—NOT a few Nigerians have reacted to comments by the National Security Adviser, Lieutenant-General Aliyu Gusau (rtd), that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s, reforms were damaging the economy.

FORMER national chairman of the ruling PDP, Chief Solomon Lar and former finance minister, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, have been selected as members of a delegation of party leaders to plead the case of the embattled current chairman of the PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

General John Shagaya is a serving Senator of the Federal Republic and Chairman of Northern Senators’ Forum . In this interview, the Minister of Internal Affairs in the defunct IBB’s regime speaks on a number of issues including IBB’s return to politics, the Jos crisis and acting President Jonathan’s trip to the United States.

THERE was a dramatic twist to the lingering crisis in the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday as the National Chairman of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, suspended former Senate presidents, Ken Nnamani, Adolphus Wabara, ex-Speaker Bello Masari and the immediate past National Secretary of the party, Bernard Eze.

ACTING President Goodluck Jonathan, Thursday, signed into law a N 4.6 trillion budget for 2010, with more than a third earmarked for the development of roads, power and the Niger Delta.

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday said it was mapping out a fresh strategy to arrest former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, even as it said the impression that Ibori was above the law was unacceptable.

POISED to make maximum impact in tackling the nation’s moribund power sector within the next one year, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, Wednessday, issued a 30-day ultimatum to the presidential committee headed by him to roll out a workable blueprint for the sector.

EVENTS at the two chambers of the National Assembly: the Senate and House of Representatives, were characterized by intrigues and political maneouverings, leading to grave uncertainty, yesterday.

THE drama of the renewed manhunt for former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, took a new turn yesterday, as former Federal Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark claimed that Ibori was allegedly planning to kill him.

A MAJOR air disaster was averted, yesterday, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, when an Abuja-bound Dana Air plane with 97 persons on board lost an engine to bird strike on take-off.

THE consistent withdrawal of funds from the excess crude account by the Federal Government for sharing among the three ties of government has been described as illegal and against the provisions of Section 35 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act which provides that money in the account can only be withdrawn if the price of crude maintains a consistent fall below the budgeted benchmark for at least three months. [More…]

Former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida admitted yesterday the smooth conduct of the June 12, 1993 election which was annulled by his regime and said “there has never been an election like that before”.

Finally, former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el Rufai has decided to face the challenges at the homefront by returning to the country to confront the Yar ‘Adua people who levelled allegations of corruption against him and to contribute his quota in charting a way forward for Nigeria, even as former EFCC chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu expresses joy at the prospect of returning to Nigeria during his parley with Acting President Jonathan who visited the United States recently.

Former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida today challenged those accusing him of mismanaging the nation’s resources during his nine-year reign to come up with proofs.

FOLLOWING an alarm raised by the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, yesterday arrested and detained a Maersk Line vessel, ‘MV Nashiville,’ laden with toxic waste.