President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said he did not defy the Federal Government’s postponement of the resumption of primary and secondary schools from January 10 to January 30.
He was reacting to reports that his children had been attending classes at the American International School, Abuja, in defiance of government’s directive. Government had shifted the resumption of schools on the grounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission would use some public schools for the voter registration.
Goodluck Jonathan
The news of Jonathan’s alleged defiance of the directive caused an uproar, with many parents and school proprietors asking why government failed to shut the AIS.
However, the President in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Ima Niboro, titled, ‘President Jonathan’s children not in school,’ reads, “This is to correct reports in the media that President Goodluck Jonathan’s children are currently attending school in disregard of the request by the Federal Ministry of Education and INEC that primary and secondary schools in the country should remain closed.
“This is false. The truth is that the President’s children have not resumed school this year in compliance with the Federal Ministry of Education’s directive. This fact can be easily verified.
“President Jonathan is fully conscious of his duty and obligation to give exemplary leadership to the nation and he will always live up to this great responsibility.”INEC allays fears over voter registration
Meanwhile, INEC on Wednesday said it was addressing problems arising from the ongoing voter registration.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, who spoke with THE PUNCH in Abuja, said, “Measures will translate to concrete solutions progressively. Machines are being deployed in places there is none.
“There a few places, where there are no machines. In a matter of days, machines will get to all those places. Every Nigerian that comes for the registration will be registered.”
He said that as at Monday, the commission had deployed 110,000 Direct Data Capture machines in different registration centres across the country. Idowu explained that more machines were being sent to various registration centres on a daily basis.
But investigations by our correspondents showed that the same problems were still being noticed in the exercise, five days after its commencement nationwide. In Oluyole Local Government of Oyo State, only three out of the 10 wards in the area had received DDC machines.
The council’s Chairman, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, urged INEC officials and corps members recruited for the exercise to continue working together to ensure the deployment of the machines in all the wards. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Enugu State, Mr. Josiah Uwazuruonye, said his office had received 2,663 DDC machines, assuring that they would be adequate for the state.
In spite of Uwazuruonye’s assurances, some residents of the state could not register due to the malfunction of the machines. In Niger State, our correspondent gathered that there was a crisis in Madala area of Suleja, where reports indicated that all the machines sent to the area were burnt.
Ndike Amagu Ikwo community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was on Wednesday attacked by unknown gunmen, leaving four youths with wounds and another missing.
Witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria that an armed group attacked the community while attempting to seize the DDC machines meant for the area. Three victims of the attack are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki for gunshot wounds.
One of them, Alobu Benedict, is said to be in critical condition while the others are Uche Nwajo and Clement Igboji. An unnamed member of the community was said to have ordered the attack.
The spokesman of the Ebonyi State Police Command, Mr. John Eluu, confirmed the incident, adding that the police were still investigating the matter. He added that three persons had been arrested in connection with the attack.
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Posted: at 20-01-2011 07:51 AM (14 years ago) | Addicted Hero
So which version of the story should we believe now? At the first report, a staff from the school said yes, "two Goodluck's children are in the school" and Goodluck himself said no, his children are not in school. Which one do we believe?
Posted: at 20-01-2011 02:19 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
organizer at 20-01-2011 03:28 PM (14 years ago) (m)
Why are we disturbing this guys life , he is our leader , we should allow him to do his job , until now he is still the best . presidooo, i wish u the best , i want u to put shame on their faces by doing what we want , and am sure u know all of them there is no need mentioning them, peace be wt u , baba God is ur security director, so no shaking.
Quote from: E_piano on 20-01-2011 01:20 PM
how r we sure this is tru? i mean d skul can easilysay watevr dey r told by d president.
Posted: at 20-01-2011 03:28 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
ChayilFountain at 20-01-2011 03:37 PM (14 years ago) (m)
If I read correctly, the article stated that the President's two kids are Pupils/Students of AIS but did not emphatically state that they were attending classes during this period. unverifiable assertions comes only from myopic minds. Let us focus on Pushing the country Forward on a positive note!
Posted: at 20-01-2011 03:37 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
Well even if his children were in school, I'm sure that with this uproar, he will quilkly withdraw them to douse the tension. But I believe his story sha.
Posted: at 20-01-2011 04:14 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming
interpo77 at 20-01-2011 09:20 PM (14 years ago) (m)
i think here we have to accept what the president has said, remember many media re out there to paint white to black in the name of maken ppl to feel bad about the president,so i believe in his word atleast thats it an example as good leader
Posted: at 20-01-2011 09:20 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
popo2009 at 20-01-2011 09:24 PM (14 years ago) (m)
How can only the President's children be attending a whole school. If they arre attending some private lessons, thats fine but to say they are attending the whole alone....doesnt sound true
Posted: at 20-01-2011 09:24 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
How can only the President's children be attending a whole school. If they arre attending some private lessons, thats fine but to say they are attending the whole alone....doesnt sound true
correct
Posted: at 20-01-2011 10:17 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
opebello at 20-01-2011 11:38 PM (14 years ago) (m)
if his children are not in skull is up 2 him, maybe they are not in nigeria so y are boadering our mind on dat issue.he might have private teacher 4 theem.lets kip moving and stop this blabbing
Posted: at 20-01-2011 11:38 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
Nigerians like to vex for wetin no matter. If our presido pikins them dey school self wetin be your own. Make we all join hand together to help our presido GEJ to build this country. Make we no use our own hand put pressure for him body.
Posted: at 21-01-2011 12:09 AM (14 years ago) | Upcoming
kingsinho at 21-01-2011 09:07 AM (14 years ago) (m)
the president said his children are not in school on his facebook page so i wonder why we bothering our head over nothing atleast his children are attending school in Nigeria whereas other people's children would hv bn schooling in abroad give the guy a break plz..
Posted: at 21-01-2011 09:07 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie
JESUSISKING at 21-01-2011 09:32 AM (14 years ago) (m)
Quote from: kingsinho on 21-01-2011 09:07 AM
the president said his children are not in school on his facebook page so i wonder why we bothering our head over nothing atleast his children are attending school in Nigeria whereas other people's children would hv bn schooling in abroad give the guy a break plz..
You note I never respond to any thing pertain to President ensue all these days. Am only trying not to say any thing That will make press people take my word, have told them (sun news) that I never a politician. But please learn from what this person I quote, it's rear to see children of his personality around even where there is bomb blast around they would have sent their children abroad even if they did not do so before. Na government moni dem go thy say, no bi so.
Posted: at 21-01-2011 09:32 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie
otagermo at 21-01-2011 10:23 AM (14 years ago) (m)
Quote from: interpo77 on 20-01-2011 09:20 PM
i think here we have to accept what the president has said, remember many media re out there to paint white to black in the name of maken ppl to feel bad about the president,so i believe in his word atleast thats it an example as good leader
i hail you bros for your comment.
Posted: at 21-01-2011 10:23 AM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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