General News
President Goodluck Fears Buhari’s Probe, Worries Wife May Divorce Him
Outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan has said he expects himself, his ministers and aides to be probed after he leaves office on the 29th of May 2015 and insisted that he was as prepared as ever to lay down his life for the greatness of Nigeria.
He also prayed that that Dame Patience Jonathan, his wife would not also divorce him for accepting defeat in the last presidential election
Jonathan made the declaration today’s during the thanksgiving service organized in his honour, at the Church of Advent, Anglican Church, Life Camp, Abuja.
He said he believes he lost some of his political allies because of “certain decisions,” he took as regards the just concluded election.
Jonathan also said he may have been denied his re-election bid because he took hard decisions in purging the country’s electoral process among other stiff reforms.
Recalling the story of the last apartheid ruler in South Africa who was divorced by his wife for accepting to abolish minority rule in the country, the president said, rather jokingly, that he hoped his wife would not also divorce him for accepting defeat in the last presidential election
Dame Patience Jonathan, however, responded with a loud shout of “Nooooo” to a rapturous applause from the congregation.
Noting that more of his friend will desert him, Jonathan said, “I believe there are reasons for everything. Some hard decisions have their own cost, no doubt about that. That I have run the government this way that stabilised certain things – the electoral process and other things that brought stability into this country, they were very costly decisions which I myself must be ready to pay for.
“Some people have come to me and said this or that person, is he not your friend that benefitted? Is it not your government that this person benefitted from? But this is what the person is saying. But I say worse statements will come. If you take certain decisions, you should know that those close to you will even abandon you at some point. And I tell them that more of my so-called friends will disappear.
“When FW De Clerk took the decision to abolish minority rule in South Africa, even his wife divorced him. I hope my wife will not divorce me. But that is the only decision that has made South Africa to remain a global player by this time. If we still had that minority rule there, by this time nobody will be talking about South Africa now.
He told his cabinet members to be ready to face persecution and hard times after May 29.
He said, “If you take certain decisions, it might be good for the generality of the people but it might affect some people differently. So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathize with them; they will be persecuted, and they must be ready for that persecution.
“To my ministers, I wish you what I wish myself. You will have hard times; we will all have hard times; our ways will be rough.”
The outgoing president urged the church and other religious groups to pray for the success of the incoming administration, adding that what matters is not the person in charge of government but the dividends of democracy that come from his regime.
He said, “We are happy the ordinary people appreciate what we did, and that is most important. It’s not what the elite or the privileged few talk or say about you but what the majority of the Nigerian public think about your actions and inactions that matter. We came to Abuja peacefully and we are returning peacefully.
“I thank the church and Nigerians because they stood by us at our most difficult times. Even for the election, we had people who supported us all over the country but things went the way they did because God wanted it that way for a purpose.
“We will continue to pray for the peace of the country and for the success of the incoming administration. When the country is in good shape, people benefit. When things are going well, people are happy. You don’t need to know Mr President or Mr Governor. The issue is not about Jonathan or Buhari or any other person. The issue is how the government functions.
“Stability, buoyant economy that will enable Nigeria to move forward and live happily is all I am interested in. That is our interest; that is my prayer point,” Jonathan said
Jonathan reiterated that the country had given him a lot right from his primary school days to the present moment when he is bowing out of the highest office in the nation, saying he is a “very happy and fulfilled man”.
“When I look at the whole picture of my life up to when I became the president of this country, and I say that if soldiers and police officers that have not received 0. 5 per cent of the benefits that I have received from the state can lay down their lives for this country, I should do anything in the interest of Nigeria, including paying the supreme price.
“As long as live, I will continue to do my best for the state because the state has helped me as a person,” he said.
General News
NIS Announces Maintenance on Passport Portal
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced an ongoing upgrade and maintenance of its passport portal for applicants within Nigeria.
In a public notice shared on Sunday via its official ‘X’ page, the NIS reassured Nigerians that other services, including passport applications for citizens abroad, remain fully operational during the maintenance period.
The service stated that its team is “working tirelessly” to complete the upgrade and restore full functionality within 72 hours.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and deeply appreciate your patience and understanding,” the notice read. It emphasized that the upgrade is part of efforts to enhance service delivery.
Reaffirming its commitment to excellence, the NIS pledged to provide efficient services to Nigerians at home and abroad.
General News
FBNQuest Asset Management Awarded Agusto & Co’s “A+” Rating
FBNQuest Asset Management, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc., has been awarded an A+ rating by Agusto & Co. Limited. This rating reflects the firm’s stable outlook, robust risk management, and strong investment capabilities, highlighting its impressive operational performance and outstanding business profile.
It emphasizes FBNQuest Asset Management’s ongoing commitment to providing exceptional investment services to its clients.
The rating was issued in a recent report by Agusto & Co., a leading rating agency in Nigeria. This recognition underscores the company’s strong operational record, excellent corporate governance, and professional management of fund assets.
The organisation’s impressive performance demonstrates its unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional value to clients through a variety of products and services tailored to meet their investment needs.
Ike Onyia, the Managing Director of FBNQuest Asset Management, expressed his satisfaction with the rating, stating, “We are truly delighted to receive the A+ rating from Agusto & Co. This recognition is a testament to our strong expertise in investment portfolio management and the achievements we have realised over the years.
“We take pride in this positive acknowledgement, which stems from our well-thought-out business strategies and the exceptional performance of our skilled workforce, cementing our position in the hearts of our stakeholders.”
FBNQuest Asset Management was also recognised as the Best Asset Manager at the 2024 EMEA African Banker Awards. The organisation continues to maintain a consistently strong position in the investment services subsector in Nigeria, leveraging its rich pedigree in intellectual capital, strong research capabilities, and cutting-edge technology to provide clients with value-adding insights, advice, and service.
“Our mutual funds offer diverse investment options that enable the creation of unique and value-enhancing investment strategies for different client segments.
Additionally, our range of mutual funds encompasses various asset classes, including equities, bonds, and money market instruments,” he added.
Agusto & Co. is a Pan-African leader in credit ratings and credit reports, having assigned over 1,500 ratings across various sectors. Their ratings are globally recognised, with a broad client base relying on them as benchmarks to gauge business success.
General News
TikTok Resumes Services in the US After Trump Promises Executive Order
TikTok has resumed services to its 170 million users in the US after President-elect Donald Trump said he would issue an executive order to give the app a reprieve when he takes office today, January 20.
On Saturday evening, January 18, the Chinese-owned app stopped working for American users, after a law banning it on national security grounds came into effect.
Trump, who had previously backed a ban on the platform, promised on Sunday to delay the implementation of the law and allow more time for a deal to be made. TikTok then said that it was in the process of “restoring service”.
Soon after, the app started working again and a popup message to its millions of users thanked Trump by name.
In a statement, the company thanked the incoming president for “providing the necessary clarity and assurance” and said it would work with Trump “on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States”.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration today.
Posting on Truth Social, a social media platform he owns, Trump said on Sunday: “I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.”
TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance, previously ignored a law requiring it to sell its US operations to avoid a ban. The law was upheld by Supreme Court on Friday and went into effect on Sunday.
It is unclear what legal authority Trump will have to delay the implementation of a law that is already in effect. But it expected that his government will not enforce the ban if he issues an executive order.
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