Jonathan, Obasanjo, Amaechi reconcile

From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja
It is no longer news that there has been no love lost between President Goodluck Jonathan, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.
However, the last Council of State meeting hosted by President Jonathan yesterday, offered an opportunity for the three men to reconcile even if  it was for the camera.
Before the commencement of the Council meeting, the governors across party divide were seen joking, back slapping one another and discussing in groups.
President Jonathan was also seen laughing, shaking  and holding hands with Obasanjo.But the one that caught everyone’s attention was when the President, while waiting for the valedictory photo-session at the fore court of the Presidential Villa,  had a handshake with the governors around him, and on sighting Amaechi, playfully hit him severally, with his fist on the shoulder and the Rivers State governor bowed, laughing and holding the President’s hand all the while, saying “Your Excellency.”
Obasanjo has been a constant critic of Jonathan’s administration, the latest being in February, when the elections were postponed.
The former president, had at his Hilltop Mansion residence in Abeokuta, likened the politics played by Jonathan to “the do-or-die” politics played by the former President of Cote d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo.
Also, Obasanjo, while reacting to the postponement of the general elections, said it was a grand plan by Jonathan to perpetuate himself in office till the situation became clear that the presidential election would favour him.
President Jonathan had in a swift reaction, fired back, saying the allegations were baseless and absurd.
Obasanjo had also in an 18-page letter a year ago, accused the President of deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, having a killer squad and clannishness among others.
The Rivers State governor on his part, had always pointed fingers at the president and his wife, Patience on any crisis in his state.
Moved by the camaraderie seen inside and outside the Council chambers, a journalist later asked Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State how that could be translated to the common man on the street,  and he replied: “I told you that one of the former heads of state moved for all these to be recorded, so that we make it as part of the tradition. Politics is not war.
Yes, there is a price, but the moment there is a decision and someone gets the price, everyone should come back and wait for another chance.
“So, the camaraderie that you noticed, is how it should be and we should send it down to our communities, to our people; so that even in one house, you can afford to vote for different parties but the moment results are announced, you will remain brothers and not enemies.”

Don’t go abroad for medicare throughout your four years – LP tells Buhari

The Labour Party, LP, has called on President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to stop public servants in his administration from going abroad to receive medical attention.

The party made the call on Sunday through its National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Salam, in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Abuja.
The party also said for Buhari to fight the corruption war, he must not spare “the first eleven.”
“There are certain things that we expect Buhari to do urgently. Health is one, so that our people will not go abroad for treatment again. He can do it; he told us he can do it. We has the resources to do it. We have the material and human resources to do it. So, we believe he can do it if he wants to do it; this will reduce medical tourism in Nigeria.
“Nigerians are not ready to accept excuses from him.”
According Salam, Buhari made people believe he could completely turn around the affairs of the country in few months, advising the President-elect to lead Nigerians by adhering to the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by not going abroad in search of medical treatment throughout his four-year term.
He said: “Let me say here that Nigerians have given the APC the authority and the mandate to come out with the changes. APC people, who clamoured for change, told Nigerians they wanted change and campaigned on the platform and basis of change.
“Let nobody now begin to tell us that he cannot perform miracle, because they told Nigerians that when they come they would perform miracle. We will not expect Buhari to go abroad for any medical treatment. Our health system must be properly put in place. He must focus attention on it; let them not tell us that they cannot provide jobs for our teeming youths. Let them not tell us that the security lapses will continue in any manner, since they told us that they would perform miracle.

Posterity shall judge me right – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday expressed confidence that posterity will judge his outgoing administration right.

According to Jonathan, his government has delivered the dividends of democracy in various sectors of the economy, particularly in the power sector as he claimed that the sector presently generates 6, 000 megawatts of electricity.

Jonathan lost to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, in the March 28, 2015 presidential election and he is expected to hand over on the 29th of this month to a new government.

The President spoke through his deputy, Namadi Sambo, during the official inauguration of Niger Delta Power Holding Company/National Integrated Power Plant Gwagwalada 330/132/33KV Transmission Substation in Abuja.

Jonathan said, “Let me reiterate our firm belief and respect for democracy and its norms and values and our continued commitment to the progress and prosperity of our dear nation.

“To this regard, we shall continue to make our contributions to the development of our dear country as patriotic citizens. We are confident that posterity shall place us on the right side of history.

“I will take this opportunity to also assure all Nigerians that all the decisions and project implementation of both NDPHC and the National Council on Privatisation, all decisions are taken on the basis of sound professional advice and sound decision to ensure that we succeed in Nigeria in providing power successfully for the benefit of the country and our economic development.”

He said the country currently has a power generation level of 6,000 megawatts.

This claim is, however, in contrast of the 3,413.1MW recorded as peak power generation as of May 11, 2015 which was contained on the website of the Federal Ministry of Power on Monday.

Jonathan said, “At present, the nation’s power generation level as confirmed by the minister of power is about 6,000MW and we can wheel up to 5,500MW.”

The President explained that prior to the advent of the Gwagwalada substation, Abuja and all of FCT and Nasarawa State were supplied by a 330kV double circuit line and a 132kV double circuit line from Shiroro Hydro power station terminating at Katampe 330/132/33kV substation and Apo 132/33kV Substation respectively.

He said other locations within the FCT and Nasarawa State were supplied via various 132kV lines from Katampe and Apo.

Jonathan said, “Gwagwalada 330/132/33kV substation was conceived as a location and sited in Gwagwalada in the outskirts of Abuja metropolis as one of the nodes in a 330kV transmission ring that will provide secured supply to the Federal Capital Territory and Abuja in particular.

“Connection to Gwagwalada was, therefore, engineered as an evacuation substation facility for Geregu NIPP power plant to the FCT 330kV ring via an initial 222.6kms 330kV double circuit line from Geregu (Ajaokuta) to Gwagwalada 330/132/33kV substation with a final 30kms 330kV double circuit construction. This tees into one of the original Shiroro-Abuja (Katampe) 330kV DC lines thus achieving a 330kV alternative (thermal) power source to Abuja.”