(2015 ELECTION) Forget 2015 Presidential Election, Olusegun Obasanjo Told President Goodluck Jonathan.

**this is one of the conditions for resolving the crisis in the ruling party.
**the governors have resolved to let go of their grievances only if Bamanga is removed and Jonathan drops his 2015 ambition.
The confusion in the PDP as a result of the formation of the rebel faction of PDP’ on August 31, has lingered for two weeks now, with no solution in sight.
The Obasanjo's lead elders committee said that they have told President Jonathan the condition for peace in PDP is for him to drop his ambition in 2015 and sack Bamanga Tukur as PDP chairman.

“The governors have resolved to let go of their grievances only if Bamanga is removed and Jonathan drops his 2015 ambition. The Obasanjo-led group of elders of the party presented this position to the president days before this meeting. However, we learnt the president rejected the idea.”
Our correspondent learnt that it was as a result of this position taken by the elders that loyalists of the president began to call Obasanjo names. The former President supported Jonathan’s 2011 election against all odds.

The former members of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) told our reporter that many members of the party from the North were disappointed in President Jonathan because before the last election he had vowed not to contest 2015 in the next election.
He said, “Particularly those of us from the North who had earlier backed him for the presidency in 2011 are not happy. We had an understanding with him over the 2015 election, but his refusal to honour it and insistence to contest the election at all cost is part of what we are experiencing now. I think he should be honourable enough to tell those calling on him to dump that agreement that it will not help the PDP and our democracy.”

A note on Friendship

A lasting, true friendship means to me a bond with someone who is there for you, you be for them – no matter what. It also cannot be one way – It has to be a mutual understanding and appreciation for one another…. If someone does not reciprocate the mutual feelings, it is then not a real friendship.
I will, though, add …. If someone I truly do love doesn’t want to be with me : I will respect their decision, choice* , yet I will strive to always be there for them because if it is a true bond based on love despite any hurt, harm done nothing will come between each other. Even if the other person does the worst of things… I am a believer in hope: the hope of forgiving, forgetting and letting go of the past with a dedication and mutual helping of one another in making it better than ever before. It is easier said than done as we all are human beings – No one person on this earth is perfect.

No one can say they haven’t hurt their friend , brother, sister, mother, father anyone for that matter. The key in my humble belief is if one truly loves someone and there is a true bond, repentance in honesty*with a mutual heart to heart talk can save and does save. But if someone cannot understand someone that is truly , honestly, genuinely repentant and doesn’t want to forgive I would move on despite the pain, the hurt within. Because I was created in God’s image and to God He will always care and *love me, I must continue to strive, move ahead forward in life. God is the one as King David would have probably said the One I can always turn to for comfort solace and understanding… Because there is one thing that is for certain: God sees and knows everything… Especially what is within the hearts of all men.

To err is human, but to forgive is divine.

If one truly loves their friend, family even strangers one will over look his sins against you – and vise-versa – and you will forgive each other in truth, kindness*, thanksgiving and hope in love for one another and most importantly because we love God.

How to Sleep Better

Making the Bed Welcoming

1. 1
   Make your bedroom a heaven. Keep the clutter and chaos of everyday life at a minimum in your bedroom. Keep the textures soothing and inviting, and the light warm and saturated. Get the best sheets you can afford, too: the more comfortable your bed and bedroom are, the more conducive they are to a restful sleep.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Maintain your mattress. Replace it after five to seven years of regular use. If you feel springs or ridges beneath the surface when you're lying on the bed, or you and your partner tend roll to the middle of the bed (unintentionally), it's time to go mattress shopping.
   
   
   
   • You may also find that the mattress is to blame if you find yourself sleeping better in another bed.
3. 3
   Get comfy. Take out any hair pieces and put on loose clothes, preferably cotton pajamas.
4. 4
   Check out the new technology. The newer types of mattresses that allow for adjustment or that mold around you may help you get a better night's sleep.
   
   
   • One type of mattress lets you adjust the firmness of your bed, individually, for both you and your partner. This is ideal if you can never agree on which mattress feels 'right'. You may both have different needs, and trying to find one you will both like generally means finding a mattress that neither of you will get a good night's sleep on.
   • Another type of mattress uses "memory foam," which molds to the contours of your body as it warms up. This leaves no "pressure points" to cause numbness, irritation or other physical issues. This is especially useful for those with bad hips or other joints.
5. 5
   Sleep in a different position. Changing your sleeping position can make a huge difference in the quality of your sleep. You may think that it's impossible to control what position you sleep in since you aren't fully aware of what you're doing, but it is possible to change. It can make a considerable difference to how you sleep and feel upon waking. When you go to sleep, or if you wake up in the middle of the night, make a conscious effort to follow these guidelines until it becomes habitual:
   • Keep your body in a "mid-line" position, where both your head and neck are kept roughly straight. Don't use a pillow that's too skinny, and causes your head to tilt down toward the mattress. Likewise, don't stack your pillows so that your head is propped at an angle.
   • Place a pillow between your legs if you sleep on your side. This will support your hips and make this position more comfortable.
   • Place a pillow under your legs if you sleep on your back.
   • Avoid sleeping on your stomach. It's difficult to maintain the proper position, and it is more likely to cause aches and pains. If you wish to sleep on your stomach, put your pillow under your hips instead of under your head.

Satellite Technology Fetches Nigeria N116bn

Director-General of National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, Prof. Seidu Onailo Mohammed says Communication Satellite is making a huge remittance to the economy by raking in about $90 billion in 2011 alone, comprising Satellite Television, Satellite radio and broadband.

In addition, he said that about $16 billion revenue also accrued to the industry in the same year.

Prof. Mohammed disclosed this at the weekend, during a lecture on Communication Satellite in Commemoration of the Launch of the first Communication Satellite in Nigeria organized by NASRDA in Abuja.

Prof. Mohammed said that Communication Satellite is a multi-billion dollars industry that gives high returns on investments, which must be tapped by both government and private sector to drive enhance their operations.

He said that the launch of Syncom” in July 26, 1963, symbolized the beginning of technological revolutions across the globe through the application of Space Science Technology.

‘‘As scientists, research organizations and Nigerians, this historic occasion is unique to us in several ways, following various landmark experiments carried out after its successful launch.

‘‘Ladies and gentlemen, it will interest you that it is exactly fifty years today, when the historic telephone conversation between the then American president John Kennedy and Nigerian Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was recorded through Syncom2 Satellite,’’ he said.

For him, the conversation between the two leaders was more than a phone call, noting that it was the first two way call across the Atlantic between Heads of State via satellite in global history.

It was reported that the two leaders in their conversations, exchanged pleasantries, briefly mentioned the nuclear weapon’s test ban treaty which was signed that year and spoke on a boxing match in which Nigerian middle weight boxer, late Dick Tiger had retained his title against an American.

Apart from the successful experiment, the DG also noted that NASA further used the seventy eight pound Syncom2 Satellite launched on Delta rocket B booster from Cape Canaveral in the United States, to conduct a number of engineering tests to proof and practically demonstrate the numerous benefits of Communication Satellite to mankind.

According to him, there are approximately 1,107 Satellite providing civilians communication and another 792 supporting military communications, some seven hundred of them are in geosynchronous orbit.

He called on the private sector show commitment in using Communication Satellite, since the international telecommunications are increasingly competitive in the global markets with rapid changes to technological capacities.

‘‘it is note worthy that the Economic Intelligence Unit in the United States published that in 2012 alone, Nigeria lost in call drops that could have been avoided and remedied by modern communication Satellites.

‘‘Nigeria’s involvement in this experimental exercise was not a mere con-incidence or share luck in recognition of our unique and strategic positions as a people.

‘‘The Nigerian Space programme is not only in tandem with the dream and inspiration of our forefathers but it is also in fulfilment of the role expected of us as a nation as a key player in global affairs.

‘‘It is in recognition of this fact that, the National Space Research and Development Agency has continued to keep faith with destiny and recall with nostalgia the 1063 event and sees the unique experience as a challenge to transforming the Nigerian Space agenda into realities,’’ he stated.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/45291.html

Skales Opens Up On Girlfriend : Am Not After Her Money

Contrary to speculations that EME signee, Skales is running after his Namibian girlfriend Kondja Aveii because of her parent’s wealth, the rapper/singer has debunked the speculations.
In an interview with Hiptv, the singer said he gets a lot of comments on Social network as to his relationship with the Namibian girl but cleared the air that he is truly in love with Kondja.
“I’ve gotten a lot of comments and all that saying I’m dating her because her parents are wealthy and that she bought me a car like that. The truth is , I really love her because her family are nice people and we have been together for a long time.”
Skales just completed his degree at Lead City University where he studied Office Management.

Apple Unveils Two New iPhones For World Market

Apple on Tuesday unveiled two new iPhones, fielding a slick new top-end model along with one aimed at budget-conscious smartphone shoppers around the world.
“The business has become so large that this year we are going to replace the iPhone 5 and we are going to replace it with two new designs,” Apple chief Tim Cook announced at the company’s Silicon Valley headquarters. The new iPhone 5C is displayed during an Apple product announcement at the Apple campus on September 10, 2013 in Cupertino, California.
The new iPhone 5C is displayed during an Apple product announcement at the Apple campus on September 10, 2013 in Cupertino, California. AFP Apple will begin taking orders on Friday, and on September 20 the two devices will go on sale in the United States, Australia, Britain, China, France, Germany, Japan and Singapore.
The iPhone 5C is part of Apple’s bid to counter the flood of low-cost smartphones from rivals, most of which use the Google Android operating system. Apple designer Jony Ive said that despite the low cost, the polycarbonate iPhone 5C with a steel frame “is beautiful.”
“We took the same fanatical care with how the iPhone 5C feels in your hand,” Ive said. The iPhone 5C with 16 gigabytes of memory will sell for as low as $99 with a US carrier contract — half the cost of earlier iPhone base models. Analysts were keenly focused on the promise of an iPhone 5C to win over buyers in China and other developing markets.
“The 5C a no-compromise device,” Gartner analyst Van Baker told AFP after trying out Apple’s new phones.
“It is just in a plastic case instead of a metal case, and they basically reduce the price by the cost of materials.” Baker estimated the price cut allowed by lower-cost materials at around $100. He noted that the “open question” was whether iPhone 5C would be priced attractively for emerging markets at what could turn out to be a $550 price tag without subsidies from telecom service providers.
The top-line iPhone 5S, which starts at $199 with a contract for US buyers, “is the most forward thinking phone we have ever created,” said Apple vice president Phil Schiller. “It is the gold standard in smartphones.”
Schiller said the 5S model includes a speedier chip which brings up the computing power from 32 to 64 bits. “It has over a billion transistors in it,” he said, adding that the device will be “about twice as fast in graphics and computing power and about 40 times faster than the original iPhone.”
The 5S will also have improved battery life, with some 10 hours of talk time, or 40 hours of music listening, Schiller added. Apple introduced a fingerprint sensor for the iPhone 5S, as a new security measure in place of passwords.
“You can just press the home button to unlock your phone,” Schiller said. “You can use it to authenticate iTunes purchases.” Schiller added: “We have so much of our personal data on these devices, and they are with us almost everyplace we go, so we have to protect them.”
Reticle Research principle analyst Ross Rubin described Touch ID as a “show stealer” that addresses “a necessary annoyance that many consumers have to deal with many times a day.” Apple also broadened its color palette, announcing the low-cost phone in blue, white, pink, yellow and green, and the top-line model in silver, gold and a new “space gray.”
Apple said its iOS 7 software will debut September 18. It includes a free iTunes Radio Service featuring more than 200 stations “and an incredible catalog of music from the iTunes Store,” Apple announced earlier this year. The two new handsets keep the four-inch screen of current iPhones, despite some speculation Apple would boost the size to compete with larger phones from rivals like Samsung.
The smartphone market is now dominated by Android devices, with roughly three-fourths of all handsets, but a forecast by research firm IDC suggested Apple will increase its share this year to 17.9 percent from 16.9 percent. IDC analyst Ramon Llamas said that by introducing a lower-priced handset, “Apple is staking out its space in the lower-cost smartphone category.”
Llamas said Apple is seeking to fend off challenges from lower-priced devices while “it enjoys bigger profit margins and still maintains the aura of being an aspirational brand.” The event was a disappointment to some who were looking for a fresh device from Apple, such as a smartwatch or TV service.
“I think there was an expectation for that ‘one more thing,’” said Roger Kay at Endpoint Technologies. “People were looking for some pizzazz and they didn’t get it.” Apple announced separately a deal with Japan’s biggest mobile phone carrier NTT DoCoMo to bring the two new iPhones to that country.
“We’ve enjoyed tremendous success with iPhone in Japan, in fact it’s the top selling smartphone in the country, and we look forward to delivering iPhone into even more customers’ hands through NTT DoCoMo,” Cook said.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/46772.html

"I Can Have Sex For 24 Hours Straight, I Have Been Playing With Women's Body Since I Was A Little Boy" - Nigerian Actor, Kenneth Okonkwo Brags

Nigerian actor, Kenneth Okonkwo recently shocked fans by giving up way too much information about his sex life.
In an interview with Entertainment Express, he brags about his sexual prowess and shed some light on his relationship with actress Mercy Johnson.

He says:

"I am strong sexually for 24 hours. My wife knows that. Each time I have an affair with any lady, she goes out to tell her friends, and her friend will end up developing interest in me. So when I married my wife, I told her if she know what's best for her she should not tell any of her female friends what we do behind closed doors or else she will lose me"
"When I was growing up, women older than me were coming for me, right in front of my mother. These women taught me a lot of things. I started kissing at a very tender age because it was part of the things they were doing to me, and I loved it. Maybe that is why my lips are red. They taught me how to be with women. They would give me their body to play with so I grew up knowing a lot about what women want. Till today, when I am sleeping with a lady she has to cum before me. I enjoy sex more when the women have enjoyed themselves"

On his relationship with Mercy Johnson, he says:
"That is funny, and do you know why? Before Mercy was born, or should I say when she was still in kindergarten, I had already started kissing ladies in movies. So she met me still doing it. Why would her own be different? When you match her good acting skill and my exceptional skill, it comes out natural and people would end up saying is there something going on? Mercy is like a younger sister to me. I am close to her and her husband so it makes me laugh when anybody talks about Mercy and myself in anyway. There can never be a fling between a brother and a sister. We are only professional colleagues"
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/47142.html

I Never Dated Yvonne Nelson - Dammy Krane

"It was a rumour, Yes, Yvoonne Nelson is my friend but we were never lovers. We met on the set of a movie and we took a picture together. People saw the picture and decided to draw their conclusions from that. I was surprised but not happy. I was on tour when the story broke and I was slightly distracted."

[Punch]

Anti-Christ tweets: CAN prescribes psychiatric test for el-Rufai

El-Rufai

The Christian Association of Nigeria on Sunday asked the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to go for a psychiatric test to ascertain his sanity following his recent attacks on Jesus Christ and the leadership of Christians in Nigeria.

The association said that el-Rufai must within seven days mention the name of the person who bought a private jet for its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, failure which the former minister’s “dirty life” would be exposed by CAN.

The Head of TEKAN/ECWA Block in CAN, Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel Dziggau; and CAN’s National Director of Research, Planning and Strategy, Elder Sunday Oibe in a statement obtained by The PUNCH in Abuja said they were reacting to a newspaper interview granted by the ex-FCT minister in which he abused the President of CAN and his credibility.

The statement said, “We can no longer fold our hands and allow Christian leaders to be abused by no person than el-Rufai. We can no longer take it; enough is enough. Anytime he abuses Christian leaders and Jesus Christ, we Christians will let him know that he has many forces to contend with.”

“The fact that el-Rufai in his tweets abused our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and Christians ignored him doesn’t give him the impetus to make unguarded comments about Pastor Ayo (Oritsejafor) who is the leader of Christians in Nigeria. As Christians, we respect other faith and never have we abused the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111, who is the leader of Muslims in Nigeria. The fact that Christians are not violent doesn’t mean he should go far with his utterances. He is not in a position to tell us who should be the leader of Christians in Nigeria.”

CAN also reminded a former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) that his problem with the country was el-Rufai and not himself.

“It was this same el-Rufai that was abusing Buhari when he was in the cabinet of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that is now fighting ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Obasanjo.

“We are giving el-Rufai seven days ultimatum to inform Nigerians and the world the person he claims to know that gave Pastor Ayo his private Jet. If he fails to do that, we will open up on him and his dirty life. El-Rufai stinks to the highest heaven. He is morally depraved and lacks credibility.”

Nigeria, 18 others barred from US visa lottery

Nigeria and some other countries will no longer be eligible to participate in the America Diversity Visa lottery programme.

Information from the United States Department of State sighted on Sunday said Nigerians and citizens from few other countries were not eligible for DV-2015

The department said Nigeria was excluded since over 50,000 Nigerians had immigrated into the United States in the last five years.

The department listed other countries not eligible as Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador and Haiti.

Others are India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam

However, many African countries would continue to enjoy the programme.

Some of them are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia and Ghana.

Others are Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles and Sierra Leone.

Diversity visas are said to be distributed among six geographic regions, while no single country could receive more than seven per cent of the available space in any year.

Already, advertsiements for the 2015 US DV lottery have started with several businesses inviting Nigerians to apply for the program.

Applications for the 2015 US DV lottery is expected to take off from October 1, 2013.

In 2012, 14,769, 658 persons were said to have qualified worldwide for the US DV lottery among the 19, 672, 269 which applied.

Jonathan asks PDP to compile ministerial nominees list

There are indications that President Goodluck Jonathan  had directed  the  Bamanga Tukur  faction of the Peoples Democratic Party to compile  names of its members for ministerial positions.

A member of the National Working Committee of the faction, who made this known to The PUNCH in Abuja on Sunday, said the directive was already being complied with.

 Jonathan, in his first major cabinet shake-up since his inauguration on May 29, 2011, had on Wednesday sacked nine ministers.

 The  sacked ministers  were  Prof.  Ruqayyatu Rufai (Education),    Okon Ewa-Bassey (Science and Technology),  Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs),  Hadiza Mailafia (Environment),  Shamsudeen Usman  (National Planning),and  Ama  Pepple (Housing, Lands and Urban Development).

Also affected were   Olusola Obada(Defence), and  her counterparts in the Agriculture Ministry,  Alhaji Bukar Tijani, and  Power,  Zainab Kuchi.

The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, had explained that the sacking  of the ministers had no political undertone but there were reports that  it  was fallout of the crisis in the PDP.

 The PDP  was  factionalised on August 31 when seven of its governors  formed  a faction, known as New PDP.

  The NWC member, who pleaded anonymity, said, “The President has directed the party to suggest names for the vacant ministerial slots. We have already asked  our state chapters to send their nominees to us. As  I talk to you, we are waiting for their nominees.”

It was gathered that in  states governed by  the seven governors in the New PDP, politicians loyal to the President, would nominate candidates for vacant slots.

In Rivers State, where Pepple lost her job, party chieftains, including the Deputy National Chairman of the Tuku-led  faction, Uche Secondus and the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, would play a role in getting her replacement.

In the South-West, there are two vacancies because of the removal of Ashiru and Obada.

It was gathered that chieftains of the PDP, Chief Olabode George and a financier of the party, Chief Buruji Kasamu, were expected to nominate candidates for the zone.

In Kaduna State, the southern part of the state would fill the vacancy created by the sack of  Mailafia.

In Niger State, it was learnt that a former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and an ex-Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, might nominate an indigene of the state to  replace Kuchi.

It was also gathered that, to fill the vacant ministerial slots, governors that were loyal to the President had been directed to  nominate candidates, if there were vacancies in their states.

The  PUNCH  learnt that the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, would nominate a chieftain of the party in the state to replace Ewa-Bassey, a native of the state.

When asked  to comment on the development, the PDP  National Publicity Secreary, Chief Olish Metuh, said, “That is not important. It is the  President that will choose whoever he wants to work with him to achieve his transformation agenda.”

The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, had on Friday said Jonathan was still consulting on the appointment of new ministers.

She had said, “He is still consulting. He will present the list to the National   Assembly as soon as he concludes  his  consultations.”

 Meanwhile, investigations on Sunday revealed that security reports were mostly responsible for the sack of the ministers.

A Presidency source told one of our correspondents that following the crisis in the PDP, the Presidency could no longer trust the affected ministers.

The   source said, “The ministers were nailed by security reports. Their telephone lines were bugged and they were being monitored for at least four months. It was discovered that they were no longer sincere with Mr. President, especially since the internal crises in PDP erupted.

 “Go and find out, no sincere government or President will tolerate a minister whose loyalty is in doubt. In the case of the affected ministers, they were having divided loyalties. First, to their state governors or the godfathers who nominated them and secondly to Mr. President.

“But by their functions, their loyalty to the President should be total and so the best option is to shop for people with committed loyalty and not divided loyalty.  This should be a serious lesson to any public servant; divided loyalty is never tolerated anywhere in the world.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the President’s Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, prooved abortive as he could not be reached through his mobile telephone.

A civil rights organisation,  the Anti-Corruption Network, has, however,  described the sacking  of the ministers as vindictive.

The Executive Secretary of the group and former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, in an interview with  one of our correspondents, linked the sacking to the crisis in the PDP.

He said, “The sacking of the ministers is vindictive, petty and political.  It shows that President  Jonathan, like I have always said, condones, romances and promotes corruption. He spared all the corrupt thieves in his government, including those who are still busy enjoying their loots.

“The sacking  of these ministers is a cowardly reaction. The  former Minister of Education  was a nominee of the Jigawa State Governor. The  ex-minister of National Planning  is  from Kano State and it is because Jonathan wants to appoint a strong politician who will fight Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso in Kano State.”

Jonathan, rebel govs agree to ‘ceasefire’ … to meet again on Oct. 7 • New PDP treasurer quits

   

L–R: Governors Murtala Nyako; Idris Wada; and Sule Lamido; PDP BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; President Goodluck Jonathan; Governors Liyel Imoke; Aliyu Babangida; Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Governors Chibuikie Amaechi; Rabi’u Kwakwanso; Godswill Akpabio and Abdulfatah Ahmed after a meeting with Jonathan at the Presidential Villa... on Sunday.
| credits: State House.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the aggrieved governors in the New  Peoples Democratic Party   have agreed to sheath  their swords as they commence  immediate action towards the resolution of the crisis in the party.

The decision was reached at a meeting  they held on Sunday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday night.

This was disclosed in a communique issued after the meeting, which ended around 11:00 pm.

A statement issued at the end of the talks was read by one of the seven aggrieved governors in the New PDP  and  Niger State Governor  Babangida Aliyu.

He was surrounded by Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, and  the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih.

Other governors in the New PDP in attendance were Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara).

In the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP were  Liyel Imoke (Cross River)  Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Idris Wada (Kogi).

 In the statement, the parties to the talks also  agreed to avoid inflammatory statements on contentious issues,  pending the resolution of the crisis.

The statement  reads in part, “With a view to resolving the recent crisis in our party and sequel to the number of meetings convened by leaders and stakeholders and the governors of Adamawa, Niger, Rivers, Kwara, Sokoto, Jigawa, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, Kano and Cross Rivers states met with the President, the Vice -President and the chairman of the BOT  and extensively deliberated on various issues over a three -day period.

“The meetings were cordial and deliberations fruitful with a clear commitments on all sides to resolve all issues raised at the meetings.

“The meeting also called on all parties to sheath their swords and avoid further inflammatory comments on issues particularly during the course of our deliberations as we have all agreed to resolve all the differences.

“In the interim, all parties have accepted to commence immediate action and agreed towards complete resolution of all matters and continue to meet until all processes toward reconciliation are concluded amicably.”

The statement also disclosed that the “meetings will continue on  October 7, 2013.”  It added that both sides would ensure that the problems in the party were resolved.

“We will make sure and ensure that there is progress in resolving the crisis,” they   said in the statement.

The meeting   was initially scheduled to commence by 10pm, but it   started at 4.35pm. Also, the venue  was moved from House Seven, a guest house in the Presidential Villa where it was slated to hold  to one of the meeting rooms in the First Lady’s Wing of the State House.

Security officers in the Presidential Villa instructed journalists to stay away from the vicinity of the meeting.

They said the parley was a private meeting and therefore not open to the media.

Amaechi, who  was among the first to arrive, drove himself . He was closely followed by Aliyu.

The PUNCH learnt that one of the reasons the meeting was commenced earlier than it was initially scheduled was because Jonathan was  to meet with Anenih, Tukur and Baraje  by 11pm  also on Sunday.

As of the time of filing this report, the outcome of the meeting had not been made public.

A similar meeting on Tuesday  between Jonathan and   some of the aggrieved governors   ended in a deadlock.

The aggrieved  governors had during the   meeting tabled before Jonathan,  some conditions  from the   New PDP which must be met before  they would return to the mainstream  PDP.

The demands included the sacking of Tukur as the PDP national  chairman; sticking to a one-term tenure by the President by  not seeking re-election in 2015, and stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from further investigating them.

Others  are  that the President  must  halt the plans to take over PDP’s  structure in their various states, the resolution of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum crisis and the recall of  Rivers State Governor  Rotimi Amaechi  from suspension.

  Baraje  and another chieftain of the New PDP, Senator Bukola Saraki,  had said only two or three of the demands  had partially been  addressed.

Baraje  claimed that the President and the Tukur-led PDP had  accepted to reverse the dissolution of the Adamawa State  chapter executives and to rescind the suspension of Amaechi.

 Less than 72 hours  after, the New PDP  leader added   that his team and  the aggrieved   governors    had given  Sunday (yesterday)   as the last opportunity for a truce to be  reached.

But the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, said on Friday, that his boss would not meet any of the demands of the aggrieved governors and other members of the New PDP.

Meanwhile, lawmakers loyal to the  Baraje-led PDP  will meet on Monday (today) to discuss how to approach their legislative functions as the National Assembly resumes tomorrow (Tuesday).

It was learnt in Abuja that the members of the group  are to play a greater role in the scheme of things within the two chambers.

A source said the members of the group were of the opinion that those in the Tukur-led faction who are  currently leading the National Assembly, might thwart their plans if there was need for  reforms to be carried out in the assembly.

The source said the meeting was  basically to set an agenda for legislative business as Senators and members of the House of Representatives resume.

According to him,  issues on the agenda  include an appraisal of the legal actions so far initiated  by the factions as well as other options that may be available if the crisis persisted.

A member of the group , who also asked not to be named, said, “Our meeting is aimed at basically setting the agenda in the light of current happenings within our party and the polity.

“We now have the numbers to effect some changes in the way things are done with about 90 to 125 members of the house  and close to 55 Senators. So,  I think we have the numbers.”

He also expressed confidence that the 137 members of the All Progressives Congress in the House would support the faction.

 A Senator, who is a member of the group, confided in one of our correspondents that the  House members and Senators would hold separate meetings before an enlarged one to harmonise positions.

It was also learnt on Sunday that the Senate leadership had summoned a PDP caucus meeting for 8pm on Monday(today).

This, according to an informed source, is aimed at dousing tension ahead of Tuesday’s resumption.

He added that  the notice for the meeting  was sent via short message service.

The source said, “We received text messages this(Sunday) evening inviting the Senate caucus of the National Assembly for a meeting tomorrow (Monday).

Meanwhile, the   National Treasurer of the New PDP,  Alhaji Tanko Gwamna, has resigned from the faction.

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News! Crises Rocks The Rebel PDP Group.

**7 Out Of 22 Senators Withdraws From Rebel PDP.
**their National Treasurer Alhaji Tanko Resigned Also.
**23 Members of their members in the House Of Rep are disassociating themselves from the rebel PDP.

The Atiku Abubakar lead rebelling PDP group is apparently hitting the rock and some members have started to express their disappointment on realizing that all these crises for only for the selfish interest and gains for a few people.


The rebel's National Treasurer Alhaji Tanko resigned yesterday, after he was confronted by his family with the 5 conditions of the Atiku group for peace to reign in PDP. The visibly shocked Alhaji Tanko showed a remorse for ever associating with the Fake PDP group and promised to work for peace and support to the party chairman, Alahaji Tukur and President Jonathan.

In the Like-manner 7 out of 22 senators withdrew their membership of the group. The crises hit, rebel PDP was shocked with news that 23 members of the house of representatives withdraw their allegiance to the Rebel PDP and pledge their support to the Chairman, Alhaji Tukur and harmony in the ruling party.

The Re-Elect President Goodluck Jonathan group praised the courage of these PDP members who have chosen to leave the rebel group and their understanding that there is no substitute to Peace.

naughty boi

Naughty By Nature

ASUU strike: Transporters, traders lament losses, seek solution

OAU car pack. Inset: Business centres in one of the universities

Some transporters, traders and others who provide services on university campuses have lamented the negative impact of the strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities three months ago.

They said the strike was not favourable to their businesses, adding that the strike had reduced their sales and income.

Our correspondent, who visited the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, University of Lagos, Lagos State, and the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, observed that activities in the universities had been paralysed.

Shops, where photocopies and printing works were made, were closed. Few shops that were open operated their services at a high cost.

When our correspondent visited OAU on Friday, it was gathered that traders at the Awolowo, Angola, Moremi and Mozambique Halls of the university had not been opening for business since the strike started.

A motorist, identified simply as Baba Gbayi, told our correspondent that some of them were forced to stop operating few weeks after the strike began because of low patronage.

He said, “This strike period is tough for us. Most people who own buses are no longer coming. Only those of us that got our buses on hire purchase are forced to come to work because we have to complete our payment. There is nothing  more killing than this strike because since it has started we no longer see passengers as before.”

Another motorist, Chinedu Akpan, said even the few students on the campus were not willing to board commercial buses because they lacked cash.

Akpan said, “I am praying that the strike ends soon. I have three children and two of my siblings are also living with me. We have been struggling to eat. By the time schools resume from holidays, it will be worse. My prayer is that the strike would be called off before they resume.

“Another thing is that the students are also broke so they prefer to trek. Some of them will even be negotiating the transport fare because they know that we have no choice.”

A trader, identified simply as Iya Sanjo, said, “You can see that none of us opened. The strike is really disastrous as the school management has sent some of the students home. If we must open, we have to use the generator which is more expensive especially when customers are not many.”

At UNILAG, traders at the car park opposite the Mass Communication Department and Jaja Hall opened shops but lamented losses.

A motorist, who drives UNILAG shuttle bus, described the strike as a punishment for the operators.

“I urge the Federal Government and ASUU to meet and find a lasting solution to this strike. They are only punishing us because they collect their salaries while we cannot live without our daily earnings. Now that there are no passengers, how do they want us to survive? The Federal Government and ASUU should reach a compromise,” he said.

A trader, who preferred anonymity, expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal Government and ASUU, saying, “They have kept us in an unfavourable condition while they continue with their lives. I have to open partially so that the perishable goods in my shop won’t get spoilt. We sell at low prices, yet there is low patronage.”

The situation at the OOU was not different from that of OAU and UNILAG. But the fate of the service providers was made more precarious because there are no students’ hostels at OOU.

Some food sellers at the university’s permanent site in Ago Iwoye told our correspondent that they currently operate skeletal services to cater for few students and other people who strayed into the campus to check what was happening.

One of them, Mrs. Nonye Sunday, said, “It is obvious that the strike is not doing us any good. Of course, the non-academic staff are around, but because of this strike, students no longer come like before. Even the workers that are in school leave early and many of them do not eat our food.”

A mechanic in the university town, Taiwo Mecho, said the students formed the bulk of his patrons, “and since their lecturers are on srike, we no longer see them.”

Ronaldo extends Real contract

Real Madrid have moved to tie Cristiano Ronaldo to the club until the end of the 2017/18 season by agreeing a three-year contract extension with the prolific Portugal forward.

The announcement of the deal on Sunday ended speculation about a possible return to Manchester United in 2015 when his previous deal expires. Ronaldo left the English Premier League club in 2009 to join Real for what was then a world-record fee of €94m ($125m).

 Big-spending Real president Florentino Perez and the 28-year-old Ronaldo signed the new contract at the club’s Bernabeu stadium and appeared before the media at a glitzy ceremony on the giant arena’s VIP tribune.

Neither Ronaldo, who said 2018 could mark the end of his career, nor Perez provided details about his salary, but Spanish media reported that his net annual wage would rise to €17m, making him one of the world’s best-paid players.

Wearing a dark blue jacket, light shirt and blue patterned tie and with a jewelled stud glittering in each ear, Ronaldo admitted there had been interest from other clubs, including Qatar-owned Ligue 1 side Paris St Germain.

He was also asked about United and appeared to rule out a return to the city where he spent six years after joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2003.