Jonathan shuns Aso Rock food, drinks - Beware of ‘Abiola treatment’ - Groups warn VP - Yar’Adua dragged to UN - Nigeria’s challenges not beyond God - Jonathan
Donald Ojogo, Bureau Chief, South-South - 04.01.2010
THE raging succession battle arising from the long absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua due to ill-health appears to have taken a new twist, as the Vice-President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has refrained from taking food and drinks served in the State House, Abuja.
Nigerian Tribune learnt authoritatively that the nation’s number two man has only been taking food prepared by his wife, Patience, in the last three weeks.
This development is coming on the heels of a warning from the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), as well as the Ijaw National Congress (INC), that any attempt to hurt Jonathan would spell doom for the country.
The vice-president has maintained a dignified silence amidst calls for his resignation four weeks ago by some northern politicians, even as he has refused to be dragged in as pressure heightens that President Yar’Adua should resign to pave the way for Jonathan to take over in acting capacity.
Only three days ago, Jonathan, who spoke at the New Year Service in Abuja, maintained that the ship of state was sailing with Yar’Adua still in charge.
But the Nigerian Tribune learnt that behind the public show of statesmanship by the vice-president are very serious issues bothering him to the extent that he has resolved “not to take anything for granted.”
According to a highly-placed source in the Presidency, the vice-president’s determination to avoid food and drinks prepared in the Villa became manifest at a state function which was held quietly in the Villa without the prying eye of the press.
The event was the visit of a VIP from a tiny African country sharing some common economic links with Nigeria. Jonathan was said to have quietly turned down the request that he should be served food and drink at the event.
That, according to the source, was about the fifth time the vice-president would turn down such a request. Also at a political rally in one of the South-East states, Jonathan refused to eat and drink throughout the programme.
“ The only thing sure about Oga (Jonathan) is that, he will remain loyal to the president no matter the temptation and pressures from so many quarters; he can never betray him by falling for the temptation of those making moves to spite him and his office.
“I can tell you that they know what they are up to and the VP knows this much too, because whatever thing he does in reaction to their actions are capable of so many meanings.
“But the man has really decided that nothing should be taken for granted at all; that is why he has refrained from taking anything prepared in the Villa, at least for now till the return of the president, insha Allah, because nothing is impossible in this country and politicians can go to any length to stop anybody from becoming something. It has happened in this country before.”
Asked if the action of the vice-president did not have serious implications for mutual distrust, the source said: “Whatever that amounts to I do not know. But I can tell you too that it was distrust and an attempt to ridicule the vice-president that some hawks had to tell to the nation that the president, who they had not seen for over 40 days, had signed the nation’s budget.
“It will be in the interest of the nation if the same persons can show us the specimen signature of the president and then present to him again, the National Merit and Honours List for signature too.
Meanwhle, the IMG, in a statement by its coordinator, Comrade Joseph Evah, expressed fears that the vice-president’s life could be in danger.
“We have said this before and we will continue to say it that the life of the vice-president is in danger, because of the way and manner some powerful politicians are bent on subverting the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“IMG is fervently praying for the president to return home in good health and continue his efforts to change the face of the Niger Delta; but events in the last three weeks show that Jonathan is not wanted by some very influential politicians, who try to do anything to twist the constitution against the collective wish of the people of the country.
“In fact, we cannot be oblivious of the fact that this people can go to any extent, including giving Jonathan the infamous (MKO) Abiola treatment, just to have their way. But we must warn that events that will follow such an action will not be in the interest of the nation,” the statement said in part.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Jonathan has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s challenges as a nation are not beyond God.
Speaking at the Sunday service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Central Parish, Abuja, on Sunday, Dr. Jonathan said the challenges “we may go through as children of God and as a nation signify that God is in charge of our lives.”
He clarified that when the nation was confronted with the challenge of the swearing-in of the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, God averted the confusion that the country might have found itself.
He also disclosed that the provision of the Oath Act, which empowers the sitting Chief Justice of Nigeria to swear in his successor, was evidence of God’s intervention.
Dr. Jonathan commended all Nigerians – both Christians and Muslims –– for their tremendous support and prayers for President Yar’Adua and all leaders at different levels and the country in general.
In his sermon, Pastor Elijah Daramola, whose message centred on grace, identified seven key roles which he said grace played in the life of Christians. He urged Christians to shun unrighteousness in order to enjoy the sufficient grace, which, according to him, God had provided in 2010.
Those with the Vice-President included the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba; former deputy speaker House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, and some other government functionaries.
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London Police warn over new ‘419’ tricks
By Wisdom Patrick, Snr. Correspondent, Lagos Re-edited Re-written for 9jabook by Paul EFCChawk Adams
Economic and Specialist Crimes Unit of the London Metropolitan Police has launched a crime prevention initiative against fraud commonly known as ‘West African’ or ‘419’ (advance fee fraud).
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It detailed some of the new tricks that are commonly used by the conmen to commit the crime.
London said the warning has become necessary in view of the recent clean-up in the banking sector in Nigeria, most populous black nation.
The London Police said in a statement made available on Tuesday that a similar letter had already been forwarded to Nigeria’s Justice ministry.
It added that there was every possibility that conmen would try to cash in on the present situation in Nigeria to perpetrate their trade to the gullible ones.
The Metro Police said it would also serve as a resource providing warnings and advice to help potential victims protect themselves as well as publish important legal information about activities of advance fee fruad or conmen usually operating through a network from some West African countries.
It stated in the warning that most common scam begins with a letter bearing a Nigerian postage stamp or frank mark (often forgeries) being sent to a potential victim.
“E-mails are still being used as they are harder for law enforcement agencies to intercept.
“The writer, usually bearing the title of ‘Doctor’, ‘Chief’ or ‘General’, will explain that a ‘mutual business associate’ has suggested that the writer confidentially contact the addressee,” the statement warned.
Our Investigations from 9jabook reveal that
This new tactics of sending Physical letters home & abroad has drawn the METS attention as most high street CEOs of English Companies are being targeted even in their private residences .With the global recession still having a breakhold on firms .They have become juicy targets for such practices .
Many of our home based 4.One.9 professionals have relocated to the UK where it is easier to conduct such letter based business .Speaking to one of these yahoo yahoo chairmen undercover of complicity our reporter gleaned that The increasing efficiency of email s.p.am filters have required the modus operandi to change to the old method of sending physical letters which used to be the norm in the early days of this notorious craft .
The Metro long has ignored the nineteen trade as the Gun and Knife Crime coupled with the Drug trade in England had been a prevailing thorn in crime fighting .Now efforts are going to be focussed on the Yahoo Yahoo trade in the UK .
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