Cover Stories

As exclusively reported by LEADERSHIP on Sunday, Chief Tony Anenih in the early hours of today was unanimously elected Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a meeting of the party held at the Banquet hall of the presidential villa, Abuja.

His emergence as the PDP BoT chairman at the meeting which started at about 8.45pm and ended around 12.40am today morning confirms the report by this paper on Sunday that the second coming of Anenih, who is currently the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) had received the blessings of most of the top members of the board who were earlier opposed to his choice.

Anenih emerged unopposed as a consensus candidate in accordance with the Prof Jerry Gana led committee report on streamlining the membership of the BOT. The meeting, held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, commenced at 8.45 and ended in the early hours of Tuesday.

Speaking to State House Correspondents,  Anenih announced vehemently that the newly formed All Progressive Congress (APC) will collapse instead of constituting any threat to the PDP, adding that he was optimistic that the people behind the party will remain in the same position.

He contended that the same factors that had confined them to the opposition are still there and so PDP has nothing to worry about.

He said, "If you are building a house and you discover that some parts of the house are not standing well because the blocks are weak, you now go back to the same source to buy more blocks, the house will continue to be weak".

"The BoT is the conscience of the party, the body of elders, men with integrity, experience and honour. I will need a lot of support  from the media and all stakeholders as we progress." 

Asked to explain what he intends to do differently on his second coming as BoT chairman, Anenih said people learn more everyday. "I have grown further than the previous term I did as chairman. I have more friends and contacts now, I have more to contribute. The PDP is improving", he stated.

On the crisis in the party and how the BoT intends to intervene, Anenih said: "The party is big enough, and so their will be frictions. We are here to address all the issues and intervene as much as we can, while ensuring discipline within the party discipline. The restructuring of d BoT will bring forth  better days for the party.

Also speaking, the Board's Secretary, Senator Wali Jibril formally announced him said, "BOT met today and apprroved the report of Prof Jerry Gana on streamliningg the membership of the BOT. Our new chairman of the BOT by the grace of God is Chief Tony Anenih". 

Considered as the best choice for the job at a time the party was replete with internal wrangling due to his 'Mr. Fix It' fame, Anenih's leadership will be faced with the task of addressing the rift in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum which led to the formation of the PDP Governors' Forum, with Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio elected unanimously last on Monday as chairman of the new forum.

Although said to not be in good terms with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, this paper had also reported that Anenih's led new leadership of the BoT would have to address the various contending forces within the party like some perceived loyalists of former president Olusegun Obasanjo who were sacked from the National Working Committee of the party last week.

The PDP BoT had remained without an elected chairman after former President, Chief Oulesegun Obasanjo voluntarily resigned last years on grounds of time to enable him engage in some other global activities.

Two attempts to produce the BoT chairman had failed. The party had risen from a similar meeting last in December last year only to announce that the meeting was postponed to January 8, this year. At the end of the meeting last month, the party had announced that it set up a committee to work on modalities that would help it produce leadership for its BoT.

PDP Congratulates Anenih

Meanwhile, minutes after the meeting, In a swift reaction to his emergence, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today morning said the unanimous election of Chief Tony Anenih as chairman of the BoT was a bold step towards ensuring peace and stability.

PDP in a congratulatory message signed by the National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP expressed confidence that Chief Anenih’s antecedents as a mobilizer and consensus builder over the years will contribute to the long term stability of the Party.

Metuh stated: “Chief Anenih’s tireless participation and critical role in the formation of the PDP places him in good stead to provide wise counsel and direct the influential Board of Trustees to follow the noble ideals of the founders of the Party. His wealth of experience and acclaimed reputation as a democrat and consensus builder are assets that the Party needs at this critical point in our democratic evolution”.

Metuh pointed out that Chief Anenih’s unanimous election by all members of the Board of Trustees has disapointed opposition elements and doomsday prophets who expected the process to result in rancor and acrimony saying “this is yet another signal that the PDP is ever united and ready to overcome all perceived obstacles in our drive to provide focused leadership and service to the people of Nigeria”.

Accordingly, he called on all Party members across board to give maximum cooperation to the new chairman of the BOT who has himself pledged to broaden the spread of the umbrella to accommodate all tendencies.

Present at the meeting were Present were President Goodluck Jonathan; vice president Namadi Sambo; Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Senate President, David Mark; Speaker Aminu Tambuwal; Kano Governor, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso; Prof Jubril Aminu; Mrs Josephine Anenih; Dr. Bode Olajumoke; Don Etiebet; Prof Jerry Gana; Chief Banabas Gemade; the party women leaders, Dr. Kema Chikwe; Dr. Hassan Adamu; Dr. Dalhatu Tafida; 
Prince Vincent Ogbulafor; Alabo Graham Douglas; Chief Alex Ekwueme; Chief Jim Nwobodo and Dr. Sam Sam Jaja.

Others are former Senate President, Chief Adophols Wabara; Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State; Alhaji Bunu Sherif; Chief Olabode George; AlHaji Abdullahi Adamu; Dr. Mohammed Bello Haliru
Dr Ahmadu Ali; Maj Gen David Jemibewon; Shuaibu Oyedokun; Okwesiliese Nwodo; Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu; Ken Nnamani; Adamu Muazu
And Danjuma Goje.

A major crisis capable of dismembering the powerful Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has sprouted. During the Forum’s meeting in the early hours of this Wednesday,its chairman and governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, narrowly survived a plot to unseat him, said sources at the meeting held at the Rivers States governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

If the plot had succeeded, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State would have been enthroned, it was gathered.

The development is indicative of the festering altercation between Amaechi and the presidency and the division of the governors along two lines: the president’s supporters and his opponents.

As to the masterminds of the plot to unseat Governor Amaechi, fingers are already pointing in the direction of the presidency. Two governors from the south and north-west spearheaded the move, said a source.

LEADERSHIP gathered, however, that Amaechi survived the plot through the intervention of governors Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano and Sule Lamido of Jigawa State. The two governors were said to have prevailed on their colleagues “not to give in to a change in the leadership of the Forum” and as such oppose any interference by the presidency in the running of the Forum’s affairs, the source stated.

There have been stories suggesting that Governor Amaechi is quarrelling with President Goodluck Jonathan. Early this year, reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was plotting a possible presidential ticket that could see him (Amaechi) paring with Governor Lamido in the PDP presidential ticket in 2015 were said to have not gone down well with Jonathan.

LEADERSHIP had also exclusively published a photograph of a branded campaign vehicle bearing “Lamido/Amaechi” posters, which was sighted in Kaduna. Though Lamido denied knowledge of such vehicle, Amaechi was quoted as saying that he, like any other Nigerian, was qualified to contest for any position.

At the NGF meeting last month, however, the governors passed a vote of confidence on Amaechi as its chairman, thus signalling that there might have been a clandestine plot to kick him out of the office.

Some governors, mostly from the opposition political parties, were said to have rallied round Amaechi in solidarity, insisting that, “if at all he would be removed, it would not be at the instance of the president”.

Nonetheless, the source added that Amaechi tested the potency of the support when he offered at the meeting to step down and called for any interested successor to signify interest by raising his hand. None of them showed interest.

Amaechi, whose tenure as NGF chairman ends in June this year, succeeded former governor of Kwara State and now serving senator Bukola Saraki.

Meanwhile, reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting Wednesday night, Amaechi said that “members exhaustively discussed the administration of the Forum and resolved that all organs of the Forum be made functional at the next meeting”.

He continued: “Governors expressed deep concern and condemned the recent killings of health workers in Borno, Kano and Yobe, while re-affirming their solidarity with the governors and people of these states.

“Forum commended the governors of these states for their resolve to continue with their polio eradication programme.”

Speaking to newsmen later, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State refuted claims that the Forum was against President Jonathan. “Jonathan is our leader, so we support him. We are all behind him,” he said.

Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha, while condemning the killings of health workers, said polio has become embarrassing for the country. “We think the issue of polio is becoming very embarrassing to our nation and those who travel to Saudi Arabia had to be subjected to some kind of disinfectant just because they are coming from Nigeria. So we have to look at the issue of polio,” he stated.

“Key positions in the Governors’ Forum that need to be filled up – we never had such positions before like the Board of Trustees (BoT) and some of the key structures -- and we hope that by next meeting we will fill up those positions.”

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An explosion has occurred in Lagos State. Although details are sketchy at the moment, LEADERSHIP gathered that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off under the popular Festac Bridge, off Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos. It was also gathered tha...

Nigeria's First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan on Sunday stunned the entire congregation at the Aso Villa Chapel when she shockingly revealed that she actually underwent nine surgeries during her eight weeks medical sojourn in a German hospital last year.

Likening her experience to that of the biblical Lazarus, the first lady disclosed that he tummy was burst open, a situation which led her to undergo nine surgical operations within a period of one month, saying while most humans on earth dread medical operation, in her case, she is started begging for operation after the third one.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service held to mark her survival, Dame Patience hinted that some of her associates whom she trusted and relied heavily on leaked the information that she was dead, adding that, thinking she was dead and would never return to the country alive, some of the traitors even started selling off her belongings. 

She said, "It was not an easy experience for me. I actually died, I passed out for more than a week. My intestine and tummy were opened. I am not Lazarus but my experience was similar to his. My doctors said all hope was lost. A black doctor in London who is with us in this service was flown in when the situation became critical. It was God himself in His infinite mercy  that said I will return to Nigeria. God woke me up after seven days. 

"People are always afraid of operation (surgery) but in my own case, while my travail lasted, I was begging for it (surgery) after the third operation because I was going to the theatre everyday. It was God who saw me through. I did eight or nine operations within one month. It was not an easy one". 

Read more later.

Chief Executive Officer of Kennis Music, Kenny Ogungbe has described as shocking, the death of Sensational Musician and former BBA housemate, Goldie Harvey. Kennis was her record label.

An official statement from Ogungbe read: “With a deep sense of loss, we announce the shocking death of our darling music star, Goldie Harvey. Goldie, 31, died on Thursday after she complained of a severe headache shortly after her arrival from the United States where she went to witness the Grammy Award. She was rushed from her Park View, Ikoyi, Lagos residence to her official hospital, Reddington, Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival at exactly 7:30pm in the evening.

“We consider this period a gloomy moment for us and the entire Nigerian music industry in view of the circumstance in which she passed away; the abundance of talent she exhibited in her short but eventful music career and the various opportunities her trip to the United States of America would have availed her. She is survived by her father, step- mother, brothers and sisters.

“We deeply sympathise with her family and fans all over the world and very grateful to all and sundry, especially, the vibrant Nigerian media for their concern and prompt reportage. We shall keep everybody informed as events unfold as we are devastated by the sudden loss.”

Goldie's remains has been deposited at the mortuary.

Read more later.

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Coach Stephen Keshi has decided to continue with his job as Super Eagles coach.

Keshi had tendered his resignation to the NFF, after leading the Super Eagles to their first Africa Nations Cup triumph in 19 years.

“I gave them (NFF) my letter of resignation immediately after last night’s game, but I haven’t heard from them yet,” Keshi told a South African radio station, Metro FM Monday night.

However, barely twenty-four hours later, keshi made a U-turn, saying all issues that led to his decision to quit the job had been resolved.

In a statement on Tuesday in Johannesburg, Keshi said: ``My attention has been drawn to reports in the media that I have resigned my appointment as the Head Coach of Super Eagles of Nigeria.

``While I have had cause to express my displeasure over some issues that happened in the course of our participation in the AFCON 2013, which my team won by the grace of God, especially concerning my relationship with the Nigerian Football Federation.

`` I have since had opportunity to discuss the various issues with all concerned. I am therefore pleased to say that I have reconsidered my position and have decided to continue with my job,’’ Keshi said.

He also thanked the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, for his swift intervention in the issues he raised the NFF concerning his position and the future of the team.

Keshi’s running battle with the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) heightened in South Africa following the team’s poor performance in the first two matches of the just concluded nation’s cup.

The minister of sports had told NAN in Johannesburg that in normal course relations there could be differences between an employer and employee when things are not going well.

``Keshi is one of Nigeria's football legend who has made history as a player and a coach having won the nation’s cup as player and coach. Nigeria is very proud of him and will continue to support him in the task of building an enduring national team,’’ Abdullahi said.

He, however, said that he would ensure that all outstanding issues concerning Keshi and team are resolved amicably.

``I do not Nigeria to be cited as a country that won the nation’s cup and failed to qualify for the second round of the competition in the next competition. We want Keshi and we like Keshi, he has recorded remarkable achievement as a player and coach,’’ Abdullahi said.

Meanwhile, FCT minister Bala Mohammed will today receive the Super Eagles at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The Eagles are returning home in a chartered flight after their victory over Burkina Faso’s Stallions by 1-0 at the just-concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

A statement by the chief press secretary to the minister, Muhammad Sule, indicates that the minister will receive the Eagles at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 1pm, after which they will make a stopover at the Abuja National Stadium for a mini reception. The statement says the team will later depart for the presidential villa where they will be hosted to a grand reception by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Additional report from NAN

Pope Benedict XVI on Monday said he plans on resigning the papal office on February 28th. Below please find his announcement.

"The pope announced that he will leave his ministry at 8:00pm (7pm UK time) on February 28," said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.

The reason for the resignation, cited by the Pope himself, is "advanced age".

Full text of Pope's declaration

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church.

After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.

However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.

For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013

BENEDICTUS PP XVI