Tompolo insists Nigeria will break if GEJ does not win

Former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) has restated the resolve of the Niger Delta warlords to make Nigeria ungovernable if President Jonathan fails to return as president in next month's general election.

In a statement released by his Media Adviser, Mr Paul Bebenimibo, in Warri yesterday January 29th, Tompolo attacked Gen Theophilus Danjuma for calling for his arrest alongside Asari Dokubo and other Niger delta warlords. He said the treaty that merged the Northern and Southern protectorate of Nigeria expired last year and everyone should be grateful to President Jonathan for keeping Nigeria together. Part of his statement after the cut...but meanwhile, the presidency has condemned this war threat from Tompolo and others..

"Gen. Danjuma and his cohorts should know that I remain resolute on my position in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, that President Goodluck Jonathan must win this election for Nigeria to continue to stay together. Gen. Danjuma should be reminded that the devilish treaty that brought the Southern and Northern Protectorates together in 1914 expired last year. Danjuma and his likes, such as Gen. Buhari, Gen. Obasanjo and Mr. Bola Tinubu, should be grateful to President Jonathan who has been keeping this country together. If not for President Jonathan, Nigeria would not have been any more.  Danjuma and his cohorts should be reminded of the saying that ‘those who live in glass house should not throw stones’. The call by Gen. T.Y Danjuma (rtd) to arrest me and other agitators for a better living for the people of the Niger Delta region is an indication that he is behind terrorism in the North eastern part of the country as well as the stoning of President Jonathan’s convoy in Kastina and Bauchi states, because he has never condemned those acts, even though Boko Haram attacked churches and mosques in his home town. Is Gen. Danjuma not aware of the peaceful atmosphere when Gen. Buhari visited Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa (home state of the President) states for campaign?  Why is it that President Jonathan’s convoy was attacked in Kastina and Bauchi states without any provocation? Who is Gen. Danjuma if not for the oil wealth he is enjoying from the Niger Delta? He should be rather arrested for being behind terrorism in the North. Where was Danjuma when Mallam Ciroma Adamu threatened to make Nigeria ungovernable, if President Jonathan defeated the All Progressive Congress Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammedu Buhari?  Where was this so called statesman when the APC campaign Director General (DG), Mr. Rotimi Ameachi threatened to form a parallel government if President Jonathan wins the 2015 elections?  Where was this hypocrite when Dr. Junaid Muhammed, Muhammedu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar all said in separate interviews that the nation will boil if Jonathan won the election in 2011? Is it the interest of Nigeria Gen. Danjuma is protecting or his oil bloc in the Niger Delta?  Is it the interest of Nigeria Danjuma is protecting or his 50 million dollars donation to Gen. Buhari for his campaign? Let Gen. Danjuma and his cohorts know that they will not see any Ijaw man, the Igbos and others to fight on their side if the war that they are planning broke up,”.

In a related development, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), also released a statement signed by its spokesman, Eric Omare yesterday January 29th where they faulted the call by Gen Danjuma to arrest the Niger Delta ex-militants.

"We are surprised that General Danjuma swiftly called for the arrest of Tompolo, Asari and other Niger-Deltans, whereas he has neither condemned nor called for the arrest of those who have been consistently attacking the convoy of President Jonathan in the northern part of the country. General Danjuma’s call is not deserving of an elder statesman who is supposed to be unbiased rather than his obvious bias against the Niger-Delta people. Only yesterday, in Gombe State a supporter of President Jonathan who was pasting his posters was attacked and seriously brutalised. Why has General Danjuma not condemned this dastardly act if he is really an elder statement? There was no time at the meeting the Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson, with youth leaders and ex-Niger Delta freedom fighters where it was resolved that Niger Delta people would destabilise Nigeria, if President Jonathan fails the February 14, 2015 presidential election. This did not form part of the resolutions of the meeting, which were read out by Hon. Kingsley Kuku for Governor Dickson to transmit to Mr. President.

Pat Utomi writes on Soludo's letter

Professor of political economy and former presidential candidate Pat Utomi shared this on his Facebook this morning. Read and tell us what you think... 

The firestorm generated by Chukwuma Soludo’s well reasoned commentary on the place of issues in the 2015 electioneering campaign has somehow become the core of the campaign. What a way to come from outside and define agenda.

Of course I do not agree with all the points marshaled by the erstwhile CBN Governor and Patito’s Gang member, but not to commend his citizen duty of engagement or indicate as reprehensible the resort to ad hominen bashing of the former Economic Adviser instead of providing Facts to counter the views he had raised. 

Asari Dokubo's wife blasted Obj, Danjuma

Former CBN Gov, Charles Soludo bring on National Matters in a long letter

I need to preface this article with a few clarifications. I have taken a long sabbatical leave from partisan politics, and it is real fun watching the drama from the balcony. Having had my own share of public service (I do not need a job from government), I now devote my time and energy in pursuit of other passions, especially abroad. A few days ago, I read an article in Thisday entitled “Where is Charles Soludo?”, and my answer is that I am still there, only that I have been too busy with extensive international travels to participate in or comment on our national politics and economy. But I occasionally follow events at home. Since the survival and prosperity of Nigeria are at stake, the least some of us (albeit, non-partisan) must do is to engage in public debate. As the elections approach, I owe a duty to share some of my concerns.

Buhari Cerificate saga: Cambridge set the record straight again

The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), now known as Cambridge Assessment, in response to requests to authenticate a candidate’s exam certificate, today said: “We can only confirm or verify results at the direct request of or with the permission of a candidate.”
“This is in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.”
The organisation also confirmed that according to the Regulations for 1961, African Language papers, including those for Hausa were set for the West African School Certificate.


NOTES:

• Examination results were classed in grades by 1 to 9. 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 indicate a Pass with Credit; 7 & 8 indicate a Pass; 9 indicates a Failure.
• To pass the School Certificate, candidates had to pass examinations in a variety of groups. It was compulsory to pass English Language, but not Maths, in order to gain the Certificate.
• The number of candidates who sat for the WASC Hausa examination in 1961 was 152.
• Our records show that Hausa was set in the Northern Region in 1961.

http://cambridgeassessment.org.uk/news/statement-in-response-to-nigerian-presidential-election-enquiries/

Nigeria loses 2,042.2 megawatts of electricity

The country is currently losing 2,042.2 megawatts of electricity due to gas supply shortage and poor water management.

The 411 G2 and G4 units of the Shiroro hydro power plant are currently losing 300MW, while the loss of 1,742.2MW is attributed to gas supply shortage at various legacy gas-fired power plants, including the National Integrated Power Project plants.

The AES barges 202-205 and 207-211 in Lagos are currently losing 288MW due to gas-related problems, while the Geregu NIPP GT 21 and 23 units have lost 290MW.

According to the TCN, the Rivers IPP GT1 is losing 160MW, while the Ihovbor GT2 has a deficit of 112.5MW.

The Omotosho NIPP GT1 and 4, and Sapele ST2 units are said to be losing 240MW and 70MW, respectively.

The Egbin ST1 and 3 units have capacity to generate 660MW, but are currently doing 467MW; meaning a loss of 193MW.

The Omotosho Gas GTI, 3, 5-8 units have a combined capacity of 228MW, but are doing 146.2MW; thus recording a loss of 81.8MW.

Also, the Olorunsogo Gas GT1-4, 7 and 8 units, with capacity for 228MW, are generating just 161.1MW and losing 66.9MW due to gas shortage.

Peak generation for the country as of Tuesday was put at 3,865.4MW, while 3,331.5MW was the figure for off-peak generation.

The Federal Government had shifted its earlier target of generating 6,000MW of electricity before the end of 2014 to this year.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, had said, “We have an outlook for 2015 to 2017. People are saying you people said you will do 6,000MW, yes! We have the capacity standing, we now have the gas standing and we are going to do that shortly within this year. But beyond that; by 2016, we expect to get up to 10,000MW; and by 2017, to get 12,500MW.”

The mid-January statistics obtained from the ministry showed that peak generation on Wednesday was 4,405.6MW; energy generation, 4,000.63MW; and the energy sent out was 3,914.60MW. Peak demand was, however, put at 12,800MW.

On gas pipelines vandalism, Nebo also said the country lost an average of 1,000MW in 2014 as a result of the activities of vandals.

When luck hits roadblock - Oluwatidamilare

Luck is believed to be occurrence of fortune or success by chance. We can call it the carrier of unmerited favour. It is very desirable, great to hold and splendor to behold. Everyone, one way or the other craves for luck and we do get it, irrespective of our standing. Nigeria is a country of faith; the people are accustomed to turning to God and making reference to divine manipulation when things occur. God must be very proud of us. Forget our religion differences; there is hardly any nation on earth so passionate about spirituality than Nigeria. At every point in time, we turn to the greater force for solution to our quagmire. Sometimes, we got the answer right, but many times we have been too naïve, so we slipped off the track.

Jonathan is angry, ditched OBJ again

Jonathan ditched the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo in an indirect speech while playing host to a delegation of the Tanko-Yakasai-led Northern Elders Council in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President said, “Some people call themselves statesmen but they are not statesmen, they are just ordinary politicians.

“For you to be a statesman, it is not because you have occupied a big office before but the question is what are you bringing to bear on the nation?