COUP PLOT FOILED IN BENIN

COTONOU (AFP) – Benin said Sunday that authorities have thwarted an attempt to oust President Thomas Boni Yayi and install a military regime in the west African nation.

In a statement read to journalists, state prosecutor Justin Gbenameto said a colonel and businessman were arrested for plotting “to block the head of state from returning to Cotonou after his trip and to institute a military regime.”

QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITALISED

LONDON (AFP) – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, suffering from gastroenteritis, was admitted to hospital on Sunday, a Buckingham Palace spokesman told AFP.

All the 86-year-old’s engagements for this week, including a visit to Rome, have been called off, the spokesman added.

“The Queen is being assessed at King Edward VII’s Hospital in London after experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis. As a precaution, all official engagements this week will be either postponed or cancelled,” he said.

THOUGH MY HUSBAND SHOT ME IN MY BUM-BUM, I CAN’T LEAVE HIM - WIFE • HUSBAND HAS CASE TO ANSWER - POLICE

Tribune reports on the rare love displayed by a woman who was shot by her husband but who is pleading with the police not to prosecute the man.

THE story is that of a strange love, such that is uncommon. For anyone that heard of a man shooting his wife in the course of a  quarrel, the reaction would be that such an act should be punished. But it sounds strange to hear that the woman would still profess love for such a person or even plead for him at the police station, despite sustaining injuries from the shot fired by the husband for whom she was carrying a second child.

BOKO HARAM: SHEKAU DENIES CEASEFIRE, DIALOGUE WITH FG

…Denies Sheikh Abdulazeez, threatens more attacks in Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, others…
The leader of Islamist sect, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has denied the purported cease fire and dialogue with the federal government of Nigeria by his group.
Shekau in a new video released by the sect also denied Sheikh Abdulazeez stressing that nobody has asked anybody in the name of Abdulazeez to represent him or his movement.
His translated message reads:
‘May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all. This is an important message to all people.

KWARA POLICE COMMISSIONER SHOT DEAD IN ENUGU

ENUGU—Tragedy struck in Enugu Saturday night when the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chinwike Asadu,  was shot dead by unknown gunmen.

His police orderly, Aloha Olaniyi and Driver, Oliver Omeh, who were with him at the time of the incident sustained serious bullet wounds  and are said to be lying critically at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu.

The incident occurred at Amorji Nike, near the densely populated Abakpa  Nike area in Enugu East local government area within the state capital at about 10 pm.

DAME PATIENCE AND THE PEACE MISSION COMPLEX

These are indeed days of anomie in Nigeria, days in which the pull-them-down syndrome has gone viral. A horde of raucous persons who mask under the guise of see-me patriotism and self-righteous pontification now mount every available podium of public discourse to run the government down. These self-appointed voices of the masses, who one, in the best of terms, can be described as anoles (for that is what they are) in their grandstanding, fail to see anything good with the government, and no idea, no matter how well conceived; no project no matter how noble intended, is ever deemed good enough for this country, once it is not suggested by them or their sponsors.

IGBO PRESIDENCY IN 2015, A MIRAGE — ETIABA

In this interview with ALLWELL OKPI, former Governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Virginia Etiaba, who recently launched her autobiography, speaks about her political journey, the crisis in her former party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, and women participation in Nigerian politics

 What have you been occupied with since you left office?

Since I left office in March 2010, I’ve been a fulfilled woman. Once in a while I go to my school in Anambra State. You know, once a teacher is always a teacher. Apart from that, I also go to Abuja sometimes, when I have an invitation from the President or the First Lady. I’ve also been busy with church activities and my non-governmental organisation.

You mean you have not been involved in active politics?

THE RISING PROFILE OF OKONJO IWEALA

The choice of Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala as Silverbird Group’s Man of the Year is a feat earned through a cocktail of daring economic policies by the Goodluck Jonathan administration especially in 2012, reports Festus Akanbi

A few moments after the impasse on the 2013 budget was resolved, a few government functionaries who first emerged from the Presidential Villa, venue of the closed-door meeting, where the budget was signed, included the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

PILOT FALLS ASLEEP IN COCKPIT

A pilot for Air New Zealand fell asleep twice while at the controls of one of the airline’s Boeing 777 jets while on a flight from London to Los Angeles last year.

The report, which was voluntarily submitted to the New Zealand Civil Authority, said: “I suddenly, and without any warning, fell into a deep sleep on the flight deck. The same event occurred twice,” according to the pilot in question.

UMEH, OKOROCHA SHUN APGA’S RALLY FOR OJUKWU

The past National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr. Victor Umeh, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, the Leader of the APGA caucus in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, and Senator Chris Anyanwu were among prominent members of APGA that were absent at a mega-rally held by the party to mark the first anniversary of the burial of the party’s leader, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, in Awka on Saturday.

The rally, which was attended by many APGA supporters from the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones, was addressed by the acting National Chairman of the party, Mr. Maxi Okwu, and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.

UK’S RICHEST MAN BATTLES OBASANJO’S ASSOCIATE OVER NIGERIA OIL BLOCS

• To explain relationship with ex-president

Lakshmi Mittal, Britain’s richest man, is expected to be cross-examined over his business practices and relationships with politicians in a court case that could offer a rare glimpse into his empire.

The steel magnate, worth an estimated £12.7bn, is being sued at the high court for allegedly reneging on an agreement to pay fees to a former friend for helping to secure an oil deal.

2015: PDP LEADERS MOVE TO DUMP SAMBO

• Another Northern governor emerges Jonathan’s favourite

The shape of the battle for the 2015 presidential ticket in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be manifesting by the day.

Some powerful forces in the party are pushing for a replacement of Vice President Namadi Sambo as running mate to President Goodluck Jonathan on the party’s ticket.

Their choice is a serving Northern governor, who, in the opinion of those pushing his case, has more clout in the region than Sambo.

They regard their candidate as the ultimate joker the party needs to win the North.

But a few other leaders are wary of the backlash of dropping Sambo and they are weighing the options.

KENYA’S PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT, ODINGA, SEEKS SPIRITUAL SUPPORT IN NIGERIA

AHEAD of the March 4 Presidential Election in Kenya, Raila Odinga, one of the presidential aspirants, has sent emissaries to Nigeria, ostensibly, for spiritual assistance.

Odinga, Saturday, sent a two-man emissaries to the world headquarters of a spiritual organisation, the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, based in Calabar, Nigeria, to court Leader Olumba Olumba Obu’s spiritual support and favour to enable him win the race.

BOKO HARAM HAS DECLARED CIVIL WAR IN NORTH — DANJUMA, BABANGIDA, OTHERS

WARY of the security challenge in the country, former Defence Minister, General Theophilous Danjuma, Saturday described the north as being in the middle of a civil war declared by the Boko Haram religious sect.

Danjuma spoke at the launch of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria’s N50bn Phase 11 Development project, where former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar, also decried poverty and insecurity in the country, which, according to them, is being instigated lack of access to education.

CONTROVERSY OVER NEW FIRS CHAIRMAN

Ministry Shortlists Six Candidates, Drops Incumbent Boss; North Kicks

CONTRARY to the conventional practice, the Ministry of Finance may, Sunday, conduct a final interview for six shortlisted candidates vying for the chairmanship of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

This is the first time such interview and selection process will be adopted for the FIRS or related appointment in Federal parastatals and MDAs.

The outcome of Sunday’s exercise is expected to help the Ministry zero in on just one of the candidates.

ARCHIBONG PETITIONS JONATHAN, ALLEGES MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE

DISGRACED Federal High Court judge, Justice Charles Efanga Archibong, has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan to restore him to the position from which the president compulsorily retired him last Monday.

In the petition, which was copied to Chief Justice of the Federation, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the judge claimed unfair hearing and miscarriage of justice against him by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

He specifically asked the President to rescind/withdraw acceptance/approval of the NJC’s recommendation that he be compulsorily retired as judge of the Federal High Court.

The judge’s troubles started last year when two petitions were written against him to the NJC.

NGF CHAIRMANSHIP: NORTHERN PDP GOVERNORS DUMP AMAECHI, SHEMA

•Seek consensus candidate

Governors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party from the northern states may have finally dumped the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, after several weeks of bickering over the headship of the forum when his tenure ends in May.

The northern states’ PDP governors also rejected the presidency’s choice for the NGF chairmanship, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, in favour of a neutral candidate ahead of the election in May to choose a new chairman.

CHIME LEAVES FOR ABROAD AGAIN

Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime has reportedly left the country again, three weeks after he returned to the country from a controversial vacation in London that lasted over four month.

Sources in Enugu Government House disclosed to Sunday Independent at the weekend that Chime left the country on Thursday shortly after the decoration of his Aide De Camp (ADC), Arthur Amobi who was recently elevated by the Nigerian Police from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Chime decorated his ADC, assisted by the new Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Tonye Ebitubituwa.

ABSU SENATE REVOKES KALU’S DEGREE CERTIFICATE

The first degree certificate obtained by Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu when he was the Abia State governor has been revoked  by the Senate of Abia State university Uturu (ABSU) following its findings that the certificate was fraudulently awarded.

The sad news for the former Abia governor was made public in statement issued at the weekend by the registrar/secretary to Senate, O.E Onuoha, saying  the decision was taken at the resumed 69th extra-ordinary meeting of the Senate held on Friday, March 1.

With the “cancellation and withdrawal of the degree result and certificate awarded to him” the former presidential candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) would no longer regard himself as a graduate of Government and Public Administration.

2015: JONATHAN NOT FREE TO CONTEST YET –ACF

In reaction to Friday’s ruling of an Abuja High Court that President Goodluck Jonathan can contest in 2015, the Northern socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has said it is not over yet. ACF said the ruling of the High Court was not an automatic ticket for the President to contest yet, until the apex court in the country says so.

The forum in its reaction through its spokesman, Mr. Anthony N.Z. Sani, in Kaduna yesterday said the litigants would not rest until they ensure the court processes are exhausted. According to Sani, “you should know that the ruling is not the end of the court process.

WE CAN’T CONTINUE LIKE THIS –OBASANJO

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the weekend scored Nigeria below average on leadership index, lamenting that Nigeria could not continue the way it is. He said leadership is very important in any country expressing worries that there are no good leaders in the country.

Obasanjo who was military head of state between 1976 and 1979 and civilian president  for two terms between 1999 and 2007 said leadership problem was something that had to be addressed saying ‘’we cannot continue the way it is’’. He adds: ‘’In Nigeria, with due respect, there are not many good leaders in Nigeria. We have many Nigerians and not good leaders in Nigeria which can be extended to Africa’’. The elder statesman who turns 76 on Tuesday spoke yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital during the African Regional Inter collegiate Debate on Human Security.

BUHARI IS OUR MANDELA – KANTI BELLO

Senator Mahmud Kanti Bello represented Katsina North from 1999-2011 in the senate and is now a chieftain of the new mega party – the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with RUTH CHOJI, the former lawmaker states that the ruling PDP government is a complete disaster. He also states that, the only way the APC can succeed is by fielding General Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate come 2015.

What assurances can you give Nigerian that the APC has come to stay?
Let’s look at it from the context of why the merger? Some of us who are old enough to know during the civil war, the part of the country where I come from have never been in dilemma like now and all this emanate from the lack of capacity of PDP as the party in government.

HOW DANJUMA FORCED ME TO RE-ORGANISE THE ARMY - IBB

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida yesterday extolled the virtues of General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma as a “legendary soldier, a savvy and forward looking entrepreneur, investor and philantropist” during the N50 billion Endowement Fund of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
Gen. Babangida, who was the Chairman of the occasion, said Gen. Danjuma, who was then the Chief of Army Staff, entrusted the re-organisation of the Nigeria Army to him even though he was just a colonel.

FG DONATES N3BN TO NOLLYWOOD

In celebration of the Nollywood’s 20th anniversary, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has donated a grant of N3 billion to the industry to be supervised by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo iweala and Minister of culture, tourism and national orientation, Edem Duke.

This announcement was made at the State Banquet hall last night where the President dined with the Nollywood industry. The grant titled “Project Nollywood”  will be commissioned on the first week of April.

JONATHAN REDUCES FG'S BUREAUCRACY

In line with the recommendations of a committee headed by erstwhile Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Steve Oronsaye, the five structure federal bureaucracy has now been reduced to three.

This, President Goodluck Jonathan asserted Friday night was to enable the apex government fast track the development of the country.

Jonathan stated this in Abuja on Friday at a formal send-off ceremony for two past Heads of Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye and Prof. Oladapo Afolabi.

Source: Thisday