Mimiko Plans Defection To PDP

AHEAD of the public declaration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the National Secretariat of the party has inaugurated a seven member committee to work out a smooth movement of the governor and other Labour Party, LP, chieftains to the PDP.

Gov Mimiko

Governor Mimiko is expected to defect publicly next month in an elaborate ceremony that will attract President Goodluck Jonathan, the NWC members of the Party and PDP governors .

Members of the committee led by a PDP Board of Trustees member of the party in the state, Dr Bode Olajumoke has representatives from the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

Other committee members include former governorship candidate of the party in the state, Chief Olusola Oke, former Defence Minister, Tokunbo Kayode and the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Affairs, Mr. Kingsly Kuku.

Also included are former Information Commissioner in the state, Dr Eddy Olafeso, former council chairman and the PDP National Youth leader, Dennis Alonge-Niyi.

It was gathered at the weekend that the much talked about 60:40 or 70:30 sharing of political positions in favour of the governor and his party members is a ruse.

Speaking with newsmen in Ikare area of the state, a chieftain of the Party and a member of the Committee, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye said the committee has commenced work.

Elegbeleye said that the committee is expected to liaise with the Presidency and the National Secretariat of the Party on the planned defection.

He confirmed that the committee is working out a smooth transition that would be beneficial to both sides.

Elegbeleye who is the Director General of National Sports Commission, NSC, described the speculation that certain ratio of political offices had been conceded to the governor as ‘mere street talk.’

The DG however described the governor’s planned movement to PDP as a blessing, adding that the party in the state is sure of garnering the highest number of votes for President Goodluck Jonathan in the South West come next year’s polls.

Elegbeleye noted that the imminent move will finally end the struggle for supremacy by PDP and LP in the state.

“Both parties will now join forces to fight a common enemy in subsequent elections in the state,’’ he said.

Copyright: Vanguard

2015: Buhari, Atiku clash over procedure for APC presidential primaries

The All Progressives Congress, APC, over the weekend headed for a serious crisis following strong reservations among its major presidential candidates over the procedure for adopting the 2015 presidential candidate for the party.

At the end of a National Executive Committee, NEC meeting of the party last weekend, the party was unable to forge a consensus on the issue with associates of the major aspirants reportedly holding on to their positions.

Two of the major presidential aspirants, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, Vanguard learnt were at the head of the major divisions over the adoption of a consensus or the conduct of primaries for the adoption of the presidential candidate. The other major aspirants, notably, Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State and Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah are reportedly indifferent.

Yesterday, aides of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, who is also set to enter the fray were largely mute on the issue, as one said it was too premature to express a position given the fact the governor is yet to formally declare his intention.

Buhari wants consensus candidacy

Party sources disclosed that Buhari’s associates in the party were pushing for consensus on the fact that majority of the party positions across board were filled with consensus. On the other hand, the Buhari supporters are praying that if the consensus arrangement is jettisoned for any reason that a direct primary involving all 18 million registered members of the party be held.

Their point is being strongly opposed by Atiku’s growing supporters within the party hierarchy who say that a direct primary would be unwieldy, costly. Rather, the Atiku camp has proposed what it called a Modified Direct Primary that would involve about 20,000 delegates choosing the party candidate. That prospect is feared by the Buhari camp who claimed that it would offer opportunity to easily woo or take over delegates hitherto pledged to other aspirants.

According to the Buhari supporters, the introduction of full direct primary would limit the prospect of Atiku wooing the delegates unlike a modified primary that could see Atiku and his agents now in the field winning the number of delegates.

“Having carefully examined our great party” the APC constitution, especially Article 20 and the Electoral Act 2010, one comes to the inevitable conclusion that it is better to adopt consensus in electing our candidates for House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governor and presidential candidates and where it fails to adopt direct primary,” a major Buhari supporter in the NEC told selected newsmen last weekend.

“It is on record that more than 80% of the ward, local government area and state congresses which produced the current executives of our great party were conducted through consensual arrangement. And more than 95% of the current National Executive Committee were elected via consensus,” he said

“When one considers the bitterness, rancour and bad blood indirect primary will most likely generate, it becomes safer to work towards a consensual agreement. We must at all times bear in mind that we are being hunted and that those who boasted to rule Nigeria for 60 years uninterrupted, are still hell bent to scuttle the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians for genuine ideological regime change.

“We must take note that our challenger, the ruling party has just announced the nomination of the incumbent President as its candidate by consensus means and they had commenced presidential campaign with vigour and dexterity”.

Atiku at the weekend, however, pledged his determination to abide by any democratic procedure adopted by the party even as he canvassed the advantages of the Modified Direct Primaries.

In an email statement issued to correspondents on the issue by his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Atiku camp said:

“Our candidate is a democrat. What he is opposed to is any undemocratic process going by the name of consensus, imposition or anointment. Back in the PDP, if you remember, he dragged the party to court and won on these issues with a resounding victory.

Atiku’s camp proposes Modified Direct Primary

“The decision of our campaign to support the Modified Direct Primary is not because of anything but for its practical applicability.

“If you say you want direct primary, how can you get all 18 million registered APC voters to take part?

“That would mean you will be setting up a vote in every polling booth, doing the same thing as INEC is doing. It will be the same thing as a general election.Where do you have the resources, the manpower, the time and the security support for this?”

“Secondly, don’t forget that the figure of the registered members is not a settled issue in many states. There are many places in which it is being disputed. Besides, it keeps changing everyday. New members are coming in and some are also leaving us. How do you deal with this?”

“Those who argue for direct primaries also need to factor in the fact that there is no way you take the process from the hands of governors if you allow it to take place in the states. Genuine fears on the part of some people is that in nearly each state, they may just end up writing the results or where this is not possible, breathe down on the necks of local officials to do as they wish.”

“The Modified Direct Primary cannot on the other hand be faulted as being undemocratic because the delegates coming forward, as proposed, are all elected officials. There is no dispute concerning their status as elected officials. For this reason alone, they are credible because they are representative of their wards. We support it because we believe it is broad enough to make for popular representation.”

“Even at this, 20,000 delegates is still a large number to bring under one roof, considering that even the PDP brings together between four to five thousands delegates only for the their presidential primaries.”

Copyright:Vanguard

NIGERIA: How I emerged as Fayose’s deputy, by Eleka

EKITI State Deputy governor elect, Dr Olusola Kolapo Eleka Sunday revealed how he emerged the deputy in the recently held Ekiti gubernatorial polls.

  According to Eleka, his father actually nominated him for the position when the governor elect, Peter Ayodele Fayose approached him to be his deputy.

  The deputy-governor elect who spoke at the year 2014 annual general convention and ordination of 559 new pastors organised by Christ Apostolic Church, Alasepe, Ikire said he never dreamt of becoming a deputy governor because he was never interested in politics.

  He said, “I was a senior lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University. It was so sudden when I was invited to be the governor elect. I never aspired or contested for it. I was never a politician, but my father is a politician. Fayose called my father to come and be his deputy, but he said he is old. Fayose then asked him to choose somebody who would be loyal and work with him conscientiously for the progress of the state. My father chose me without telling me. He knew I was never interested in politics”. 

  “Later, I got a call from His Excellency, Ayo Fayose called me on phone that I should see him with my credentials”.

He said Fayose told him he had prayed and God told him that my dad should choose somebody to be his deputy. I have moved close to Fayose, he is a real prayerful man”

  The deputy governor elect expressed appreciation to the church for the invitation saying he was happy to be part of the Supreme Council because it is being led by a spirit-filled man, Pastor Gabriel Lagunju.

  In his message entitled “Evangelism” which was the theme of the convention, Pastor Lagunju advised the ordinands to work relentlessly for God and try to abide by the spiritual oath they had taken.

  He said, “you the new pastors were not ordained because of the lessons you went through, but because of the spiritual oath you swore to and agreed to abide by. If you fail to abide, it is not those who ordained you that should be blamed. It is between you and your God”.

 The new pastors came from different parts of the country.

Copyright: The Guardian

Entertainment-George Clooney's BFF Julia Roberts Missing at The Superstar's Venice Wedding to Amal Alammudin

We are sure we are not the only source puzzled by this development. But, we are the ones who decided to mention it.

Is there any truth to the long-swirled rumours that Julia Roberts and George Clooney were (or is) an item?

Roberts was conspicuously missing from the posse of celebrities who descended on Venice in a thrilling four-day ceremony sealing Cloone's nuptials to Alamuddin, 36,  on September 27 in Venice, Italy. It is glaringly a missing piece as Roberts and Clooney were known to be very very close friends. They met when he was still an unknown and Roberts already a star. The 53 year old actor credits Roberts with encouraging him to soldier on when his career failed to move to spectacular levels way back before he became The George Clooney.

More puzzling, within weeks, Clooney showed off Alamuddin, Oxford-educated international human rights' lawyer and Wikileaks' Julian Assange's attorney, to his close circle of friends and associates like Rick Gerber, and his wife Cindy Crawford, Matt Damon , Emily Blunt and husband John Krasinki among others. But as at May, 2014, Roberts, in an interview with The Ellen Degeneres Show, said  that she was yet to meet Clooney's then fiancee. Huh-uh??

Seems there is a deliberate media black out over this as the global media obsessed over Brad Pitt's and Angelina Jolie's absences and not even a word about Roberts'.

Still, even though he has left the single females'world in heartbreak, a big congratulations to Clooney and his gorgeous wife, Amal. They are cute. It's so clear they are getting married to their other half judging by their goofy smiles and PDAs.
Pictures of the marriage event were exclusively sold to Vogue US for a whopping one million pounds! The couple intends donating it to charity. However, here are pictures of them a day after saying "Ï do":

Ekiti: Assassination fears grip politicians

Politicians in Ekiti State are worried that more assassinations might take place in the state following the killing of a former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Omolafe Aderiye, on Thursday.

Aderiye, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party and a supporter of the state’s incoming governor, Ayo Fayose, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Ekiti State.

His assassination had been preceded by the disruption of the sitting of the state election petitions tribunal by thugs believed to be working for Mr. Fayose.

A day after his assassination, on Friday, the dispute between members of two parties took a turn for the worse when suspected thugs went round the capital setting buildings and vehicles ablaze.

To avert further bloodshed, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, quickly declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state on Friday. In a live broadcast in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, Fayemi said there would be no movement between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. every day till further notice.

However, politicians in the state, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday, expressed fears that Aderiye’s murder might be a sign of things to come.

According to them, the state has a history of political killings and if the outbreak of violence was not quickly nipped in the bud, there may be a repeat of past violent incidents.

Some of the high profile assassinations that had taken place in the state in the past included the killings of a World Bank consultant, Dr. Ayodeji Daramola; an Assistant General Manager, Finance and Administration of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in Kaduna State, Mr. Kehinde Fasuba; Mr. Tunde Omojola, Mrs. Eunice Omojola and Mr. Yemi Oni.

The state Chairman of the APC, Mr. Jide Awe, told SUNDAY PUNCH that he had not been to the party secretariat because he was afraid of being attacked.

“Already tension has been created in the state and people have to look for safety. When there is tension, you have to look for safety. I have not been to the party secretariat since Aderiye was killed. I cannot go there without police protection,” he said.

Similarly, the Director General of Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dipo Anisulowo, said politicians were not safe in the state.

“Politicians are not safe. We expect things to change for better, let the outgoing governor do things the right way as soon as he can,” he said.

Some of the other politicians who expressed concerns included a former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Abiodun Aluko, who called on security agencies in the state to beef up security before the crisis further degenerated.

Aluko, who contested the PDP ticket for the June governorship poll in the state, said the people of the state were worried about Adeyeri’s killing.

“Those affected now may want to retaliate and this would worsen the situation. That is why we are calling on security agents to be alive to their duties. The state must not be allowed to be thrown into anarchy,” he said.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, Mr. Tunji Ogunlola, when contacted also said that the people of the state were afraid.

He said, “With this now, nobody is safe. The only thing I can say is to appeal to the two parties to allow peace to reign in the state.

“Everybody concerned should put the interest of the state and its people at heart. We must desist from actions capable of causing further problem in the state.”

The governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Mr. Kole Ajayi, also expressed fears about the future of the state should the crisis continue unchecked.

He said, “It is quite unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this kind of situation again. Lives are being wasted and we must act fast to stop it.

“Human lives are sacred. When violence is becoming uncontrollable; it can lead to a total breakdown of law and order. As stakeholders all of us must see ourselves as one people. We are brothers and we should stop this mindless killing.”

Also, Senator Ayo Arise said all politicians in the state found Aderiye’s muder worrisome. He said, “Anything that involves loss of lives get me worried. All politicians in the state are worried about the situation. It is very unfortunate. I see no reason why people should begin to kill one another because of politics. I hope there will be no repeat of such.”

When asked what the Nigeria Police Force headquarters was doing to contain the situation in Ekiti, the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the situation had been brought under control.

According to him, the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on the state has brought the crisis under control. He also stated that nobody would be invited by the Police High Command.

“We won’t intervene in the state because the situation there is under control. The commissioner of police is able to handle the situation and he has brought everything under control,” he said.

When SUNDAY PUNCH sought the comment of the Ekiti State Police Command on the matter, the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said the command was keeping an eye on turbulent areas in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state.

Babayemi added that it would be difficult to arrest the Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, because there was no substantial evidence connecting him with the violence in the state.

He, however, stated that no one was above the law in the state.

“Because of the seriousness of the situation on ground, we cannot invite or arrest the governor-elect without substantial evidence. We must have substantive evidence to arrest any suspect. But, one thing is certain, the state is greater than anybody and no one is above the law.

“We’re talking to a lot of people. Right now, we can’t reveal the identity of the people we’re interrogating. This is because revealing their identity can jeopardise our investigations,” the police spokesman said.

When asked if the command would ask for reinforcement from Abuja, Babayemi said there was no immediate need for assistance from Abuja but noted that such request would be made if necessary.

Copyright PUNCH.