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The Niger Delta Roundtable group has strongly disagreed with the minister of Transport, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, on how much was left behind in the Excess Crude Account by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration. Amaechi had at an engagement with journalists, yesterday, accused the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan of squandering the ECA savings. According to him, "When Obasanjo was leaving, he left about 65 billion dollars in the excess crude account, but this money was frittered away and we wonder where the money is." But the group, in a statement signed by Wilson Ejumata, accused the minister of distorting facts so they would continue to blame Jonathan for the shortcomings of the current government in the past two years. The group said, "According to Okonjo Iweala who was the then minister of Finance when Obasanjo left office, Nigeria had only $ 9.43 billion in ECA as opposed to Amaechi's $65bn claim. "Contrary to Amaechi's clai...

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, in Abuja, began a subtle move to douse tension generated among members of the Peoples Democratic Party over the outcome of last Saturday's national convention in Abuja. The former President assembled a team of his loyalists, who it was gathered, would visit aggrieved aspirants with a view to appealling to them to forget about their grievances and work with the Uche Secondus-led members of the National Working Committee.  Though the party has a standing committee on reconciliation, headed by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, it was gathered that the former President decided to assemble his team as the Leader of the party. Among those in Jonathan's team are his former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN); a former Minister of State for Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda; a former Minister of Finance, Nanadi Usman; and his (Jonathan's) bosom friend, King Turner. Jonathan, on Monday, led his team to the...

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to apologise and beg former President Olusegun Obasanjo to secure the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 election. Sources in PDP told a national newspaper that Jonathan said Atiku must beg or apologize to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to get the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP on a platter of gold. Although Obasanjo has quit partisan politics, Jonathan was of the opinion that “he is still a strong factor in shaping the future of the nation in 2019 because he is a force among the revered kingmakers.” Jonathan had in early November told the publisher of Ovation magazine in an interview that “If Atiku gets our party ticket, he would compete well. But he would have to reach out to our boss, Baba OBJ, the boss of all bosses. We’ve all learnt at different times that you ignore OBJ at your peril. OBJ has the magic wand. He is respected at home and abroad.” It...

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said the only thing that will make him sleep well is if PDP returns to power in 2019. . Taking responsibility for the poor performance of the party in the last election, Jonathan said his focus now is to take the PDP to its former position. He spoke when he received Bode George, a chairmanship aspirant of the PDP, at his Otuoke residence in Bayelsa state. . “Whether I like it or not, I must take responsibility for the defeat because I led the party to the election,” the media team of George quoted Jonathan as saying. “My priority now is how to ensure that the PDP regains the presidency in 2019. The only thing that will make me sleep well is to ensure that the PDP comes back to power.”

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has reacted to the bombing of a mosque which killed 50 people in Mubi, Adamawa State, on Tuesday. Fani-Kayode said the latest attack is an indication that both President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed were lying that Boko Haram have been defeated. In a tweet, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain claimed that those who created Boko Haram to get former President Goodluck Jonathan out of power can no longer control the sect. He wrote: “Sad to hear that 50 people were blown up in a mosque in Mubi yesterday. “Are Ayatollah @MBuhari and lying Lai Mohammed still claiming that Boko Haram have been defeated? “Those that created and funded Boko Haram just to get @GEJonathan out of power can no longer control it.” Meanwhile, the United States has reacted to the incident.