Bode George worked for Tinubu – PDP Chief

                                                                                        Chief Bode George

A Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Babatunde Gbadamosi, has accused the leader of the party, Chief Bode George, of colluding with the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to ensure PDP’s defeat in Lagos.

He, therefore, called on George to resign immediately.

However, in a swift reaction, George described Gbadamosi as an irresponsible man who may be suffering from a mental problem.

Gbadamosi, who came fourth at the PDP governorship primary last year, said the party would have performed better at the poll if the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro, was given the ticket.

Patience Jonathan to quit as African First Ladies President

                                                                                   Mrs. Patience Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan’s loss in the March 28 presidential election has started taking its toll on his wife, Patience.

Arrangements had been concluded for her to quit her position as the President of the African Ladies Peace Mission, two months before the expiration of her tenure.

The mission comprises of wives of Presidents of all African countries.

Mrs. Jonathan was elected the mission’s President at its seventh summit held in Abuja in July 2012 and her tenure would have expired in July 2015 when a new president would have been elected.

But because she will cease to be Nigeria’s President’s wife from May 29 when her husband will hand over power to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari , Mrs. Jonathan had summoned an emergency summit of the mission for May 15 for the purpose of electing her successor.

NNPC has started refunding unremitted $1.48bn –Alison-Madueke

                                              Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke

The Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Wednesday disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has started refunding the $1.48bn unremitted fund into the Federation Account as recommended by an audit firm, PriceWaterHouse Coopers.

She however did not disclose how much has for far been refunded by the corporation.

She also denied reports that she was seeking the assistance of some highly-placed persons in order to escape prosecution for alleged corruption from the incoming administration of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

Alison-Madueke spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the weekly meeting of Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Reduce charges on bank deposits, LCCI urges CBN

                                      President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to reduce charges on bank deposits, especially the 0.5 per cent fee payable to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation and another 0.5 per cent to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria.

The LCCI, in its first quarter review released on Wednesday, said the additional costs were invariably passed on to investors in form of high cost of fund.

The President, LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, noted that the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee, at the end of its meeting last month, decided to sustain the tight monetary policy regime, as it retained the Monetary Policy Rate at 13 per cent, Cash Reserve Ratio on private sector deposits at 20 per cent, CRR on public sector deposits at 75 per cent and liquidity ratio at 30 per cent.

FG summons S’African High Commissioner over attacks

                                                     South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni

The Federal Government on Wednesday summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria,   Lulu Louis-Mnguni, over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other black Africans.

The government also demanded compensation from the South African authorities for the Nigerian victims of the violence by black South Africans.

A statement   from the Public Communications Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Louis-Mnguni met in Abuja on Wednesday with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,   Musiliu Obanikoro.

The statement explained that during the meeting, Obanikoro expressed Nigeria’s concern over the fate of its and other nationals in South Africa.

He underscored the fact that since South Africa was a major player on the continent, it should   make its nationals to live in peace with citizens of other countries.