DEMOCRACY DAY BROADCAST BY GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR, PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!!!

President Goodluck Jonathan

Fellow Nigerians,

1. I greet and felicitate with you all, today, as we mark 15-years of uninterrupted democratic governance in our beloved country.

2. Our dear nation, Nigeria, has certainly come a long way and made notable progress since our first Democracy Day on May 29, 1999 when the military finally relinquished power and handed over to a democratically-elected government, marking the true beginning of a government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

3. Although I have ordered a low-key commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day in deference to the current mood of the nation, there can be no doubt that the past 15-years, the longest period of sustained democratic governance in our country, have been a blessing to us, as a people.

4. As we commemorate 15-years of our Fourth Republic today therefore, I believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute once again to all those who played a part in restoring our nation to the true path of democratic governance, built on the foundations of rule of law and freedom of expression.

5. As a result of our collective efforts since 1999, democratic governance is now entrenched in our nation and institutions. I wholeheartedly believe that our people are the better for it. The scope of fundamental rights and liberties enjoyed by our people over the past 15-years has been expanded beyond measure.

6. On my watch, we have witnessed high national economic growth rates, steady improvements and expansion of national infrastructure including airports and roads, the restoration of rail transportation, the efficient implementation of a road-map for improved power supply, a revolutionary approach to agricultural production, as well as advances in education, sports, youth development, health-care delivery, housing, water supply and other social services.

7. In the oil and gas sector, our promotion of a sustainable local content policy, continues to guarantee equity and better opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs and skilled personnel.

8. Significant increase in mobile telephone and national broadband penetration, making Information and Communications Technology (ICT) one of the fastest growing sectors of the Nigerian economy. We have also developed strong financial markets and regulatory institutions. Our banks now have regional and global footprints.

9. Nigeria has also gained recognition as the largest economy in Africa, the most preferred investment destination in the continent and in terms of returns on investment, the fourth in the world. We are pleased that the world has noticed, as global leaders converged in Abuja early this month for the World Economic Forum in Africa.

10. The event not only witnessed a record attendance, it brought the prospect of an additional flow of investment into the Nigerian economy estimated at over $68 billion over the next few years.

11. In foreign relations, our country has equally done well within this period, by establishing and strengthening strong partnerships with all ECOWAS countries and the rest of the world. This has helped to deepen Nigeria’s leadership role in multilateral institutions including the United Nations.

12. Furthermore, under this administration, we have made consistent progress in improving the standard of elections in our country to ensure that they are ever more credible and truly representative of the people’s free choice. The National Conference we initiated to deliberate and make recommendations on the best ways of resolving our current political and socio-economic challenges is on-going. It is our expectation that its outcomes will help to further consolidate the gains we have made from democracy in the past 15-years, and place our dear nation even more firmly on the path to greatness.

Dear Compatriots,

13. It is a sad fact that as I address you today, all the gains of the past 15-years of democratic governance in our country are threatened by the presence of international terrorism on our shores. Our dear country, Nigeria is facing a new challenge. A war has been unleashed on us. Extremist foreign elements, collaborating with some of our misguided citizens, are focused on an attempt to bring down our country and the democracy and freedom we cherish and celebrate today.

14. The despicable abduction of school girls from Chibok in Borno State has brought to the awareness of the entire world, the heartless brutality of these terrorists who want to instigate a descent into anarchy and balkanize our nation.

15. In recent years, terrorist attacks have claimed the lives of several of our compatriots, many have been injured or maimed, whole villages and communities have been destroyed and the economy of some of our states is in jeopardy.

16. There can be no doubt that what we are witnessing in Nigeria today is a manifestation of the same warped and ferocious world view that brought down the Twin Towers in New York, killed innocent persons in Boston and led to the murder of defenceless people in the Southern Russian city of Volgograd. Terrorist activities have brought war and pains to Mali, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These agents of evil continue to brainwash and incite ignorant young men and women to attack the innocent. We cannot allow this to continue.

17. I welcome the statements of solidarity from patriotic citizens and the global community in support of our efforts to stamp out terrorism. I applaud the understanding that in a democracy, such as we are building, people can have differences while sharing worthy values and standing together in opposition to the scourge of terrorism. Nigeria is the only country we have and we must all work to preserve it for present and future generations.

18. Despite the challenges we face, we must commend our security forces. We must not forget their gallantry and successes in liberating nations and in peacekeeping, from Liberia to Sierra Leone, Congo, Sudan, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and many places in Africa and beyond. Our forces have paid the supreme price in several places at several times.

19. Today, they face a different challenge, an unconventional war by terrorists. They are adjusting and are being equipped to tackle the new menace of terrorism. We must show confidence in their ability. I have no doubt that, with the support of Nigerians, our neighbours and the international community, we will reinforce our defence, free our girls and rid Nigeria of terrorists.

20. It is now 45-days since the horrifying abduction of the college girls of Chibok. I share the deep pain and anxiety of their parents and guardians and I assure them once again that government will continue to do everything possible to bring our daughters home.

21. I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability, by waging a total war against terrorism. The unity and stability of our country, and the protection of lives and property are non-negotiable. I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil.

22. I have also authorized the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done. I assure you that Nigeria will be safe again, and that these thugs will be driven away – it will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal.

23. For our citizens who have joined hands with Al Qaeda and international terrorists in the misguided belief that violence can possibly solve their problems, our doors remain open to them for dialogue and reconciliation, if they renounce terrorism and embrace peace.

24. My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents, and to ensure their de-radicalization, rehabilitation and re-integration into the broader society.

Dear Compatriots,

25. We must remain united to win the war against terrorism. Christians, Moslems, farmers, fishermen, herdsmen, teachers, lawyers, clergy or clerics, the rich, the poor and Nigerians from all sections of the country must work together with our security agencies and armed forces to overcome the terrorists who now threaten all that we hold dear.

26. The war against terror may be difficult, but the days of peace will come again. Terror is evil; nowhere in history has evil endured forever. The menace of Boko Haram will surely come to an end. I believe that because of your prayers, your courage, hardwork, faith and sacrifice, we will ultimately prevail over the terrorists and all other evil forces.

27. We are a strong, resilient and courageous people. We will continue to partner with the civilized world, to confront international terrorism and every other challenge that comes our way with patriotic zeal and determination.

Fellow Nigerians,

28. Yes, we have challenges but we will surely overcome. Nigeria is our country. Nigeria is blessed. We will all collectively protect, defend and develop this country for ourselves, and our children.

29. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

30. Thank you and God bless Nigeria!!!

PDP Aiming Beyond 2015 —Anenih

Anenih

LoudNewsToday-Abuja. Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, sounded confident on Wednesday that, in spite of the predictions of doom about Nigeria, the ruling party is looking beyond 2015 and even 2019 in its efforts to faithfully sustain a stable, functional and democratic nation.

Anenih, in a statement entitled: “Nigeria is stronger than it has ever been” issued in Abuja, to commemorate 15 years of uninterrupted Fourth Republic Democracy, said the PDP-led Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan had been upholding the sanctity of unfettered democratic interaction and expression in the country since stepping in the saddle.

He declared that despite the security challenges occasioned by the scourge of terrorism, Nigeria remained stronger than it had ever been.

The statement reads: “May 29, 2014 marks 15 years since Nigeria returned to democracy.  I congratulate all Nigerians on this important occasion, especially since our nation is now well into her longest running democratic dispensation since independence in 1960.

“This year’s Democracy Day falls within a period when, arising from the scourge of terrorism, some people questioned the strength of our democracy and unity.  Without hesitation, I assure all Nigerians that, despite the challenges we are facing today, Nigeria is stronger than it has ever been.  

“Let me express how grateful we, in the Peoples Democratic Party, are to our fellow compatriots that they have entrusted our great party with steering the ship of state since our nation’s returned to democracy in 1999.  It has been a great privilege and a momentous undertaking.  

  “And though, as with all human endeavours, we have had differences with our fellow citizens on the other side of the political divide, our ongoing democratic journey is proof that the PDP continues to faithfully discharge its foremost duty to our country, which is sustaining a stable, functional and democratic state.

  “Indeed, in its 15 years at the helm of affairs of our great nation, the PDP has created an atmosphere that allows total freedom of expression, dissent and the greatest level of inclusive political participation ever recorded in our country.  A case in point is that never before has Nigeria seen the high number of women in senior elective and appointive positions as obtains today under the PDP’s leadership

 “Moreover, it is to the credit of  President Goodluck  Jonathan-led PDP government that this ambience of democratic freedom has encouraged the most combative opposition rhetoric ever experienced in Nigeria’s history.  President Jonathan has also demonstrated respect for the rule of law by his non-interference in judicial, legislative and electoral matters. 

 “Ironically, our liberal and exceptionally-tolerant president has been vilified for promoting and protecting the very democratic freedoms that others are using unfairly against the government.  

   “Be that as it may, it is certain that we are on the side of what is right by upholding the sanctity of unfettered democratic interaction and expression in our country, the PDP is looking beyond 2015 and even 2019 when the Fourth Republic will be 20 years old.

   “The reason for our confidence stems from the fact that the PDP has always been the party of the people, for the people and by the people.  Furthermore, our unequalled experience in successfully piloting the affairs of state is what ensured that, for the first time in the course of Nigeria’s history, under the PDP, we witnessed the smooth transfer of power  from one civilian president to another; and the successful constitutional succession politics after the unfortunate and untimely death of our dear president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in office. 

 “In addition, the PDP has been responsible for the strategic restructuring of a largely state-run economy to a free-market economy, thereby engendering greater human development, free enterprise and irreversible economic expansion.  It is important to note that pursuing policies that are necessary for inclusive economic growth has further guaranteed our political and democratic stability.

  “Besides, the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for 2013, which showed an 89 per cent increase in the estimated size of Nigeria’s economy, making it the top economy in Africa, has also seen our debt-to-GDP-ratio, shrink to 11 per cent.  In the past four years, Nigeria has remained the choice destination for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Africa.

  “As has been widely noted, the success of the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA) held recently in Abuja is an affirmation from the international community that Nigeria’s democracy is on a firm footing despite security challenges.

  “Lest we forget, before the advent of the first PDP government in 1999, official statistics placed the number of telephone lines in Nigeria at just about 500,000. Today, the Nigerian Communications Commission reports that there are well over 120 million active telephone lines in Nigeria.  The benefits and the multiplier effects to our economy are phenomenal.

 “I would like to point out that in the PDP we are continually strengthening the mechanism for internal democracy and would urge all other parties to also do the same.

 “Finally, as we mark the anniversary of our return to Democracy, all Nigerians must stand together against the forces that seek to endanger our freedoms, unity and security.”

Fearless Hunters Ready to Join Search for Chibok Girls and Bring them Back Home Safely if Found.

Hunters

LoudNewsToday-Maiduguri; "The hunters claimed their magic charms prevented any blood being drawn. They also trust amulets of herbs and other substances wrapped in leather pouches as well as cowrie shells, animal teeth and leather bracelets, including a cocktail of fetish equipage which provides them spiritual Teflon that protects them from being pierced by bullets. It will ultimately be a contest of traditional armoury against western arsenal."

Troubled by the delay in the search and rescue of the kidnapped Chibok female students, fearless hunters armed with home-made guns, poisoned spears and amulets have gathered in their hundreds, eager to use their skills and what they believe to be supernatural powers to help find the girls abducted by Islamic extremists last week.

Some 500 hunters, some as young as 18 and some in their 80s, said they had been specially selected by their peers for their spiritual hunting skills and had been waiting for two weeks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and the birthplace of Boko Haram, to get the backing of the military to get moving.

With Nigeria's military accused by many citizens of not doing enough to rescue the girls, the hunters demonstrated their skills to an Associated Press (AP) reporter on Sunday.
With cow horn trumpets echoing eerie war cries from the screaming and chanting men who twirled knives and swords with dexterity, occasionally stabbing and cutting themselves with no apparent harm.
The hunters claimed their magic charms prevented any blood being drawn. They also trust amulets of herbs and other substances wrapped in leather pouches as well as cowrie shells, animal teeth and leather bracelets, including a cocktail of fetish equipage which provides them spiritual Teflon that protects them from being pierced by bullets. It will ultimately be a contest of traditional armoury against western arsenal.

The appearance of the hunters from three northeastern states underscores how deeply the April 15 mass kidnapping - and the government's apparent lack of action - has affected Nigerian society. It has spawned demonstrations and a tidal wave of commentary in the media, including social sites like Twitter and Facebook.
A spokesman for the hunters stopped short of actually criticising the military.

“We're not saying we are better than the soldiers, but we know the bush better than the soldiers,” said Sarkin Baka. The hunters said they had gathered at the suggestion of a state legislator.

Breaking News! Bomb blast at abuja surburb.

(Loud News Today-Abuja) Bomb blast experienced Ynaya bridge.abuja.full details shortly as enormous security personnels seen around the scene of the incidence .

CRISIS IN APC: Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, Disagree.

Gov Oshiomhole

(LOUD NEWS TODAY-BENIN CITY) APC, ward congresses, took place in Edo State, yesterday but did not go down well with former South- South Vice Chairman of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who lambasted those sent to conduct the exercise, saying that people came out to vote, but there were no result sheets and materials and warned that the party must not be allowed to destroy itself.

But the deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, disagreed, as he hailed the exercise, commending Governor Adams Oshiomhole for allowing “us to show our strength because this is the best form of democracy.”
In Edo North senatorial district of the state, where Governor Oshiomhole hails from and Edo Central where Chief Tom Ikimi comes from, the leadership of the party agreed to harmonise their list of executives, making the congress a family affair.

The party leaders in these areas agreed to harmonise after series of meetings with Oshiomhole, who stressed the need to avoid crisis as a result of the congress.

The story was, however, different in Bayelsa State, as anxiety has gripped members of the party in the state, following the decision by party leaders to adopt harmonised system of selecting officers to head the 105 wards in the eight local government areas of the state.

According to a party source, the decision to adopt the harmonized system of selecting ward officials of the party was taken, Monday, during an enlarged meeting of the party leaders and supporters from the local governments.

The meeting was reportedly presided over by the Interim state leadership of the party, Chief Tiwei Orunminigha and supervised by the two-man ward Delegate Committee headed by Professor Ottis from Cross Rivers State.

Others at the meeting, it was learnt, were Sunday Frank-Oputu, former Chief of Staff to former Governor Timipre Sylva, Sam Ogbuku, among others.

My BirthDay Gift for My Governor, Adams Aliu Oshiomhole.

Gov. Oshiomhole

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu.

My Governor, what could have been your response if these ever growing youths of Edo State gathered at Ogbe stadium to celebrate your birthday just as you did recently for Edo State youths  that was attended by renowned agberoes, hoodlums and "egbe wejas" to self-acclaimed great politicians?

What could have been your response if you are still the NLC president when Nigerian youths died during the botched NIS interview, or the innocent students killed in their dormitories or the Polytechnic students who have been out of school for over 9 months or the thousand of senior school leavers at home and unable to pursue their university education due to the truncated academic calender due to protracted ASUU strike whilst their mates in neighboring countries are in their 100 or 200 levels respectively?

What could have been your response if you are still the NLC president when Nigeria has been declared by the World bank as one of the countries on earth with extreme poverty, with 3 hours electricity in 3 weeks?

What could have been your response if  you are still the NLC president towards exploitation, extortion and exorbitant tuition fees charged on Nigerians today?

 I have other questions I wish to ask you that I know you have different answers; different from the answers you will give me as a Governor today but I will not ask more questions because this is your birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY GOVERNOR.

Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Preaches the Catchy Gospel of “Delta Beyond Oil”.

Gov. Uduaghan

(LOUD NEWS TODAY-LONDON) In a furtive search for an alternative economy that can flourish the state beyond the allocations from oil rent, the governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has been preaching the catchy gospel of “Delta Beyond Oil”. That crusade had taken him to several parts of the globe, baiting foreign investors with all the lures and prospects offerable by the Delta economy. Not many such investors have been converted by his preachments, perhaps because of other variables outside the control of the Delta State government.

But undeterred, Gov Uduaghan was in London last week, to address a session of British parliamentarians on the imperatives and benefits of investing in the Delta economy.

He spoke on “Nigerian Environment: Beyond Politics and Amalgamation”.
In his detailed address, delivered eclectically, Uduaghan displayed a deep knowledge of both the Nigerian history and the dialectics of Nigerian politics. He argued that most of the challenges facing the country were caused by three factors which are: Ethnic distrust, Religious distrust and Political distrust.

The failure to spare a thought for the people who owned the land from which oil was being explored, according to Uduaghan,  is the root cause of the unrest in the Niger Delta. He argued that with the continuous exploration of oil, the ecosystem of the surrounding communities was irretrievably destroyed, noting that this led to the failure of the natural resource of the people like land and river to yield their increase. He told stories of how literally people could be boiling palmnut (banga) on fire and dash down to the river and kill some fishes with which the  “banga meal” soup would be prepared; lamenting that over the years, the effects of oil exploration had completely despoiled the natural resources of the people.

According to him, the consequence is that the people could no longer feed themselves, resulting in hunger, with the correlative consequence of anger. “When there is hunger, there will be anger. When there is anger there will be violence, and when there is violence there will be unrest”, Uduaghan said.

He noted that the shortcomings of managing the oil wealth in Nigeria has inadvertently triggered the growth of criminality.
He said it is in a bid to have a proper developed economic environment that the Delta State government had long launched the crusade for Delta Beyond Oil, knowing that oil is a wasting asset.

In pursuit of the new economic template, the governor said his administration has thus focused attention on the agricultural and tourist potentials of the state. He told the investors that even the business of creating and boosting the fashion quest in Delta State held a lot of fortune and prospect.

While running through the narrative of his three point agenda: peace and security, infrastructure development, and human capital development, the governor narrated

the ugly experiences he had as a governor at inception, given the level of insecurity at the time.
Hear him, “Taking the oath of governor, at the time was like going on a suicide mission. You cannot be afraid in dealing with anything, no matter how dangerous it looked, in dealing with the security situation”.

Although he said the state had overcome that level of insecurity that circumscribed peace in the state, there were yet the malaise of kidnapping, crude oil theft and armed robbery still plaguing the Nigerian nation.
But he enthused that, “the future of Nigeria is very bright”.

He argued that the resources endowed on all parts of Nigeria are enough to grow the nation, and so the lamentation about the 1914 amalgamation should stop forthwith.

He had barely finished that sentence when a voice shouted from the back of the hall, “that is your own opinion”. The governor affirmed that it was his own opinion, but the intruding voice did not relent. The pitch of his voice rose even higher. He declared that the amalgamation was grave injustice and that “the people of Biafra should be allowed to renegotiate their membership of a skewed nation”. The intruding voice soon got some measly support from his ilk, many of them voicing seditious verbiages, in some ill-established British accent. One of them, spotting a Biafran emblem and badge on his shirt, refused to be introduced as a “young Nigerian”, preferring to be addressed as a “Biafran”.

The same fellow had challenged the organisers on why the short presentation of the Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Wamakko was not followed with a question-and-answer session. The explanation that Wamakko had a flight to catch little assuaged his anger.
On several other occasions, a number of the “Biafran speakers”, questioned the continued existence of the Nigerian entity claiming  that the Igbos have been made serial victims of the Nigerian enterprise.

It soon became a matter of tact and wisdom in managing the angry fellows, one of them an old man, who all seemed kitted to cause some chaos. The creases on the forehead of Tunde Alabi, the Executive Director of African Partnership Development, the  organiser of the British–African conference, had increased with the confusion brewing from the “Biafran patriots”.  He had to repeatedly appeal for calm.

Earlier, the Chair of All Party Parliamentary groups in Nigeria, Mrs Meg Hillier, a British MP,  had commended Nigeria for improving on the areas  of human right, women right and environmental right, regretting however that  “Nigeria is still seen as the greatest source of trafficked children to the UK”.

A UK-born Nigerian, Chi Onwurah, who had been serving in the British Parliament since 2010, regretted that most news on Nigeria in the UK media centred on insecurity, fraud and scam, implying, without saying it expressly, that these were hindrances to attracting foreign investors.

But Dr Joe Okemena, a Special UN envoy and Chair of Nigerians in the UK Labour Party, blamed the Nigerian leaders for not doing enough to develop the country. He informed that there was $200 trillion fund in the UN dedicated for the development of Africa, and that various countries and even states within the continent can benefit from the fund by placing their regular annual budgets as counterpart funding to qualify them to draw from the fund.

Even when the session ended, the young bearded spokesman of the “Biafrans” continued his agitation in high-pitched voice attracting the attention of the Metropolitan Police, who promptly seized him and whisked him away to a far corner for questioning. The harsh freezing autumn breeze did not allow yours sincerely to know what eventually happened to the Biafran crew, many of whom had abandoned the one that was nabbed.