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The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, on Thursday visited President Goodluck Jonathan in Aso Rock and allegedly apologised to his host for all his actions and inactions that strained their relationship. The relationship between the two became strained when the President suspended Sanusi as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Jonathan had suspended Sanusi as the apex bank’s boss over what was described as financial recklessness. Since his appointment as Emir, Thursday was the first time Sanusi would be visiting the President alone, although he was one of the Northern Traditional Rulers who joined Jonathan in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for the breaking of Ramadan fast on July 23. A Presidency source, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that Sanusi used the opportunity of the Thursday meeting to apologise to the President. The source added that the traditional ruler promised to support the present administration. He said, “Sanusi ...

More troubles await the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, over his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress, investigation has revealed. The PUNCH learnt on Thursday that apart from his security details that were withdrawn by the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday, Tambuwal might be barred from entering either his office or the National Assembly when the House resumes on December 3. This was one of the decisions reached during a meeting held by top officials of the Peoples Democratic Party which had in attendance President Goodluck Jonathan. Tambuwal had on Tuesday adjourned the House till December 3 after he stunned his colleagues by announcing his defection from the PDP to the opposition All Peoples Congress. But on Thursday, the Police authorities withdrew his security aides, citing section Section 68 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended as reason. The section reads, “A member of the Senate or of the House of Represen...

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the immediate reinstatement of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. Keshi’s contract with the Nigeria Football Federation was not renewed after the World Cup in Brazil. But in a twist of fate, Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo invited the Afcon winning coach to return to the team and prosecute the first phase of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo, South Africa and Sudan. The campaign has been a near disaster as the Eagles could only garner 4 points from a possible 12. Nigerians were enraged and called for the head of the coach. Keshi was subsequently asked to go by the new NFF board. President Jonathan’s order for the reinstatement of the embattled coach was not unexpected as there were reports of a strong lobby group comprising people from high places campaigning for the return of the former Hawks of Togo coach. The former international said he was...

Ogun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun yesterday, insisted that the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was aware of the ill treatment he is subjected to by Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Adesegun who spoke on the telephone, described the content of his letter that chronicled Amosun’s alleged maltreatment against him as a tip of the iceberg. Adesegun while reacting to a claim by National Publicity Secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed that the party was not aware of the content of his letter, said the party knew he was being maltreated but might not know the depth of his challenges. He said: “He (Lai Muhammed) is my friend, whatever he says, I will accept. If he says I didn’t send the letter to the national leadership of the party, I will accept. “The letter was meant for the governor and I copied all members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, copied the three Senators, seven members of the House of Representatives, our leader, ...

Ubachukwu Chinedu has emerged the ultimate man of the year on the just concluded Gulder Ultimate search 2014.  He was the first to find the general's helmet.

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state says he goes to the beer parlour every  Friday  to meet with the commoners in his state. Fayose said this today in Abuja while explaining to newsmen the concept of the 'stomach infrastructure' he initiated in his state, saying it doesn't only mean sharing of food and money to the people..  "I go to beer parlour  on Friday  to stay with the common men there. Governance is not church;  it is about diverse characters and you must relate with them as such. Christmas is coming. Why do people go out of their ways to be shopping or doing other things if it is not just to make people merry? So, I’m grooming chicken, buying rice, yams, plantain, and the rest of them. I am sure if I give it to families during the festive period, they will be happy. So, stomach infrastructure is a way of life.” he said

Judging from the recent Ekiti elections where bags of rice were shared to potential voters by contesters of the Governorship seat, it seems that rice is the popular food of choice of Nigerians.  Photos of bags of rice branded with President Jonathan’s image surfaced online. It is not clear whether the rice campaign is being done by the the President’ campaign team or overzealous supporters.