News

Jonathan, Lamido Trade Words, Denies Selling Out Bayelsa To APC

Published

6 years ago

November 26, 2019

Editor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has said he did not trade off Bayelsa State to the All Progressives Congress, as alleged by a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, describing the allegation as “incorrect and a blackmail.”

Lamido had accused the former president of trading off the state to the APC in the just concluded gobernosrhip election in the state.

Jonathan who spoke through a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, said it was not only in Bayelsa State that the country had experienced such a situation where Peoples Democratic Party or even the All Progressives Congress had lost elections to another party.

He stated that it was true that Jonathan, who is a former deputy governor and governor of Bayelsa States, as well as former Vice President and President of Nigeria, was loved and respected by his people.

Eze noted that holding Jonathan responsible for the PDP’s loss in Bayelsa without first investigating the issues that determined the fate suffered by the party in the state was not only disingenuous , but also detrimental to the image and aspirations of the party .

Accroding to him, it will be tantamount to playing God for anybody to expect that the former President should command a vice- like grip on every Bayelsan in all the local government areas in his state .

“ Jonathan would want to counsel Lamido and others in his shoes to look at their national passports . They would see that their citizenship is Nigeria . We are first Nigerians before we are members of any political party or social organisation . If Lamido does not know that , then it is a pity .

“We chose to make this clarification just to set the record straight, especially as a number of the former President ’ s close associates have been asking questions about the blatant statement credited to Lamido .

“Where was Lamido when Jonathan campaigned vigorously and helped the PDP to win Bayelsa governorship election in 2015 , under the same President Buhari?”, Eze questioned.

Eze disclosed that it was untrue that Jonathan traded off Bayelsa so that he would not be implicated in the Malabu oil scam.

He said Lamido probably knows very little about the Malabu case, saying he (Lamido) ought to have commented since he knows no much about it.

He explained that the Malabu oil block was not given out by Jonathan, adding “it was a deal that was sealed during the time of late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.”

“Jonathan is convinced that Lamido ’ s intervention in this matter was deliberately designed as a form of blackmail . Having tried many other ways to discredit the former President to no avail Lamido is now scheming to project Malabo as Jonathan ’ s Achilles heel. Here again he has failed because the true story of Malabo is already very well known to Nigerians .

Eze said that Jonathan is innocent of the Malabu scam.

He added , “ We call on anyone , including Lamido , who has any shred of evidence linking former President Jonathan to any wrongdoing in the case of the Malabu incident to waste no time in publishing such evidence or forever remain silent .

He said Jonathan did not ask for or collect any bribes over the Malabu deal , neither had he been charged for asking or collecting bribes , neither will he ever be charged with asking for or collecting bribes , because such never happened .

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

7 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

29 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.