Andrew Yakubu Takes over as NNPC GMD

President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday announced the appointment of Mr. Andrew Yakubu as the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with immediate effect. Yakubu, appointed with a new group executive management team, will be taking over from Mr. Austin Oniwon, who retired having attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 last year.

 Oniwon was retired with three other group executive directors. Yakubu, who is the 15th NNPC boss, is a 1979 graduate of Chemical Engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and joined NNPC 32 years ago. He rose through the ranks to become the Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company and Group Executive Director (GED) in charge of Exploration and Production. Yakubu is an indigene of Kaduna State and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). A statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the appointment is “to further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of Nigeria’s petroleum sector, and in furtherance of efforts to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government”. Jonathan also approved the appointments of Messrs.

 Bernard O.N. Otti, Abiye Membere and Dr. Peter S. Nmadu as group executive directors (GEDs) in charge of Finance and Accounts, Exploration and Production, and Corporate Services, respectively. Others include Mr. Anthony Ogbuigwe, Dr. Attahir B. Yusuf and Dr. David Ige as GEDs in charge of Refineries & Petrochemicals, Commercial & Investments, and Gas & Power, respectively. The outgoing management of the NNPC includes the GED in charge of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Michael Arokodare; GED, Refineries & Petrochemicals, Mr. Philip Chukwu; and GED, Engineering & Technology, Mr. Billy Agha, who are to proceed on retirement. The president also approved the appointment of Mr. Victor Briggs as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC). Jonathan commended the outgoing GEDs for their services to the nation and urged the new management team to be fully committed to rapidly implementing the critical interventions needed to positively transform Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

 Oniwon, who attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years in April 2011, was re-appointed in February 2011 to stay beyond the retirement age to “allow for continuity and full implementation of critical government initiatives in the oil and gas industry, including the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB),” the statement said. He replaced Shehu Ladan in 2010, barely two months after Ladan took over from Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo. Following the sack of Barkindo on April 4, 2010, Ladan, who had been retired from the corporation a year earlier by the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, was appointed as the new helmsman. Oniwon, who served the corporation for 26 years, had been a member of NNPC’s management since 1999 and held various positions within the corporation. Oniwon was the 14th chief executive of the NNPC, and was born on April 1, 1951, in Okene, Kogi State. He started his career with the NNPC in 1977.

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Why I sacked Azazi – Jonathan

The live media chat was anchored by Ohi Alegbe with Tribune Editor, Edward Dickson; Ishak Modibo Kawu, Vanguard columnist and Maupe Ogun of Channels as panellists. Giving reasons for the recent sack of Azazi as NSA and Dr. Haliru Bello as Minister of Defence, he said that the security challenges faced by the administration has overtime evolved through various stages and forms necessitating changes in the administration to combat the growing insurgency. 

Jonathan said his decision to change his National Security Adviser is to conform with the changing tactics of the Boko Haram sect. According to him: “if you study the evolution of Boko Haram, they are changing their tactics every day, so you also have to change your staff and personnel to beat their styles.”

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JOKER : Jonathan Declares State Of Emergency In 7 Northern States and Jets To Brazil

As president, this is the speech I would have delivered to the Nation and I would have done so without the help of a written document:

 Fellow Citizens, at sunset yesterday, I authorized our armed forces to begin full deployment to the seven Northern states namely, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, Borno and Kebbi. Along with Plateau state, I have declared an indefinite state of emergency. This action becomes necessary in the face of the series of terrorists acts that have targeted Christians in those parts of the country. I have also directed the Inspector General of Police to put in place appropriate security measures to secure the churches and government buildings as well as other possible targets. As we seek to improve on our responsibility to the families of those affected by these terrorists acts, these security directives will remain in place as long as it's constitutionally necessary to maintain peace and security in the country. 

 I have also directed the newly established SSDF (State security and Defence Force) to begin the mass arrest of all suspected sponsors and members of Boko Haram; this will complement all the efforts we have made in the past. In this difficult time for the Federal Republic, it is perhaps well to ask what kind of a nation we are and what direction we want to move in. For those of you who have been affected by these crisis and k*llings, considering the evidence that there were muslims who were responsible- you can be filled with bitterness, with hatred, and a desire for revenge. We can move in that direction as a country, in great polarization, as we witnessed in Kaduna and Kano on sunday, muslims amongst Muslims, Christians amongst Christians, filled with hatred toward one another. Or we can make an effort, to understand and to comprehend, and to replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand with compassion and love for a country that has brought us together as One. For those of you who are Christians and are tempted to be filled with desire for vengance and distrust at the injustice of such an act, against all Muslim people, I can only say that I feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling- seeing citizens who have placed their hope and trust in me mauled and maimed and shattered to d*ath. 

But we have to make an effort in this country, we have to make an effort to understand, to go beyond these rather difficult times, and to understand that Nigeria is far from perfect. What we need in our beloved country Nigeria is not division; what we need in Nigeria is not hatred; what we need in Nigeria is not violence or lawlessness; what we need is the words contained in "Our Pledge" to Nigeria and that overriding responsibility toward the good of one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they are Christians or they are Muslims. As Christians, it is perhaps important that we should try to understand that in the Islamic tradition, there is a similar mixture of values restraining war along with others promoting it and yet, this is not peculiar to Islam. As your President, I have also received the wonderful tutorship of the Islamic religion.

 The Qur'an repeatedly refers to God as compassionate and just. It also says that "there is no compulsion in religion" (2:256): submission to God must be freely chosen, not forced. The Qur'an urges Muslims to use "beautiful preaching" to persuade people to accept Islam and to "argue nicely" with Jews and Christians who are seen as worshipping the same God as their own. This is probably the attitude of most Muslim people in Nigeria today. Historically, Christian communities have often been tolerated and protected under Muslim rule. The word jihad, by the way, means struggle or effort. Jihad can refer to the struggle of the individual Muslim to conform his or her will to Allah's, or to a peaceful effort to persuade others to accept Islam. 

But jihad can also mean holy war. In fact, there's a sense in which the only completely just war in Islamic terms is a holy war since it has to be approved by proper religious authorities and waged to defend or promote Islam or the Muslim community. There is no known religious authority in Nigeria that has permitted the deadly killings by Boko Haram; if our security operatives find anything contrary, the law enforcement will pursue the death penalty. Again, history allows us to see that Islam spread to some parts of the world like Indonesia mainly by means of "beautiful preaching," much of its expansion elsewhere, though was through war, did observe the important moral rules for fighting holy wars: women, children and the elderly were not to be directly attacked. Jihad was not supposed to be total war involving indiscriminate killing-so Boko Haram has not the interest of Islam at heart. Of course, Muslims are probably as prone as Christians to seeing in their holy scriptures only what they want to see, ignoring other passages that contradict their preconceived beliefs. Someone inferring a mandate to wage indiscriminate, offensive war from Qur'an 9:5, "K*ll the idolaters wherever you find them," could only do so by ignoring the particular historical context of that passage, verses elsewhere that urge defensive and limited uses of force only, such as Qur'an 2:190, "Fight in the path of God those who fight you, but do not transgress limits, for God does not love transgressors," and numerous other verses praising patience in adversity and nonviolent preaching. Whatever the case, as your president, it will not be under my watch that any religious sect will seek to terrorize fellow citizens. 

I will not hesitate for one second, to use maximum force to bring every Boko Haram Criminal to justice and to k*ll them wherever we find them. We shall also target their sponsors and make life unbearable for them. No one, no matter how highly placed, who puts the life of a fellow citizen at risk can feel safe in this country under my watch. My administration will remain focused, and committed to our manifesto. We shall not waver, we shall not give up until the security of every life and property is assured. I urge you to return back to your responsibilities as law abiding citizens and to help the New Police force with any information that you may deem necessary for your security and the safety of others. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Thank you for listening and God bless Nigeria.

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Maduekwe, Bianca Ojukwu, Other Ambassadors Get Postings

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday presented letters of credence to 93 ambassadors whom he gave a marching order to protect Nigerians in their countries of posting as well as to attract more investment to Nigeria.

 The president, at the occasion at State House, Abuja, witnessed by top government officials and family members of the new ambassadors, among others, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to make Africa the centre piece of its foreign policy. 

 Among those that got their letters were Bianca, widow of Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu; former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe; former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Akuabata Njeze; former Oyo State deputy governor, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja; former State House Chief of Protocol, Alhaji Abdullahi Tijani and Presidential Liaison Officer, Mohammed Abubakar Waziri. However, it was gathered that Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Professor Adebowale Adefuye; High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Senator Dalhatu Tafida; Ambassador to China, Alhaji Aminu Wali; and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Professor Joy Ogwu, will retain their positions. Although 93 people were presented with their letters of credence yesterday, a list of the posting obtained by our correspondent showed that only 48 of them have been posted.

 A presidency source said the 48 ambassadors were the first batch whose accreditation process had been completed following the receipt of letters of agreement from their host countries. The source said the list also omitted names of those being posted out as deputy chiefs to Nigerian missions, who though are of ambassadorial rank, they do not require Letters of Agreement. Jonathan, while handing over the letters of credence to the ambassadors, urged them to forge a common front and de-emphasise ethnic associations for the greater feeling of oneness. He told them to give higher priority to promoting democracy and good governance while at the same time pursuing multilateral diplomacy to the benefit of Nigeria in an ever-changing world. He said: “You are assuming office at a critical period in Nigeria’s developmental history. As you prepare to depart to your countries of accreditation, you must always bear in mind that our foreign policy must reflect the aspirations and priorities of a democratic Nigeria. “Economic diplomacy and Africa remain at the centre of our foreign policy agenda. In this respect, your responsibility to attract investments into the country and open up markets for our local goods and services cannot be over emphasised. “Defending the interests of Nigerians living and operating lawfully in your countries of accreditation must be seen as a primary assignment. “Protecting their interest through greater and more efficient consular support is also a priority to which you must remain fully committed.

 “Increasingly, the Diaspora is shaping the growth and development of nations. Ours should not be different. We have a vibrant Diaspora that you need to constantly engage with so that it can effectively support and make contributions to national development, especially in the areas of finance, ICT and intellectual property.” Jonathan explained that he deliberately included more career diplomats in the posting to underscore the need to achieve excellence in diplomacy while ensuring the gains of such positions. 

“Today, we live in an international environment that is characterised by rapid change, intense competition, and driven by knowledge and technology. It is an exciting world in which only the best succeed. “In such an environment, only a dynamic, confident and proactive foreign service can effectively and efficiently serve Nigeria’s interests. “To build and sustain a corps of staff that can excel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must accord priority to recruiting the best and ensuring the regular training of its diplomatic agents. “I believe that the objective of raising standards can also be achieved if senior Foreign Service officers are given challenges that prove their worth. They should be sufficiently equipped to act as veritable change agents, and lead in positively driving Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives abroad. 

 “My decision to give prominence to career officers in the current appointments was informed, in part, by the imperative to incentivise the career officers and enhance commitment to professional excellence,” Jonathan stated.

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Jonathan Urged To Rename The Aso Rock After MKO Abiola

In a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party insisted that Nigeria still owed monumental debts to Abiola for the manner he stood against the military, which ultimately led to the ouster of military rule in1999. The party urged the Federal Government to name the country’s seat of power, Aso Rock, after Abiola for his sacrifice for democracy in Nigeria.

The ACN said, “We remember that on that historical election, Nigerians forsook the dividing factors of religion, tribe and tongue to vote massively for Chief MKO Abiola in an election that is yet to be rivaled in its credibility and pan-Nigerian nature. “The June 12The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria says on Monday that the price paid by the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, was a sacrifice to ensure the dawn of the present democracy in Nigeria and should be celebrated. election has since survived to give a poignant picture of the desire of Nigerian people to live together, under a competent leadership trusted to bring about the rapid development and progress of the much abused country and her people.”

The party expressed dismay that 19 years after the June 12 election, democracy was still being operated by forces that never believed in it. It said, “When we notice the serial abuses, cases of impunity, corruption, vice, avarice and greed that now disfigure and misrepresent democracy before Nigerians, we feel sad that Abiola was sacrificed and rouges are luxuriating at the expense of the Nigerian people for whom he fought and died.

“We call on the present government to heed the voice of reason by naming Aso Rock after Abiola for the major role he played in instituting the present democracy. We equally call on the federal government to declare June 12 the real and authentic Democracy Day.”

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