Thank You to our Readers! Happy New Year

Thank you to all Kemulch Blog readers. We do sincerely appreciate you for being part of us in 2013. We wish you a more prosperous year in 2014! Happy New Year!

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Dear Compatriots,

I greet and felicitate with you all as we enter the year 2014 which promises to be a momentous one for our country for several reasons, including the fact that it is also the year of our great nation’s centenary celebrations.

I join you all in giving thanks to God Almighty for guiding us and our beloved nation safely through all the challenges of the outgoing year to the beginning of 2014.

Exactly 100 years ago today, on January 1, 1914, the British Colonial authorities amalgamated what was then the separate Protectorates of Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria, giving birth to the single geopolitical entity known as Nigeria.

For us therefore, today is not just the beginning of a new year, but the end of a century of national existence and the beginning of another. It is a moment for sober reflection and for pride in all that is great about Nigeria.

Whatever challenges we may have faced, whatever storms we may have confronted and survived, Nigeria remains a truly blessed country, a country of gifted men and women who continue to distinguish themselves in all spheres of life, a country whose diversity remains a source of strength.

We pay tribute today, as always to our founding fathers and mothers, and all the heroes and heroines whose toil and sweat over the century made this country what it is today.

As I noted, a few days ago, the amalgamation of 1914 was certainly not a mistake but a blessing. As we celebrate 100 years of nationhood, we must resolve to continue to work together as one, united people, to make our country even greater.

I assure you that our administration remains fully committed to the progressive development of our country and the consolidation of peace, unity and democratic governance in our fatherland.

Despite several continuing domestic and global challenges, for us in Nigeria, the year 2013 witnessed many positive developments which we will strive to build upon in 2014.

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Zambian's BBA The Chase Former Housemate, Cleo [Ice Queen] Is In Nigeria With Her Son [Photos]

The Big Brother Africa former house mate flew to Nigeria over the weekend to attend a friend’s party in Surulere. Cleo looks so stunning in her outfit.

More photos below:

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Rapper Eve Gets Engaged to Longtime Boyfriend, Maximillion Cooper

Rapper Eve's longtime boyfriend, fashion designer Maximilion Cooper proposed to her on Christmas Day, according to a report by E Online.

"The rapper-actress, 35, is engaged to British designer and Gumball 3000 founder Maximillion Cooper, E! News exclusively confirms.

Eve's rep tells us that Cooper popped the question on Christmas Day, the sparkly evidence of which was first spied on Instagram in a photo in which she's surrounded by family—and flashing a diamond ring!"

 

therealeve #familytime!!!! Me and my mom and my lil brother Farrod just got to the English country side. Feel so #blessed to be with my family and sharing my life here. I pray that you bring 2014 in with people you #love. And nothing but #good
Read more at http://web.stagram.com/p/622539854953119143_18900062#W34KJqzX5o2fM2Kr.99

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That's the 2013 Mercedes Benz G Wagon that cost's over N30million. More pics below

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Pastor And His Children Arrested Over fake Currency Productiion in Lagos

The Department of State Security Service, SSS, in Lokoja, Kogi on Tuesday announced the arrest of a syndicate, including a pastor, for the alleged printing and circulation of fake naira notes.
The Director of SSS, Mike Fubara, who presented the suspects to journalists, said the syndicate included 15 others, including the pastor’s six children.
He named the pastor as Godson Akubuiro, the General Overseer of The Mountain of Breakthrough Deliverance Ministry, Lagos.
Mr. Fubara said the SSS in its effort to trace the source of the “worrisome fake naira currency in circulation in the state,” undertook a covert operation to uncover those behind the act.
“This operation took the service close to four months before a breakthrough resulting in the arrest of the 16-man syndicate led by Reverend Godson O. Akubuiro,” the director said.
He said that the operation took security agents to The Breakthrough Church, also known as Land of Solution, located at Agric, Ikorodu, Lagos.
He said that the suspects were being investigated preparatory to their prosecution.
The director said items recovered from the suspects include equipment and materials used in printing fake currencies.
Other items recovered were a large quantity of printed fake notes, cut to size blank currency notes and N1.3 million fake naira notes.
Mr. Fubara urged the public to be wary of the fake naira notes in circulation and report suspects to the service.
Mr. Akubuiro, however, told journalists that he was not using the money for himself but in supporting the less privileged and the needy in his congregation. He pleaded for leniency, saying men of God were often tempted like King David in the bible, who as a man after God’s heart fell many times but was still pardoned by God.
(NAN)

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APC Drops Buhari &39; Picks Tambuwal As Presidential Candidate

VP zoned to South-West, Buhari, others dropped

Barring any last minute change, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, may have endorsed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, The Right Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, as the presidential candidate of the main opposition party in the 2015 general election. National Mirror gathered that other presidential aspirants on the platform of the party, including the former Head of State. Maj.- Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.), are being persuaded to step down for Tambuwal.

As a prelude to the formal announcement of his candidature, Tambuwal has been advised to formally dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which provided the platform for his election into the lower chamber of the National Assembly and defect to the opposition party.

Already, findings showed that Tambuwal had agreed to the condition. Reliable sources close to the party disclose to National Mirror indicated that Tambuwal would meet the condition as soon as the House reconvenes in the New Year.

It was gathered that the leaders of APC in settling for Tambuwal considered that he possessed solid character content to sway the support of Nigerians for his candidature in the presidential election.

It was also learnt that those rooting for Tambuwal in APC were of the opinion that his integrity and pedigree were strong points over candidates of other political parties in the presidential election, especially in the likelihood that the ruling party fielded President Goodluck Jonathan.

Investigation revealed that APC leaders were persuaded by the independent disposition of Tambuwal in the management of the affairs of the House, particularly his courage to shun the interference of the leadership of PDP and the Presidency. One of the APC leaders, who spoke with our correspondent, said Tambuwal’s uncommon courage has endeared him to Nigerians.

“The leaders of APC have settled for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2015 election.

Although the decision is not public yet but there is a consensus of opinion by our leaders that the Speaker (Tambuwal) be allowed to fly the flag of the party in the presidential election.

“Our leaders believe that the Speaker has what it takes to win the presidential election and Mr. Speaker has been told to dump his party, PDP and move into APC to enable him to scale the hurdle. Tambuwal has agreed to that and he is expected to declare for APC with some other members of the House in the first quarter of New Year.

“In deciding on Tambuwal, his originality and independence in the handling of the affairs of the House were taken into consideration. Nigerians are impressed that Tambuwal shunned entreaties by the leadership of PDP and the Presidency to make the House an appendage of the executive arm of government.

“The Speaker has no doubt endeared himself to a lot of Nigerians by his sterling leadership qualities and APC believes that such qualities are required from any Nigerian aspiring for the highest political office in the country,” added the source, who did not want his name mentioned. Buhari and other presidential aspirants on the platform of the party were being persuaded to step down for Tambuwal.

According to him, Buhari and others were made to understand that the interest of the party superseded the ambition of any individual within the party.

He added that other presidential aspirants in the party have been advised to bury their interest to enable the party present “a credible and marketable presidential candidate to Nigerians.”

“The APC is working on all the presidential candidates and they are being persuaded to step down for Tambuwal, who is considered suitable for presidential election. Already, Gen. Buhari and others have displayed uncommon understanding and they are likely to embrace and accept Tambuwal as the flag bearer of the party in the presidential election,” the source added.

A reliable source in the APC also confided in National Mirror that the leadership of the APC had zoned the presidential ticket of the party to the North while the vice-presidential ticket had also been zoned to the South-West which had in turn zoned it to the Ekiti/Ondo axis.

National Mirror reliably gathered that while a young Muslim northerner is the preferred choice, the vice-presidential candidate, will be an elderly practicing Christian. The source told National Mirror that three candidates had actually been penciled down for the vice- presidential slot in the South-West.

It was learnt that Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, who was in times past a frontrunner as likely vice- presidential candidate was knocked off with the zoning of the slot to the Ekiti/ Ondo axis of the South- West geo-political zone.

APC leaders were also of the view that a Muslim- Muslim ticket like the 1993 presidential election, where the late business mogul, M.K.O. Abiola chose a Northern Muslim, Babagana Kingibe as his running mate would not fly in today’s Nigeria.

Also not working in Fashola’s favour was the alleged frosty relationship between him and his predecessor and national leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was said not be comfortable with a Fashola vice presidency.

A former governor of Ekiti State and a serving governor on the region were also considered but dropped on account of their relatively “young” age.

National Mirror also reliably learnt that the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, after meeting with the leadership of the APC insisted on the choice of a “practicing Christian” as a vice presidential candidate of the party.

It is yet to be known which office would be zoned to the South East and South-South geo-political zones in the political calculations of the APC, but analysts opined that the South East may be pacified with the presidency of the Senate while the South-South may end up with the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, 29 members of the House of Representatives, National Mirror learnt authoritatively yesterday, would defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, between January and February 2014.

A member of the House from Jigawa State, who is still in the ruling PDP, disclosed this to National Mirror yesterday. It was also gathered that about four lawmakers who have lost out with the party in Benue State have concluded plans to take the leap in January.

“Yes, we are still PDP members, but I can’t guarantee that in January we would still be there. It is only Jigawa, many other states too. We are not less than 29 moving in January,” he said.

He however, did not confirm that the Speaker, Tambuwal would defect to the APC in January. This was just as about 15,000 members of the PDP in Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa-Balewa local government areas of Bauchi State have also dumped the ruling party and decamped to the APC.

In a related development, over 1,000 members of the PDP and other political parties in Ikosi-Ejinrin Local Council Development Area, LCDA, of Lagos State also yesterday decamped to the APC.

Thirty seven members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the PDP had already defected to the opposition, APC, giving the opposition a slim majority in the lower House.

With this development, the APC now controls the lower House with a majority of 172 members while the PDP has 171. But to change the structure of the House, the APC needs 181 members.

There are 360 members in the House. Should the 29 members move to join the APC in January, the party would have about 200 members of the House, far more than the required number to control the House.

In Bauchi, members of the PDP in Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa- Balewa local government areas, led by the lawmaker representing the federal constituency, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, at a rally, which took place at the famous Watal Hotel in Tafawa-Balewa Local Government Area, the headquarters of the federal constituency, dumped the ruling party for the opposition.

The defection attracted eminent politicians, diplomats, youths and women, including serving political appointees of Isa Yuguda. Speaking at the occasion, Hon. Dogara said that his defection to the APC followed PDP’s perpetual injustice and lack of internal democracy and insensitivity to the plight of the people, adding that the PDP-led government has failed to fulfill its campaign promises to his constituency.

He lambasted the PDP administration for operating as a military junta without regard for the people, noting that the government has failed to curb the lingering security crises in the North-East.

His words: “I cannot continue to stay in the PDP, which has failed to execute any single project in my constituency since the advent of democracy, despite bankrolling President Goodluck Jonathan and Yuguda’s victory in my constituency in 2011 despite my area being a PDP stronghold.”

Also speaking, the leader of the defectors, Michael Kogos, said that their decision to dump the PDP followed the party’s failure to carry the people along; lack of internal democracy as well as the lingering crisis in the party at all levels.

Kogos said that the APC has come to stay in Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa-Balewa local council areas of the state in support of Hon. Dogara, whose giant strides were commendable.

The defected PDP members accused the Yuguda administration of blurred vision and failure to consolidate on the work of his predecessor, Adamu Mua’zu.

It would be recalled that last week, about 15,000 members of the PDP were confirmed to have dumped the party for the opposition APC in the state, a development which the state PDP secretary described as “bad omen for the party.”

But the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Alin Ardo, said, the defected member of the House of Representatives would soon return to the umbrella.

He debunked claims that the PDP government has not executed any single project in his constituency, thus warranting his defection to the APC, saying that the federal and state governments have been up and doing in the area.

In Lagos, the PDP chairmanship candidate for the Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA in the 2011 local government election, Segun Ogunsanya, led the PDP defectors who were received into the APC by a former Commissioner for Health in the state, Mr. Leke Pitan; former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Joko Pelumi and the APC chairman in the LCDA, Elder Lateef Sangosanya, to the APC. Speaking on the rationale behind their move, Ogunsanya, described the decision to dump the PDP as the best thing to do, following the developmental strides embarked upon by the incumbent chairman, Prince Olusegun Adetola.

The vice chairman of the party in Lagos State, Alhaji Akanni Seriki Bamu, urged the new APC members to ensure that the expected dividends of democracy are enjoyed by the people, assuring that there would be no form of discrimination against the new members of the party, as they would have the same rights as the old members of the party.

It would be recalled that the latest defection is the third time politicians of various parties will be decamping to APC in Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA

Source :Nationalmirroronline.net

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Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s New Year Message For Nigerians [Read]

 

 FOR NIGERIA, THIS NEW YEAR WILL TRULY BE NEW!

Nigerians must enter the New Year determined to succeed although much around us signals failure. As a nation, we are destined to be better than we now are. Today, we slump in a low place but that is only for now.  Our nation is crippled but not broken, confused but not lost. Given into the hands of enlightened progressive leadership, this nation can become a fertile land of prosperity, of law, of peace and dignity for us all.

The coming year shall be one of decision. To be for change or against change? To want more of the same or to join the team that desires change? Shall we continue as we now are? If so, failure will be our sole destination and darkness our only compass. As for me, I reject this end as well as the means that lead to it. We have gone far enough down the unlit road. We want no further part of it.

The advent of a new year is time for people and nations to resolve themselves to a greater future. As a people, let us resolve no longer to live in a land that functions as its inferior self. Let us resolve that we no longer dwell in a society of unfair advantage, excessive poverty and parochial divisions that threaten to distract us from the common goal of our common good. Let us resolve that we shall no longer tolerate a government more interested in its longevity and welfare than in yours. Let us resolve to create a Nigeria based on justice, democracy, fair opportunity and decent living conditions for all regardless of ethnic origin, religion, region or social station. Let us devote our hands to reshaping Nigeria into a place where no one is excluded and all are seated at the national table. Let us turn Nigeria from its present condition of a plantation owned by the few and worked by the many into a humane community of shared responsibility and shared benefit.

2013 proved we cannot pretend nothing is wrong when most things are wrong. If we allow things to continue in this shoddy way, we shall find ourselves walking toward the open jaws of national disaster.
We must resist this ugly fate by substituting it with a renewed faith that we can improve our nation. I feel the storm of change building up.  If you listen closely, you hear a faint and distant sound. This distance sound means us well, and, I tell you, this sound will not always be distant or soft. Inevitably, it approaches. The closer it gets, the louder and stronger it will become until no other sound will be heard in the public square. This happy noise has been held from us far too long. Pray for its timely arrival; it is the din of political and economic change.

This is why we formed the APC. The APC is a vehicle to generate and accelerate the process of change towards the most beneficial end for the greatest number of our people. We are not here to mimic the PDP. Why would a living being mimic a ghost or water mimic mud?  We may not be perfect but we are dedicated to wellbeing of something far greater and more important than ourselves. We seek a better Nigeria for all Nigerians. Thus, we are no more like the PDP than a broom is like the dirt it sweeps away. We do not copy the deafness of the ruling party. We shall orchestrate a new music of enlightenment, progress and hope for this country.
As it moves nearer, the sound of imminent change will become music to the many. Those in power will dread it because the tune they want to hear comes not of the people’s happiness but from their misery.

This is why the strange government that resides in Abuja can applaud itself for economic growth when the majority of people suffer caustic poverty. The growth they commend is restricted to them and their cronies. The rest of the nation stagnates. Children’s bellies swell not from feast but from near famine. Schools close. Businesses are shuttered. Jobs evaporate. The streets fill with the frustration of the unemployed and hopeless. Homes, stores and factories are dark. There is no light. Yet, these people commend themselves for steering the economy to pleasant waters. They are mean captains who care not for the conditions of the workmen below deck.

In effect, they think they have done their job by making themselves richer at the expense of the rest of the people. Then, they have the nerve to ask that we applaud this misdeed. They believe they have already taken Nigeria to the promise land. This means they intend to keep things as they now are. They believe the economy should be permanently structured in a way the vast majority of Nigerians squirm under the boot of poverty while they relax in the nectar of luxury. This is an unfair, crooked deal. We reject it and, as the drumbeat of change marches closer, it will drown out their lame excuses to make way for a fairer economy.

Two recent events demonstrate how low we have sunk and why 2014 must be the year of change. Recently the media published reports of a letter from the CBN governor alleging a $50 billion dollar shortfall in revenues NNPC deposited into the federation account.  After a frenzied dash to reconcile the irreconcilable accounting books keep by this government, it was reported that only approximately $11 billion was unaccounted!  We have dropped so far that somehow losing $11 billion is now a sign of fiscal rectitude! This is tragic. In an atmosphere of good governance, this amount would never grow legs and walk away unnoticed. If it did, senior officials would have been duly escorted to the police station for criminal investigation.  Under this administration, the matter is swept aside as if a minor thing, like a broken tea cup on the floor. If this government can treat a missing 11 billion dollars like a minor accounting infraction, much more than a teacup needs to be swept away.  This robber government needs to feel the broom and the sweep of change as well.

Regarding Boko Haram and our challenges of domestic security, President Jonathan gave a recent statement that showed no urgency or initiative.  Instead, he told Nigerians to be happy because things could be worse.  At least, we are not like Syria or other war-ravaged lands, he said. In the face of the nation’s greatest security challenge since the Civil War, this is the presidential policy: to lay low and measure your failure relative to the failure of other nations. As long as other nations suffer conditions worse than ours, we should accept our fate and commend government for allowing only one of our legs to be amputated and not both. Jonathan’s hands-off, laissez faire approach to civil insurrect does not commend itself to national greatness or wise statecraft. It is a lazy and dangerous policy he promotes. This nation will not improve simply by being content that we are not as bad as other nations. That is not way of improvement. It is the excuse of a leader grown too comfortable with failure.

The coming year will present Nigerians a stark choice. The APC is a new party. It offers a chance to return Nigeria to her best path. We realize the Nigerian public has been stung so many times by false promises that the people will not give their trust quickly.  Given our political history, this is only wise and prudent.

Beginning this new year, the APC will show the people the vast difference between us and the PDP. They are a conservative and elite network of under-the-table deals and backroom governance. We are its open and progressive alternative. We mean the people well and do not work to keep them in the dark. We will show the comparative differences in several ways. First, we shall demonstrate our commitment to democracy by exercising internal democracy and transparence on our party deliberations. Second, we shall communicate to the people at the grassroots level as well as the national level. You will see and hear from APC members and leaders at the local, state and national levels.  We will create venues and platforms that you may communicate your concerns to us as well.

Third, and most importantly, we will highlight the ideological and substantive policy differences between the progressive us and the elitist them. Where the PDP has imposed trickle-down economics reminiscent of a 1980’s Reagan-Thatcher-IMF road show, we seek an economy of genuine and broadly shared growth where the laboring wage earner and small businessperson benefits proportionally to the powerful financier and big corporate power.  We will draw clear distinctions between how this administration conducts itself and what we see as the correct national government stance on fiscal and monetary policy, agriculture, national security, human rights, jobs and labor, housing, infrastructure, education and health.  By the end of the year, you will know the APC stands in a different place than the PDP.  The PDP is selfish; thus, it stands by itself.  The APC stands with and for the people.

Thus, we look forward to the approaching year. It will be a turning point in Nigeria’s political history. The people will be given a clear choice between the types of politics and policies they can follow. The people will be given two competing visions for the nation: The PDP’s vision of stumbling along as we are or a progressive vision where the people have greater input in their own governance and, thus, derive more benefit from that governance. The choice will be yours.
2014 also will be the year of an even greater change foretold. For it shall set the stage for year after. May 2015 be the fateful year when we affirm and empower into the actual governance of this land the change Nigeria so deservedly needs.

To all Nigerians, I pray for God’s blessing and a most productive and historic New Year.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
National Leader, APC and former Governor of Lagos State
December 30^th, 2013

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