#BBB NEWS| Jonathan To Buhari: If You Probe Me, Probe Obasanjo, Abdulsalami, Others Too

President Goodluck Jonathan has advised the incoming president, Muhammadu Buhari, not to single his administration out for probe.

He said if Mr. Buhari must investigate him and his administration, he should do the same for the past governments.

A probe centred only on the Jonathan administration will amount to a “witch hunt”, the president said Wednesday at a valedictory cabinet meeting attended by ministers ahead of his handing over to Mr. Buhari on Friday.

Mr. Jonathan said his comments followed calls from different quarters for his administration to be investigated.

“Some people are even calling for the probe of the government, but I think in Nigeria, there are a lot of many things that will be probed, very many things, even debts owed by states and debts owed by this country from 1960 up to this time.

#BBB NEWS| Jonathan Mismanaged Nigeria – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo fired a fresh salvo the way of President Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday, when he looked back at the last eight years and returned with a verdict: The country had been poorly managed under Jonathan.

Obasanjo said this when the Iyalode of Yoruba land, Chief Alaba Lawson, led a delegation of South-West women leaders on a visit to his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta.

The 78-year-old leader said owing to the mismanagement of the country in the last eight years, the incoming administration of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, should be prepared to face the daunting challenges that lay ahead.

He said, “The country had been poorly managed in the last eight years and it would take some time for Buhari’s government to correct the anomalies. But I want to tell him not to be frightened.”

#BBB NEWS| Jonathan Govt Incurs N5tn Domestic Debt In Five Years | PUNCH

In the over five years that President Goodluck Jonathan has been presiding over the affairs of the country, the Federal Government has borrowed N5.04tn from the domestic debt market.

Jonathan became Nigeria’s acting President on February 10, 2010 and   substantive President on May 6,2010 following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua on May 5,2010. On May 29, 2011, he was sworn in as an elected president.

Records at the Debt Management Office showed that the domestic debt of the Federal Government stood at N3,466,360,000,000 (N3.47tn) as of March 31, 2010.

The latest debt statistics from the DMO as of March 31, 2015 showed that the domestic debt   had risen to N8,507,545,474,000 (N8.51tn).

This means that in the last five years, the Federal Government had borrowed N5.04tn from domestic lenders. It also means that within the period, the domestic debt of the Federal Government grew by 157.48 per cent.

#BBB NEWS| Abacha Loot: Inside The Secret Deal Jonathan Authorized To Shield Ex-Dictator’s Family From Prosecution

For allegedly helping their father plunder Nigeria of an estimated $5 billion in the 1990s, Mohammed and Abba Abacha, and other relatives of the late dictator, Sani Abacha, have been rewarded by the Nigerian government.

A secret deal between the government and the Abachas, wants the family to return part of the loot, in exchange for perpetual immunity against prosecution.

The deal, kept classified for months, was personally approved by President Goodluck Jonathan in July 2014, and jointly authored by the Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke.

The terms of the agreement, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES in March, have alarmed anti-corruption activists.

“The agreement is (also) a tragic triumph of impunity,” said The Berne Declaration, a Swiss nongovernmental organization, which for years has monitored efforts by the Nigerian government to recover hundreds of millions of dollars stashed by the former military ruler, and his family, in bank accounts across Europe, and America.

#BBB NEWS| I Haven’t Got Useful Tips From Jonathan – Buhari

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has accused the outgoing Goodluck Jonathan government of not giving him “tips” on how to kick-start his administration on May 29.

He spoke on Thursday when a committee from the   Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, presented a five-point policy document to him at the Buhari Support Organisation office in Abuja.

Hours before the event which held behind closed doors, the All Progressives Congress, insisted   that the Federal Government was not cooperating with the transition committee set up by the President-elect.

“Buhari regretted that the outgoing government that is supposed to give him tips on how to take off has done nothing so far,” Garba Shehu, the Director of Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, told journalists after the presentation by the committee.

#BBB NEWS| My Enemies Are Harming President Jonathan's Legacy - PDP Chairman Mu'azu

Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, says those rooting for his removal are enemies of President Goodluck Jonathan, and are thereby rubbishing the legacy of the outgoing president.

Following Mr. Jonathan’s defeat in the March presidential election, some people within the party have called for the National Working Committee (NWC), led by Mr. Mu'azu, to be sacked.

In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by his media aide, Tony Amadi, that top party men and aides of the President who have advocated the dismemberment of the NWC not only risk their political careers but are dragging President Jonathan's image into the scrap heap.

"Mr President is being hailed world-wide for his historic conduct of a free and fair election in Nigeria and conceding power to the incoming President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari, while a coterie of his aides are working to diminish his newly acquired world statesmanship status because they are scared of the consequences of losing federal power,” he said.

#BBB NEWS| President Jonathan Holds Private Meetings With Pst. Adeboye, Oyedepo

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday met separately with two leading pastors in the country based in Ogun State.

Jonathan met with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; and the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo.

The headquarters of Winners Chapel is located in Ota, Ogun State while the Redemption Camp of the RCCG is situated at Mowe along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The President arrived the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos in the afternoon and was conveyed to the venues of the separate meetings in a helicopter.

The two meetings were said to have been described as “private” and hence were not opened to journalists.

#BBB NEWS| President Jonathan Responsible For His Defeat – Olisa Metuh

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday exonerated itself from the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28 presidential election, saying the president failed because he did not carry the party along in his campaign.

Olisa Metuh, the PDP’s national publicity secretary, made the assertion while addressing reporters at the party secretariat in Abuja on Monday. He accused the president and his associates of not only failing to carry the party leadership along but also for ignoring the advice offered by party leaders.

Mr. Metuh specifically blamed the hate campaign by members of the Presidential Campaign Committee for producing the electoral failure of many party candidates.

The publicity secretary disclosed that the PDP spent more than N4 billion to sponsor its candidates in the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state legislative elections.

#BBB NEWS| I Will Handover A Nigeria Completely Free Of Terrorist Strongholds, President Jonathan Assures

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan pledged Thursday in Abuja that he will do all within his powers to ensure that all Nigerian territory still held by terrorists and insurgents are totally liberated before May 29, 2015.

Receiving a delegation of Heads of Customs from the West and Central African Region of the World Customs Organisation led by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, President Jonathan said that he was determined to hand over a country completely free of terrorist strongholds to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The President said that ongoing military operations in the North-East had already recorded huge successes, with two states completely free from the control of terrorists, while operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage.

“We can now say two states are completely free from terrorist control, while in the third state, it is only in one Local Government Area that they are still present. That is in the Sambisa Forest,” he said.

#BBB NEWS| Presidential Election 2015: Jonathan Questions Buhari’s Victory | TheCable

President Goodluck Jonathan has, for the first time, questioned the results of the March 28 presidential election, maintaining that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still the dominant party in Nigeria. Jonathan had congratulated Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), before the final result was announced but has now said he only did it for the unity of Nigeria. He said the PDP could not have recorded the low scores recorded for him in some areas, and attributed the loss in Benue and Kogi to infighting. (pictured above) President Goodluck Jonathan speaks after receiving the report of the Goodluck/Sambo 2015 Campaign from the Campaign Director General Chief Ahmadu Ali at the meeting of the President with the PDP Working Committee Photo Credit: State House Photo

The president was speaking on Thursday at the submission of the report of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO) at the new banquet hall of the presidential villa. Jonathan said: “PDP is still the dominant party. If you look at the result, the difference is just over two million votes. And if you look at the areas where it is perceived that PDP scored so low, PDP couldn’t have gotten those kinds of scores.” He said now that the elections are over, “I put the country first”. That Nigeria is at peace is worth celebrating, Jonathan said, appearing to confirm reports that some western countries had put ships on standby to evacuate their citizens in preparation for a post-election crisis in Nigeria. He said: “The countries that brought ships, everything around us, waiting to evacuate their citizens are happy because there was nobody to evacuate.

#BBB NEWS| Jonathan Appoints Son Of Late Emir Of Kano As Chair Of Nigerian Ports Authority

Mallam Habib Abdullahi, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), was on Wednesday fired by President Goodluck Jonathan.

No reason was given.

Abdullahi was immediately replaced with Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero, a lawyer from Kano State, who will take over the position tomorrow, April 30.

The trend continues President Jonathan’s continued firing and replacement of officials of his administration since he lost his bid for re-election last month.

#BBB NEWS| Jonathan Will Handover On May 29 - FG

The Federal Government on Wednesday changed its mind on the earlier plan for President Goodluck Jonathan to formally handover power to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on May 28 as against the May 29 Democracy Day.

Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, had last week said Jonathan intended to have the formal handing over done at a dinner on May 28 so that the administration can reserve May 29 for the incoming government.

That announcement generated controversy with some prominent lawyers arguing that the plan would lead to a vacuum in the leadership of the country till when Buhari is inaugurated 24 hours after the handing over.

But while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Jonathan on Wednesday, Akwashiki recanted.

#BBB NEWS| I Didn’t Spend N2tn On Elections – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said there was no truth in a report that he and the Peoples Democratic Party spent N2tn for campaigns ahead of the just-concluded general elections.

He also denied setting up a committee to conduct an audit of how the elections funds were disbursed by party members and state officials.

Jonathan made the clarification in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.

Abati was reacting to a story of the SUNDAY PUNCH of April 19 titled, “Jonathan demands N2tn election funds refund, audit.”

He described the report as “mischievous, false and embarrassing.”

#BBB NEWS| Jonathan Rejects Amended Constitution

President Goodluck Jonathan has rejected the amendments made to the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly,The PUNCH has learnt.

A top government official who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent on Tuesday that Jonathan vetoed the amendment on Monday.

The official said the decision of the President not to sign the document was because the amendment did not meet the provisions of Section 9 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.

The source explained that with the return of the document by the President, the letter accompanying it might be read on the floors of the two chambers of the National Assembly any time from Wednesday (today).

He said, “The President has vetoed the constitution amendment and he has sent it back to the National Assembly.

#BBB NEWS| I Wasn’t In Lagos To Rig Election, Jonathan Replies APC

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday dismissed claim by the All Progressives Congress that his Thursday’s visit to Lagos was to coordinate rigging plans for the Peoples Democratic Party in today’s governorship election.

He wondered why he would rig the governorship election for the PDP when he did not rig the March 28 presidential election in which he was a candidate.

Jonathan’s position was contained in a statement made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.

Abati said there was nothing unusual in people paying homage to the President when he is on a visit to Lagos or any other part of the country.

#BBB NEWS| I’ve Been In A Cage For 16 Years – Jonathan | PUNCH

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday looked back at his 16 years in public service and concluded that he was “in a cage” during the period.

But he was quick to admit that he had yet to see anybody luckier than he had been.

Jonathan spoke while receiving residents of the Federal Capital Territory who were led by Vice President Namadi Sambo to pay him Easter homage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said, “For me as an individual, this Easter concides with the time I am leaving(office) but I always say that I am one of the luckiest Nigerians. I have yet to see somebody luckier than me.

“I have been in government for 16 years beginning from 1999. Not in government as a parliamentarian because if you are a Senator or House of Representatives member, you take care of yourself, you live in your own house.

#BBB NEWS| Why Jonathan Lost To Buhari – Lamido Sanusi

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the current Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, says President Goodluck Jonathan lost because of the mood of voters which was determined by the economic conditions and level of poverty across the country.

Sanusi, who is now known as Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, said this during an interview with our correspondent on Saturday.

He said the voting showed that areas which had a high rate of poverty felt neglected by the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government over the years.

Sanusi said the presidential poll results showed that the figures of the PDP in presidential elections from 1999 had continued to dwindle significantly.

The monarch said the PDP got fewer votes in 2007, less in 2011 and then fewer votes in 2015 causing the ruling party to finally lose to the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress.

#BBB NEWS| I Have Had Enough - President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday looked back at his years of service from being the deputy governor of his home state, Bayelsa, to when he became the country’s President and said, “I think it is enough.”

Jonathan spoke while receiving residents of the Federal Capital Territory who were led by Vice President Namadi Sambo to pay him Easter homage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President said he had no doubt that he is the luckiest Nigerian.

He said, “For me as an individual, this Easter coincides with the time I am leaving but I always say that I am one of the luckiest Nigerians. I am yet to see somebody luckier than me.

“From 1999, I was in the hands of government for 16 years. Not just in government as a parliamentarian because if you are a Senator or House of Representatives member, you take care of yourself, you live in your own house.

#BBB NEWS| READ: What Jonathan Told Buhari On Phone [TRANSCRIPT]

A recording of the telephone call by President Goodluck Jonathan to Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on March 31, congratulating him on his victory at the last Saturday’s presidential election hit the Internet on Thursday. The recording revealed what transpired between the two leaders.

President Jonathan had reportedly called Buhari hours before the official declaration of the presidential election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission that Buhari had won the March 28 presidential poll.

The audio of the conversation credited to one ENDS.ng @EveryNigerian was titled, “Historic congratulatory call from President Goodluck Jonathan to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on March 31, 2015.”

This gesture by President Jonathan had been praised in many quarters with Nigerians and world leaders hailing him for his demonstration of what they described as rare humility and spirit of sportsmanship.

#BBB NEWS| Jonathan Has Nothing To Fear, Says Buhari

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has assured President Goodluck Jonathan that he has nothing to fear.

Buhari, in his acceptance speech after being declared the winner of Saturday’s presidential election and presented with certificate of return in Abuja on Wednesday, said “despite the rancour of the elections,” he harboured no grudge against anyone.

To prove this, he extended “a hand of friendship and conciliation to President Jonathan and his team.”

Buhari read a prepared speech in which he also reiterated his determination to end insurgency in the North-East, rescue the economy and stem corruption which he described as an evil worse than terrorism.

The President-elect, who was Head of State between 1983 and 1985, said even though there could be a disagreement between him and Jonathan over governance, the President remained a great Nigerian.