DR. Jonathan Silas Zwingina represented Adamawa South Constituency in the Senate between 1999 and 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  In this interview, he said that the face-off between the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the rebelling governors within the party, was borne out of the urge by Tukur to fight the culture of impunity practised by some state governors. He also said that President Goodluck Jonathan had no agreement with the North over 2015, adding that the North has never formed a common front in any election. Excerpts:

As the meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the aggrieved G-7 governors and other leaders of the Abubakar Kawu Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, got underway last night to resolve the crisis in the party, there were indications that the nPDP may have adjusted its earlier demand that President Goodluck Jonathan should not seek a second term in office. This came as the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has appealed to leaders of the new PDP to embrace dialogue saying the problem can be resolved in a family way.

Last week, I wrote on this column that Nigerians’ penchant for foreign goods has continued to put pressure on the nation’s external reserves and the exchange rate. In the article, I asked for how long the CBN will continue to defend the naira. Some readers wrote in to say that the article was more of a question and did not suggest solution.

GOVERNOR Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has announced a seven-day mourning for his immediate predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, who died last Friday, aged 65, even as more condolence messages and tributes poured in for the deceased.

•Say it will affect market performance in 2nd half…
The positive sentiment at the Nigerian stock market at the beginning of the year has continued to impact on performance of the market which has recorded a 26 per cent growth in the last eight months. The market indicators, which are the barometer of the health of the financial market, as at the end of third quarter of 2013 showed that share prices of most of the companies listed in the exchange have risen by 26.6 per cent.

THE Forbes Magazine has declared Aliko Dangote as the world’s richest African in the world, just as the world’s richest black woman, Folorunsho Alakija, is conspicuously missing in the magazine ranking of the 21 richest Nigerians. 

FORMER Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that he contested the 2007 presidential elections in the face of defeat, to preserve the sanctity of democracy.

National Vice-Chairman, South South of All Progressives Congress, APC and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, weekend, described as misleading, reports that the party had adopted Mr Festus Keyamo as its candidate for the forthcoming bye election for the Delta Central senatorial seat in Delta State.

More prominent British leaders have continued to speak out against the British government’s plan to impose a refundable £3000 visa bond on Nigerians.

National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria will award an Honourary Fellowship of the College to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, at its 31st Annual Convocation.

DELTA State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation,  Dr. Antonia Ashiedu, has warned farmers and traders currently residing  within flood-prone areas in the state to vacate immediately in their interest to  avoid being caught up in an imminent flood disaster.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has warned Market Makers against exercising voting right in companies in whose securities they make market in, saying that severe sanctions will be meted out to offenders.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has written the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, asking it not to tamper with its nomination of Mr. Tony Nwoye as its candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN said at end of June 2013 , the total amount released under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) to the 19 participating banks for disbursement to agriculture sector stood at N217.4 billion (for 288 projects).

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc has stated that it is awaiting the approval of the Federal Government to enable it deliver a portion of its 50 mega watts of electricity to businesses around Apapa and also to the national grid.