It is all too glaring. Even to the not-so-politically conscious, it is evident that President Goodluck Jonathan will save himself and this country a lot of trouble if he does not seek re-election in 2015. Do not get me wrong. I am not talking about his constitutional eligibility. This is not an argument about his rights as a citizen to vote and be voted for. This is not even about the intrigues and politics of 2015 that have factionalised his party into a breakaway group known as the New PDP. Nigerians know that they are birds of the same feathers…
Author: tech
Since the President, Goodluck Jonathan, announced some days ago his decision to give the Nigerian people-what they have been demanding over the years-the opportunity to dialogue over the Nigerian state, the true colours of statesmen and pretenders have started to unravel. For years, some politicians have shot into national limelight masquerading as democracy activists and using every available platform to demand national dialogue among the ethnic nationalities that constitute the Nigerian state. But from the knee-jerk reaction and decided opposition of yesterday’s advocates of sovereign national conference to the idea today, the definition of politics in our society as…
The New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the headship of Abubakar Kawu Baraje has praised the country’s senior national football team, the Super Eagles, for the feat they achieved Sunday afternoon by defeating the Wayla Antelopes of Ethiopia during the crucial Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifying match in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. The factional PDP in a release by its spokesman, Eze Chukwuemeka eulogized what he described as, “never-say-die spirit” which the team exhibited during the match, despite playing on a dry, rough pitch, inclement weather and in front of a hostile crowd. According to the breakaway PDP, the…
The US Congress has passed a bill to reopen the government and raise the federal debt limit, with hours to spare before the nation risked default. The Democratic-controlled Senate’s bipartisan compromise won approval by 81 votes to 18. The deal was then passed by 285-144 in the House of Representatives, whose Republican leadership begrudgingly agreed to support the measure. It came hours before the deadline to raise the $16.7tn (£10.5tn) limit. The bill yanked the US back from the brink of a budgetary abyss by extending the treasury’s borrowing authority until 7 February. It also funds the government to 15…
Fitch Ratings has, once again, affirmed Nigeria’s BB-rating and a stable outlook for the economy. The rating, which was announced by the global rating agency in London Wednesday, came a few days after another respected international rating agency, Standard & Poor’s also affirmed a strong and positive rating for Nigeria’s economy with a BB-. The agency retained Nigeria’s long-term foreign and local currency, International Depository Receipts, IDRs, and senior unsecured bond ratings at ‘BB-’ and ‘BB’, respectively. According to Fitch, Nigeria economic outlook is stable, with very strong macro-economic index, as the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth rate has remained…
At least six people have been killed and two injured in a gas explosion in the central Mexican state of Puebla, officials say. It is not yet clear what caused the blast at the natural gas storage plant at the Chachapa industrial park. The explosion set off a fire which engulfed much of the area. The main highway linking Mexico City and Veracruz was closed for more than four hours as firefighters brought the blaze under control. Businesses and homes were evacuated in a radius of 3km (two miles). The blast occurred at 18:30 local time (23:30 GMT) at the…
Dozens of people were killed in southern Laos when a plane crashed into the Mekong River. Foreigners from some 10 countries including seven from France were among the dead, as well as Laotian nationals. The plane belonging to state-run Lao Airlines crashed in bad weather just before it was due to land at Pakse airport. A Lao Airlines statement on Facebook gave a total of 49 dead; other earlier reports put the figure at 44. The statement said there was no news of any survivors so far. The Lao Airlines statement said there had been 44 passengers and five crew…
By: Gracious Akujobi Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has said there will be no sentiments in the selection process of the players who will make the final cut for the international friendly against the Jordanian national team between the old and the new invited players. Keshi, who spoke in Abuja, said the match to him is like a World Cup qualifier or even a final and it effectively kick-starts preparation for the CHAN 2014 championship that will be hosted in South Africa in January, thus praising the NFF for the vision of quick preparation. Keshi spoke through team scribe,…
By: Gracious Akujobi League defending champion, Kano Pillars beat Dolphins FC 1-0 to further consolidate their position on the league table. The lone goal was scored by Super Eagles invitee Gambo Mohammed in the 45th minute which ensured that hope was kept alive for the Kano side. Pillars chairman, Abba Yola thanked God for the victory but cautioned that they have one more game to retain their league crown. “We are all happy and we give God thanks for his victory. We cannot therefore forget that we have one more game which God willing we will win and then the…
A civil society group, Anti-Corruption Network (ACN) has called for downward review of the tuition fees being charged by the Universities owned by the Churches in a way that members that are poor would be able to afford the fees. In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Executive Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Network, Dino Melaye, the group condemned in strong terms, what it described as the extravagant lifestyles of some Nigerian pastors. The ACN cited the fees being charged by the private Universities funded by various Churches, insisting they are out of the reach of common members…