Friday, 20 March 2015

Ekiti Saga: Pressure forces Jonathan to give Obanikoro a Poor Ministerial Position

Posted by Unknown on 3/20/2015 09:35:00 am

President Goodluck Jonathan assigned ministerial nominees to their portfolios, dumping Musiliu Obanikoro, the shady former Minister of State for Defense, in an "insignificant" ministerial position.

Jonathan unveiled the ministerial deployments at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council in Abuja on Wednesday. Obanikoro was named as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, a position starkly lower in prestige than his former position as minister of state for defense.

Several civil society groups, columnists and opposition senators had opposed Obanikoro’s nomination on account of his involvement in an illegal scheme to use the military to rig last year’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

Sahara Reporters had obtained an audiotape where Obanikoro and some PDP men ordered Brigadier General A.A. Momoh to have his troops detain supporters of then incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi in order to boost the electoral prospects of the PDP’s governorship candidate, Ayo Fayose.

Despite the widespread opposition to Mr. Obanikoro’s confirmation, Senate President David Mark wangled a senatorial clearance for the former junior rank Defense minister. Mr. Obanikoro’s senate clearance was stalled twice, before Mr. Mark used underhanded tactics to get him approved. Most opposition senators walked out of the chambers to protest what one of them termed “the Senate president’s act of bad faith.”

A source at the Presidency told Sahara Reporters that President Jonathan was so shaken by the widespread and strong opposition to his nomination of Obanikoro as a minister that he decided to assign the controversial former minister to one of the most obscure cabinet posts. “Even PDP stakeholders in Lagos and the southwest were against Musiliu Obanikoro,” the source disclosed.

During his stint as junior Defense minister, Obanikoro had access to a full range of military arsenal, which included naval choppers that ferried him around Lagos whenever he visited the state.

Obanikoro’s new humiliating post is equivalent to an ambassadorship, a source within the cabinet said.

America has endorsed INEC and the Card Readers

Posted by Unknown on 3/20/2015 09:32:00 am

The United States government has thrown its weight behind the Independent National Electoral Commission to use the Permanent Voter Cards and the Smart Card Readers in the coming general elections.

The introduction of the PVC and the SCR for use in the 2015 general elections has been a subject of hot debate and litigation in the country with PDP members trying to stop INEC from using them.

The American conveyed its approval of INEC through Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

Biden spoke with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and the presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on the forthcoming election, a statement on Thursday by the US embassy in Nigeria indicated.

The US Vice President commended President Jonathan and Buhari for signing the Abuja Peace Accord in mid-January, describing it as a show of their commitment to non-violence throughout the election process.

The statement read in part, “The Vice President further expressed the United States’ support for the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission and its work to deliver free, fair, and credible elections, in part through its essential efforts to distribute Permanent Voter Cards and help ensure that electronic voter card readers are in place and fully operational.”

Corruption is Too Much under President Jonathan –Emir Sanusi

Posted by Unknown on 3/20/2015 09:29:00 am

The immediate past governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the reigning Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has declared that massive corruption is still being perpetrated by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. This was as he stood by his earlier disclosure that $20billion was missing from the account of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

Sanusi, who disclosed this while being interviewed by Christine Amanpour on CNN, maintained that the presidential candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari, was right on the level of corruption that is going on in the country at the moment.

According to Emir Sanusi, “Yes, General Buhari is right on the level of corruption in the country and we need to address this sufficiently. We have not helped the situation by living in denial (that the situation does not exist). I don’t want to dwell on this because of the time that we are and we are close to an election.”

Sanusi stressed that corruption in the country was massive and needed to be addressed sufficiently.

While maintaining that about $20 billion was missing from the account of the NNPC, which was not remitted to the Federation Account, Sanusi said: “This has not been addressed adequately and from the account of the Corporation, about $20 billion was not remitted to the federation account. We need to address this.”

“I have achieved everything that I could achieve. So, what is there to be afraid of?” Sanusi asked.

PDP Chairman confesses: we can't have landslide victory again

Posted by Unknown on 3/20/2015 09:18:00 am

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, has opened up that there's no way his party will get a landslide victory in the forthcoming general elections.

Mu’azu, a former governor of Bauchi State, made the remark in an unusual statement he signed in Abuja on Thursday to try to shore up the party’s dwindling fortunes and refurbish his relationship with the President. He has recently declared he would rather resign his chairmanship than insult General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

According to SR, he hinged the PDP’s hopes on wooing undecided voters as well as traditional rulers, whom Mr. Jonathan is known to have been offering large bribes.

"We are going around the country in search of undecided voters, who are the final battle ground where the election will be won or lost, he said, adding that the APC could continue to stir the rumour mills into believing that he and Mr. Jonathan are in disagreement, but that they are very serious about winning the presidential election.

Strangely, Mu’azu implicitly conceded that the party was doing very badly before the elections were postponed, thereby confirming popular speculation that that was why Jonathan worked so hard to force the postponement. After three weeks of town hall meetings, the National Chairman said, PDP was “inching its way to victory” in the presidential election, with that time-frame being the additional lifeline supposedly granted to it by the postponement.
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According to him, "We shall continue this interactive engagement with Nigerians until 26th March when campaigns officially end before the March 28th Presidential elections, presenting our scorecard in government, our programme in the next four years to 2019, using the town hall format and meeting our revered traditional rulers...

"While I do not see a landslide victory coming, I am convinced that our party will perform creditably in the Southwest and the North of Nigeria and elsewhere in all the elections this year because the evidence is clear that despite our travails at the beginning, we have done very well over the past fifteen years of our nascent democracy since 1999 to record victory. Those who disbelieve our resilience will be surprised for victory is ours.'

Lagos Daytime Horror: Deadly Robbers go on Rampage in Lekki

Posted by Unknown on 3/14/2015 07:18:00 pm

Three policemen and a lady selling fish were killed on Thursday by a gang of robbers who stormed the First City Monument Bank on Admiralty Way in Lekki, Lagos State.

The deadly robbers, numbering 13 arrived the bank wearing military uniform and shooting sporadically for about 30 minutes.

Eyewitnesses claimed that the robbers, who were armed with Ak-47 guns gained entrance into the bank after overpowering the security men.

The policemen, according to him, engaged them in a crossfire and in the process three of them (policemen) died. A fish seller was said to have been killed by a stray bullet in the incident which happened around 5pm.

PUNCH gathered that several other persons also sustained gunshot injuries. A witnesses said before entering the bank, the gunmen shot at a police van stationed close to the bank.

But another witness claimed that the policemen were escorting an oil service company staff bus when they ran into the bandits.

He said, “The policemen were in a patrol van escorting a bus belonging to an oil company when the armed robbers sighted and shot them dead.”

One of the eyewitnesses, Kola Alade, who abandoned his car and fled the scene, said other policemen in the van fled.

He said, “They were shooting non-stop for about 30 minutes, I saw a policeman and two others persons on the floor with blood gushing out of them. Some policemen tried to engage them, but the robbers were very brutal. They eventually robbed the bank.”

Another eyewitness said he saw seven members of the gang wearing life jackets. He said, “It was like we were in battlefield. I was shaking where I hid. They escaped in a speed boat.”

A worker of the bank, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to do so, described the attack as unfortunate.

He said, “I do not have the details of the incident now. I was not even around when it happened. It was very unfortunate. I do not know whether they stole money or not. The head of Corporate Affairs Department of the bank is not in the country now to comment on it.”

The FCMB spokesperson, Louis Ibe, could not be reached for comment.

But the Lagos State Police spokesperson, Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed that three policemen were shot dead while trying to contain the robbers.

He said, “Three policemen who stood gallantly defending the facility were killed in the process. Investigation has already commenced and we have launched a serious manhunt on the robbers. We will ensure that we trace their hideout and track them down.”

Some Lagosians narrated their experiences of the robbery online:

One anonymous wrote, “Just passed through that way…Gosh…C dem washing blood off d road….pple in tears….May God accept their souls

Another reader wrote, “I was there and I saw the Nigerian police armed, but always siting like they are on holiday. Nigerian police please wake up and always be on the alert. Stop chasing okada riders and danfo drivers. Be alert, robbers are always around. Now, you all have left your loved ones because you didn’t act gallant. RIP."

Jonathan don fall my hand: So na Oyinbo Mercenaries dey fight Boko Haram for Us?

Posted by Unknown on 3/14/2015 05:49:00 pm

The entire war against Boko Haram has been literally fought by hired hands; this according to recent media reports. And it is not just the Chadians and Nigeriens chattered by the Nigerian government for the 6 week rush electioneering war, but also hands from South Africa and the Soviet union according to a latest report by Reuters.

Nigeria engaged hundreds of mercenaries from the above nations and pays them above $400 a day to fight Boko Haram. The VOA reported seeing a convoy of 30 vehicles, APCs, mine sweepers and other army trucks going north all being driven by the White mercenaries. The agency further revealed that "all aerial attacks are being done by the white soldiers using Nigerian and hired military aircraft.”

Mercenary pilots would no doubt be paid even much more. So Nigeria’s army cannot fight and its pilots cannot fly planes now?

It is a welcome development that Nigeria is at last giving it to Boko Haram. That cannot be over emphasized; but at what cost?

President Jonathan postponed the February elections in what has been regarded as a coup, moving them back 6 weeks to wage a 6-week electioneering war against Boko Haram.

To wage this desperate, “extra-time” war, to redeem his image, the president threw billions of dollars at the problem. Chad was allegedly paid billions for its service. The South Africans are being paid tens of millions as are the Soviets. Equipment bought in the rush were acquired at exorbitant costs with a report by SaharaReporters revealing that Engineer Arthur Eze imported 6 refurbished choppers through an Israeli firm, Elbit, for half a billion dollars; an amount that would have comfortably bought 40 new better craft.

And all these billions are being wasted by Jonathan and the Nation is being further disgraced just for Jonathan’s ambition and as a result of his stupidity. The South Africans were embittered by Nigeria’s move and promised to prosecute the mercenaries who Jonathan hired. And as usual, he does all these stupidly and we first hear from Oyinbo media; he does not even believe we have the right to be informed of what choices he is making on our behalf… like Nigeria is his personal property.

For years Nigeria’s vigilantes, hunters, ex-servicemen and eager volunteer patriotic citizens readied and gathered in Borno, requesting authorization and government support to engage Boko Haram. Jonathan ignored them (us). The hunters proved their mettle last November when they chased Boko Haram from Maiha and Mubi, but rather than patronize and support them, the Police IG, Suleiman Abba under Jonathan and the defense chiefs’ order, harassed them, “screened” them as we recollect and detained the head hunter, Sarkin Baka, completely blocking them from further missions against the terrorists. It was understood that the hunter forces with their easy success against Boko Haram, embarrassed the army and the Jonathan administration.

Nigeria’s soldiers have for years begged for better equipment, things as simple as “more bullets” and prompt salaries, but the Jonathan government has continued to sabotage the army, diverting billions in budgeted defense funds and delaying wages while combining army units to squander allocations for their welfare. And while the soldiers are owed, Jonathan doles out billions of dollars on foreign mercenaries so as to “boost his personal image?”

Jonathan has fallen my hands. As repulsive as I find the heroin intoxicated “Shekau” Takfiri figure, I despise Jonathan more. Jonathan is more dangerous than Boko Haram. What he does nurtures a culture of terrorism. How he ridicules and betrays Nigerians, how he diminishes our national pride; causes the type of resentment that ignites.

While we all rejoiced hundreds of days where the valiant Civilian –JTF staved off Boko Haram attacks and pursued the terrorists at times when the Nigerian army withdrew; these brave young boys being the main force that prevented Maiduguri and environs from falling to the terrorists, thus maintaining a single safe haven for refugees of the 6-year Jonathan government supervised Boko Haram pogrom; president Jonathan NEVER throughout his tenure did so much as recognize these Nigerian patriots who died for us, talk less support them financially or otherwise.

Not even a word of recognition, or a single penny went to these boys who lost all including their loved ones; lost their right to education; lost their employment, with many making the ultimate sacrifice and paying the ultimate price – their lives – to save their community and this nation. But this same shameless ruler is eager to borrow a billion dollars and commit billions more of Nigeria’s dollars to pay the White man and neighboring Africans who do not know our terrain, to come and do this job he suddenly needs done in 6 weeks for his personal ambition.

4: For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. Continue Psalm 109: 5- 16 for the wicked, the enemies of the poor, suffering and dying people of Nigeria.

I won’t insult Buhari, instead I quit –Mu’azu tells Jonathan team

Posted by Unknown on 3/14/2015 05:29:00 pm

The recent murmurings within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over the supposed abrupt resignation of the party's national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu may have not been completely false as was earlier claimed by the PDP in their official press release.

Information obtained from a competent source near the PDP national chairman indicates that the national chairman had announced his resignation to the leadership of the Jonathan presidential campaign team following a heated ‘argument’ over the new campaign strategy adopted by the PDP presidential campaign team – and his unwillingness to play along in their dirty politics.

Available information reveals that Muazu was asked to resign from the seat of PDP national chairman because he refused to join “the train of those insulting Buhari”.

And, according to a source who spoke to Muazu, the embattled PDP chairman was willing to walk away from the seat if the PDP insist on having him resign over his unwillingness to be critical of Buhari. “If PDP wants me out, I am ready to throw the cap away”.

The members of the presidential campaign team had agreed to pep up their campaign strategy in a manner to go after the integrity of the APC presidential candidate, Mohammadu Buhari and to expose the alleged skeletons that may exist inside his closet. But the national chairman of the PDP – who was reported to be in agreement with the frontal approach on the APC top boss, Bola Tinubu – was however not in agreement with such approach being adopted for the presidential flag bearer.

“He [Mu'azu] called their bluff,” said a source within the PDP national working committee. The PDP did not anticipate Muazu’s eagerness to throw in the towel and accept his sack in defiance to their request of him to be critical and vocal against Buhari.

“It caught them by surprise and they had to do a retreat away from their demand for him to resign”. The PDP presidential campaign team are not willing to undergo the crisis that the resignation of its national chairman would generate.

For this reason, the PDP backpedaled quickly with an apology to the national chairman. It took the intervention of the Emir of Bauchi, Malam Adamu for the national chairman to consider the apology tendered by the PDP presidential team.

Jonathan lied? Morocco recalls its ambassador from Nigeria

Posted by Unknown on 3/13/2015 07:40:00 am

This is one embarrassment too many. The ship of Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has developed another embarrassing new leak after Morocco openly denied his claims and denounced his “unethical practices” as unbecoming, and recalled its ambassador from Nigeria.

"HM the King has actually declined the request of the Nigerian government because it is part of the internal electioneering and this country's fundamentally hostile positions with regard to the territorial integrity of the Kingdom," Morocco said in an unusually strong statement.

The Moroccan government asserted in the "clearest and strongest terms" that there had “never been a phone conversation" between Jonathan and the Moroccan monarch.

It rebuffed Jonathan’s posturing after the Nigerian leader appeared to have tried to obtain political mileage with Muslim voters ahead of this month’s presidential election by claiming he had had a phone conversation with King Mohammed VI.

Last Sunday, the Nigerian government released a statement through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in which it denied reports that the King had snubbed President Jonathan.

Nigerian government had claimed that "President Jonathan did in fact speak to the Moroccan monarch," adding that both men spoke extensively on phone “on matters of mutual interest and concern."

But in their reaction, Morocco's foreign ministry said "absolutely not" in reply to Nigeria's claim.

Explaining the recall of its ambassador “for consultation”, the North African nation was emphatic: "The kingdom of Morocco expresses its astonishment and denunciation to these unethical practices that are contrary to the spirit of responsibility that must prevail in relations between states."

The Jonathan campaign has suffered a lot of embarrassing reverses as he tries to win re-election, but the spat with Morocco is the most open, as it is happening in full view of the world.

PHOTOS: Fire Razed Fine Coat Paint Factory in Lagos

Posted by Unknown on 3/13/2015 07:37:00 am

It was a tragic afternoon for the management of one of Nigeria's biggest paint company, Fine Coat Paint, as about half of their ultramodern factory was razed by fire on Wednesday. The fire spread so fast in the factory located along Alagbado/Casso bus stop in Lagos, causing serious damages to goods and property worth millions of Naira. Fire fighters later saved the situation. More photos below:

Tambuwal’s Security Details restored after 5 Months

Posted by Unknown on 3/13/2015 07:33:00 am

The security detail withdrawn from the speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, by the Department of State Services (DSS) has been restored.

Tambuwal’s spokesman, Imam Imam, who confirmed the development in Abuja, stated that only the DSS had restored its men earlier withdrawn from the speaker.

Tambuwal’s security detail was withdrawn on October 30 after his defection to the APC.

The inspector-general of police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, had ordered the immediate withdrawal and redeployment of all security aides attached to Tambuwal at the time.

Abba’s order was contained in a statement signed by the force spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu.

The IGP, in the statement, had said: “In view of the recent defection by the Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to the APC, and having regard to the clear provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has redeployed its personnel attached to his office.”

The national publicity secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had in a statement described the withdrawal of the speaker’s security detail by the IGP as “a usurpation of the role of the judiciary by the IGP, especially bearing in mind that the question of the interpretation of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution on which the IGP anchored his illegal act is currently before the courts for resolution.”

The sergeant-at-Arms, the security arm of the National Assembly, had served as his detail during the absence of the official security detail.

Patience Jonathan Wont Appear Before ICC – PDP Boasts

Posted by Unknown on 3/13/2015 07:22:00 am

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation has said that wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, will not appear before the International Criminal Court.

It said there was no basis for her to be reported to the international court in the first place.

Patience was reported to have told supporters of the PDP at its rally in Cross River State to stone anyone who is canvassing for change in the state. “Change” is the slogan of the APC.

In its complaint to the ICC, the APC through its Director-General, Presidential Campaign Council, Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the Governor of Rivers State, said the wife of the President was calling on the supporters of the ruling party to attack those of the APC.

But the Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, reacting to the claim by the main opposition party, described Patience as a woman of peace, adding that her speech didn’t propel anyone to take to violence.

Fani-Kayode added that those that dragged the wife of the President to ICC were not educated on issue of international law. He said if they were, they would have known that individuals were not taken to the court on the basis of their speech.

He said, “It is only if that speech is followed by violence and mayhem or if it incites people to commit violence, which results in death, mass murder and crimes against humanity, that the person who indulged in such hate speech becomes an eligible candidate for the ICC.

“Dame Patience Jonathan is a woman of peace. She did not threaten anyone with violence; she did not incite anyone to commit violence or to kill others and her words have not resulted in death, mass murder or any crimes against humanity.

“We therefore completely reject the baseless charge and assertion that she has called for the killing or slaughter of anyone at any point in time.”

So, the ICC should wait until their is mass murder? Itssokay!

South West Youth Rejects Endorsement Of Jonathan

Posted by Unknown on 3/13/2015 07:10:00 am

The game is not over, until it's over. South West Youth Stakeholders’ Forum has dissociated itself from the purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by a section of youths in Ondo State.

The youths, who stormed the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ibadan, in their hundreds, said they were not in support of the meeting convened by Governor Olusegun Mimiko at Adegbemile Hall, Akure, where a section of youths with little representation purportedly diverted a post-confab summit into an “orchestrated endorsement of President Jonathan.

“We will not but extend our sincere disagreement and displeasure with the said post-confab summit chaired by erstwhile respected Professor of Agricultural Economics, Dupe Olatunbosun, who took time to show his dancing skills at the event while being ironically referred to as a youth at age 74, only for him to denigrate the person of General Muhammadu Buhari who is even two years younger than him as being old and not fit for public service,” the youths said.

Addressing newsmen on the topic: “Youths Jointly Say No To Lies of Endorsement,” the leader, Babalola Ayodeji, called on the youths from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States “to keep the fire burning as we yearn for the much desired change in the political administration of our country.

PDP thugs reportedly held VP Sambo hostage in Kano today

Posted by Unknown on 3/10/2015 10:27:00 am

Some thugs in the Kano state chapter of the PDP today held Vice President Namadi Sambo hostage for about 20 minutes at the Bayero University Kano premises over allegations that the state party leader had abandoned them.

According to Daily Independent, an eyewitness said dozens of heavily armed thugs posing as loyal party men beat the security cover around the VP and became unruly, pouring out their grievances at the state party leaders.

The witness said the thugs in unison chorused on top of there voices “Bamuayi Bamuayi Bamuayi” which meant “we are no longer with you”, while others shouted mungaji da aiki banza”, meaning ‘we are tired of the job’.

An embarrassed Vice President immediately ordered the state party leaders to address the aggrieved members. This paved way for the thugs to drop their arms and follow the convoy of the Vice President.

Buhari is as old as my mother, he should go and relax – Fayose

Posted by Unknown on 3/10/2015 09:47:00 am

PDP has two headaches at the moment - Buhari is too popular, INEC will stop rigging with Card Reader.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has asked the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari to apologize to Nigerians for dishing out naked lies on daily basis on issues that are very fundamental to the corporate existence of the country.

While questioning the moral right the party and its presidential candidate, Buhari, had to contest the March 28 presidential election, Fayose said in a sane clime, that APC and General Buhari could have withdrawn from the race.

According to a press statement issued in Ado-Ekiti, Monday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor noted with dismay the contemptuous manner in which the APC and Gen Buhari hold Nigeria and its people.

Fayose who reeled out many instances where APC had openly lied to Nigerians on matters that are very important for the peace and progress of the country “In saner climes, you can’t lie and be discovered to have lied repeatedly as done by the APC and still want to stand for elections.”

“The new deceit from the APC is to use a photoshoped picture of Buhari for posters in Lagos, making him look like a 50 year old man, whereas he is as old as my mother and cannot survive the rigoursof office even as a governor not to talk of President of Nigeria.”

He noted that it was appalling that despite being found to have lied on several occasions, the APC has never deemed it necessary to apologise to Nigerians for trying to deceive them.

His words; “First, the APC Vice Presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, a supposed pastor posted picture of Reinhard Bonke crusade on his Twitter Handle, claiming that the picture was that of APC campaign rally in Kano.

“Second, the APC claimed that Buhari made a surprise visit to Chibok and went further to lie that the people and parents of Chibok girls were filled with hope and joy upon sighting Buhari and his entourage, and escorted him into Chibok with singing and dancing.

“Third, the APC cabal claimed that Buhari travelled to the United Kingdom on a working visit and used fake pictures to back up their lies that Buhari met with ex-British Prime minister, Tony Blair and had a television interview in London."

Funny enough, Tony Blair has confirmed that he indeed met with Buhari.

PDP Governors in secret meetings with APC to defeat Jonathan

Posted by Unknown on 3/10/2015 09:42:00 am

This is the first time in Nigeria when a running party is truly afraid of the opposition in the days leading to the Presidential election. And it appears the situation is even more dire than most of us could have imagine.

Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors Forum, and governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Ojorocha has revealed that seven Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors were secretly holding meetings and strategizing in favour of the party in a bid a bring Change to Nigeria.

This came as national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said the federal government has allegedly diverted money meant to insure security men, especially those fighting insurgency in the North East.

Okorocha, who spoke at APC campaign rally in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos, said the PDP governors

whose names will be revealed as soon as Muhammadu Buhari wins the presidential election, are already working for the APC.

According to him, the action of the PDP governors further indicates that the ruling party was afraid of the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

He said: “Buhari’s victory has been sealed and delivered and today, about seven governors who are not APC are coming to hold meeting with us privately. There is fear in the country and the fear was that they know that Buhari is a good man and he will win.

“They know that once the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC announce Buhari as the winner of the presidential election, all the bad people who are embezzling the country’s fund will leave the country at night. The fear of Buhari is the beginning of stoppage of corruption.’’

He noted that after Buhari assumed office in 1983, he stopped open defecation before it became entrenched again and eradicated all forms of indiscipline.

Okorocha said the glory of the country would be restored because the change that gave rise to APC had started.

“PDP died immediately APC was formed and we scheduled the burial of the party for February 14 but they postponed it to March 28. We are waiting patiently to bury the party forever. But let me tell you that you can change the date of burial but you cannot change the burial. It must take place.

“The worst thing that can happen to any nation is to have a bad government and the worst thing that can happen to any family is to have a bad father.

“Today, it is obvious that PDP is a bad government and we thank God that we came together to change the bad government,” he said.

AIT got N10bn for Damaging Documentaries on APC Leaders; Pastor Yemi Osinbajo is Next Target

Posted by Unknown on 3/10/2015 09:39:00 am

African Independent Television (AIT) owners received N10 billion to produce and air negative documentaries on leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a Sahara Reporters investigation shows.

It was learnt that the Minister for Petroleum Affairs, Diezani Allison-Madueke is bankrolling the documentary while the scripts and voice overs are being prepared and cut with the help of the Nigeria Television Authority and some Nollywood production companies and working for President Jonathan's re-election.

As a result of the massive deal, AIT, which was in poor financial shape that its principal owner, Raymond Dokpesi, had decided to sell it to the banks to which the station owed several billions of Naira, is now back in good standing. It has also become considerably bolder because of the backing of Mrs. Allison-Madueke and other powerful government officials behind the deal.

Our investigation reveals that AIT receives N5 million each time an episode of any of the documentaries is aired on their channels in different Nigerian markets.

Apart from the cost of producing and airing the documentaries, SaharaReporters found that a team of high-priced lawyers has also been mobilized with about N3 billion to handle any legal threats that may arise from the documentaries. Just last week, APC chieftain Bola Tinubu sued AIT over the documentary on him.

SaharaReporters learned that the next in the series will focus on the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Our source, who didn't want to reveal the content, said the objective of that show will be to “destroy” Prof. Osinbajo's position as a strong moral leader in the Christian community.

"The idea is to make the Christians who have left Jonathan because of Osinbajo's entry into the Presidential race to have a rethink," our source stated.

“The PDP is still failing the basic mathematics,” a political analyst told Sahara Reporters.

“They can squander all of the money in the Central Bank trying to damage the reputation of everyone in the opposition, but how does that provide a cover for the ineptitude and corruption of the Goodluck Jonathan government? Does that explain why Nigeria is far worse than they found it? That is the question Nigerians will be answering when they go to the polls in three weeks.”

REVEALED: Presidency doubts PDP National Chairman’s loyalty

Posted by Unknown on 3/09/2015 12:50:00 pm

Indications have emerged that the Presidency may have put the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, under close watch, The Punch has learnt.

It was learnt that the Presidency was not comfortable with the activities of the chairman of the ruling party as some members of the party were said to have informed President Goodluck Jonathan of the alleged double-faced activities of Mu’azu.

It was learnt that the Presidency took the action following reports against the former Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda that he was not fully committed to the second term aspiration of President Jonathan.

Those against him were said to have informed the President and members of his kitchen cabinets that Mu’azu did not take any action following the stoning of the President’s convoy in some states in the North.

Specifically, he was said to have kept quiet over the stoning of the President’s vehicle in his home state.

The sad event in the state was blamed on the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, but the state Governor, Yuguga said that those who stoned the President were sponsored by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Muhammed.

The minister is a member of the ruling party.

The Presidency source said, “You can see that Mu’azu has not been vociferous in his campaign for the President in the North.

“He has never organised any rally on his own and has never attended any other except those organised by the party which were attended by the President.

“He has remained silent on the stoning of the President’s convoy in Taraba, Katsina and Taraba states. We have this unclear notion that he’s more interested in having a President from his region than President Jonathan returning. So, we are watching him.”

The source said the sign that Mu’azu could be up to a sinister motive emerged on the day the President inaugurated the party’s Presidential Campaign Council.

“Instead of speaking on the task ahead of the party and the campaign, Mu’azu in the full glare of the television and invited guests, lambasted the President and the party."

INEC Card Reader is a fraud, it will mar March 28 polls - Fayose

Posted by Unknown on 3/08/2015 08:30:00 pm

Press statement from Ekiti governor, Ayo Fayose...

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the card reader machines the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) intends to use to accredit voters during the March 28 and April 14 elections as a fraud capable of scuttling the elections.

The governor, who expressed doubt over the forthrightness of the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega in handling the elections said; "Unless INEC has an agenda that is different from conduct of free, fair and credible elections, use of the card readers should be suspended for future elections so as to enable proper test running of the technology."

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose, who said he was not against the use of any technology to ensure credible elections, added that the flaws recorded during the last Saturday test run exercise were too fundamental to be ignored. He pointed our that Jega was not being truthful on INEC preparedness for the election, saying; "Jega told us before February 14 that INEC was ready.

He heaped the blame for postponement of the elections on security. "However, the same INEC that Jega said was ready to conduct elections on Febuary 14 was testing card readers on March 7, meaning that all the flaws that characterised the Saturday exercise would have been witnessed on February 14. Wouldn't that have been disastrous?"

The governor, who said no righr thinking person will want to experiment with major elections, added that; "INEC ought to have tested the card reader technology with at least, a bye-election before using it for the general elections." He said; "From the Saturday exercise, it can be assumed that it will take an average of one minute for a card to be read. Given that accreditation of voters will start at 9am and end at 12noon, the card reader will be able to read 180 voters cards in three hours. What will then happen in polling units with 500 voters or more?"

Speaking further, Governor Fayose said the machines failed to recognise Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in most of the states where the Saturday test run took place while in some, the machines' batteries lasted for less than three hours.

"For instance, in Ebonyi State, we were told that Card Readers didn't recognize the fingerprints of voters who registered for the 2011 general elections. Even the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Lawrence Azubuike, acknowledged that the authentication process by the Card Reader was very poor.

"In Taraba State, many voters complained that the Card Readers could not identify their fingerprints. "Most importantly, it has been discovered that the card readers can be pre-programmed to reject PVCs. The card readers can also be pre-loaded, even without using the right PVCs.

"Therefore, Jega and his INEC must have to further convince Nigerians on their real intention for trying to use a technology that is yet to be tested and adjudged foolproof for a major exercise like the president election that is capable or making or marring Nigeria."

Posted by Unknown on 3/08/2015 08:25:00 pm

54 people have been confirmed dead after 3 suicide bombers attacked the Baga fish market in Borno state today. About 143 were injured. After the cut is a graphic photo from the scene of the incident

Update: PDP Lays Fresh Ambush Against 2015 Elections

Posted by Unknown on 3/08/2015 12:44:00 pm

There are indications that the national leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party might have perfected a fresh strategy aimed at stalling the March 28 presidential election.

Investigations by Punch in Abuja on Thursday and Friday showed that the ruling party was actually the brain behind those who registered Young Democratic Party and that it may use this new party to achieve its objective.

The new party had on Thursday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the forthcoming general elections.

The party said this a day after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the commission to register YDP as a political party.

At a press briefing in Abuja, the party called on INEC to re-schedule the general elections if it could not accommodate it on its ballot paper.

It said that contrary to insinuations, the court did not order INEC to only register the party, but added that the commission was ordered to issue certificate and include YDP in the 2015 elections.

National Publicity Secretary of YDP, Mr. Ugo Nwofor, said there were only two options available to INEC, saying the commission could either reprint its ballot papers and include the party with a view to accommodate the party’s candidates or shift the elections.

Nwafor said, “If INEC does not have the appropriation for logistics for reprinting of its ballot papers then INEC ought to within the constitutional provision further re-schedule the general election so as to accommodate our party.

“In either of the two options, our party is ready, it has been a long journey for YDP; we wish INEC would explore the first option.”

Shortly after the press briefing, one of the brains behind the YDP was seen at the national headquarters of the PDP in Abuja on Thursday evening, where he said he had come to confer with some of its officers.

In a confidential discussion with our correspondent, he said he had come to brief the party on the success of their legal work which made the court to order that the new party be registered.

When our correspondent called him on the telephone on Friday whether they were planning a fresh legal option to compel INEC to comply with the court order, he answered in the affirmative.

According to him, “Recall that I was at the national headquarters of the ruling party in Abuja on Thursday where I met our partners. We are working together to move the nation forward and deepen our renascent democracy.

“We have already fixed the dates for our convention and we would pick our presidential and other candidates for the elections. We expect INEC to give us a chance as stated in the court order.”

However, it was learnt that one of the strategies of the ruling party in connection with the YDP is to head for the court and ask that the presidential election be set aside, by pleading that the party was excluded.

“This is what we would do if President Jonathan loses the elections,” a source at the national headquarters of the party added.

But if the president wins, it was gathered that the party would not show any interest in pursuing any case in the court.

Nwofor, however, said that the party was interested in contesting the election, adding that this was in compliance with Sections 85 and 87 of the electoral Act.

“Because of this, the party has fixed its governorship/House of Assembly and Presidential and National Assembly primaries for March 26 and 27 respectively,” he added.

It was gathered that the party cleverly picked the dates in order to make sure that the election slated for March 28 does not hold or to make it have a legal proof for exclusion.

The party was believed to have known that submission of candidates list for elections expired 60 days to the election.

An INEC official said that the “commission and Nigerians are aware of the provision of the law on this.”

Boko Haram gatheres in their numbers in preparation for war

Posted by Unknown on 3/08/2015 07:40:00 am

Boko Haram fighters are preparing in mass at their headquarters in the northeastern Nigerian town of Gwoza, Maiduguri, Borno State for a showdown with Multinational Joint Task Force, residents and an intelligence officer told The Associated Press.

A woman, who was trapped in the town since it was seized in July, 2014 told her daughter that the insurgents were urging civilians to leave town to avoid being killed in crossfire in an anticipated major battle.

Hajiya Adama said her mother told her that the insurgents had also released some young women being held against their will, including some made pregnant during their captivity.

She said her mother left last week and escaped to the town of Yola, in neighbouring Adamawa state capital.

Adama said, “She told me that Boko Haram terrorists asked them to leave suddenly, that they were preparing grounds for a major battle.

“She said while being helped by other women to leave through Madagali, they saw many Boko Haram terrorists in trucks and some on bikes moving toward Gwoza.”

An intelligence officer said security forces have been moving slowly for fear of harming civilians, and especially since the insurgent group is surrounding Gwoza with land mines.

Video: Father Mbaka fights President Jonathan and His Wife again

Posted by Unknown on 3/08/2015 07:39:00 am

Some say Rev. Father Mbaka's actions show that he is a real man of God with conscience. Watch video!

Davido admits sleeping with Abuja Babe but denies Pregnancy

Posted by Unknown on 3/07/2015 10:18:00 am

It's not easy to be young, very rich and stay away from desperate ladies temptation. That's the case with Davido. The young man is not by any stretch ready to settle down but the ladies keep pressing.

According to National Enquirer, Davido and Sophie, an Abuja based university drop-out kicked off their affair around July 2014 after she was offered as the ‘soul-calmer’ for the night during one of his trips to the prestigious Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja.

The relationship between Davido and Belladona, as she is popularly known, started getting serious around early September 2014 even though his HKN gang never supported it.

This is a girl that is known as a big time runs girl in the whole of Abuja

she and her friends Harriet and Rockxy have slept with virtually all the big boys and politicians in Abuja, so Shina Rambo and the rest of the gang know her story and can never be happy she is now claiming to be pregnant for Davido.

So here’s what happened after the pregnancy news broke, NETNG reached out to Davido’s camp and his people confirmed that yes, there was a s*xual relationship between she and Davido.

An HKN source said, "People like to talk, the fact that the girl is pregnant doesn’t mean that Davido is the one responsible. Anyways, we both know it’s not today that we’ve been having all this pregnancy allegations for Davido. The truth is Davido sure knows the girl, but they are not as close as they used to be so I really can’t tell, and if she comes tomorrow and says Davido is the father of her baby or Davido got her pregnant then we’ll demand a DNA test."

Now that the mattter is going towards DNA test, it means something is not right.

PDP Silenced but Fayose Still Talking as Buhari Returns

Posted by Unknown on 3/07/2015 10:15:00 am

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday returned to the country from London, after weeks of absence. Buhari’s return has finally put to rest the controversy generated by his absence.

General Buhari whose absence in the country two weeks ago sparked off controversy with the PDP) and its agent in chief, Governor Ayo Fayose, alleging that he was hospitalised in London for cancer treatment, returned in a grand style to the warm embrace of his fans and associates.

But Fayose is still talking. This time he claims that Buhari came into Nigeria like a thief in the night.

It would be recalled that the APC presidential candidate had on February 19, 2015 left the country to address the Royal institute Academy London otherwise known as Chatham House.

Fielding questions from journalists who kept vigil at the airport, Buhari who arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at exactly 5.45 am amidst fanfare and jubilation by supporters, Buhari said he was alive and mentally alright describing his outing abroad as a normal human exercise.

Buhari said “I went to rest, that is all I did and I am here alive , hail and hearty.”

President Goodluck Jonathan is Offensively Incompetent

Posted by Unknown on 3/07/2015 10:12:00 am

That is according to Mr Uche Onyeagucha, a member of the All Progressives Congress in a chat with SR. Hopefully, he will expatiate on this statement so we know his reason(s) for saying so. If true or false

Boko Haram gatheres in their numbers in preparation for war

Posted by Unknown on 3/07/2015 10:07:00 am

GRAPHIC PHOTOS: GANG BREAK INTO PRISON, KIDNAP MAN ACCUSED OF RA.PE, STRIP HIM NA.KED & BEAT HIM TO DEATH

Posted by Unknown on 3/07/2015 09:56:00 am

An angry mob yesterday March 5th broke into a prison in Dimapur city in India, overpowered security there, grabbed a man accused of raping a student multiple times in February, stripped him na.ked and dragged him four miles before beating him to death in front of a large, jeering crowd.

Students and others had actually gathered in Dimapur for a rally against ra.pe, when they decided they’d had enough and went to the jail to find the rapist. The crowd tore down 2 gates before dragging him to the town’s clock tower to exact street justice

According to the Indian Express, the man, identified as a 35-year-old used car trader, ra.ped a student on February 24th and was arrested the next day. He was in jail awaiting trial when the mob attacked the prison. They pelted him with stones and beat him with sticks until he died.

There’s a rising anger over the high rate of s*xual violence in the country and people are tired of waiting on the government to give them justice. See the graphic photos after the cut..