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Christmas: Jonathan Drums Support For Transformation Agenda

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday called on the church to support the Federal Government's transformation agenda by helping to reform the attitudes of the citizenry.

The president made the call during a Christmas service at the Cathedral of Advent (Anglican Communion), Life Camp, Abuja.

He said that the agenda of government could be made possible if the church, through its programmes and activities, reformed the lives of its members.

``The church has a great role to play if the transformation must be achieved because there can be no transformation without reformation.

``I want to call on the church to come up with programmes that will reform the lives of the people because what we see and hear about some Nigerians require genuine reformation of the people since reformation is critical to transformation,’’ he said.

The president advised religious leaders in the country to enlighten their faithful on efforts made by government to reform the society.

Jonathan urged Nigerians to support government's programmes at all levels, noting that the continuous sabotage of its efforts would not lead the nation to greatness.

Jonathan congratulated Nigerians on the Christmas celebrations and assured them of government’s commitment to making life better for them.

He said that the much-desired changes would be made in the different sectors of the economy but sued for patience.

He said that the current administration was doing its best to effect changes in critical areas of the nation’s economy.

The president identified power, agriculture, road transport and aviation as some of the key areas that would witness remarkable change in the coming months.

He dismissed insinuations by his critics that his administration was overtly slow and incapable of effecting positive change in the economy.

``What I want to promise Nigerians is that any step we take in this administration, any giant step we take, we will never go back to it again.

``Government must plan in everything it intends to do well and this is our focus,’’ he said.

The Primate of the communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, assured the president of the church’s support for government's programmes.

He said that the church would continue to encourage its faithful to key in to government’s programmes at all levels.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president attended the service with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, his mother and other members of the family.

Special prayers were also offered for the president, his family and members of his cabinet.

In Kaduna, a catholic priest, Rev. Fr. James Tella, also tasked Christians to show love by constantly assisting the needy and the poor.

Tella gave the advice in his homily to mark the Christmas celebration.

He urged Christians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ as specified in the holy Bible.

The priest also stressed the need for the people to assist the poor and less privileged in the society all the times not necessarily during festivities.

Tella advised Christians to adhere strictly to the teaching of the holy Bible, by maintaining  good relationships with God and people always.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that attendance was high in Churches amidst tight security as worshippers were vigorously screened.

Cars were also screened before gaining entrance into and around Church premises.

Mr. Joel Danjuma, a worshipper, said in spite of rumours of attacks in some states, it would not deter him from performing his religious obligation.

Danjuma said the directive by the Inspector General of Police that was telecast about the need  to tighten security, allayed his fears.

Mrs Murna Sunday said the security check was necessary as it had given parents the confidence to bring their children to Church, without fear of the "unknown".

She urged the people, irrespective of their religion or place of domicile, to pray for peace and assist the government to address the insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria.

The Christmas celebrations were marked peacefully in Gombe State under tight security measures provided by the police, State Security Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in all churches.

One of the clerics in Gombe, Rev. Fr. Sunday Waraka, an Assistant Parish Priest of St. James Catholic Church, Gombe, enjoined Christians to celebrate the occasion according to Christ's injunction.

Waraka urged them to share whatever they had with the needy, poor and avoid committing atrocities in the name of celebration.

“If you celebrate the Christmas committing atrocities, remember, Jesus will say to you `I came but you did not receive me or know me' ,'' he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Gombe State Command, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the celebrations were peaceful.

He said the command had deployed its officers and men to all the churches and taken other measures to ensure hitch-free celebrations.

Atajiri assured the people of the state of the command’s determination to protect lives and property.

In Dutse, Mr Yakubu Musa, Pastor of Assembly of God’s Church, commended the Jigawa Government for the maintenance of peace in the state.

Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the Christmas church service that worshippers came out en mass to pray without any fear of attack.

He urged the government to maintain the safety of all citizens in the state.

Musa urged Christians to emulate the teachings and practice of Jesus Christ and be kind to people, irrespective of their religious leanings.

NAN reports that the celebration was peaceful as security was beefed up around all the churches in Dutse.

 

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CNPP Urges De-Registered Parties To Join ACN, CPC, ANPP Merger Plan

The Conference of Nigeria Political parties (CNPP) on Tuesday urged all de-registered parties to join the merger plan of the ACN, CPC and ANPP .

CNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Osita Okechukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the conference supported the merger proposal.

''CNPP is in support of the three political parties that are trying to merge and calls on those de-registered to join the merger plan.

''We applaud the CPC, ACN and ANPP for trying to come together, this will enable them to form a united front," he said.

Okechukwu urged the INEC's National Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ''pay more attention to those things that can bring to bear, free and fair election in Nigeria".

''Government has stopped funding parties and if it has stopped funding parties, they would find ways to sustain themselves,'' he said.

Okechukwu urged the INEC boss to pay more attention to the Uwais Electoral Reform since he (Jega) was a member of the committee.

''He should pay attention to advance those courses recommended by the committee.

''We need free and fair election; if there is free and fair election, the political parties on their own will do their own internal censorship,'' he said.  

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PHCN Tasks Customers On Prompt Power Supply

The management of PHCH EKO Electricity Distribution Company of Nigeria, on Tuesday appealed to electricity consumers within its zone to pay their outstanding bills to enable the station to discharge its duties effectively.

 Mr Oladele Amoda, the Chief Executive Officer of the zone told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that consumers should assist the company in its efforts to provide stable and efficient power supply.

He said electricity supply had been stable in the zone due to the Federal Government's effort at ensuring adequate supply of gas and effective rehabilitation of power plants nationwide.

Amoda stressed that it would be difficult for PHCN to continue its operation in an environment where there was no corresponding response to investments and services rendered.

He said the zone invested so much in all the units under its network to sensitise customers to the need for the settlement of their debts ``so that the money would be returned to the source’’.

He said PHCN had no other source of funds, adding that increasing debts would impede its development in the areas.

He noted the cost of capacity improvement for the Agbara 132/33/11KV station from 90MVA to 150MVA and the creation of another 33KV and 11KV feeders meant to relieve the Badagry 33KV feeder, was quite enormous.

He assured the public that as gas supply continued to improve and more National Integrated Power Projects came on stream, the transmission and distribution companies would continue to harness available generation.

Amoda said: ``our doors are open for you to bring your complaints with the assurance of prompt response. We urge you not to relate with touts and encourage you to report any identified PHCN worker who attempts to extort money or asks for gratification from you,’’

He, however, gave the assurance of constant supply to customers during the Christmas season.

Amoda appealed to customers within the zone’s network to cooperate with the company to ensure adequate and prompt protection of electricity installations against vandalism.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria recently said that the country's generation hit 4,500 Megawatts, which was attributed to President Goodluck Jonathan's promise to improve power delivery to Nigerians.

 

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Senator Calls For Implementation Of Oronsaye Committee Report

Sen. Ita Enang (PDP-Akwa Ibom), Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, has called on the Federal Government to implement the Steve Oronsaye Committee report to reduce recurrent expenditure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Goodluck Jonathan set up a committee headed by Oronsaye, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, to restructure and rationalise Federal Government's agencies.

This was with a view to identifying overlap or duplication of functions and make appropriate recommendations to the government.

Enang told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that if the report was implemented, the cost of governance would be drastically reduced and more funds would be available for capital expenditure.

He said: ``I am urging the President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to take courage and implement the recommendations made by the Oronsaye Committee.

``Ministries and Departments with duplicating functions should be merged and officers transferred to the main service and dealt with according to civil service regulations.’’

Enang also noted the need to reduce the increasing funds budgeted for fuelling of generators in public offices by exploring the option of solar energy.

He added that the recurring demand for the purchase of computers by ministries and agencies should be discouraged so as to have more funds for visible projects.

"We need to reduce the demand for diesel and computers as this would reduce the cost of governance; there will be huge savings which will increase the capital budget and attract development.’’

The lawmaker advised the Ministry of Finance to always ensure early release of funds to enable Ministries, Departments and Agencies to fully implement the budget for the benefit of the people.

 

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We Are Humbled By Overwhelming Global Support And Prayers – Mandela Grandson

Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, said his family was humbled by the overwhelming support and messages of goodwill globally received since Mandela was admitted into hospital.

He said on Monday that though Mandela could not be with his family during this Christmas ``the family home in Qunu will be warm as usual''.

“We have overwhelming support not only from the province, nationally, but also internationally.

``We hope that the prayers that we've been receiving will ensure that he recovers.

``The priority is to ensure his well-being, and he is returned home in good health,” he said.

The Mandela family gave 100 wheelchairs to the Empilweni Old Age Home in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

The initiative was a partnership between the Mandela Family and the Provincial Department of Social Development.

``Madiba's legacy of giving to the needy put smiles on the faces of elderly people in Mthatha.

“We are following in the footsteps of my grandpa. He used to host a Christmas party for the elderly and children.

``We are doing this to show that we still care, and we want him to know that we are doing what he loves,” Mandla Mandela said.

However, this was the first time Mandela was not celebrating Christmas with his family since he was released from Robben Island Prison in 1992.

Mandela was admitted at a Pretoria hospital on Dec. 8,2012.

 

 

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Tambuwal Urges Nigerians To Pray For Peaceful Co-Existence, Nigeria’s Unity

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has urged Nigerians, especially Christians, to pray for the peaceful co-existence and unity in the nation.   

Tambuwal made the appeal in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, on Monday in Abuja to commemorate this year's Christmas celebration. 

He enjoined Nigerians to renew their faith in their country and work towards building a nation of their dreams.

Tambuwal said with renewed faith, commitment and hard work, the country would soon realise its full potentials.

``The Christmas period is a time for deep reflection on the teachings of Christianity and what Jesus Christ stood for,’’ he said. 

The speaker urged leaders at all levels of governance to make the interest of the people their priority at all times.

``In spite of the challenges of development confronting the country, progress has been made in some critical sectors,’’ he said. 

Tambuwal said the House of Representatives would continue to play its role in efforts to provide quality representation to the people.

He congratulated Christians who joined their colleagues the world over in celebrating this important occasion.

``May the blessings of the season shower on our homes and our nation," the speaker said.

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Too Many Parties Unwieldy For Elections – INEC Commissioner

Mr Ishmael Igbani, INEC Commissioner in-charge of Election Monitoring, has said that too many political parties are unwieldy for elections in a developing country like Nigeria.

Igbani, who said this in Abuja on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), noted that ''For election purposes Nigeria doesn’t need too many political parties.

''Even though having too many political parties is not a crime, all of them cannot be participating in one election.

''Looking at the ballot with over 65 candidates having their names on a ballot paper would be confusing to the electorate, and the worse scenario is when there is more than one election in a day, it becomes more confusing.''

The INEC commissioner advised politicians to come together and set criteria on how names would be placed on the ballot papers.

He said it was time for politicians to stop tying their existence to elections; rather they should focus more on issues that would engender socio-economic growth of the nation.

''The smaller parties instead of fighting for a place on the ballot papers can exploit various avenues with focus on different areas that include gender, environment, health, social issues and other areas of development.’’

On de-registration of some political parties by INEC, Igbani said the exercise was done in accordance with the law.

He explained that the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, declared that: ''Any political party which contests elections and does not win any electoral seat shall be deregistered.

''Our constitution allows for a multi-party system, but INEC has the power to de-register parties and it has started and it is a continuous process as the commission will continue to de-register parties that do not meet requirements.’’

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