes to the dogs…again

By Jide Ajani

Fight at National Assembly Tuesday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

Did anybody recognize Hon. Binta Garba last week? She was unmistakable. You couldn’t have missed her in the recording which revealed her wrestling and hard-hitting abilities. Ask Hon.Hafiz Adenowo from Oyo State: He not only got his cloths torn by Binta, a few slaps were added. The question is: Why would a supposedly honourable individual behave in a dishonourable manner? In Chapter 5 of the 1999 Constitution as amended

The Return Of The Serial Looter

THE RETURN OF A SERIAL LOOTER A leopard never changes its skin they say. Gist is agog that the erstwhile Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed is presently scheming to return to the ‘juicy’ position of Executive Secretary again in the same parastatal, an office he left nearly a year ago after serving a full tenure of five years. If you recall, on the 11th of May 2010, a US-based online media outfit, Sahara-reporters, gave details of the multi-billion-naira scam spearheaded by the erstwhile Executive Secretary The media establishment alleged that the then, UBEC boss and his then newly-wedded wife, Aishatu Dahiru Mohammed, operating as the leader of a syndicate, used phony companies “to skim off billions of naira earmarked for the running of Nigerian primary and junior secondary schools.” Going further, Saharareporters said that Apart from his criminal record as a serial looter, Modibbo also has a reputation of being a master schemer. Saharareporters gave details of how he wangled his way to become the UBEC boss despite his bad antecedent at his previous job as the boss the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) and the fact that his point of entry into the commission fell short of the requisite requirements of a degree or certificate in education. The erstwhile UBEC boss is also alleged to be in the vanguard of staunch supporters of known enemies of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. It is believed that he is using part of the money he stole from the coffers of these parastatals to give financial support to the presidential ambition of some opposition parties’ flag-bearers. This is aside other reports alleging that a large chunk of the stolen billions from the UBEC coffers may have been diverted to the self-acclaimed Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram which has killed hundreds of thousands of Nigerians in cold blood. This is why it is so shocking that modibbo who some media outfits gave graphic details of how he spent millions of naira to support arch-enemies of President Goodluck Jonathan's) political ambition can be thinking of making a return to office under the same Jonathan. We are reliably informed that he had recruited the support of some of his ‘loyalists’ in high places of power who partook in the loot of his over N50 Billion during his 12 Years reign as head of two Education support Agencies, plundering the resources of these two outfits namely the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), or how can one explain the underground moves some of his northern godfathers had been engaging in, purportedly appealing and lobbying the president on his behalf. How can one comprehend the gist that Dr. Modibbo is still interested in returning to the position after all the atrocities he had been accused of? Nigerians reading this piece, what do you think the return of this serial looter and immoral man to the agency portends for the future of the country’s education? What kind of legacy does the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration wants to leave for us in this very sensitive sector?

It’s crazy to spend $8bn on fuel importation – Ben Bruce

Federal government came under a heavy knock from the Chairman of Silver Bird Group, Ben Bruce , when he  lashed out on the government for spending $8 billion on fuel importation annually.

Bruce was speaking in Abuja at the launching of a book entitled “Why Run Before Learning To Walk”, written by Professor Turner Isoun and Miriam Isoun .

He attributed the ongoing Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU strike in the country to lack of fund, which he said was a direct implication of the $8 billion spent by federal government annually on fuel importation and called for total removal of oil subsidy to enable government tackle other critical needs.

“The reason why Nigeria is broke is because we spend $8 billion a year, to buy patrol that generates smoke.  We need to address that issue, a lot of our problems are self inflicting. The laziness of some people in government in government must come to an end.  The expensive life style, popping of Champaign must stop.  We must go back to the era of creativity.

“When people are poor, they struggle to become rich, when people have nothing, they dream and think and use their imagination. Rich people are not going to be next NollyWood stars. They have money and resources. The stars of this country are going to come from Ajegunle, poor homes, single parent homes, homes where they have no money, homes where they have one meal a day. These are the kind of people we should have in government with imagination,” he noted.

Bruce further lambasted the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU for complaining of poor funding, after opposing total removal of fuel subsidy, saying, the union must be realistic in their demand rather than playing to the gallery.

“When ASUU went on strike, they asked President, “why will you spend $8 billion a year on fuel importation, when he could have spend it on their welfare.” When subsidy was removed, they opposed government action for removing subsidy and is now demanding for better pay, you can’t oppose deregulation and on the other hand, demand for higher pay” he  stated.

The Silver Bird boss, who expressed disappointment with the way a politicians spend public fund, called for adoption of renewable energy and a paradigm shift from being a lazy and consuming nation to a creative and manufacturing nation.

He also lambasted some state commissioners for investing public fund in the importation of tricycle, which he said is a 150 years old technology that should not be allowed into Nigeria, instead , he advocated for adoption of latest and more efficient technologies that would deliver better services to the people.

“The problem of this country can be solved, but too much money makes us lazy and incompetent. We must have renewable energy. We have the sun, so we should use solar power. We have what most people want and therefore, we should use electric cars, and we will not spend $8 billion to import fuel every year.

“Right now, a lot of ministries, federal and states, have too much money.  President and governors should not give them any money. Too much money makes them lazy and less money makes them use their imagination and think.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/its-crazy-to-spend-8bn-on-fuel-importation-ben-bruce/#sthash.uSP3vGhS.dpuf

5 more govs to join Baraje’s nPDP

ABUJA — President Goodluck Jonathan and his Bamanga Tukur-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party may be heading for further isolation, as another five incumbent governors of the party may soon dump them for the Abubakar Baraje faction, otherwise known as New PDP (nPDP).

The five governors, who are drawn from two geo-political zones in the North and South, are said to be upset by alleged continuous manipulations in the party by the Presidency and the chairman, thereby alienating them from the mainstream.

Besides, Vanguard learnt that the affected governors maintained that there was no justification to support Jonathan’s second term bid when majority of their natives were opposed to the move.

The governors said they were convinced that the so-called peace moves will not produce any meaningful results, as they were merely stage-managed to buy time for Jonathan to secure a second term in office.

One of the governors told Vanguard that they were just waiting for the appropriate moment to defect to the nPDP with a view to actualising their political dreams.

Asked to state what the grievances of the defecting governors were, the governor said the decision was to save them from undue manipulation being orchestrated by the Presidency and the PDP leadership to give a second term chance to the President.

“What will happen is that very soon some of the PDP governors, who are watching the rest of us from the sidelines, will join and declare their support for us.

“It is because of the likely overwhelming support, which the Tukur group and the Presidency know we enjoy that they keep on talking about peace and reconciliation when in reality they are not ready for an early resolution of the crisis rocking the party.”

Vanguard learnt that the grouse of the five governors who are jumping ship might not be unconnected with the fear that most of them could be dumped and made to face severe consequences if Jonathan won a second term.

They are said to have given examples of those who were given solid assurances by the Presidency to work with him but were jettisoned after he won the election in 2011.

“What most Nigerians do not know is that we suffered a lot to make Jonathan President and today he is using people who did not know how we enthroned him, to harass and intimidate some of us,” a governor from one of the northern states lamented.

“Look at the way the President is using state apparatus to fight the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, for instance, who risked his life and some of his supporters to give him one of the highest votes in the last election.

“What justification does the President have in persecuting the seven governors, who went out of their way to mobilise voters in their states to elect him,” a governor asked.

Vanguard learnt that the five governors were likely to move out of  mainstream PDP anytime they consider most suitable, apparently to send further shock waves to the leadership that they were unhappy with the system.

Defection bid not true — PDP

But the Tukur group, yesterday, dismissed the threat of defection as a huge joke by those trying to cause trouble in the party.  The Deputy National Chairman of the Tukur faction, Prince Uche Secondus, who was contacted last night on the development, described the information as false and a propaganda by the opposing faction to gain unmerited attention.

“The claim that five more governors are planning to defect to the other side is complete falsehood and is part of the propaganda by the opposition,” Secondus said.

The PDP split into two last August, leading to series of rapprochements, which are yet to produce a lasting peace in the party.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/5-more-govs-to-join-barajes-npdp/#sthash.igAp35ct.dpuf

2015: Atiku begins presidential race in style, promises 100% resource control

on DECEMBER 25, 2012 

FORMER Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, at a recent event in Enugu, left no keen observer in doubt over his intention to seek the highest office in the land in 2015, an ambition he has nursed for close to 30 years.

At the 13th anniversary lecture and National Conference of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, recently, the 2007 presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC) said if elected, he would pursue resource control and devolution of power to the federating units.

If he runs in 2015, it would be the third time he is stepping out since 2007. He would have contested in 2003 but withdrew in the last minute to allow former President Olusegun Obasanjo run and complete his second term. Before then, he was in the thick of the Third Republic race and was among those who were initially considered as running mate to late Chief MKO Abiola, who flew the flag of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP and presumably won the anulled June 12, 1993 presidential polls.

He said: “Presently, our state and local governments look up to Abuja for monthly allocations. That kind of dependence does not make for any meaningful autonomy and surely will not bring about meaningful development. Every tier of government should be reasonably self-reliant in terms of revenue. The revenue it gets from other tiers should be supplementary otherwise it will lack reasonable degree of autonomy irrespective of what the law says. That is the reality of human condition and politics.

“That is why I have been calling for devolution of more powers and revenues from the Federal Government to the states and regional governments. It is not political posturing; it is a critical condition for deepening our democracy and promoting national development, peace and security.

“You know what, if I am president, what is it? Coal? Enugu State take your coal! Oil? Niger Delta take your oil! But I have the power of taxation. If your income from coal is N1 trillion I will say pay the Federal Government 70 per cent. That is your business. If you raise N10 trillion from oil, take your money but pay 75 per cent to the Federal Government.”

Atiku made the declarations while speaking on how to strengthen the local councils and enhance their delivery of democracy dividends to the grassroots.

Oil, military rule negative influence
Noting that the local councils used to be very strong before the advent of oil and military rule in Nigeria’s polity, he stressed the need for improved taxation and governance.

“In the days when I was growing up and when there was no oil, the Local Government system was funded by taxation. There were radio tax, bicycle tax, etc and everybody paid. With the money the local governments built roads, primary and secondary schools and provided healthcare delivery that even the current state governments don’t provide in some cases. That was what we did prior to military rule and oil significant contribution to our national revenues. That is what makes people hold their government to account,” he argued.

Strengthening councilsOn how to strengthen the local councils, the former Vice President said a number of questions needed to be answered. “Should we continue with the practice of the Federal Government creating local councils across the country and allocating resources to them directly? Should it be left in the hands of federating states to decide for themselves the system of local government and number of local governments they need because of our historical and cultural differences? Remember: in the First Republic, we all had different system of local government administrations. The one in the North was different from the one in the East and the East was also different from the one in the West.”

He continued: “In my view, there are three critical issues here. First is the structure of the federation. The second is our political practice. The third is our disregard for rules and regulations. In a federation, Local Government administration ought to be left in the hands of the federating states or regions. Rather, there is the awkward situation where the local governments deal directly with the Federal Government side-tracking the state governments.

“The federating units should be left to determine the system and number of local governments and fund them accordingly in accordance with their historical and cultural peculiarities and development needs. Our focus should be on ensuring a more effective local government administration, a responsible fiscal management and accountability.

The proximity of state governments to the local governments makes them more suited to understand the local governments. All politics is local. The Federal Government lacks the capacity to monitor every local government development or issue in this country. In a federal system, it is in our collective interest to strengthen the local level.”

He continued: “The central government did not create local governments prior to military rule. We had a more effective and responsive local government administration then. I am a product of my Native Authority. I never knew anything about the regional government for my primary and secondary education until I went to the university.

Centralisation of power
“The Federal Government started creating local governments at the same time we lost our heads to oil revenue. Local governments have become more dependent on the Federal Government than on the state governments. That is an anomaly. It is our over centralization of power, excessive concentration of resources at the federal level and the abandonment of due process and regulations under military rule that led to state governments’ abuse of local administrations. That is what led to direct federal allocations to local governments and its subsequent provision in the constitution.

“If we amend our constitution to have a genuine federal system rather than the near unitary system that we currently have, there will be no need for statutory and mandatory direct federal allocation to the local government; there will be no need to enshrine the number of local governments in the constitution.

“Other than direct fiscal allocation to the local government what other rationale exists for enshrining the number of local governments in the constitution and making the creation of new ones virtually impossible for state governments? What if a local government experiences rapid growth in population, for administrative convenience and effectiveness, the state government wishes to split it into two or more local governments, why should such a split be made difficult for the state until the constitution is amended? How many times are we going to amend our constitution?

“I believe that the federal share of national revenue should be whittled down while the allocation of states and local governments should be increased. All over the world, serious governments tax their citizens and corporations to raise revenues for development purposes and service delivery.

“For that reason, governments work hard to promote economic development so as to create a strong tax base. I am opposed to this indigene, indigene thing. We should feel that Nigeria is our own no matter where we come from. Where we reside should be our home. I was discussing with the US Consul General to Nigeria and he said in the United States, it is where you pay your tax that determines your citizenship. If we want to have a joint ownership of this country, let’s abandon indigenship.”

Effect of godfatherism
The veteran presidential aspirant identified godfatherism as a major hindrance to council autonomy. “On the question of political practice, for as long as our party politics remain the domain of controlling godfathers at the federal and state levels devoid of internal party democracy, so long will our local government remain at the beck and call of whomever chooses contestants for local electoral offices,” he said.

“The point is that even if local government funds come directly from the Federal Government without state/local government joint account, the dominant role of governors rather than party members in selecting candidates for electoral offices will still not ensure autonomous, effective and responsive local government administration.

“So, we need to find ways of ensuring internal party democracy so that the selection of candidates for elections to local and other levels will be carried out by the generality of party members rather than a few godfathers. At the local government in particular, we should encourage independent candidates,” he submitted.

A Mansion To Match “The Personality” Of Our Homeless Vice President By Ogaga Ifowodo

 

A Mansion To Match “The Personality” Of Our Homeless Vice President By Ogaga Ifowodo

Posted: December 26, 2012 - 02:44

You wish to Allah the Merciful that what you heard about the request for an additional N9 billion for the construction of a brand new mansion for the Vice President is not true, that you had just woken up from a nightmare when you heard lying voices in the dark seeking to “heat up” your head and “the polity” (apologies to President Jonathan’s spokesmen). Alas, it is true. When N7.5 billion was originally approved, in 2009, for the construction of the same house, you had dismissed, with a holy oath, the father of lies who had been whispering such damnable falsehood in your ear.  You were as incredulous as Adeyemi Smart, a senator, would be three years later when Adamu Ismail, executive secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority defended the act of naked plunder before the FCT senate committee, and you screamed at the fleeing Satan: “Is this house to be built on earth or in heaven? Will the sand, cement, iron rods, tiles, doors and every other material needed for it be made of gold? Will the builders and labourers be paid in gold weights? Tuffia! Get thee behind me, Satan,” you railed and went about your business.

Yet it was true then as it is now. Ismail did not once mention “gold” as he explained the scope of Project VP’s Mansion. The additional N9 billion, a 120 percent increase to the original approved sum, is needed to “build a banquet hall, protocol guest house, two other guest houses and civil infrastructure, as well as to purchase furniture and install security gadgets.” Apparently, there had been an unforgivable, even criminal, neglect in the original plan and design of the mansion. But it goes without saying that without these additional amenities, the resultant edifice would be unfit for purpose and an insult to the office and person of the vice president. Which is why Ismail was quick to inform the senate that the “additional scope to be done on the project” (sic) was “because of the personality of Mr Vice President.”

Got it? A mansion befitting of the Vice President’s personality. Got the bit about civil infrastructure too? According to Ismail, the Bureau of Public Procurement “approved over N6 billion” after vetting the request but that “would not be enough,” given that “there are some other adjustments needed to be done,” the details of which he would disclose at a later date and time. But why trouble him to justify what every fool knows? Take only one befitting amenity, the banquet hall, which is to gulp N2.2 billion. As General Obasanjo, who should know, told us, high public service is an invitation to “come and chop.” Where is the best place to chop? A banquet hall, of course! And what should the tables, chairs, chinaware, cutlery and the very walls of the hall itself be made of if the chopping is to be worth its salt (pun intended)? Why, gold! As for the food, let’s just say that it is not what every Mukoro, Musa or Moriamo, with no personality, eats in a Mama-Put or buka far from banquet halls.

There was one almost plausible justification for Project VP’s Mansion.  Since 1999 when the great new epoch of democracy dawned on us, the vice president has been, to our shame, homeless. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar squatted in the official residence of the Chief Justice throughout his tenure. Jonathan endured the added indignity of being relocated to Akinola Aguda House, the Presidential guest house, before blind luck elevated him to Aso Rock. This unflattering image of a wandering, homeless vice president of the oil-crazed Giant of Africa is what the government seeks to erase quickly before we become the laughing-stock of the world. Thankfully, we have petro-dollars to burn. What was it former military dictator General Yakubu Gowon is reputed to have said at the beginning of our oil-induced madness — that money is not our problem but how to spend it? We have long solved that problem, with the cement armada that followed that utterance, appropriately enough, as a proof. So, let us build a N16 billion mansion to match the personality of our vice president. And let us remember to furnish it with furniture “bought from heaven,” as the bewildered Senator Adeyemi wondered aloud.

Only that after this, we must never again hear of government officials going to Germany, anywhere outside the borders of this rich country, for medical treatment. The president and all political office holders must be prohibited from sending their children to school abroad while they remain in office. A country that can lavish so many billions on its vice president’s house is clearly not a beggar nation. Therefore, Jonathan must not attempt the inhuman act of levying another expropriation tax on citizens reeling from the monstrous blows of endemic joblessness and poverty by way of a further withdrawal of the bogus, so-called subsidy on refined oil products.  For just think what N16 billion could do to transform one of our teaching hospitals, making it unnecessary for Mrs Jonathan to enrich Germany with the loads of hard currency she frittered away during her recent “vacation?” Or what that sum could do to rehabilitate primary schools across the country even if at a mere N500 million per state? Just think!