Tukur’s new job, Gov. Amosun’s open letter and other important news you should know today

by Oke Efagene

– Court stops Tambuwal from changing house leadership

Aminu-Waziri-Tambuwal-3-500x294

A court sitting in Abuja yesterday issued an order restraining stakeholders in the House of Representatives from changing the leadership of the house.

The Federal High issued the injunction to stop any attempt to change the house leadership to reflect the majority status of the All Progressives Congress.

The suit was brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the court has ordered the parties maintain status quo until the hearing of the case.

The Sun reports:

The defence counsel, Sebastine Hon (SAN), said the order does not affect those who wish to defect to other parties.

In the suit, PDP is asking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the House, its Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal; his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, and 49 others, including the 37 lawmakers that defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) from changing or altering the leadership of the House or taking steps to do so.

The House is the first defendant, while the principal officers – Tambuwal, Ihedioha, Majority Leader Mulikat Akande-Adeola, Deputy Majority Leader Leo Ogor, Chief Whip Isiaka Bawa, Deputy Chief Whip, Ahmed Mutkar, Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, Minority Whip Samsom Osagie, Deputy Minority Leader Sumaila Kawu, and Deputy Minority Whip Graba Datti – were listed as the second to 11th defendants.

Forty-two other members of the House, including those that defected from PDP to the APC, were listed as the 12th to 53rd defendants, while the Clerk of the House is the 54th defendant.

The defection of the lawmakers had reportedly given the APC a simple majority in the House, increasing its numerical strength from 135 to 172, against 171 PDP members.

The suit, was informed by fears in the PDP that the lawmakers will move to effect a leadership change in the House once the National Assembly resumes from recess.

The Federal legislature was initially slated to resume last Monday before the resumption was postponed.

To ensure that the status quo was maintained in the House, PDP is asking the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the lawmakers, “their agents, servants, privies, or through any person or persons, however, from taking any step or further steps, sitting, starting or doing anything to alter, remove or change the leadership of the House of Representatives.”

The PDP through its counsel, Yunus Usman (SAN), is asking the court to determine whether, in view of the provision of section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, and the pending suit with No. FHC/ABJ/CS/621/2013, the defected lawmakers can validly function as members of the House and thereby contribute to, or vote on any motion or debate for the removal of any of the principal officers of the House; and whether the concerned lawmakers can alter the composition of the House leadership.

– Open letter: Governor Amosun writes Ogun APC senators

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun

The Governor of Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun, has written to senators from the state as his way of addressing the crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The state chapter of the party has been in disarray and Governor Amosun’s letter was addressed to Senator Gbenga Obadara and other federal lawmakers representing the state as a means of warning them to stop fomenting trouble within the party.

The governor’s letter was titled “Pulling Down the House to Protect a Corner: A Note of Caution” and was dated January 18.

The Sun reports:

The governor described the recent political crisis in the State
as a premeditated attempt by members of the National Assembly elected on the platform of the State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cause tension in the State.

Amosun, who made this assertion in a letter titled, “Pulling Down the House to Protect a Corner: A Note of Caution”, dated 18 January, 2014 and personally signed by him and sent to Senator Gbenga Obadara, representing the Ogun Central Senatorial District, however advised them to desist from their plot as it is an ill-wind that blows no one any good.

According to the governor, “In the last few months, I have received security reports and information from credible sources, including party faithful, leaders, mutual friends and utterances directly emanating from your group, indicating that you and your colleagues were planning to precipitate a crisis in our party in pursuit of your personal agenda.”

Amosun said, he initially dismissed the reports, but said the “unfortunate events of the last few weeks, with their intensity and frequency, have lent credence to them.

Governor Amosun explained his efforts since assumed office to work in a harmonious way with the Federal lawmakers for the progress and unity of the State, the move that, according to the governor, have been rebuffed by the lawmakers.

While giving assurance that he remains resolute to building bridges within the party and even beyond, Amosun said, “this is far from being a sign of weakness, this is demonstration of our commitment to general peace and security in the State.

“While I will continue to make overtures for peace and pursue initiatives to forge party unity and harmony, I will not abdicate my responsibilities as Chief Security Officer of the State”, he stressed.

Pres. Jonathan appoints Bamanga Tukur as Chairman of Nigeria Railway Corporation Board

by Oke Efagene

bamanga_tukur

Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur, has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tukur, resigned his position as the PDP National Chairman last week, and has since been replaced with former Bauchi State governor, Adamu Mu’azu.

Tukur’s appointment as Railway Corporation Chairman was announced in a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sam Nwaobasi.

According to Premium Times report:

 

The position of NRC chairman was formerly held by Kawu Baraje, the former factional chairman of the PDP who has since led his faction to fuse into the All Progressives Congress. Mr. Baraje resigned in the height of the PDP crisis in late 2013.

Mr. Jonathan, according to the statement, has also approved the appointment of Ghaji Ismaila Bello as Director-General of the National Population Commission with effect from January 8, 2014.

According to its enabling law, the Nigeria Railway Corporation is charged with facilitating effective “carriage of passengers and goods in a manner that will offer full value for money; meet cost of operation; improve market share and quality of services; ensure safety of operations and maximum efficiency; meet social responsibility in a manner that will meet the requirements of rail users, trade, commerce, industry and general public”.

President Jonathan had after announcing Mr. Tukur’s resignation as PDP chairman at the National Executive Committee meeting of the party, on January 16, hinted that he would reward the former party chief with another appointment.

“He (Mr. Tukur) is not guilty of any offence and I am going to give him an assignment that is tougher than PDP chairman,” the president said at that event.

President Jonathan is currently away in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.

 

chiwetel

The nomination list for the 86th Annual Academy Awards is out and we are super excited about some newbies who made the list, like our very own British-Nigerian actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor.

The star is being nominated for his outstanding performance in the movie, 12 Years a Slave, which also featured Kenyan actress, Lupita Nyong’o.

Nyong’o has also been nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Julia Roberts. The awards ceremony which will take place on Sunday, March 2014, will be hosted by TV show host, Ellen DeGeneres.

Below is the full list of all the nominees for the various categories:

Best Picture

American Hustle (Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison, and Jonathan Gordon, Producers)
Captain Phillips (Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, Producers)
Dallas Buyers Club (Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter, Producers)
Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman, Producers)
Her (Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze and Vincent Landay, Producers)
Nebraska (Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, Producers)
Philomena (Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan and Tracey Seaward, Producers)
12 Years a Slave (Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen and Anthony Katagas, Producers)
The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Christian Bale – American Hustle
Bruce Dern – Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Amy Adams – American Hustle
Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock – Gravity
Judi Dench – Philomena
Meryl Streep – August: Osage County

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper – American Hustle
Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill – The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts – August: Osage County
June Squibb – Nebraska

Animated Feature Film
The Croods (Chris Sanders, Kirk DeMicco and Kristine Belson)
Despicable Me 2 (Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin and Chris Meledandri)
Ernest & Celestine (Benjamin Renner and Didier Brunner)
Frozen (Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee and Peter Del Vecho)
The Wind Rises (Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki)

Cinematography
The Grandmaster – Philippe Le Sourd
Gravity – Emmanuel Lubezki
Inside Llewyn Davis – Bruno Delbonnel
Nebraska – Phedon Papamichael
Prisoners – Roger A. Deakins

Costume Design
American Hustle – Michael Wilkinson
The Grandmaster – William Chang Suk Ping
The Great Gatsby – Catherine Martin
The Invisible Woman – Michael O’Connor
12 Years a Slave – Patricia Norris

Directing 
American Hustle – David O. Russell
Gravity – Alfonso Cuarón
Nebraska – Alexander Payne
12 Years a Slave – Steve McQueen
The Wolf of Wall Street – Martin Scorsese

Documentary Feature
The Act of Killing – Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen
Cutie and the Boxer – Zachary Heinzerling and Lydia Dean Pilcher
Dirty Wars – Richard Rowley and Jeremy Scahill
The Square – Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer
20 Feet from Stardom

Documentary Short Subject
CaveDigger – Jeffrey Karoff
Facing Fear – Jason Cohen
Karama Has No Walls – Sara Ishaq
The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life – Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall – Edgar Barens

Film Editing
American Hustle – Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten
Captain Phillips – Christopher Rouse
Dallas Buyers Club – John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa
Gravity – Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger
12 Years a Slave – Joe Walker

Foreign Language Film
The Broken Circle Breakdown – Belgium
The Great Beauty – Italy
The Hunt – Denmark
The Missing Picture – Cambodia
Omar – Palestine

Make-up & Hair Styling
Dallas Buyers Club – Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – Stephen Prouty
The Lone Ranger – Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny

Music – Original Score
The Book Thief – John Williams
Gravity – Steven Price
Her – William Butler and Owen Pallett
Philomena – Alexandre Desplat
Saving Mr. Banks – Thomas Newman

Music – Original Song
“Alone Yet Not Alone” from ALONE YET NOT ALONE – Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyric by Dennis Spiegel
“Happy” from DESPICABLE ME 2 – Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams
“Let it Go” from FROZEN – Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“The Moon Song” from HER – Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze
“Ordinary Love” from MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM – Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson

Production Design
American Hustle – Judy Becker (Production Design); Heather Loeffler (Set Decoration)
Gravity – Andy Nicholson (Production Design); Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard (Set Decoration)
The Great Gatsby – Catherine Martin (Production Design); Beverley Dunn (Set Decoration)
Her – K.K. Barrett (Production Design); Gene Serdena (Set Decoration)
12 Years a Slave – Adam Stockhausen (Production Design); Alice Baker (Set Decoration)

Short Film – Animated
Feral – Daniel Sousa and Dan Golden
Get a Horse! – Lauren MacMullan and Dorothy McKim
Mr. Hublot – Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares
Possessions – Shuhei Morita
Room on the Broom – Max Lang and Jan Lachauer

Short Film – Live Action
Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me) – Esteban Crespo
Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything) – Xavier Legrand and Alexandre Gavras
Helium – Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson
Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?) – Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari
The Voorman Problem – Mark Gill and Baldwin Li

Sound Editing
All Is Lost – Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns
Captain Phillips – Oliver Tarney
Gravity – Glenn Freemantle
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – Brent Burge
Lone Survivor – Wylie Stateman

Sound Mixing
Captain Phillips – Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro
Gravity – Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson
Inside Llewyn Davis – Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland
Lone Survivor – Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow

Visual Effects
Gravity – Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds
Iron Man 3 – Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick
The Lone Ranger – Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier
Star Trek Into Darkness – Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalto

Writing – Adapted Screenplay
Before Midnight – Written by Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke
Captain Phillips – Screenplay by Billy Ray
Philomena – Screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope
12 Years a Slave – Screenplay by John Ridley
The Wolf of Wall Street – Screenplay by Terence Winter

Writing – Original Screenplay
American Hustle – Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
Blue Jasmine – Written by Woody Allen
Dallas Buyers Club – Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack
Her – Written by Spike Jonze
Nebraska – Written by Bob Nelson

 

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