Tambuwal under pressure to sack APC principal officers

Tambuwal under pressure to sack APC principal officers

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, has come under pressure to reconstitute some of the standing committees of the House.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt the pressure was a fallout of Monday’s judgment by an Abuja Federal High Court, which declared the defection of 37 former Peoples Democratic Party members of the House to the rival All Progressives Congress as unconstitutional.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, among others, also advised the lawmakers to resign from the House and stop any further participation in the activities of the House, including sponsoring motions.

The court also barred the 37 from seeking to effect a change in the leadership of the House.

The judgement, tagged “controversial and strange” by the APC caucus, has already been appealed by the affected legislators.

But, findings showed that, the PDP caucus in the House has insisted that the lawmakers “must suffer” for their action of “attempting to disgrace the PDP.”

Some of the 37 are chairmen of key committees in the House. Among them are Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Mr. Dakuku Peterside; Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed; Chairman, Committee on Justice, Mr. Ali Ahmad; Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Mr. Aminu Shagari; and Chairman, Committee on Public Service Matters, Mr. Andrew Uchendu.

On Wednesday, Tambuwal’s quick intervention had dissuaded the PDP caucus from asking the 37 to stay out of the chambers.

A source conversant with the development confided in SUNDAY PUNCH thus, “You will recall that the Speaker hurriedly called an executive session to defuse tension between the two sides.

“The House leadership preached peace and harmony at the closed-door meeting; but apparently, the PDP members are not satisfied.

“One of the demands now is that they want the Speaker to reconstitute some of the committees.

“The thinking is that you cannot be an opposition member and want to hold on to our committees.

“They consider some of these committees as committees that should ordinarily be chaired by the majority party.”

Investigations showed the caucus was specific about the House spokesman, whom the group accused of not taking a neutral position when speaking lately on House matters because he was considered an “interested party.”

It was learnt that after the peace meeting of Wednesday, the PDP caucus held another meeting where members allegedly resolved to ensure that the party assumed “firm control of the House.”

When contacted for comments, the Deputy House Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, tried to parry the matter, but told SUNDAY PUNCH that there was no meeting where the “issue of reconstituting committees was discussed in detail.”

Ogor stated that decisions on who heads a committee were the prerogative of the speaker.

“These are not decisions taken based on political party lines, though it is the Speaker that has the power to appoint committee chairmen”, he added.

He claimed to be unaware that the caucus was mounting pressure on Tambuwal to alter the headship of some committees.

One senior member, who did not want to be named, told SUNDAY PUNCH the caucus had resolved they would no longer work with “certain committee chairmen.”

Tambuwal under pressure to sack APC principal officers

Tambuwal under pressure to sack APC principal officers

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, has come under pressure to reconstitute some of the standing committees of the House.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt the pressure was a fallout of Monday’s judgment by an Abuja Federal High Court, which declared the defection of 37 former Peoples Democratic Party members of the House to the rival All Progressives Congress as unconstitutional.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, among others, also advised the lawmakers to resign from the House and stop any further participation in the activities of the House, including sponsoring motions.

The court also barred the 37 from seeking to effect a change in the leadership of the House.

The judgement, tagged “controversial and strange” by the APC caucus, has already been appealed by the affected legislators.

But, findings showed that, the PDP caucus in the House has insisted that the lawmakers “must suffer” for their action of “attempting to disgrace the PDP.”

Some of the 37 are chairmen of key committees in the House. Among them are Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Mr. Dakuku Peterside; Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed; Chairman, Committee on Justice, Mr. Ali Ahmad; Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Mr. Aminu Shagari; and Chairman, Committee on Public Service Matters, Mr. Andrew Uchendu.

On Wednesday, Tambuwal’s quick intervention had dissuaded the PDP caucus from asking the 37 to stay out of the chambers.

A source conversant with the development confided in SUNDAY PUNCH thus, “You will recall that the Speaker hurriedly called an executive session to defuse tension between the two sides.

“The House leadership preached peace and harmony at the closed-door meeting; but apparently, the PDP members are not satisfied.

“One of the demands now is that they want the Speaker to reconstitute some of the committees.

“The thinking is that you cannot be an opposition member and want to hold on to our committees.

“They consider some of these committees as committees that should ordinarily be chaired by the majority party.”

Investigations showed the caucus was specific about the House spokesman, whom the group accused of not taking a neutral position when speaking lately on House matters because he was considered an “interested party.”

It was learnt that after the peace meeting of Wednesday, the PDP caucus held another meeting where members allegedly resolved to ensure that the party assumed “firm control of the House.”

When contacted for comments, the Deputy House Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, tried to parry the matter, but told SUNDAY PUNCH that there was no meeting where the “issue of reconstituting committees was discussed in detail.”

Ogor stated that decisions on who heads a committee were the prerogative of the speaker.

“These are not decisions taken based on political party lines, though it is the Speaker that has the power to appoint committee chairmen”, he added.

He claimed to be unaware that the caucus was mounting pressure on Tambuwal to alter the headship of some committees.

One senior member, who did not want to be named, told SUNDAY PUNCH the caucus had resolved they would no longer work with “certain committee chairmen.”

Designer, Lisa Folawiyo celebrates 12th wedding anniversary

Designer, Lisa Folawiyo celebrates 12th wedding anniversary

Lisa Folawiyo, the Creative Designer of Jewel by Lisa celebrated her 12th wedding anniversary today April 6th. Congrats to her and her husband...

Designer, Lisa Folawiyo celebrates 12th wedding anniversary

Designer, Lisa Folawiyo celebrates 12th wedding anniversary

Lisa Folawiyo, the Creative Designer of Jewel by Lisa celebrated her 12th wedding anniversary today April 6th. Congrats to her and her husband...

Nigerian Hollywood actor, Gbenga Akinnagbe shares hot photos

Nigerian Hollywood actor, Gbenga Akinnagbe shares hot photos

Gbenga Akinnagbe is a Nigerian Hollywood actor who has featured in films like Wire, Barbershop: The series where he played Yinka, Nurse Jackie, Edge of Darkness, The Savage, and plenty more. He is currently on the series, Graceland, where he plays a drug-lord. He is a cousin to rapper, Wale.

He shared some pics on his instagram page. Hotness! See, even the horses can't take their eyes off him. Hehe. Another pic when you continue...

Nigerian Hollywood actor, Gbenga Akinnagbe shares hot photos

Nigerian Hollywood actor, Gbenga Akinnagbe shares hot photos

Gbenga Akinnagbe is a Nigerian Hollywood actor who has featured in films like Wire, Barbershop: The series where he played Yinka, Nurse Jackie, Edge of Darkness, The Savage, and plenty more. He is currently on the series, Graceland, where he plays a drug-lord. He is a cousin to rapper, Wale.

He shared some pics on his instagram page. Hotness! See, even the horses can't take their eyes off him. Hehe. Another pic when you continue...

EPL: How Man City Thrash Southampton To Maintain Title Charge

Manchester City maintained their dreams of winning the English Premier League title this season with a 4-1 win at home to Southampton in Saturday’s early kick-of match.
Today's victory saw City close to within a point of Liverpool with a game in hand and leapfrog Chelsea into second place.
But Chelsea, who’ve also played one game more than City, will go a point clear at the top if they beat Stoke at Stamford Bridge later today while Liverpool are away to West Ham on Sunday.
The opening four goals at Eastlands all came in the first half with City’s Yaya Toure and Saints’ Rickie Lambert both scoring from the penalty spot before Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko scored in stoppage-time to make it 3-1 to Manuel Pellegrini’s men. City substitute Stevan Jovetic completed the scoring nine minutes from time.

 * City coach, Manuel Pellegrini on the verge of leading his team to EPL title in his first year in charge
Toure gave City a third minute lead from the penalty spot after Jose Fonte brought down Dzeko.
Southampton then suffered a major injury blow when England striker Jay Rodriguez landed badly after jumping to control the ball and clutched his knee in agony before being carried off on a stretcher.
Rodriguez’s injury placed a huge question mark over whether he would be fit in time to be included in Hodgson’s squad for this year’s World Cup finals in Brazil, which starts in June.
Despite losing Rodriguez, Southampton equalised when they too scored a penalty, in the 37th minute. Lambert, another of the south coast side’s England forwards, struck from the spot after Jack Cork went down between Toure and Pablo Zabaleta. But two City goals in first-half stoppage time put the result beyond doubt.
Nasri rounded off a neat passing move although Southampton were convinced David Silva, who played in the French midfielder, was offside when he received the ball. But referee Chris Foy let the goal stand.
Minutes later City were 3-1 ahead when Dzeko headed in an Aleksandar Kolarov cross missed by Saints goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Jovetic made it 4-1 in the 81st minute when, after both City’s Alvaro Negredo and Gazzaniga, in for the injured Artur Boruc, had missed Jesus Navas’s low cross, he tapped in from close range.
Saturday’s other matches see Manchester United, buoyed by their midweek Champions League draw with Bayern Munich, away to struggling Newcastle while bottom of the table Fulham travel to Aston Villa.

READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/63750.html

EPL: How Man City Thrash Southampton To Maintain Title Charge

Manchester City maintained their dreams of winning the English Premier League title this season with a 4-1 win at home to Southampton in Saturday’s early kick-of match.
Today's victory saw City close to within a point of Liverpool with a game in hand and leapfrog Chelsea into second place.
But Chelsea, who’ve also played one game more than City, will go a point clear at the top if they beat Stoke at Stamford Bridge later today while Liverpool are away to West Ham on Sunday.
The opening four goals at Eastlands all came in the first half with City’s Yaya Toure and Saints’ Rickie Lambert both scoring from the penalty spot before Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko scored in stoppage-time to make it 3-1 to Manuel Pellegrini’s men. City substitute Stevan Jovetic completed the scoring nine minutes from time.

 * City coach, Manuel Pellegrini on the verge of leading his team to EPL title in his first year in charge
Toure gave City a third minute lead from the penalty spot after Jose Fonte brought down Dzeko.
Southampton then suffered a major injury blow when England striker Jay Rodriguez landed badly after jumping to control the ball and clutched his knee in agony before being carried off on a stretcher.
Rodriguez’s injury placed a huge question mark over whether he would be fit in time to be included in Hodgson’s squad for this year’s World Cup finals in Brazil, which starts in June.
Despite losing Rodriguez, Southampton equalised when they too scored a penalty, in the 37th minute. Lambert, another of the south coast side’s England forwards, struck from the spot after Jack Cork went down between Toure and Pablo Zabaleta. But two City goals in first-half stoppage time put the result beyond doubt.
Nasri rounded off a neat passing move although Southampton were convinced David Silva, who played in the French midfielder, was offside when he received the ball. But referee Chris Foy let the goal stand.
Minutes later City were 3-1 ahead when Dzeko headed in an Aleksandar Kolarov cross missed by Saints goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Jovetic made it 4-1 in the 81st minute when, after both City’s Alvaro Negredo and Gazzaniga, in for the injured Artur Boruc, had missed Jesus Navas’s low cross, he tapped in from close range.
Saturday’s other matches see Manchester United, buoyed by their midweek Champions League draw with Bayern Munich, away to struggling Newcastle while bottom of the table Fulham travel to Aston Villa.

READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/63750.html

Kaffy Dancequeen shows off abs 21/2 months after giving birth

Kaffy Dancequeen shows off abs 21/2 months after giving birth

That's a lot of determination right there...

Kaffy Dancequeen shows off abs 21/2 months after giving birth

Kaffy Dancequeen shows off abs 21/2 months after giving birth

That's a lot of determination right there...

Atiku Abubakar pictured with newly married son & daughter-in-law

Atiku Abubakar pictured with newly married son & daughter-in-law

His son Abba married his American girlfriend, Mariana, in Dubai yesterday. Still looking for pics from the wedding...

Atiku Abubakar pictured with newly married son & daughter-in-law

Atiku Abubakar pictured with newly married son & daughter-in-law

His son Abba married his American girlfriend, Mariana, in Dubai yesterday. Still looking for pics from the wedding...

Dad Regrets Not Playing At The World Cup — Odegbami’s Son

Dad Regrets Not Playing At The World Cup — Odegbami’s Son

In this interview, Stephen, one of the sons of Segun Odegbami, talks about his father.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Stephen Odegbami, the fourth child of Segun Odegbami.
How was it like growing up with a famous father like Segun Odegbami?
I never mentioned that I was the son of Segun Odegbami, especially at school, because I was afraid of either being victimised or having too much attention on me. Because I was a very shy person growing up, I wasn’t really interested in the spotlight. I went to an all-boys school, CMS Grammar School, in the 90s. I remember the first day dad came to school with me. He dropped me off and that was the first time I had the first taste of that kind of attraction or spotlight of having a famous parent. Immediately my dad came in, the headmaster welcomed us specially. Students were all peeping from their classrooms and were like, ‘oh, that’s Segun Odegbami’s son.’ The moment he dropped me off, I got the attention from everyone. On the spot, I had many people who wanted to be my school father. Growing up, if I would introduce myself, I would say Stephen. I would only add ‘Odegbami’ when asked of my surname. I won’t deliberately mention it at first because of the attention it attracts.
Would you say your father’s name has opened doors for you?
Yes it did and it still does, though I am not one to take advantage of it. I don’t introduce myself as an Odegbami, except on exceptional cases, when I had to actually introduce myself. This occurred more when I was with my dad at events. His name has opened doors for his children and not just his immediate family, but others too who have benefitted from him.
Asides from being the famous footballer we all know, what kind of father is he?
He is a very caring father. He is very compassionate too. He sticks his neck out for his children and tries to make it as easy as possible for them. He makes up for whatever he lacks with care and support.
Can you recall some fond memories growing up with him?
When we were younger, he always took all of us out to fun places. He is a father who enjoys the closeness of his family and children. He likes us all to have a good relationship. He pushes for it more than anybody else.
How does he spend time with his children?
He had more time to spend with us when we were growing up. Now, we are older and we are all busy doing our own thing. But every time he gets the opportunity to spend time with us, he does. We go on outings and he has several special places, but he regularly goes to the tennis club on the mainland.
In our younger days, he took us there most of the time. Everyone at the club knew us because we always came there. I think he was probably the only one then that came to the club with his children.
Were you disappointed when he said he was retiring from football?
I wasn’t disappointed, even though I was born at the pinnacle of his career. So, I watched more of his tapes than really see him play live. I wasn’t born during the 1980 African Cup of Nations Cup, but I’ve seen footages of him play, even in the 70s.
How did you feel whenever you watched his tapes, especially when Nigeria won the 1980 African Cup of Nations in Lagos?
It’s an experience one can’t really put into words. Many people wish they are in my shoes. It gives me great joy that I have a football hero as a father, one who didn’t just pass through the corridors of football in this country but who made his mark. I feel very proud of him.
Do you know why he is nicknamed ‘Mathematical’?
Yes, I think it was because of his precision on the field of play, and his touchline dribbles. I also know he was nicknamed ‘mathematical’ by the famous radio commentator, Ernest Okonkwo, who made the name popular.
Did he influence his children’s careers?
He is a very liberal person. A lot of us are into the arts. One of my sisters is a professional make-up artist, my brother is into computer and graphics design. I am into sound engineering. He always encouraged us to do what we loved most and that we should be good at it.
Who among his children has passion for football like him?
I used to think that I could have been good at football. I don’t know if it could have been so, if not for that accident I had at a tender age. I think I might have played football. I can’t remember how old I was then, maybe six or seven. But it was just discouraging for me then, because I was in the hospital for about two months. So, I just lost interest. I know that my sisters were good at athletics and sports. I don’t know if they would have taken to football.

Dad Regrets Not Playing At The World Cup — Odegbami’s Son

Dad Regrets Not Playing At The World Cup — Odegbami’s Son

In this interview, Stephen, one of the sons of Segun Odegbami, talks about his father.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Stephen Odegbami, the fourth child of Segun Odegbami.
How was it like growing up with a famous father like Segun Odegbami?
I never mentioned that I was the son of Segun Odegbami, especially at school, because I was afraid of either being victimised or having too much attention on me. Because I was a very shy person growing up, I wasn’t really interested in the spotlight. I went to an all-boys school, CMS Grammar School, in the 90s. I remember the first day dad came to school with me. He dropped me off and that was the first time I had the first taste of that kind of attraction or spotlight of having a famous parent. Immediately my dad came in, the headmaster welcomed us specially. Students were all peeping from their classrooms and were like, ‘oh, that’s Segun Odegbami’s son.’ The moment he dropped me off, I got the attention from everyone. On the spot, I had many people who wanted to be my school father. Growing up, if I would introduce myself, I would say Stephen. I would only add ‘Odegbami’ when asked of my surname. I won’t deliberately mention it at first because of the attention it attracts.
Would you say your father’s name has opened doors for you?
Yes it did and it still does, though I am not one to take advantage of it. I don’t introduce myself as an Odegbami, except on exceptional cases, when I had to actually introduce myself. This occurred more when I was with my dad at events. His name has opened doors for his children and not just his immediate family, but others too who have benefitted from him.
Asides from being the famous footballer we all know, what kind of father is he?
He is a very caring father. He is very compassionate too. He sticks his neck out for his children and tries to make it as easy as possible for them. He makes up for whatever he lacks with care and support.
Can you recall some fond memories growing up with him?
When we were younger, he always took all of us out to fun places. He is a father who enjoys the closeness of his family and children. He likes us all to have a good relationship. He pushes for it more than anybody else.
How does he spend time with his children?
He had more time to spend with us when we were growing up. Now, we are older and we are all busy doing our own thing. But every time he gets the opportunity to spend time with us, he does. We go on outings and he has several special places, but he regularly goes to the tennis club on the mainland.
In our younger days, he took us there most of the time. Everyone at the club knew us because we always came there. I think he was probably the only one then that came to the club with his children.
Were you disappointed when he said he was retiring from football?
I wasn’t disappointed, even though I was born at the pinnacle of his career. So, I watched more of his tapes than really see him play live. I wasn’t born during the 1980 African Cup of Nations Cup, but I’ve seen footages of him play, even in the 70s.
How did you feel whenever you watched his tapes, especially when Nigeria won the 1980 African Cup of Nations in Lagos?
It’s an experience one can’t really put into words. Many people wish they are in my shoes. It gives me great joy that I have a football hero as a father, one who didn’t just pass through the corridors of football in this country but who made his mark. I feel very proud of him.
Do you know why he is nicknamed ‘Mathematical’?
Yes, I think it was because of his precision on the field of play, and his touchline dribbles. I also know he was nicknamed ‘mathematical’ by the famous radio commentator, Ernest Okonkwo, who made the name popular.
Did he influence his children’s careers?
He is a very liberal person. A lot of us are into the arts. One of my sisters is a professional make-up artist, my brother is into computer and graphics design. I am into sound engineering. He always encouraged us to do what we loved most and that we should be good at it.
Who among his children has passion for football like him?
I used to think that I could have been good at football. I don’t know if it could have been so, if not for that accident I had at a tender age. I think I might have played football. I can’t remember how old I was then, maybe six or seven. But it was just discouraging for me then, because I was in the hospital for about two months. So, I just lost interest. I know that my sisters were good at athletics and sports. I don’t know if they would have taken to football.

Nigerian man proposes to his girl on twitter, 2 years after meeting her there

Nigerian man proposes to his girl on twitter, 2 years after meeting her there

Richard Ugochukwu connected with a lady named Ihuoma on Twitter back in 2012 (couple pictured above). From chatting on Twitter, their constant conversation moved to Facebook, then BBM, then they met in real life and fell in love. Yesterday, Richard proposed to Ihuoma on the social media platform where they first met, Twitter, and shared their love story with everyone. Continue to read Richard's story of their love journey...