68 People Reportedly Killed Near Dambua Town, Borno

A fleeing woman reported that "more than 60 people have been killed by the insurgents, they killed all our husbands and young boys," adding that all their dead bodies were left unattended.

 least 68 people have been killed in a fresh attack in the Borno village of Dambua by Boko Haram militants, a civilian JTF Leader said.

Boko Haram stormed Njaba village in Dambua Local Government area of Borno state on Monday, the militants killed 68 men, with the ages ranging from children to elderly. Boko Haram then set the entire village on fire, a fleeing villager reported. At the time of reporting it seems only men were targeted during this attack.

A fleeing woman reported that "more than 60 people have been killed by the insurgents, they killed all our husbands and young boys," adding that all their dead bodies were left unattended.

"They came to our village at about 5:30am, during early Morning Prayer, so we started hearing heavy gunfire [then] there was pandemonium everywhere and gunshots and there was confusions everywhere.  I ran into bush since then I never seen my husband and three children. [I] came back to our village in the afternoon dead bodies was scattered everywhere,”

A Dambua resident, Kurri Bulama, whose father was among the people killed, said he was the only son of his father. He also complained that military has not visit the village.

"Yes I was told that he had been killed along with more than 60 people by militants in Njaba village on Monday. But we got to know about it yesterday I am so confused I don't know what to do. They burnt many houses. Many people fled the villages into the bush," Kurri Bulama said.

"As I am speaking with you, the military has not visited the village as the their bodies was scattered at the Njaba village till now. " he repeated.

He said there was no military presence in Njaba village since last Monday, as of the filing this report.

Chibok Girls: President Jonathan’s Legacy Of Failure By Anefiok Akpan

But in the face of all these, Mr. Jonathan wants us to ignore all that; he wants us to focus on his refurbished railway projects, free fertilizers and epileptic power supply. But how can we? How can we ignore the sadness of the Chibok girls, how can we move on to the promise of their polluted fresh air? Can we even begin to imagine the trauma these girls are enduring, the hopelessness that continues to define their existence or the hollowness that has become their parents’ lives? We cannot capture this tragedy in words; or the shamelessness that characterizes the school-boy attempt of this administration to rescue these girls.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Let us pretend we are a serious people, I know this is hard for us after been constantly fed mediocrity, we have become accustomed to this national pantomime called Government, we have, over time discard our ability to critically question what has become of us as a people. But for the sake of this article, let us assume the minds our fore fathers dreamt about, the one they sacrificed theirs to gain independence for and even lay down their lives for, in the dark nights of 1967. Let us assume the ability to think- even momentarily.

Today we are faced with a simple choice, a choice with historical repercussions. Today we are faced with an offer of continuity, a continuity of the last five years; five years of President Goodluck Jonathan and 16 years of his party; the People Democratic Party, until recently, Africa’s supposedly largest party. But we must ask what has the PDP done in the last 16 years to deserve four more years? Perhaps more specifically what has Mr. Jonathan done in the last five years to deserve four more years of our trust and loyalty? First we must appreciate what leadership is, Napoleon Bonaparte said “a leader is a dealer in hope”, Are we more hopeful for the future now, or afraid of it? Are we more unified today behind Jonathan or more separated by him? More succulently, Arnold H. Glasow, the American Humorist said “one of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency”. There is a leadership emergency today- however we might look at it, that leadership void is an indictment of the sustained incompetency of the PDP years.

On April 15, 2014, more than 219 innocent girls were brutally kidnaped from their school, by a band of renegades masquerading as religious fanatics, amidst International outcry for this and the Nyanya bomb blast, the President was busy shuttling from one Oba’s birthday party in Ibadan to another get together flimsiness in Kano- 325 days later- after endless Presidential promises, blatant lies and political clumsiness, the girls are still missing- unaccounted for, the renegades are still shooting YouTube videos of their atrocities, more than 13,000 thousand lives lost, Millions displaced, the North East’s socio-economical existence grounded yet the Mr. Jonathan wants 4 more years!

It was Jesse Jackson that concluded that– “leadership cannot just go along to get along; leadership must meet the moral challenge of the day”. The moral challenge of Nigeria today is the issue of corruption, the economy and security- even more desperately, the question of the missing Chibok girls, if this was a sane society by now Mr. Jonathan should have tendered this resignation letter for his failure to account for these innocent girls. Instead we are daily inundated with sad stories of his staff attacking the public for demanding the President do what he swore an oath before the world to do as President. What is more perplexing is the lackadaisical attitude that this administration continues to handle the issues of National Security. Beside the Civil war, at no time in our history as a nation have more people been murdered, maimed or rendered homeless than under his watch as President.

The numbers are staggering, the reality overreaching yet for more than five years, the Presidency choose to play Cat and Mouse with Nigerians on the issue of Boko Haram;  one day they told us that they had murdered Shekau, next day, he is in a new video! Then they told us they had a ceasefire, then they fire the ceasefire, next the President is saying members of his cabinet are members of Boko Haram, Next it is actually the Opposition, then they said they knew where the girls were but would not attempt a rescue because it was too dangerous, next they are apprehended in South Africa in a Pentecostal Plane trying to buy arms in the Black Market! This, mind you is a Sovereign country, the largest Black Country in the Galaxy, turned into some crude puppetry. The question we must ask is- what has the PDP-years done to our reputation, that despite our countless bilateral agreements, we could not find one single country willing to sell arms to us, such that we now have to resort to sneaking across International borders to buy Black Market arms like smugglers. Is this the continuity they are taking about?

Today, Mr. Jonathan is not the President of the whole country, because there are territories that are no longer answerable to him, territories occupied by Boko Haram, not subjected to his authority as Commander-in-Chief or the laws he swore to uphold. And for the records, this is also the first time since independence that an occupying force has taken and control a part of this country.  I am forced to ask again, what did the President do for five years while Boko Haram ravages the North East?

The primary responsibility of any President is to secure the territorial integrity of his or her nation; it’s the first and most important task of any President, on this, Mr. Jonathan woefully failed. We once had an army that was reverend in Africa, laced with glorious history, envied because of her successful military campaigns but under this President, our Military, the last standing Institute we shared pride in have become a tragicomedy- gleefully abandoning responsibilities, gallantly committing mutiny and tactically maneuvering into surrendering in neighboring countries! A politicalized Military, gradually groom for electoral permutations only.

Yet this same shamble of a military, who had besieged us with countless rounds of failures and mutiny was used to circumvent an election- in the name of National Security. Strangely enough, the so called renewed effort coincided with the set period for election, an election which by all accounts showed Mr. President was trailing, an election which was announced more than a year ago, endorsed by Mr. Jonathan who yet again, injudiciously approved a Military campaign to clash with the scheduled period of the proposed election- for a problem he has been dillydally with for five years!  Mind you, we have a docile Ministry of National Planning and as usual, the President presumes us all foolish to believe the six week election extension was a mere coincidence and he would wipe out in six week, a problem he could not fix in six years. 

“Man cannot live by incompetence alone”. Charlotte Whitton, the Canadian feminist said but as a people we have been wallowing in brightly-coloured incompetency, bankrolled by a Presidency on auto Pilot, we have delegated the fight against Boko Haram to the Chadians and Cameroonians, we have subcontracted governance to various cabals, what we have today at the National Government is a conglomerate of interested proxies, from former Niger Delta Militants, Pentecostal Prophets, Oil Merchants, Political and Military conclaves etc.

But in the face of all these, Mr. Jonathan wants us to ignore all that; he wants us to focus on his refurbished railway projects, free fertilizers and epileptic power supply.  But how can we? How can we ignore the sadness of the Chibok girls, how can we move on to the promise of their polluted fresh air? Can we even begin to imagine the trauma these girls are enduring, the hopelessness that continues to define their existence or the hollowness that has become their parents’ lives? We cannot capture this tragedy in words; or the shamelessness that characterizes the school-boy attempt of this administration to rescue these girls. 

The mistake the Presidency continues to make is to assume that all who opposes this administration are members of the APC. No, we are not all APC; we are just bored and frustrated with what has become of the last 16 years, and most importantly what has become of Mr. Jonathan’s 2011 promise of Fresh Air. We cannot even begin to talk of the fertilizer-powered corruption or the economic diarrhea that has encompassed us as a people. The hopelessness his leadership propagates has finally drained us of any aspiration. It’s not surprising then that Nigerians cannot wait for the new election date; we cannot wait to tell him “Thank You Mr. President” for this genuine effort however facetious and wish him safe journey back to Otuoke.

Anefiok Akpan (c)

PDP’s Dance Of Shame In Chatham House By Ikechukwu Orji

The key issue that Buhari emphasized on In Chatham House is the fact that prosperity has not reached 99% of Nigerians. Wealth has not circulated outside the elites who constitute about 1% of the population. He expressly stated that his government will encourage free enterprise and that there will be government wholesome intervention to make sure that prosperity will spread abroad.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will never cease to amuse me. The party is trapped in a labyrinth of confusion and madness. It is difficult to work up any optimism about this party. The tale of this party is a typically dispiriting take on Nigeria political dysfunction. History is littered with all sorts of anarchy. The Cultural Revolution in Peoples Republic of China is definitely one. Another one is Julius Nyerere’s ill-faded Ujamaa program in Tanzania.  PDP is inflicted with this same kind of madness. This party has failed in every imaginable way to lift Nigeria from the quagmire of economic deprivation. The latest exhibition of madness by this self-deluded party is the manner in which the shabbily organized some Nigerians to protest at the Chatham House last week.

Public funds were wasted on some Protesters who were not even aware of why they were protesting. It took a BENTV reporter to reveal the fact that those Protesters were a rented crowd. They were hurriedly put together to embarrass General Mohammadu Buhari in London. It is interesting to note the level of paranoid exhibited by the PDP lately. It all goes to show that the game is up for the so-called largest party in Africa.  The cloud is gathering for the day of the jackal. There is no stopping Hurricane Buhari and the PDP knows it. So we are actually watching the last dance of desperation by a sinking party; a party doomed to speedy disappearance.

Buhari’s presentation at the Royal Institute for International Affairs (better known as Chatham House) was one of a kind and over the top. It was a masterpiece in every material particular.  Obi Nwakanma, a Columnist with the Vanguard Newspaper, has this to say: “He (Buhari) carried himself with a lot of dignity and there is no inkling either of physical or mental malfunctioning. At 73, the man looks quite good; lean and agile, and seems to be in ruddy good health. His speech at Chatham House was also apt, eloquent, enlightened and well delivered, and ought to put finally to shame those who continue to Fani Kayak about his High School education.” The Will Editorial also attested to the fact that Buhari demonstrated a good command of facts and addressed concerns about both his age and the insinuations that he intends to impose Sharia Law on Nigeria. “Buhari struck me as a charming and well-informed and down to earth candidate, comfortable in the role of leader. While he made a statement reassuring people that his leadership and tackling of corruption would not be witch hunt, it remains unclear whether the leap of faith he is asking Nigerians to make is achievable.”

Nigeria has no cause to worry about this slow-talking, yet irrepressibly exuberant Buhari. Nigeria will overcome corruption partly exclusively on the strength of Buhari’s personality. His off duty persona is much like his on-duty one, the same mixture of great calm and boundless energy.  His unique combination of intelligence, toughness and often startling humanity has always been a wonderful advertisement. While Buhari has a lot of accomplishments to his credit, the signature trait that he is known for is confidence. He will provide real leadership under pressure and has what it takes to tackle the corrupt political class who are among the most troglodytic and reactionary hacks. 

The key issue that Buhari emphasized on In Chatham House is the fact that prosperity has not reached 99% of Nigerians. Wealth has not circulated outside the elites who constitute about 1% of the population. He expressly stated that his government will encourage free enterprise and that there will be government wholesome intervention to make sure that prosperity will spread abroad. The General said that in reforming the economy, “we will use savings that arise from blocking these leakages and proceeds recovered from corruption to fund APC social investments programs in education, health, and safety nets such as free school meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed youth and pension for the elderly.”

 

By Ikechukwu Orji

Jonathan’s Dollar Bribe: Arewa Community Split As Bafarawa, Uduaghan’s Aide Are Accused Of Stealing Millions

In a related development, members of the Arewa community in Delta State accused Auwalu Tukur, a special assistant to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on non-indigenes, of pocketing N12 million allegedly given to the group by the state governor to win their endorsement of President Jonathan’s re-election bid.

Members of the southern Arewa community in southern Nigeria are in a fighting mood, alleging that former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and an aide to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta ran off with some of the funds President Goodluck Jonathan reportedly gave to them last week to secure their endorsement.

Some figures within the community insist that Mr. Bafarawa, who is the chairman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence in Southern Nigeria, must return the cash he reportedly skimmed off from millions of naira that Mr. Jonathan had given to them during the president’s two-day visit to Delta State last week.

Disaffected members of the group told a correspondent of SaharaReporters that Mr. Jonathan had used the occasion of his visit to Delta to distribute cash to the Arewa community in southern Nigeria as well as members of other ethnic groups in the state.

A prominent member of the Arewa community told SaharaReporters that Mr. Bafarawa duped them by running off with a substantial part of the dollar funds from the president.

According to the source, the funds from the president were meant to win the votes of northern residents of Delta State. “The entire members of the Arewa community in the southern Nigeria are supposed to come out and endorse Mr. President which we did after receiving the money,” said the source. He added: “But surprisingly, Mr. President gave each Arewa community from southern Nigeria N10 million through the chairman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence in Southern Nigeria, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. The money was given in dollars but instead of releasing the full money the way it was given, Bafarawa cut away N4 million and gave out only N6 million to each of the Arewa community across the 17 states of southern Nigeria.”

Another furious member said he expected Mr. Bafarawa to deny pilfering their funds. “If he denies taking our money, can he also deny that money was given to the Arewa community by President Goodluck Jonathan when he visited Asaba, the Delta state capital on Friday, February 27th 2015 and that the president and his vice were endorsed on Saturday, February, 28th at the Cenotaph, Asaba, Delta State capital?”

He added: “We are using this opportunity to tell Bafarawa to bring for us our balance of N4 million he took from the N10 million given us by Mr. President.”

Members of the Arewa community were bused into Asaba from across 17 states in order to endorse Mr. Jonathan.

In a related development, members of the Arewa community in Delta State accused Auwalu Tukur, a special assistant to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on non-indigenes, of pocketing N12 million allegedly given to the group by the state governor to win their endorsement of President Jonathan’s re-election bid.

Last year, members of the Arewa community in Delta State had urged Mr. Uduaghan to fire Mr. Tukur whom they accused of corrupt practices, greed and self-centeredness.

An aggrieved member of the Arewa community claimed that Mr. Tukur always sought to grab anything meant for the larger group, adding that he hardly ever gives anything to the Arewa community.

“We are warning Alhaji Tukur to bring the N12million Governor Uduaghan gave us through him to support President Jonathan. Shortly after the event that day, some of our Muslim brothers from Warri attacked Tukur to get the N12 million, but he was rescued by one of the police area commanders at the cenotaph,” the source asserted. 

Mr. Tukur did not answer calls to his mobile line. When a correspondent sent him a text message, he responded, “Please they should leave me alone. Are they not tired of spreading lies? What we did is our [belief] in PDP and the leadership of our great country Nigeria headed by President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Suspected Internet Scammer In EFCC Net For £54,000 Romance Scam

EFCC Press Release: Suspected Internet Scammer In EFCC Net For £54,000 Romance Scam

In the course of their relationship, ‘Jackson’ at various times collected money to the tune of £54,000 from Oakes, to enable him travel to the UK to meet her.

EFCC Logo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a suspected fraudster, Obiechina Chikeluba for allegedly swindling Kieran Oakes, a UK citizen, the sum of £54,000 (equivalent of N20m) in love scam.

Chikeluba, a 21-year-old student of Federal Science and Technical College Yaba, Lagos, met the victim on Facebook  sometime in 2013. The suspect, using the assumed profile of an American, Lisa Jackson, entered into a relationship with Oakes, with the pair agreeing to get married.

In the course of their relationship, ‘Jackson’ at various times collected money to the tune of £54,000 from Oakes, to enable him travel to the UK to meet her.

After an endless wait for her fiancé, it dawned on the Briton that she had been conned, and consequently petitioned the EFCC.

Operatives of the Commission arrested Chikeluba in a sting operation on February 24, 2015 in Lagos while attempting to collect a parcel sent to him.

He will appear in court as soon as investigation is concluded. 

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

5th March, 2015

Reprint Ballot Papers To Accommodate Us Or Postpone Elections – New Party Tells INEC

A New Plot To Scuttle Elections Emerges: Reprint Ballot Papers To Accommodate Us Or Postpone Elections – New Party Tells INEC

Young Democratic Party,‎ a new party which a court compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise, has said the electoral body should either reprint the ballot papers to include it for the coming general elections or postpone the polls.

Young Democratic Party,‎ a new party which a court compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise, has said the electoral body should either reprint the ballot papers to include it for the coming general elections or postpone the polls.

INEC Chairman, Attahiru JegaThe stance of the party may have boosted ongoing efforts to scuttle the forthcoming elections.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Wednesday, ordered INEC to recognise YDP and accommodate it in the forthcoming elections that are about four weeks away.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Ugo Nwofor, said INEC “has just two options,” adding that the party was ready for the elections.

The conditions, according to Mr. Nwofor, include reprinting the ballot papers to accommodate the party and its candidates.‎

But if INEC does not have “appropriation for logistics‎” for reprinting the ballot papers, Mr. Nwofor issued the second option which was that, “lNEC should postpone the elections to accommodate our party.”

But ‎INEC has withheld its response to the development, saying it does not have the court document ordering it to recognize YDP yet.

This was stated by both INEC Director of Voter Education, Osaze Uzzi and the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu

Withdraw This Ministerial Nomination, Mr. President By Chidi Oguamanam

The most sensitive thing for the President to do is to withdraw the nomination since Obanikoro has not honorably declined the nomination himself. Without staking hope on senators’ ability to follow through, so far, the senate has twice failed to allow the ministerial nominee – himself a former senator – the privilege of the usual “bow-and-go” confirmation ritual.

Musiliu Obanikoro

Recently, Canada recorded a conviction under its extant Elections Act. In that case, which is now under appeal, Michael Sona, a Conservative Party campaign staff got a nine-month jail sentence and a year on probation as a result of his role in the so-called “robocalls” incidents. The robocalls refer to automated calls that targeted opposition party supporters and falsely advised them of a change in their designed polling centers. The objective was to frustrate and, conceivably, disenfranchise citizens who would have voted for rival parties. The judgment text and newspaper reports of this landmark decision demonstrate the judge’s stern view of Sona’s conduct. He called the robocalls scheme an “ill-conceived and disturbing plan” and a “callous and blatant disregard for the right of people to vote”.  No member of the Parliament or any other serving politician has been cited, directed or indirectly, in the robocall affair. In fact, before any politician could be linked to such an affair, it is the custom in the Canadian clime that they will be the first to resign, and submit themselves to the legal consequences of their misconduct.

But consider the “Ekitigate” whereof an alleged audio record of political conspiracy that plausibly influenced the outcome of the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State has surfaced. The Ekitigate is associated with leading members of the ruling party, including cabinet ministers of the federal government.  So far, responses from majority of the individuals cited have been quite jerky. Initial denials of the audio recording and lame attempts at disputation of the authenticity of the voices of dramatis personae have given way to incoherent narratives over the context and motive of the meeting at Spotless Hotel, Ado-Ekiti venue of the alleged recorded exchanges.

The President’s response has been typical. The suggestion was that the audio record was fabricated for political motives. Not surprisingly, there is no appetite to conduct an investigation on the part of the presidency, not even to clear the President whose errand, one of the actors claimed to be running in the alleged election rigging controversy. It is convenient for the government to claim that the whistle blower is required to substantiate his allegations; notwithstanding that he is now on self-imposed exile.  But the authorities conveniently forget that they can also provide the whistle blower assurance of security and personal safety. In his interview with Sahara TV, the whistle blower claimed that he fled the country out of fear for his life. In the same interview, he claimed that his younger brother has been victimized by the military whose personnel were also alleged to be part of the Ekitigate.

Time again, when the President has the opportunity to address the issue of corruption in Nigeria even as a mere discussion point, he is wont to trivialize it. From the President’s worldview, it is either that small theft is not corruption or that the issue of corruption is blown out of proportion by the media. I am still imagining what quantum of corruption would be satisfactory for the President to appreciate that corruption is an albatross in the country he is presiding over. And it is hardly surprising that the impunity label has stuck with this presidency like a stamp. While the President is inclined to make a political capital of his modest and humble background in one step, in another he progressively remains disconnected with the reality and feelings of the Nigerian people.  

The president has recently nominated Mr. Obanikoro, an erstwhile minister and a pivotal party cited in the Ekitigate shenanigan. Obanikoro vacated his ministerial position for a shot at his party’s nomination for the governorship ticket for Lagos State, which he lost. Calling him back to the cabinet was at attempt to soothe the political bruises of the opposition PDP in Lagos State arising from Obanikoro’s defeat in the party primaries. He has since withdrawn his threat of court action against his party over the primaries. Elsewhere, this form of kiss-and-make-up attracts serious sanction. In Ontario, the Premier’s (Nigerian equivalent of a State Governor) deputy chief of staff is currently accused of inducing a former nominee of the ruling provincial liberal party in a recent by-election to get him to step aside from running for the election. The Premier’s senior staff was allegedly caught on tape suggesting that the Premier was disposed to assist the non-preferred candidate to find a job. The allegation is already a subject of investigation by both the Provincial Police and Elections Canada. In Nigeria, the Ontario’s situation would be preposterous. Mindful of context and political culture, I am not suggesting a political transposition. But in relation to Nigeria, the Ontario scenario paints a portrait of sharp contrast.

Admittedly, the President nominated Mr. Obanikoro before the Ekitigate came into the open. For all purposes, the Ekitigate is now a distraction requiring the ruling party, the presidency and all parties cited to clear the air on the matter that refuses to go away.  The most sensitive thing for the President to do is to withdraw the nomination since Obanikoro has not honorably declined the nomination himself. Without staking hope on senators’ ability to follow through, so far, the senate has twice failed to allow the ministerial nominee – himself a former senator – the privilege of the usual “bow-and-go” confirmation ritual.  Opposition party senators have frowned over Mr. Obanikoro’s nomination in view of the Ekitigate. Yet it does not seem the presidency is getting the message.

By the way, how many months would Obanikoro serve as a minister before the elections and inauguration of a new government on May 29, 2015? Why would this president continue to take Nigerians for granted? Why would he continue to even alienate a segment of Nigerian constituency, especially those outside the partisan political fray, who might yet be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt? When will this presidency perceive a political opportunity and seize it, even one that could not cost it anything? Why chose impunity over integrity? President Jonathan should withdraw the Obanikoro nomination and, for once, show respect for the Nigerian people.  It is too late already, but better late than never.

It’ll Be Tougher To Win Now, Says Jonathan

He said: “I believe Nigerians should vote for me and I want Nigerians to vote for me because we have done well. Sometimes, as a government, we are busy working and we don’t advertise what we have done.”

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday maintained that he deserves the votes of Nigerians as his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has done well in many sectors in the last four years.

Dr. Jonathan was answering questions on an African Independent Television (AIT) program, Kaakaki.

Stressing that PDP still has the most formidable structure among the political parties, he said he was not worried about the possible outcome of the forthcoming presidential election.

He said: “I believe Nigerians should vote for me and I want Nigerians to vote for me because we have done well. Sometimes, as a government, we are busy working and we don’t advertise what we have done.”

“Sometimes, it appears not much (is done). Nigeria is a very big country…If you assess what we have done in a number of areas, we have done quite well and I believe that if Nigeria is linking up to where we were before and what we have done over these four years of government, they will want us to continue to make sure we at least complete some of the ongoing programmes.”

“We believe that in several areas, we have tried and we are working very well and if encouraged in the next four years, at least Nigeria will be able to stabilize in various sectors.”

The President however admitted that it will be tougher to win the election now than it was in 2011.

He said: “In 2011 there were four strong parties. The PDP was strong, the ACN was strong, the CPC was strong and the ANPP was strong. So we had four strong political parties presidents sharing the votes of Nigeria. Yes I agree with you it was easier in 2011 but PDP is still the dominant party.

“In 2011 we had three presidential candidates against the PDP it was easier. But if these three have come together no matter how strong, in politics coming together also has a cost. As a second term president, globally in 70 per cent of the cases it is most challenging for the President to secure a second term than first term.”

He noted that people from the PDP that gave the opposition the strength it currently enjoys, adding that if the PDP elements were to leave the opposition, they would crumble.

He said: “Even the opposition will tell you if they are realistic. Who has strengthened the opposition? Are the not the PDP elements? If you remove the PDP elements from the opposition, they will just crumble like a pack of cards.”

“Why are people aggressive towards the PDP to the extent that even the presidential convoy is stoned? Why do you show that aggression? If you are comfortable, you will not do that.” he said

Jonathan maintained that the increasing victory against the insurgents close to the election period was not political, as the military had just started receiving about 65 per cent of the required equipment to fight the insurgents.

Pensions For Speakers, Deputies, Not Lagos Assembly’s Initiative –Olulade

According to him, “there has been a provision for it in our constitution, but it was limited to Governors and Deputy Governors. More than two-third of the state Houses of Assembly believed that the legislative arm of government should also benefit from this.

Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Lagos State House Assembly Speaker

Spokesman of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Segun Olulade, on Thursday clarified that the amendment to the 1999 constitution by the National Assembly made provisions for life pension for speakers and deputy speakers of Houses of Assembly.

Olulade stated this in a telephone chat with our correspondent, while reacting to a report that Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his Deputy, Taiwo Kolawole, have perfected a bill to grant themselves life pension.

The report claimed that Ikuforiji and his deputy have concluded arrangements to sponsor a pension bill that would guarantee 100 per cent of their annual basic salary for life.

While explaining that the proposed amendment of the 1999 constitution by National Assembly provided for such, the lawmaker wondered why certain sections of the media could report “such a story without getting proper clarifications.”

However, the lawmaker believes there was nothing wrong in taking such a step since the amendment to the constitution by the National Assembly, which had been forwarded to all the 36 state Houses of Assembly had ratified the proposal.

He maintained that every worker should be entitled to pension that would sustain them till death.

Also reacting, Deputy Speaker of the House, Kolawole said that there was nothing like a Bill on Life Pension for Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Houses of Assembly.

Kolawole said the issue was part of the last amendment to the constitution that was passed to the 36 state Houses of Assembly and that more than two third of the Houses of Assembly passed it into law.

According to him, “there has been a provision for it in our constitution, but it was limited to Governors and Deputy Governors. More than two-third of the state Houses of Assembly believed that the legislative arm of government should also benefit from this.

“It has been approved by the National Assembly and it is waiting for the assent of the President. It did not start from the Lagos State House of Assembly. We did not want to touch it, but somebody said we had to discuss it. It is not coming in the nearest future. It is not in any stage now, it has been introduced and stepped down by the members.

“Each state Assembly would work out how it would implement it’s own. It is just unfortunate that this is coming at a time that elections are coming up,” Kolawole added.

We’ll Occupy Aso Rock If Election Is Shifted Again – APC Youths

The congregation of the APC youth leaders said even though their party has accepted the initial postponement as a party who respect law, order and constitution of the land, they, however, said any further postponement will be openly kicked against, emphasizing that they will take every legal means to stop any further postponement.

APC Youth Protesting Election Fraud

Youths under the umbrella of National Youths Wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, issued a warning that they would go on a nationwide protest should the 2015 general elections get shifted again.

The youths said they will march on and occupy important places and government buildings across the country, including the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, should any further postponement of the elections be announced, as the March 28 date set for the presidential election draws nearer.

The warning was issued on Thursday at the end of a strategic meeting held by the various organs of the youth wing of the APC in Abuja.

The congregation of the APC youth leaders said even though their party has accepted the initial postponement as a party who respect law, order and constitution of the land, they, however, said any further postponement will be openly kicked against, emphasizing that they will take every legal means to stop any further postponement.

Speaking at a meeting with zonal and state leaders of APC youth wing in Abuja on Thursday, National Youth Leader, Alhaji Ibrahim Jalo Dasuki, expressed confidence that his party will be victorious in the coming elections.

His words: “Even though we know that what they have done was based on political reasons because they truly know that if election had held that time they will definitely lose, and we want to tell them that no matter the number of time they shift the election, we will definitely win these elections.

“We want to tell them that we have accepted it as our leaders have accepted, but election will be held on the 28 of March and that 28 remains sacrosanct because we will not tolerate any other shift in election dates.

“As law abiding citizens, we have accepted it but if it comes to a point that the government and INEC does not want to conduct elections, we will definitely have to take the necessary steps legally possible.”

Delta Poly Students Destroy Property Over Fee Hike, Rector’s Call To Vote PDP

Students of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro in Isoko North local government area of Delta State, on Wednesday staged protests against a hike in their school fees and the institution rector’s call to vote all candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.

udents of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro in Isoko North local government area of Delta State, on Wednesday staged protests against a hike in their school fees and the institution rector’s call to vote all candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.

SaharaReporters learned that anti-riot police codenamed “Lion Squad” shot three students during the protests that started close at noon and lasted for close to three hours. The police also teargased the students and sporadically shot into the air.

Student and police sources said the protests paralyzed economic and social activities. Some furious students destroyed the billboards of PDP candidates. Some of the protesters carried placards that read, “Rector you cannot force us to vote for PDP,” “Dr. Jacob Oboreh, leave us to vote for the candidates of our choice,” “Reverse to the old school fees,” “You can't increase school fees on your own,” “You must return to the former school fees.”

The protesting students barricaded the ever-busy Ozoro-Kwale-Asaba Road, causing a traffic gridlock.

“On Wednesday morning the rector, Dr. Jacob Oboreh, gathered us to address us. While addressing us on the hike in our school fees from N34, 000 to N54, 850, he then stated that every one of us must vote for all the candidates of PDP. This order, coupled with the hike, provoked us, said a student source.

Another student union leader stated that their protests were against the “indiscriminate hike in our school fees. Secondly, we were provoked by the rector's instruction that every student should vote for PDP candidates in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

One source said that the chairman of Isoko North local government area, Emmanuel Egbabor, had raced to the campus and called leaders of the students union to the rector's office for a meeting.

The rector, Mr. Oboreh, did not respond to calls and text messages to his mobile line. The college’s spokesman, Mr. B.A Ekanem, declined to comment on the protests. He promised to get back to our correspondent, but failed to do so.

The Jonathan Administration and Its 50 Shades of Lies - Karo Orovboni

The Jonathan Administration and Its 50 Shades of Lies - Karo Orovboni

If there is one thing Nigerians are now accustomed to, it is the numerous lies and half-truths that have been told by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration. It is no longer strange to hear officials of this administration lie to Nigerians. It is so common place that they now do it at will. This has inevitably come at a cost; there is massive distrust between the government and its citizens. Well, here are the 50 shades of lies told by the Jonathan-led administration. 

1. Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) are not responsible for the October 1st, 2010 Eagles Square bombing.

2. We will complete rehabilitation of all refineries by March 2013.

3. Palliatives have been created to reduce effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.

4. We have made plans to construct 6 modular refineries.

5. Transparency International commended this administration’s fight against corruption.

6. The First Lady is not ill; she only went to Germany to rest.

7. Nigerians are happy with the power situation in the country.

8. We are generating more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity.

9. We have killed Boko Haram Leader, Shekau.

10. We have rescued all but 8 of the abducted Chibok girls.

11. We have fixed 25,000km of roads in Nigeria.

12. We are fighting corruption head on.

13. The Nigerian troops tactically maneuvered to Cameroon.

14. We have the vaccines for Ebola.

15. We have eradicated queues from petrol stations.

16. Federal Government creates 1.2 million jobs for Nigerians from mining.

17. We have exposed decades of scam in the management of pensions and fuel subsidy, and ensured that the culprits are being brought to book.

18. We have fixed Ore-Shagamu road.

19. We funded the multi-million-naira dam in Malete, Kwara state.

20. President Jonathan has delivered on his promises on power (electricity).

21. We have reduced poverty rate by 50 percent.

22. President Jonathan brought Facebook to Nigeria.

23. The erstwhile governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, could be responsible for the increase in tempo of Boko Haram activities.

24. The Jonathan administration executed the dualization of Benin-Warri road.

25. Okpella Water Scheme project in Edo state has been completed.

26. Soldiers never flogged innocent Nigerians on the street under the Jonathan Administration.

27. The Jonathan administration has reduced maternal mortality rate by 50 per cent.
28. President Jonathan does not interfere with other arms of the government.

29. No Nigerian territory has been taken over by Boko Haram

30. In terms of road infrastructure, no government has done more than this government.

31. No government has intervened in agriculture more than this government.

32. The Jonathan administration has done more in the petroleum sector than any other administration in the Nigeria.

33. The rail system collapsed in this country around 1983/1984, the Jonathan administration is bringing it back.

34. We now live in a Nigeria where elections are so transparent.

35. President Jonathan brought lasting peace to Nigeria.

36. All airports in Nigeria have been remodeled.

37. We did not militarize Ekiti election.

38. Bring Back Our Girls Protesters prevented the Chibok parents from seeing the President.

39. No money was given to the parents of the abducted Chibok girls when they visited President Jonathan.

40. Bring Back Our Girls group is a franchise; they have bank account.

41. We have agreed a cease-fire deal with Boko Haram.

42. Chibok girls will be released on Monday, 20th of October 2014.

43. There is no report of mutiny in Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri.

44. I never said I would not seek a second term in office.

45. There was no massacre in Baga village.

46. Henry Okah was contracted to kill me.

47. The money Jim Nwobodo stole was not enough to buy a Peugeot [car].

48. I did not dance in Kano after the first Nyanya bombing.

49. We have recorded more convictions in this administration than any other administration.

50. The Ekiti rigging tape is a fabrication.