Okorocha wades into MASSOB/Police clash

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has waded into the fracas between the police and members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB.

Okorochas has equally urged Imo people to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation as his administration has already discussed the matter with the security chiefs in the state.

The Governor stated this after swearing-in the new Secretary to the Government of Imo State, SGI, Professor Anthony Gozie Anwukah, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Prince Eze Madumere, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Obi Paschal Chigozie, and the Senior Special Assistant (Media), Mr. Chinedu Offor.

While saying that Imo had always remained a very peaceful state, the Governor also reiterated his campaign promise of giving free education to all children of school age.

“In line with this policy thrust of my administration, I am donating my entire monthly salary into the education fund. This is my little sacrifice to ensure that all Imo children acquire education”, Okorocha said.

He appealed to all public officers to make some sacrifice towards the crusade of rescuing Imo from its present decay, adding that he would not look kindly on any civil servant that delay files on his table.

Responding on behalf of other appointees, Professor Anwukah promised that they will work tirelessly towards the realization of the present administration’s dream of rescuing Imo from its present state.

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

Bombings: ACN urges Jonathan to summon national security summit

THE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to summon a national security summit to give stakeholders a forum to proffer solutions to the incessant bombings now ravaging the country.

The party noted that the problem should be treated as a national emergency.

The ACN in a statement issued in Lagos, on Tuesday, by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while reacting to the latest spate of bombings in Abuja, Bauchi and Zaria that left many dead and injured, said such a summit should involve all those who have positive contributions to make to end the epidemic of explosions, irrespective of their political leaning.

It noted that it had become obvious that the government alone could not stop the explosions, that led to hundreds of innocent Nigerians dead or maimed.

‘’After every bomb attack, the government will vow to get the culprits and punish them. Then more explosions will occur and the government will repeat its vow. This is not reassuring to the people of Nigeria as well as foreigners who may want to do business in the country.

‘’Therefore, it is now clear that, in spite of its best efforts, the government alone cannot stop the bombers. It is time for all patriots to all put heads together to identify the culprits and their grievances, and seek the way forward,’’ it said.

The party observed that the way the explosions went off on the outskirts of Abuja, as well as in Zaria and Bauchi, shortly after the inauguration of President Jonathan, showed that the only reason the inauguration itself was spared was because of the lock-down of Abuja and the shutdown of telecommunications services as part of stringent security measures put in place during the ceremony.

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

CBN grants new licences to 17 banks •As Akingbola seeks to stop sale of Intercontinental Bank

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted new international banking licences to nine banks, national licenses to six others and regional licenses to two banks.

Those in the international category included the Access Bank; Diamond Bank; Fidelity Bank; FirstBank Plc; First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank).

Others are Skye Bank; Zenith Bank and the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

Those who got the national banking license were Citi Bank; Ecobank Nigeria; Stanbic IBTC Standard Chartered ; Sterling Bank and Unity Bank, while Wema Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) will play as regional banks.

It will be recalled that the apex bank stopped issuing universal banking licences last year and said it would enforce new minimum capital requirements for different categories of bank, in a bid to avoid a repeat of near collapse of several banks in 2009.

International banks require a minimum capital of N50 billion under the new regime, while national banks require minimum capital of N25 billion.

Regional banks, which can operate in only six to 12 of the 36 states of the federation, are required to have N10 billion.

Meanwhile, the CBN has said the rescued banks have until the end of September to reach recapitalisation deals with new investors or face liquidation.

The apex bank had, in 2009, injected N620 billion into nine banks deemed by auditors to have become so weakly capitalised that they posed a risk to the entire banking system in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr Erastus Akingbola and an erstwhile Executive Director of the bank, Bayo Dada, have secured an ex parte order from a Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Okechukwu Okeke, stopping the planned sale of the bank to Access Bank.

The court equally restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from disposing or altering the shareholding structure of Intercontinental Bank in favour of Access Bank.

The court also restrained Intercontinental Bank and Access Bank from taking further step(s) on the purported memorandum of understanding (MoU) for business combinations signed by the two banks.

According to the judge, while ruling on the ex parte motion on Tuesday, the orders were to subsist, pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by Akingbola and Dada.

The duo of Akingbola and Dada, in the fresh suit, was challenging the propriety of the MoU signed by Intercontinental Bank and Access Bank without recourse to them as shareholders of Intercontinental Bank.

The court had, after entertaining arguments from the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Onyebuchi Aniakor, restrained Access Bank, its agents, servants or privies from acquiring the shares or taking over the business operations of Intercontinental Bank and its assets, pursuant to the purported MoU.

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

Jonathan signs FOI Bill into law •Adeyemi lauds Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has signed the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) 2011 into law.

The bill, which was passed by the outgoing National Assembly, was conveyed to the presidency on Friday, May 27, 2011.

Jonathan's signature on the document ended the long journey of the bill which started 11 years ago when it first made its appearance on the floor of the National Assembly.

According to a statement signed by Justin Abuah, Deputy Director (Information) Office of the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) in Abuja, on Tuesday, the president assented to it on Saturday, May 28.

The statement pointed out that the objective of the Act is to make public records and information more freely available, and to also protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy.

The Freedom of Information Act also seeks to protect serving public officers from any adverse consequence of disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation and to establish procedures for the achievement of these purposes, it added.

However, President Jonathan withheld his assent to the National Assembly Service Commission repeal and re-enactment bill passed into law by the National Assembly last month and returned same to the National Assembly.

The president made his reservation on the bill known through a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, saying he could not assent to the bill because of his reservation about the proposed administrative structure.

He made particular reference to the second schedule, which he described as being at variance with the structure of similar commissions in the federation.

The president’s letter reads: “Upon careful consideration of this bill, I found that I have reservation about the proposed administrative structure as contained in the second schedule which is at variance with the structure of similar commissions in the federation.

“I, therefore, wish to remit the bill to the honourable House so that you can have another look at the said structure with a view to reviewing it and re-presenting the bill for my assent.”

Meanwhile,

CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Smart Adeyemi, on Tuesday, commended President Goodluck Jona-than for signing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, saying that with the act, the president has commenced his transformation project for the country.

The harmonised version of the bill was passed by the National Assembly on Thursday, last week and consequently forwarded to the president for his assent.

Adeyemi, a two-time national president of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said the signing of the bill into law was an indication of good governance and sincerity of purpose which the president promised.

According to him, “l congratulate the media practitioners and the whole country, as the bill would make the policies and spending of government open for the country to see and would minimise corruption.

“Besides, it is also good for the socio-economic and political emancipation of the country. l commend the president for signing the bill.”

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

Lagos loses bid to re-open case against al-Mustapha, others

The Lagos State government has lost out in its bid to re-open its case in the ongoing trial of Major Hamza al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha and two others who are currently facing trial over their alleged involvement in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

This was sequel to a ruling by Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos High Court which declared the application null and void.

The judge, in her ruling on the application, also held that the application was lacking in merit and that attempts by the prosecution to make the court reason along with it, was an attempt to defeat the order of court.

Justice Dada also declared that the said application amounted to prosecutorial rascality, adding that, “it was an insult and an affront on the court to have ordered a case closed after five months and four adjournments for one witness who happens to be a very high officer in the police and a lawyer; and such officer refused to come to court after being repeatedly asked to come to give his witness.

Speaking further, the judge said, “and for the prosecution to have told the court that the court rushed to close its case is an affront to justice especially when an order of the court is not being respected by Lawal Pedro (SAN), lead counsel for the prosecution, who happens to come from the Ministry of Justice.

“The court is not an extension of the Ministry of Justice. The court restates the earlier order and asks the prosecution to submit their response to the no case submission of the defendants,” she said.

Justice Dada then adjourned the matter till June 23, 2011 for adoption of written addresses on the accuseds’ no case submission.

The judge had earlier closed the case of the prosecution due to its inability to produce witnesses in court.

However, in a twist of event, the prosecution in an application dated April 13, 2011 brought by the Solicitor General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro( SAN) sought the court’s leave to re-open the case.

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

I’m ready to face EFCC, says Shekarau

Ibrahim Shekarau, the immediate past governor of Kano State said yesterday he was ready to answer questions from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his stewardship of the state in the last eight years.

The former governor, who spoke through his spokesperson, Sule Yau yesterday in Kano, while faulting allegations made by the new governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, that his administration left a liability of N77.4 billion and $209.2 million for its successor.

Mr Shekarau also accused the new governor of going out of his ways to smear his reputation.

“He is not afraid of EFCC, he is ready when invited to answer any question, because we have nothing to hide; we have no skeleton in our cupboard,” Mr Yau said. “Is it possible to write a cheque of N3 billion and withdraw it at a go from any bank in Nigeria? The EFCC will even ask you questions if you make a withdrawal of as low as N10 million. As I have stated, they are on a vengeance mission, it shows that they have nothing to offer the people of Kano State. This administration is out to castigate our government and that is their mission instead of them to add to our achievements.”

Mr Yau spoke while reacting to a claim by Mr Kwankwaso that the sum of N3 million disappeared under mysterious circumstances from the Kano State Pension Fund. He further dismissed allegations made by Mr Kwankwaso over the N77.4 billion debt burden allegedly left behind by Mr Shekarau. Faulting Mr Kwankwaso’s claim that he inherited an empty treasury, Mr Sule said the last administration left over N4 billion in the coffers of the state.

No legacy of borrowings

He also said that his administration did not borrow any money, adding that it is unfortunate that the new government is in a hurry to discredit whatever they have achieved in the last eight years.

“I want to state categorically that the government of Shekarau has never borrowed a kobo from 2003 to 2011. I challenge those making this frivolous accusations name the banks and the country they said we borrowed money from,” he said.

“Everybody knows the background of Kwankwaso, he is a very vindictive person we are going to see the worst in the next four years. They are not in government to make progress because they know they will not perform that is why they want to use the debt issue as an excuse. This is the same man who came to Government House in the morning and signed the handing over note only for him to go outside hours later and said another thing. You can see the kind of person he is.”

Mr Sule equally faulted an alarm raised by Mr Kwankwaso that the Shekarau government expended the sum of N4 billion on hotel bills.

He, however, admitted that the government spent N3. 5billion to accommodate government guests in ten hotels spread within the Kano metropolis as against three hotels identified by Mr Kwankwaso’s transitional committee.

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

Boko Haram Militants Kill Shehu of Borno's Brother

Boko Haram made real on Monday night its threat to take its offensive beyond state government officials, as gunmen suspected to be its members shot dead Abbah Anas, the younger brother of the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Garbai El-kanemi.

Abbah, 30, a senior officer of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NCDC), was killed in his home in the Gangamari area of Maiduguri.

The gunmen stormed the home at about 9 p.m. and opened fired on the victim, who sat in front of the home.

They fled, leaving him in his pool of blood.

Police Public Relations Officer, Lawal Abdullahi, confirmed the killing and said the gunmen will soon be tracked down and prosecuted.

Abdullahi appealed to the residents of the state to help the police fish out the serial killers.

Abbah was laid to rest at about 11 a.m. on Tuesday, as sympathisers thronged the home of El-kanemi to commiserate with him.

Tension remains thick in Borno with heavily armed policemen and soldiers mounting the streets with sand bags.

They search vehicles and ask pedestrians to raise their hands above their heads at check points.

In its reaction, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) urged President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently summon a national security summit to give stakeholders a forum to proffer solutions to the incessant bombings ravaging the country.

A statement issued by ACN National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said the problem should be treated as a national emergency.

Mohammed noted that the bomb blasts on Sunday and Monday in Abuja, Bauchi, and Zaria left many dead and injured.

The party warned that it is obvious that the government alone cannot stop the explosions, which have left hundreds of innocent Nigerians dead or maimed, and which risk scaring away foreign investors at a time Abuja says it is embarking on a journey to transform the country in all spheres.

"After every bomb attack, the government will vow to get the culprits and punish them. Then more explosions will occur and the government will repeat its vow. This is not reassuring to the people of Nigeria as well as foreigners who may want to do business in the country.

"Therefore, it is now clear that, in spite of its best efforts, the government alone cannot stop the bombers. It is time for all patriots to put heads together to identify the culprits and their grievances, and seek the way forward," Mohammed said.

The ACN noted that the way the explosions went off on the outskirts of Abuja as well as in Zaria and Bauchi shortly after the inauguration of Jonathan shows that the only reason the inauguration itself was spared was because of the lock-down of Abuja and the shutdown of telecommunications services as part of stringent security measures during the ceremony.

"But what happens now that the lock down of Abuja has been lifted and telecoms services restored? Is it not worrisome that those behind the explosions have continued to target public institutions and security agencies?

"Is it now becoming clear that these terrorists can now strike at a place and time of their own choosing, if they can detonate explosives in such high-security areas as military barracks?"

The ACN expressed concern that these explosions have recently been concentrated in the Northern part of the country not usually prone to such, despite incessant ethno-religious crises there, and wondered why this is so.

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

Four dead in Ekiti bank robbery

Four persons died yesterday in a daring bank robbery in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Guns boomed and residents rushed indoors as the robbers shot their way into the bank in Okeyinmi.

There were about 20 robbers, including two women – according to residents who claimed to have seen them. They spent nearly an hour at the bank, shooting sporadically.

Ten residents were injured. They included 15-year old Fasuan Samuel, Mr Francis Afolabi (75), Olumide Olusola (22), Owoyede Yusuf (23) and Ifeanyi Ukafor (25). All of them are hospitalised.

One of the injured, Fagbolagun Oluwafemi, said: "I was at Ijigbo Junction around 10 when I heard the first gunshot. I tried to run, but the bullet hit me in the leg".

Omotayo Zacheus Ajayi, an eye witness, said the robbers invaded the area about 10a.m. in a convoy of four cars, including a Toyota Hilux Van, two Hiace buses and a Hummer. They pulled down the bank’s main gate with a dynamite and a hand-held rocket launcher.

It was a chilling sight of blood at the University Teaching Hospital where doctors, led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Patrick Adegun, battled to save the lives of the victims.

Another eye witness, Olaiya Olatunji, said: "I just met them at the operation. I was shot at but the bullet missed me. I want to say that we do not have police here in Ado-Ekiti. I rushed to Okesha Police Station but the DPO said he would not dispatch his men to the place. And none of them came. That is why we are protesting that the Ado-Ekiti people have been treated badly by the police."

The bodies of the deceased were deposited at the morgue of the University Teaching Hospital in the state capital.

Some police officers attached to the governor’s office, led by the Senior Special Assistant on internal security to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Mr Deji Adesokan, challenge the robbers, but could not match them.

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

EU backs independent appointment of INEC chair

The European Union has backed calls for the chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be named by a neutral body, and not the president, the group’s Nigeria 2011 election observation team said Tuesday. In its final report on the April polls released yesterday, the EU Election Observation Mission recommended a non-presidential nomination for the INEC top job as earlier proposed by the 2009 Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.

The report praised government efforts at implementing some suggestions of the committee, which led to major constitutional reforms, but “regretted” that parts of the recommendations were not adopted.

“Regrettably,” said Alodj Peterle who led the Mission, “the amendments failed to introduce some of the ERC’s recommendations, such as the independent appointment of the chair of INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC), the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, a Political Parties Registration and Regulatory Commission, and provisions for independent candidates to run for office.

“It is recommended that these issues are addressed in future reforms of the legislative framework”, Mr. Peterle added.

The document, chronicling a rigorous electoral process that stretched from months of planning and legal reforms to a deadly aftermath in which over 800 died in riots, was presented yesterday in Abuja.

The Mission condemned the violence which erupted in many northern states after the presidential elections and called for the prosecution of the perpetrators. It applauded the general conduct of the polls — as it had done in preliminary reports — but managed to steer clear from categorically calling the polls “credible, free and fair”.

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

Police quiz former Ogun commissioner over stadium comments

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

Immediate past Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Ogun State, Sina Kawonise, was yesterday quizzed by the police over a statement he issued faulting the decision of the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun to rename the Ijebu-Ode International Stadium after the late opposition politician, Dipo Dina.

For over one hour, Mr Kawonise was the guest of the police at the Eleweran Police Headquarters, Abeokuta, where he was interrogated for allegedly flouting the order of the state governor.

Mr Kawonise, in the statement, argued that the past administration had earlier named the same stadium after Mike Adenuga, a billionaire and Chief Executive Officer of Globacom. He said there was no reason for the new administration to change it.

The former commissioner was accompanied to the police station by some aides of the former state governor, Gbenga Daniel. These included former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Adegbenro Adebanjo; former Director General of the Bureau of Management and Budget, Kayode Sunmola; a lawyer, Kayode Oladele, and Tayo Agunbiade.

Mr Kawonise arrived at the police commissioner’s office at about 11.20am and was interrogated, before he was asked to make formal statements at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in the police command. A police source said the former state official was released by the police after about one hour.

Insistence on statement

Speaking with newsmen after his release, Mr Kawonise expressed shock that the new governor could order his arrest for defending the action of the immediate past administration in the state. He emphasized that the renaming of Ijebu-Ode stadium was an error which, according to him, the new governor must apologise for.

“If the new governor had read the handover note handed over to him, he wouldn’t have made that kind of error. He made an error and he should apologise for that error,” Mr Kawonise said. “I was invited by the Commissioner of Police yesterday (Monday) that I should come to the State Police Headquarters, Eleweran in Abeokuta and I told him that I was not in a position to come but that I will make it to the station this morning (Tuesday).”

“On getting here, of course, I was able to confirm what we have been hearing that the new governor, Ibikunle Amosun, ordered my arrest because of the statement I issued to clarify the position of the former government on the stadium in Ijebu-Ode, built by Gbenga Daniel, which Ibikunle Amosun himself said was a white elephant project. So, I issued a statement that naming the stadium after the late Dipo Dina was not correct because the stadium had earlier been renamed by the Executive Council of Ogun State after Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Globacom. That was the statement and I was surprised that that kind of statement would warrant a governor under a democratic dispensation to order for my arres,” he said.

Mr Kawonise, who said he could not recall the exact date the stadium was named after Mr Adenuga, maintained that the decision was carried out to reward the numerous contributions of the Globacom boss in sports development.

He however stated that the police authorities treated him with respect and decency during the questioning.

Ndume: Bureaucrats Misled Bankole on N10bn Loan – Thisday

The controversy trailing the N10 billion loan allegedly owed by the House of Representatives took a new twist Tuesday as a prominent member of the body of principal officers alleged that bureaucrats in the National Assembly misled Speaker Dimeji Bankole into obtaining the loan.

Former Minority leader of the House of Representatives and senator-elect, Hon. Mohammed Ali Ndume who spoke to newsmen on the issue disclosed that Bankole was misled by the Clerk of the House, Mr Sani Omolori who allegedly assured the body of principal officers that the loan could be easily paid back through the budgetary allocations of the House.

Ndume who expressed dismay at the turn out of events, particularly the inability of the lower chamber to pick its bills said the indebtedness of the House to a first generation commercial banks was unfortunate and could have been avoided if Bankole had received the right advice from the bureaucrats in the system.

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

Rescued Corps members relive ordeal

I doubt if we would have been alive to tell this story, because the mob were seen to be battle ready. We can never forget how we escaped. We thank God. Governor Isah Yuguda’s action and that of the SSS will remain green in our mind."

This is the tale of Ibrahim, one of the corps members rescued during the post-election violence that erupted in Bauchi State following the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan as the winner of the April 16 election.

He is among the members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) brought to Abuja by a civil society organisation.

In an interview with Newsextra, Ibrahim and Ifeoma Nwaoni narrated their ordeal in the hands of hoodlums who unleashed terror on the innocent citizens staying in the hitherto peaceful state.

Before the violence, the corps members described their stay in the state as "a fruitful" one with a lot of hope under the Isah Yuguda administration.

Ibrahim said: "As soon as the violence erupted, the state government came to our aid. Indeed, the Bauchi State governor is a saviour and he is worthy of commendation because he proved himself as a father, a humane leader and a patriot by immediately gathering the 3,500 corps members in the state to the SSS Training School within three hours for to ensure our safety.

"Equally, he went further to ensure that the school is secure by armoured tanks, an action which gave us the requisite psychological feeling of safety.

"Had the governor not taken this proactive measure, I doubt if we would have been alive to tell this story."

The corps members narrated that while at the State Security Service (SSS) training college, as they were assembled in a hall, they kept on wondering why they suddenly became the target of the transgressors.

"Fears written all over us, the governor came in and when he saw our countenance, he wept. He promised to bring the perpetrators to book and to secure us. He said we should see ourselves as his children, as he will do everything to protect us on behalf of our parents and the Nation.

"The presence of the NYSC Director-General from Abuja to the state also gave us some form of comfort. The Governor couldn’t control his emotions. He said corps members don’t deserve to die that way, even as he promised that those behind the gruesome killing of these innocent patriots will not only face the full wrath of the law but will also have Allah’s punishment awaiting them.

"The Governor went further to give all the corps members in the state little support of N10,000 as he expressed his sympathy on behalf of the people of Bauchi State to the families of the slain corps members. He also promised to immortalise them for their sacrifice to the nation’s democracy. Thus, the SSS College was, indeed, our home of refuge before our evacuation."

The National Youth Council of Nigeria, (NYCN) has demanded an apology from the Congress for Progresive Change, (CPC) over the death of 10 corps members in Bauchi State.

Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan

Anyim sworn-in as new SGF

President Goodluck Jonathan has charged the new the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim to bring his wealth of experience to bear in coordinating the incoming cabinet.

The president also urge him to assist in the transformation agenda of the administration.

Former Senate President, Anyim yesterday took oath as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

He takes over from Alhaji Ahmed Yayale.

His inauguration attracted all political bigwigs from the South East of the country.

Those in attendance include Governor Liyel Imoke, Sanotor Ike Ekweremadu, Jonathan Zwingina, Ike Nwachukwu, chrales Soludo, Andy Uba, Ifanyi Ararume, Ghali Na'Abba, Chibudum Nwuche, Austin Opara, Tony Anenih, Emeka Eziefe, former PDP chairman, Ikwesilisi Nwodo, Frank Nweke, outgoing minister of Health, Chukwu Onyebuchi.

The oath taking and apending of signature which started at 12.25 lasted for about 30minutes.

The president also thanked Yayale for his service to the country.

" The Secretary to the Government of the Federation is part of a team of champions that we are putting in place to drive our transformation agenda. He is to coordinate government policies, ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies including the Cabinet Office.

"I therefore, urge you Senator Anyim to bring these virtues and experience to bear to the service of Nigeria as you coordinate the activities of the government.

"The challenge before you therefore, is to ensure high integrity, accountability and openness in the conduct of government's business. Nigeria must have a government that truly palaces itself in the service of its citizens.

"All of us must together commit ourselves to the entrenched of good government at all levels.

"We must live by example in words and deeds. We must show the people that this time around, we are determined.

" My distinguished senator, you are called to serve at the most challenging time, a time that we are determined to transform Nigeria, a time that we are determined to do things differently, a time that we are calling for sacrifice from all public office holders and the private sector, a time that we are calling on all Nigerians to stop lamenting and join government to transform our country.

"We must alleviate the sufferings of our people, we must create jobs, provide electricity and deliver on our electoral promises. This is the most urgent task before this government. Senator Anyim, the time for transformation has begun, welcome on board.

"Today, as Alhaji Yayale bows out, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is stepping into his shoes after a careful selection process that was anchored on high national expectations," he said.

Speaking on the selection process, the president said the former senator was considered based on his past track records both in private and piblic service.

This he said has made him to be among the men and women the nation needed at this time.

"selecting Senator Anyim, we took into cognisance his records of public service, his career as a senator, his role as the President of the Senate and his leadership skills that our nation need at this time. "Our nation need men and women who can match words with action, leaders who are ready to learn and lead at the same time," the president said.

Thanking the outgoing SGF, President Jonathan said he is one of the most experienced public officers the country has produced. This experience, the president said was brought to bear to the service of his fatherland.

"Let me on behalf of the federal government expressed our sincere appreciation to the out-going secretary to the government of the federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed for his serv ice to Nigeria.

" Yayale Ahmed served our country in many capacities including, federal permanent secretary, head of the civil service of the federation, minister of defence and finally as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

"He is one of the most experienced public officers that Nigeria has produced. He brought that experience to bear to the service of his fatherland."

Reacting to his appointment the former Senate president said though he was not expecting the appointment, he however said he shares the vision of the president and ready to drive it to the best of his ability.

While describing his appointment as the will of God, Anyim assured on his appointment that "within the limits of the responsibilities of my office, I will fit into the vision of Mr. President. I will help to drive his vision to the best of my abilities."

Responding to reporters question on the effect of his appointment on the South East push for the position of Speakership of the House of Representatives, Anyim said "but the party has zoned the position to the South East and as a loyal party member of the party I am bound by the decision of the party. Every loyal member of the party should be bound by the decision of the party."