Ferddyjay's Blog: April 2015

Thursday 30 April 2015

FG plotting to sabotage smooth handover – APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday accused the out-going President Goodluck Jonathan administration of plotting to hinder a smooth handover of power to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) on May 29. President Goodluck Jonathan had, on Wednesday, accused the APC of acting like a parallel government and trying to stampede his administraton out of office by making impossible demands in the terms of reference of the President-elect’s transition committee.

Briefing newsmen after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Suleiman, a member of Jonathan’s transition committee, said the council frowned at the terms of reference of the in-coming government and warned that the President’s magnanimity should not be construed as cowardice. He said the council agreed that Dr Goodluck Jonathan remains the President of the country until May 29 and the in-coming government should avoid creating a parallel government.

Justifying its claim that the Jonathan administration was plotting to hinder a smooth transition of power, APC said: “While the outgoing government had earlier issued a memo to all ministries, departments and agencies to make sure their handover notes are ready by April 20, the same government has now reversed itself and said the handover notes will not be ready until May 14.

“With the new date, the Buhari transition committee will have little or no time to take a thorough look at the handover notes or seek clarification on knotty issues, effectively handing it (Buhari Transition Committee) a fait accompli as far as the handover notes are concerned. This does not augur well for a smooth transition and gives the impression that the outgoing administration is trying to hide something. “By its dilly-dallying on the date for the readiness of the handover notes from the MDAs, the administration’s posturing that it is ready to hand over has been exposed as nothing but a smokescreen.”

Responding yesterday to President Jonathan’s accusation, the APC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said it was becoming apparent that the Jonathan administration will not fully cooperate with the incoming government, despite its public posturing in that regard.

The party also described as “an act of hostility and a patently-misplaced aggression the unnecessary vituperation against the incoming Buhari administration by the Jonathan government, ostensibly because of the terms of reference of the Buhari transition committee but in reality part of an orchestrated plot to sabotage the transition.” It rejected the continued blackmail by the Jonathan administration as a result of President Jonathan’s concession of defeat, wondering whether the concession, gracious as it was, has now become a shield for all wrong doings. The party said: “We are sick and tired of being blackmailed by the Jonathanians.

Gen. Buhari won the March 28th Presidential elections fair and square, having satisfied both constitutional and other statutory requirements. “We have no apology for our victory, and the concession of defeat – while it may have increased the political stock of President Jonathan – has by no means diminished the historic and emphatic victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress.”

Business entrepreneur Dencia shared this picture on her Instagram page and said: "We had to take out the Bantu knots cuz boy I was crying, I literally put my head in the fridge, took pain pills and I was like (she inserted death emoji).. so we ended up making it looklike this & loose but we still pulled it off. I am never braiding my hair ever again in my life even worstmy hair is natural"
Lol.

Kim Kardashian made a grand entrance with a sheer black skirt and top with plunging neckline that barely contained her on Thursday as she arrived at Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Hollywood.

The 34-year-old reality star left little to the imagination in the sexy all-black ensemble as she tried to 'Break The TV' like she tried to break the Internet last year with her nude cover on paper magazine.

The long sheer pleated skirt showed Kim's black undergarment and her black vest featured a plunging neckline which she added a black coat with shiny lapel on.

Here's a finished piece on President Jonathan by Nigerian artist, Oscar Chuks. Drawn with a ball point Pen (BIC) on white embossed paper. Amazing! See the original pic after the cut...

Visit www.facebook.com/oscarchuks.arts to view more works.

This man who looks a lot like rapper Big Sean, dressed like him and went on to Indiana University to see if students will fall for it. Turns out they did. Totally hilarious. More pics after the cut...

The State House Press statement below..

President Goodluck Jonathan pledged Thursday in Abuja that he will do all within his powers to ensure that all Nigerian territory still held by terrorists and insurgents are totally liberated before May 29, 2015. Receiving a delegation of Heads of Customs from the West and Central African Region of the World Customs Organisation led by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, President Jonathan said that he was determined to hand over a country completely free of terrorist strongholds to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The President said that ongoing military operations in the North-East had already recorded huge successes, with two states completely free from the control of terrorists, while operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage. “We can now say two states are completely free from terrorist control, while in the third state, it is only in one Local Government Area that they are still present.

That is in the Sambisa Forest,” he said. President Jonathan noted that the military had already moved into the forest to seize the remaining camps of the terrorists, adding that the recent rescue of about 300 abducted girls and women was further evidence of the success being achieved in the ongoing operation.

On his decision to concede victory to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, before all the results of the presidential elections were announced, President Jonathan said that elections must be approached from a nationalistic point of view. “Our elections should be about where Nigeria is going. If Nigeria is moving forward, it is for the good of all Nigerians. My children and grandchildren will live and grow in this country and contribute to it. I always tell my colleagues to leave office when their time is up. We are trying to encourage African leaders not to remain in power as kings until death,’’ he said.

Mr. Mikuriya commended the President for supporting the reform of the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that other African countries had already started emulating the vision, strategy, adoption to new technology and result- oriented training of officers that were captured in Nigeria’s reforms. Reuben Abati Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) April 30, 2015

Read the state House press release below...

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan declared Thursday in Abuja that if members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) remain committed to the vision of its founding fathers and work very hard, the party will return to power at the Federal level in 2019. Speaking after receiving the report of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization at the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan said that the party already had all that it will require to win the 2019 elections, but needed to return to the drawing board to re-strategize for the future.

“Whatever happened was like a slip. You don’t need to travel to America to know how power moves from the Republicans to the Democrats and from the Democrats to the Republicans.

“You can even go to Ghana that is very close to us. The present administration lost some years back and of course they came back, and won the elections. So the problem is not whether we lost or won elections, which is already history, but how we can reconsolidate our party.

“If we are committed and we work hard, definitely the PDP will spring back,” President Jonathan told members of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation. Noting that the outcome of future elections will be determined by the party’s preparedness, President Jonathan urged members of the PDP to be more united and remain loyal to the party.

“We must continue to be united as a party. And continue to work hard so that as we move towards subsequent elections in 2019 and 2023, PDP will come out stronger.

“Let’s not judge PDP by the results of the presidential elections, because in some of the states where we saw the PDP score so low, it was probably due to problems within the PDP. The party will come back stronger. PDP is still the most organized party. PDP is still the party that nobody owns. PDP is still the party that whoever you are, you can get to any level that you aspire to through competence. I encourage members of our party to remain faithful and not be disillusioned,’’ the President said.

In his remarks at the occasion, the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Sen. Ahmadu Ali, commended President Jonathan for putting the nation before his personal ambition. “Our great party will emerge from this debacle stronger, wiser and prouder. Even in defeat, we are able to impart some valuable lessons to the Nigerian electorate.

“This is the first time in the history of this country that a sitting Government has handed over power peacefully to an opposition party after an election. We are proud of you,’’ he told President Jonathan.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity)
April 30, 2015

Yesterday, Wednesday, April 29, Kate Middleton, 33, and her Husband Prince William, 32, left their Kensington Palace home around 11 a.m and headed towards Buckhiham palace to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The royals celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary on the low-key day, marking the moment that they said "I do" privately.

The couple got married on April 29, 2011, in the festive ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

24 year old Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens died today April 30th in the hospital, three days after he collapsed during a match. Doctors said he died of heart failure.

The former Belgium Under-21 international fell during the first half of a match on Monday April 27th. He was first treated on the pitch but when they realized it was serious, he was rushed to the hospital where he was placed on life support. His condition didn't improve and today his family agreed his life support should be switched off. He passed away around 4pm today.

"Gregory was only one-and-a-half years at the club, but in that short time his quiet modesty made him an indispensable person. Now we will have to learn to live with the loss." his club said in a statement. May his soul rest in peace, amen.

Above is the winner of Miss New Nigeria World 2015 Princess Ogugua. See the other queens after the cut...

Rosemary Chinda - Miss New Nigeria Planet 2015

Lilian Obichendu - Miss New Nigeria Continental 2015

Nkiruka Lonia - Miss New Nigeria Amity 2015

Oma Oreh - Miss New Nigeria Super Mode 2015

Blessing Ify Mordi - Miss New Nigeria 2015 South South Ambassador

Juliet Jones - Miss New Nigeria 2015 - North Ambassador

Okonkwo Jessica - Miss New Nigeria 2015 - South East Ambassador

Ruth Imoohi - Miss New Nigeria 2015 - South West Ambassador

Michael Igbinedion, younger brother of former Edo state governor, Lucky Igbinedion was today sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for charges bothering on money laundering. Michael, alongside one Mr Patrick Eboigbodin, an aide to former Governor Lucky Igbinedion were dragged before a federal high court in Benin city on an 81 count charge bordering on money laundering said to be carried out while Lucky Igbinedion was still governor of Edo state.

Delivering his judgement, Justice A.M Liman sentenced Michael Igbinedion to 6 years imprisonment with an option of fine of N1million for each of the three counts 79, 80 and 81, for which he was convicted. Mr Eboigbodin was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

The accused used four companies, Gava Corporation Limited, Romrig Nigeria Limited, PML Securities Company Limited and PML Nigeria Limited to launder money.

Aww, he was so cute and normal!

The Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka has sacked the Director of finance of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Tochukwu Bede Uchendu, over allegations of irregularities associated with his appointment into office as well as granting unapproved waivers worth N1 billion.

Mr Uchendu's sack was effected following a petition by the Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) dated March 23rd and addressed to the office of the Head of Service.

The unions had alleged that he was still serving as a director in a company owned by the minister, Consumer Investment Limited, and therefore “it is obvious that he may not be able to discharge his duties without fear or favor as he would have to contend with conflict of interests because of his ownership as a board member of Consumer Investment Limited, a company which the wife of the minister is also a serving Director.”

His sack which was contained in a letter dated April 27, 2015, and signed by the director of Human Resources, A. A. Tsafe, for the minister of aviation reads in part

“I wish to refer to our letter reference number FMA/FAAN/7090/T2/105 dated March 13, 2015, on the above subject and regretfully inform you that the letter is hereby withdrawn pending the conclusion of the necessary due process on the matter, when that is concluded, FAAN, the appropriate authority, will issue you with a formal letter of appointment. We regretfully inform you that the letter (his appointment letter) is hereby withdrawn pending the conclusion of the necessary due process on the matter,” the ministry stated.

The letter further directed Mr Tochukwu Uchendu to vacate the office until the due process was concluded and formal letter of appointment issued to him.

The Nigerian military has moved the 293 females they rescued two days ago from Sambisa Forest to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital where they are to undergo series of test including HIV and pregnancy test. According to a military source who spoke to Punch, 7 of the girls rescued had gunshot wounds and are being treated at the hospital. The 200 girls rescued are of between ages 13 and 18 years.

List of all migrants who died in the Mediterranean laid down on the floor of the European Parliament yesterday. See another photo after the cut...

Justin Bieber got in hot water yesterday while in Rome to shoot "Zoolander 2. He is wanted in Argentina in connection to not showing up to face charges that he allegedly got his bodyguards to beat up an Argentine photographer in 2013 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Several police officers were rumored to have showed up outside his hotel in Rome, fortunately for him, no arrest was made. Bieber is said to be on an Interpol list because of the outstanding warrant in Argentina in 2013.

Justin had to go through secondary search at Customs when he flew into Italy because Argentina had contacted Interpol and put him on the list.

Justin's legal team say there's a grace period before he gets arrested on the warrant which was only issued earlier this month.

As for the officers outside the hotel it was discovered that they were consulting with Justin's security team on crowd control.

He better film quickly, get his parts right the first time and get out of dodge! :-)
Photo credit: TMZ

When did she grow Khloe K's butt?

15 year old Pemba was pulled out alive after five days under the rubble. He was in a guest house that collapsed during the earthquake in Nepal. He said he drank water dripping from wet clothes to survive and prayed for people to find him. There were still people shouting from under the rubble where Pemba was found but rescue workers have not been able to get to them. See another pic after the cut...

South African women married to Nigerian men have narrated the discrimination they face for marrying men outside their country. Seeing the disaffection their kinsmen show them after finding love in the hands of Nigerian men, the women decided to form an association, the United Nigerian Wives in South Africa (UNWISA) club about two years ago where they give support and succor to each other.

42 year old Lindwela Uche who serves as the chairwoman of the group told AFP that they saw the xenophobic attacks coming and alerted their husbands but they did not take their warning seriously "We saw this thing coming and that’s why we formed this association. If only they (the authorities) had listened to us… they would have known that there’s a fire burning slowly and they would have seen how to tackle it.”she said

One of the members of the association,“Lufunu Orji who is married to a Nigerian resource consultant, Ogbonnaya Orji, says being married to a foreigner is very challenging

"Being married to a foreigner is very challenging. You often spend your time defending yourself and then you defend your foreign husband for being himself. Just before I got wed to my husband, I lost two very best friends of mine. They thought I was out of my mind" she said

Another member of the group who gave her name as Uche, said her 13-year-old daughter returned from school a while ago, complaining that her teacher had told her “not to bring that Nigerian mentality here” after she and classmates were noisy in class.

“We need to be protected, we need our children to be protected… and our husbands to be treated with dignity,” Uche said

37 year old Thelma Okoro, says the attitude towards them “are negative everywhere we go,”. According to her, wearing traditional Nigerian dress on the street can attract bad comments. She spoke of how her eight-year-old daughter gets mocked by schoolmates over her name “Ngozi” which means “blessing” in Igbo but literally translates to “danger” in Zulu.

Lagos state government says in the last one year it has shut down 24 religious buildings in the state following complaints of noise pollution they produce in areas where they are situated as well as their non adherence to the state guidelines on noise pollution.

Lagos state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello pictured left above disclosed this at the 2015 ministerial press briefing held in Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja yesterday April 29th

“We received over 1, 000 petitions in the year under review. But we have been able to resolve some and some have relocated. We have shut about 24 religious outfits in the last one year because they failed to adhere to the state guidelines on noise pollution.”he said

Star actress Chika Ike who recently premiered her reality TV Show 'African Diva' reality TV show announced on her instagram page this morning that her contract with bullet energy drink as the brand ambassador has been renewed for 2 years. Congrats to her as she smiles to the bank.

There were reports in some dailies today that PDP Chairman Adamu Mu-Azu has been asked to resign and that he and other PDP National Working Committee members who attended a meeting yesterday were asked to go out by some governors before the official end of the meeting. PDP has released a statement denying there was a dispute or that Mu'azu was asked to resign. The statement below...

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is not in dispute with PDP Governors’ Forum or any other organ of the party.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Thursday said that the “NWC was never asked to resign by the forum of governors or any other organ of the party for that matter”

“For the avoidance of doubt therefore, the NWC states that at no time was the National Chairman of our great party, Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu walked out of the meeting of the governors, neither was he in any way ill-treated at that meeting contrary to reports in some section of the media.

“To put the records straight, our National Chairman upon invitation by the governors attended the meeting alongside our Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and National Legal Adviser, Barr. Victor Kwon and left after a brief and fruitful discussion with the governors. He was not at any time asked to resign and nothing close to such was ever insinuated at the meeting.

“For purposes of clarification, the National Working Committee as a duly elected organ of the party has a constitutionally guaranteed tenure which expires in March 2016. It is therefore focused on galvanizing every organ and interests within the PDP with a view to re-engineering it for the task ahead.

“To this end, the NWC is currently working hand in hand with strategic stakeholders including PDP governors towards repositioning our great party and regaining power at the center by 2019.

“In this regard, the National Working Committee in its meeting on Wednesday April 29, 2015 constituted a special committee under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. The committee membership is drawn from all the key stakeholders of the party including members of the forum of governors.

“Furthermore, the NWC states that it holds the PDP Governors’ Forum in very high esteem, especially its Chairman, Governor Godswill Akpabio, who has worked assiduously for the progress of the party.

“Finally, the NWC restates that it enjoys the confidence and respect of all our organs and structures across board, particularly the PDP governors who individually and collectively appreciate that the supremacy of the party is more important than anything else at this point in time.

Signed:

Olisa Metuh

National Publicity Secretary

President Zuma of South Africa has reportedly put a call across to President Jonathan to express his sadness over the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. He appealed to President Jonathan not to allow the incident affect the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Reports of the phone call is contained in a statement released by the office of the South African president today April 30th. The statement in part below

“The two Presidents reaffirmed the warm and cordial relations between South Africa and Nigeria and pledged that the two countries will continue to work together for the good of their peoples and the continent as a whole. President Jonathan expressed his support for the efforts of South Africa to arrest the attacks on foreign nationals and to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, including foreign nationals and those from the African continent in particular, who bore the brunt of the attacks earlier this month (April).”

Popular Gospel artist Solomon Lange will be getting married to his bride Florence this Saturday in Abuja and just released these lovely pre-wedding photos. Congrats to them. See more photos after the cut...