Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Civil war would have ended ealier if Ojukwu had acted like Jonathan - Danjuma

Today, President Jonathan paid a private visit to previous Minister of Defense, General Theophilus Danjuma at his home to talk about  approaches to have a smooth transition  on May 29th.


Addressing the press after the meeting, Danjuma said president Jonathan has set a record in the historical backdrop of the nation by  conceding defeat.
danjuma

He said if previous Biafran warlord, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu had acted like Jonathan by yielding defeat, the civil war would have been maintained a strategic distance from.

“The outcome of the election and the manner in which President Jonathan conceded victory to Buhari, is total un-African, it is very important in the history of Africa. Ojukwu did the same after the fall of Enugu, if he had conceded victory to the federal troops he would have saved the nation one full year of bloodshed. President Jonathan has set a record, made history, something to be emulated by the rest of Africa and indeed the whole world.” He said (Source – Vanguard)


 

Chibok girls have not been killed - FG says

In a bid to dowse speculations in some quarters that the missing Chibok girls have been killed following the recent recapture of most of the strong territories Boko Haram occupied with no sign of the girls, the Federal Government has come out to state that the girls are still alive and that hopes for their rescue must be kept alive.
chibok1

At a press conference in Abuja today April 8th, the Coordinator of National Information Centre (NIC), Mr Mike Omeri, said that hopes for the rescue of the Chibok girls is still high and that until the military concludes the recapture of all lost territories from Boko Haram, speculations of their death would not be entertained


“The search for Chibok girls continues and that is why even with capture of Bama and the rest, security and military have never relent, and until it is concluded, we cannot begin to believe speculation. I think the one year anniversary is next week, and we hope to give a comprehensive report on what we know so far, and how far the searching has gone. So, the assurance I will give you, is that everywhere is being combed and whatever element we found will be revealed to appropriate authority and nobody is going to keep anything secret.”he said

Warri billionaire Ayiri Emami spotted with the Jagaban as he dumps PDP for APC

Warri billionaire  person Ayiri Emami, who was spotted with the national pioneer of APC, Bola Tinubu as of late, has dumped PDP for APC.


The previous staunch PDP member, who campaigned vigorously  for the party before president Jonathan lost his re-decision, is reported to have shown his supporters his APC card at his home in Ubeji, Warri today. He advised his supporters to go along with him in the triumphant party as the PDP umbrella was spilling and could no more give sanctuary to them. He then approached them to vote in favor of the APC governorship competitor in Delta, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.


08.04.2015 Ukraine Crisis News. War in Ukraine, Poland, Ukraine, OSCE, LPR, Russia


PRESS RELEASE: Buhari's 100 days covenants a renewed confidence and hope for Nigeria's greatness

PRESS RELEASE: Buhari’s 100 days covenants a renewed confidence and hope for Nigeria’s greatness
buhari


 The commonwealth Youth Council has described the president elect, Muhammudu Buhari’s 100 days covenants has a renewed confidence and hope for Nigeria’s greatness and have restored confidence that other nations especially within the Commonwealth have in Nigeria.


 The council, in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday from London, Ahmed Adamu the Chairperson of the council maintained the anti-corruption strategies and open government system will institutionalize constitutional democracy in the country. “These are some of the strong values of the Commonwealth” Adamu said.


 He however pointed that Mr Buhari should integrate youth participation in his government “having promised women 35% affirmative participation in governance. We looked anxiously to see what percentage would be earmarked for the youths, but we were excluded” he maintained.


 “Considering the youth population in the country (more than 60% of the Nigerian population), and the role we played in ensuring the peaceful and political triumph in this election, we believe that youth should be actively engaged in governance.


 “There is nothing for youths without youths. We call on the president-elect to review his covenant to accommodate youth participation in governance. A special covenant can be created to promise at least 30% affirmative action for youth participation in governance at all levels. This will help a long way in ensuring inclusive governance in the new administration” the council chair said.

Greece 'Openly Disapproves' of Anti-Russian Sanctions

During a joint press conference with President Vladimir Putin, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that the EU economic war against Russia could lead to a new Cold War, and that Athens will try to become a ‘negotiations bridge’ between Europe and Russia to resolve the issue


 greece



Greece disagrees with the anti-Russia sanctions imposed by the West and considers them a form of economic warfare, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Wednesday.”The Greek economy was greatly harmed due to the response to the sanctions… We understand very well that the retaliatory measures came as a response to the sanctions, the logic of which we do not agree with. We have repeatedly voiced our disagreement,” Tsipras said at a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin.


According to Tsipras, Greece has raised the issue of anti-Russia sanctions at various EU summits.


“We don’t think that this is a fruitful solution to the economic war. In fact, it will lead to a Cold War relationship between the West and Russia,” Tsipras added.


In turn, Putin stressed that despite the fact that the Greek economy was hard-hit by the counter-sanctions imposed by Russia, Moscow would not make an exception for one EU country, as its goal is to build relationships of mutual trust and transparency with the whole of Europe.



Following the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he discussed with Greek PM Alexis Tsipras bilateral cooperation.


“We agree to pay more attention to investments, we discussed cooperation in energy sector,” Russian president said. “We discussed possibility to supply Russian gas to Greece via Turkish Stream.”


According to president Putin, they also discussed cooperation in tourism.


They also talked about Russian-EU relations.


“We assured our Greek colleagues in Russian intention to implement Minsk agreements to settle conflict in Eastern Ukraine,” President Putin added.



Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that he is grateful to President Putin for new spring in Russian-Greek relations.”We have spring in Russian-Greek relations,” Alexis Tsipras said. “Greece is a sovereign state and will use its geopolitical role as European country. We will use all opportunities to boost cooperation with Russia.”


According to Greek PM, the countries will promote education and culture ties.


He also expressed hope, that Greece may become an energy hub in the European region.


Speaking about sanctions on Russia, PM Tsipras said that European issue is not Greek one. So regarding the complicated economic situation in the world in the recent years Greece has signed several documents on cooperation with Russia.



“That’s why we come here in the first place, to constract the economic ties with Russia,” Alexis Tsipras said. “We do not entirily share the EU stance on economic sanctions against Russia. We will promote new solution based on the dialog.”


Mr.Tsipras also added that Greece “openly dissaproves” of European anti-Russian sanctions, because the EU economic war against Russia could lead to a new Cold War.


Of course sanctions has hit Russian-Greek agriculture cooperation, President Putin said. “But today we’re tried to establish our cooperation regardless the sanctions,” he added.




PDP Queries President-elect Buhari’s Indifference To Burning National Issues

Check out Press statement from the PDP.
buhari

Read below..

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed deep concerns over the apparent indifference of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to burning national issues threatening the unity and stability of the country.


PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Wednesday said “while well-meaning Nigerians and the international community are celebrating the peace fostered by the patriotic action of President Goodluck Jonathan in conceding defeat, General Buhari and his party, the APC have been moving around the country instigating division, engineering crisis and heightening tension in the polity”.


“Whereas General Buhari had assured Nigerians that he would be the President of the entire nation and not of a political party, his actions in the last one week show otherwise as he has continued to display sectionalism and insensitivity to matters inimical to the survival of our democracy and wellbeing of Nigerians.


“Instead of settling down to plan a smooth transition and design ways of deepening democracy in appreciation of the mandate given to him, General Buhari has tacitly encouraged his men to foment crisis and cause panic in the bid to muzzle personal freedom and impose a reign of terror in the land.


“For instance, Gen. Buhari has remained indifferent to the crisis in Ekiti where outgoing APC lawmakers who are supposed to be campaigning for the renewal of their mandates on Saturday have been mobilized to Oshogbo in Osun state by the APC to perfect an ignoble plot to remove a democratically elected government in the state.


“APC’s ambition in Ekiti coupled with its odious triumphalism in the aftermath of the Presidential election have led to avoidable confrontations and near breakdown of law and order in the state as the people rise to defend the mandate freely given to the PDP.


“In continuation of this display of arrogance in victory, Buhari’s men in Lagos have dragged the revered traditional institution into the political fray with the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu threatening death to supporters of the PDP, an action that has brought outrage from Nigerians with General Buhari playing the ostrich.


“It is indeed unfortunate that while his men are causing crisis and threating Nigerians, General Buhari, instead of calling them to order displays his insensitivity by jetting around the country campaigning for his party.


“If this sort of insensitivity and arrogance of victory are foretaste of what to expect in a Buhari presidency, then our dear nation and its people are headed for a long trek in the wilderness”, the statement said.


Meanwhile, the PDP in reaction to reports of defection from its fold described the defectors as political Trojans, who from within have ceaselessly worked against the interest of the party and now fear that they would face sanctions for their actions.


Stating that it would not miss such fair weather members, the party commended the courage and steadfastness of all its supporters and members who have remained committed to the course and urged them to go a step further by emulating Senate President David Mark and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in speaking out publicity in favour of the PDP, its ideals and visions of the founding fathers.


The PDP said adequate machinery is already in motion to reorganize and to reposition itself to regain power in the next four years since it is obvious that the APC lacks what it takes to effectively lead the nation.


It therefore called on Nigerians to use the Saturday’s election to demonstrate their commitment to democracy by voting enmasse for the PDP bearing in mind that a vote the party is a vote for the unity and stability of the country.


Signed:


Olisa Metuh

National Publicity Secretary

Pics: Ex-PDP Legal adviser, Olusola Oke defects to APC

Previous Legal  counselor to PDP, Olusola Oke has absconded to the APC.


He formally declared for APC in Akure Ondo state today April eighth.

What is wrong with this Photo ? (Robert Mugabe Version)

Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, 91,  appeared as though he wore weave and ear rings as he touched base in South Africa yesterday morning for a state visit.



His first visit in 20 years. In any case on close examination of the clever photograph, you’ll see that the hair and studs fit in with a lady standing just behind him.


Man with earphone on crushed to death by train in Lagos this morning

An unidentified young man with earphone on, was killed this morning April 8th by a passenger train at Cappa area of Oshodi, Lagos.

train

A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who was inside the train reports that the man was standing on the rail track oblivious to the fast approaching train. The NAN correspondent reports that the Ogun-Lagos-bound mass transit train was leaving its Oshodi station to Mushin when the accident occurred.


The train had as usual, sounded its horn repeatedly as it was approaching the railway crossing at Ilupeju Bye-pass for clearance of its track.


According to an eyewitness, the man who had his earphone on was apparently carried away with either the call he was receiving or listening to music.


Obviously the man was not aware of the approaching train even as it blasted its horn, perhaps because of the earphone. Before he knew it, he was already hit by the train and was not given any chance to escape. Immediately he was hit, the body was mangled as the train dragged it underneath,’’ the eyewitness said.


NAN reports that people standing by the rail track that saw the incident raised their hands over their heads in a show of pity for the deceased.


The man has suddenly and unwittingly lost his life to sheer carelessness,’’ a passenger said.


NAN reports that it was not the first time a moving train would crush to death people standing on the rail track because of having their earphones on. Among them was a lady in 2006, killed at Shogunle GRA railway crossing, while another one was killed in 2007 at Oshodi.


Source: NAN

Iran Joins China-Led AIIB Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank accepted Iran’s membership on Tuesday, the Iranian embassy in Beijing said.


 The Islamic Republic thus became the 34th founding member of the AIIB, which is the main rival of the World Bank, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.
iran

© AFP 2015/ Takaki Yajima


The Iranian embassy noted that the AIIB officials had invited Iran’s banking officials to attend the upcoming meetings of the bank.Fifty-seven countries have applied for membership in the international bank and 34 have already been granted membership. China is going to invest about $50 billion in the bank to hold about 50 percent of AIIB’s shares.


Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, speaking on Saturday at a forum in Boao on the Southern Chinese island of Hainan, said the country plans to join the AIIB.  Washington’s European allies including Britain, France, Germany and Italy have already also announced they would join the bank, leaving the US isolated, World Bulletin reported.


Other countries such as Turkey and South Korea have also said they would join. Brazil, China’s top trading partner, said on Friday it would sign up.



Pic: Police unmask Bomb Factory In Enugu

Amid a shut entryway meeting  in Abuja yesterday with senior police to strategize on security for the April 11 decisions, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Suleiman Abba, uncovered that the police have found the processing plant that made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that caused blast in Enugu State amid the March 28 races
police

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), IGP Abba said three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.


He said,
 “The investigation into the incident has reached advanced stage; we have identified even the factory where those IEDs were manufactured. I think that alone is a big success.” Bomb explosion had occurred at the WTC School 1 polling unit in Enugu on the Election Day. The blast was said to have caused pandemonium as people, including INEC staff and voters ran for safety. Two other bombs also were said to have been detonated by the anti-bomb squad of the state Police command

Federal Government to shut down land borders ahead of Saturday's Governorship elections

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship race in all conditions of the alliance, the central Government has coordinated that all area outskirts be shut from midnight of Thursday April ninth to midnight of Sunday April twelfth.


Nigeriamap_332_1

Stop the unbecoming comments directed at Oba of Lagos, Akiolu. - OPC warns

The initiative of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, has dripped an announcement cautioning Nigerians to stop the uncomplimentary comments being coordinated at the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, taking after his comments he made to Ibo occupants in Lagos last Sunday.
Gani-Adams


As per OPC, the Yoruba customary legacy must be regarded by all and as a group, they will ‘not tolerate anyone independent of their spots of conception of conviction stigmatize what their hosts (Yorubas) hold sacred’.


See his statement bellow.


The attention of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has been drawn to some unruly and unbecoming comments purportedly in reaction to alleged comments by the paramount ruler of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and warn all those involved to desist from such unbecoming acts forthwith.


The institution of the oba is one the Yoruba race hold in high esteem, and the OPC as irredentist defenders of Yoruba culture and heritage would therefore not tolerate anybody -irrespective of their places of birth of conviction- to denigrate what their hosts (Yorubas) hold sacred. While we accept that that institution should remain non-partisan, it must also be acknowledged that the Palace of the Oba of Lagos has already claimed that the royal father was misrepresented in the press and pleaded for understanding.


Be that as it may, the Yoruba’s accommodating and loving nature should not be misconstrued as timidity. As hosts, we have given all our visitors enough space and opportunity to bloom and flourish without molestations, and of all the tribes and visitors in Lagos, none has enjoyed the benevolence of Lagos and indeed all of Yorubaland as much as the Igboman and nation.


The evidence of the claim above can be found in the fact that Yorubaland as a whole is the most cosmopolitan area in Nigeria. We Yoruba have allowed other tribes to own businesses, properties and even contest and hold political positions on Yoruba soil in a manner unreciprocated anywhere else in Nigeria.


Using the same Lagos as an example, the fact that the likes of Pastor Ben. Akabueze and Joe Igbokwe have become an integral part of the political frame work of Lagos State for years now is proof enough that Lagos and indeed the Yoruba are excellent hosts. Akabueze has for the last ten years been directing and coordinating the economic direction of the state from his enviable position as the honorable commissioner for budget and planning while Igbokwe has held sways general manager at LASIMRA and head, UFRU.


Others such as Ngozi Nwosu the popular actress from Imo State who got N6million for overseas surgery, the late comrade Chima Ubani whose family got cash and a gift of 3bedroom accommodation at Marwa Gardens as well as First Consultant Hospital that got N50 million as compensation for involvement in the Ebola case are evidence that the Igbos are not despised in Lagos.


Nowhere in Nigeria -east of the Niger- is the Yoruba or any other tribe accorded the kind of gesture the Igbos have been enjoying in Lagos in the last 12 or so years since these bonafide Igbo men entered into the Lagos political scene. As for the likes of Bode George, Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and their party the PDP, their outcry is the reaction of a person or group without shame and critical thinking (arojinle).


Is it that they have a case of memory dysfunction or are they just plain mischievous. Have they so quickly forgotten that it is their party that started the politicization of the institution and monarchy with the president’s visit to the same Oba of Lagos earlier this January as the forerunner to visits to many other obas in Yorubaland. None of the PDP members complaining now saw any thing wrong with the attempts to involve our obas in partisan politics until it backfired against them and their party.


This brings us to the warning we issued earlier, when Gani Adams in his treacherous, sycophantic and reactionary move turned on the good people of Lagos unleashing violence and threat of violence against the perceived enemies of his paymasters. If Adams had not behaved like an omo ojuorolari, he should by now be defending the sacredness of the stool of the Oba of Lagos or any other one in Yorubaland for that matter. If Adams had not collected the billions he did, along with MASSOB and other ethnic groups, his co-travellers would now be degenerating and abusing our hospitality the way no one can replicate in their homelands.


In closing, we enjoin all members of the OPC and indeed the Yoruba nation to beware of the enemies within like Gani Adams and with one voice condemn all fifth columnist within our fold. And with the foregoing it is abundantly clear that Gani Adams who brought this odium upon us must quit the OPC.


 

Court orders DStv to suspend increase in subscription fees

In March, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DStv announced a 20% price increase for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in Nigeria.


Multichoice said the increase, which was supposed to take effect from April 1st, was necessary for them to continue offering good quality programming to its subscribers. But the increase is not going to happen for now after a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos restrained the company from increasing the tariffs.


The restraining order was given at the court following a class action suit filed by two Lagos-based lawyers, Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji, challenging the increase. The judge said there should be no increase until the court meets on April 16th to hear the case.

Moscow & Athens Forge New Alliance – Greek Media

The Greek prime minister’s visit to Moscow aimed at improving relations with Russia angers many in Europe – this is what reports in Greek media, covering the visit, boil down to.


 alexis_tsipras


Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is on a two-day visit to Moscow, making headlines in Greek media.



“Alexis Tsipras’ upcoming visit to Moscow and meeting with Putin has generated much talk, analysis and warnings,” iefimerida.gr wrote in a piece titled Tsipras-Putin: Smiles in Moscow, Annoyance in Brussels. “Both sides underline that Moscow and Athens will discuss many issues and there is no shortage of speculations on what Tsipras will ask and what Putin will offer.”



The visit could help return Greek produce to the Russian market, according to the media outlet. “Exports are worth 125 million Euros and are of primary importance to the agriculture in northern Greece,” iefimerida.gr said.EU sanctions and the Russian food ban, investments, privatization, energy cooperation and the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, tourism, the Ukrainian crisis and Greece-Turkey relations are the main topics on the agenda. “Putin is preparing a ‘gift’ for Tsipras,” newsit.gr said, adding that it is the first visit of a Greek prime minister to Moscow in five years. According to the media outlet, Tsipras’ visit “caused outrage in Brussels” that “thinks the Russian president is trying to undermine the European stance on sanctions against Moscow.”




“Europe is threatened by ‘the Russian bear,'” said cretalive.gr, adding that the visit sent partners and creditors, especially in Berlin, into turmoil. Some “on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean also worry that Greece would throw itself into Russia’s arms to come up with ‘alternative plans’ to solve the Greek problem,” the Crete media outlet pointed out.


“Tsipras and Putin are forging a new alliance,” according to protothema.gr. “All eyes in Europe are on Tsipras and Putin. ‘The spring’ in Greek-Russian relations gets on Europe’s nerves. The visit has created an atmosphere of enthusiasm in Moscow. … It is seen as a breakthrough in the bilateral relations that would revive and strengthen cooperation in a number of areas,” the media outlet said.



“The visit also sends important political signals: both countries are discontent with the West. In this context Tsipras wants to develop a diverse foreign policy and alliances, while Putin wants to show that he has power and influence to attract the attention of European leaders and countries,” protothema.gr said.”If Europe and Washington wanted to turn Tsipras visit into a landmark political event, then they achieved this,” tvxs.gr said, adding that the Greek prime minister is fully aware of the political and economic risks and is comfortable with them.


According to the Etnos newspaper, Russia and Greece are opening a new chapter in bilateral relations, which are likely to improve following the visit.



Preparation for Saturday’s governorship polls: INEC meets stakeholders in Lagos

A stakeholders meeting by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos State is ongoing in Ikeja, in preparation for Saturday’s governorship and state House of Assembly polls.  Those present include politicians, party agents, electoral observers, media practitioners and security agents.
inec1

Speaking at the event, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Akin Orebiyii, apologised for challenges in the conduct of the March 28 presidential election.


He maintained that the commission would make use of the smart card readers alone for accreditation, noting that the problems which led to failure of the devices during the presidential poll have been resolved.  Orebiyi further warned that all political campaigns must stop by 12 midnight on Thursday. He stressed that candidates or party agents caught campaigning on Election Day would be arrested by security agents.


The Lagos Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Mr. Cyril Akhanemhe, and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, both of whom attended the forum which held prior to the presidential polls, were absent.


Punch

I won’t defect to APC – David Mark

Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday, said he was not thinking of joining the All Progressive Congress. He likewise re-confirmed his unflinching faithfulness to the Peoples Democratic Party.
david_mark

Mark expressed this at a unique church administration to mark his 67th birthday at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy Apo in Abuja.


He said,
“I have no reason to jump ship. I will not leave the PDP. I will be the last man standing for the PDP. The party gave me the platform to be where I am today.


“I will stay in the PDP to contribute my quota to the rebuilding and restructuring of the party.”


He noted that it was normal that in a democracy, winners must emerge while the losers go back to the drawing board and rejuvenate.


Mark said,
“The outcome of the presidential election in favour of APC is the will of God and majority of Nigerians.


“We, in the PDP have accepted the result in good faith.


“Those drifting to the APC now are fair weather friends of the PDP. They are seeking new green areas. When the PDP bounces back, they will seek another return to the PDP.


“I believe in PDP manifestos . I will work hard to bring the party back on track. What is important is that we have established democracy in Nigeria.”


 

PDP defectors, fair weather friends – David Mark

Senate President David Mark says the individuals who have left the PDP, after the gathering lost the Presidential decision, are faint-hearted allies.
David Mark 


“If I will be the last man standing, I will remain in PDP, defectors are fair weather friends,” says Mark as he celebrates his 67th birthday.

Abducted TASUED lecturer’s wife regains freedom

Mrs. Hamdallah Ettu, wife of a lecturer in the Department of Biology at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, Mr. Gbenga Ettu, who was kidnapped on April 3, has been released on Tuesday.
gunmen1

Mrs. Ettu was kidnapped on her way home from her shop where she sold foodstuffs and daily needs on April 3 with the kidnappers demanding the sum of N20m as ransom. According to a family source, the mother of five, who is currently in a hospital in Ijebu Ode, was released by the kidnappers after she went on hunger strike since her kidnap on Friday.


“The kidnappers refused to yield to the pleas of Mr. Ettu when he told them that he could not afford the ransom they asked for but they refused to release her threatening to kill her if the money wasn’t paid,” the source said.


“They called on Sunday to tell him that his wife had fainted since she refused to eat the food she has been given and hence encouraged him to raise the money as soon as possible.


“But they still held onto her until she passed out again the second time on Monday.”


The nursing mother was however released on Tuesday and dropped at Ikangba, in the outskirts of Ijebu Ode.


The source said,
“Mr. Ettu was again called on Tuesday night to pick up his wife at Omu-Ijebu by 8pm but after waiting for close to an hour, and nothing was heard, he had thought it was another ploy by the kidnappers before he got a call from his wife telling him that she was at the Obalende Police Station.


“She was then rushed to the hospital from the station because her state of health was really worrisome.”

IGP Suleiman Abba threatens to arrest police escort on election day

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, has cautioned police escort joined to legislators not to tail them to surveying focuses on race day.
abba

He said any policeman found in organization with legislators at polling centres, aside from those allocated to guarantee security there, would be arrested. The notice was contained in an announcement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, in Abuja on Wednesday.


He said,
“Only Police personnel specifically assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.  “No armed Police escort must be seen escorting politicians to the Polling units.  “Such (erring) policemen would be arrested and made to face stern disciplinary action.”


He commended Police personnel and other law enforcement agencies that participated in the policing of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections for their unparalleled professionalism during the exercise.


He urged all citizens to remain calm, confident, hopeful and trust in the ability of the police and other relevant agencies to discharge their constitutional mandate of ensuring the safety of lives and property during the exercise.  He pledged that the police would continue to protect the democratic rights and freedoms of the citizens.


He also reiterated the preparedness of the force to consolidate and re-enact the last election security success story in other future elections.

Court clears Ambode for Lagos gov race

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday dismissed a suit seeking to stop the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, from contesting the April 11 poll.
ambode


Justice Mohammed Yunusa declared that the plaintiffs had no locus standi to institute the action. The judge also held that the plaintiffs failed to establish any reasonable cause of action to sustain their prayers.  “None of the plaintiffs in the instant suit is an aspirant to be conferred with locus standi,” Yunusa held as he dismissed the suit.


The plaintiffs, Olorunfemi Oluwatosin and Dada Joseph, who are members of the APC, had approached the court seeking an order to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from allowing APC to field any candidate for the coming Saturday’s governorship election in Lagos.


In the originating summons filed through their lawyer, Samuel Adeniyi, the plaintiffs were challenging their alleged disenfranchisement in the party primary that produced Ambode in December last year.  They claimed that the primary was fraught with and predicated on irregularities.


They alleged that the party’s ward congresses, which were supposed to be conducted only in the 20 recognised local government areas of Lagos State, were also extended to the 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.


They also alleged that secret ballot rather than open ballot system was used during the congresses, arguing that same had rendered the process illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.  The defendants in the suit were APC, the INEC and Ambode.


Also joined as defendants were the other aspirants who vied for the party’s governorship ticket with Ambode: Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Dr. Leke Pitan, Tayo Ayinde, Olasupo Shasore, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Mrs. Tokunbo Agbesanwa, Dr. Tola Kasali, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Lanre Ope, Tokunbo Wahab, Adekunle Disu and Abayomi Sutton.


But APC in its preliminary objection, contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, being an intra-party affair. Besides, the party claimed that since the plaintiffs were neither delegates nor aspirants, they had no legal basis to complain.


It added,
“The conduct of the ward congresses for Lagos State governorship primary nomination was done in the constitutionally recognised 20 Local Government Areas in Lagos State and not in the 37 Local Council Development Areas as alleged by the plaintiffs.


“The plaintiffs have not disclosed any injury that the conduct of the ward congresses in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas have caused them either individually or collectively.”


APC described the plaintiffs’ case as academic, malafide, an abuse of court processes and one that was targeted at embarrassing the party. It therefore asked the court to immediately dismiss it and award cost of damages against the plaintiffs for instituting the action.


Yunusa, while dismissing the suit, upheld APC’s submission that the subject matter of the case was an intra-party affair and that the plaintiffs failed to show that they had sufficient interest to warrant the reliefs sought. He, however, did not award any cost against the plaintiffs.

Maid on the run after stealing valuables worth over ₦4m from family.

A broadcast that was sent out last night about a maid who stole from her employers.


The lady on my DP goes by the name Esther Aniefiok (from Akwa-Ibom). She was our housemaid until the (6th April) when she broke into our bedroom while we were out as a family between 12:30 and 6:30pm. She stole a lot of our valuables totaling a large amount of money. The items stolen include gold jewelries, wrist watches, shoes, clothing items and about N100,000 cash. Her agent was arrested, but released to a verified guarantor as he promised to report back to the ifako Gbagada police station on Friday, 10th of April with the Lady. Please share her picture and also contact me or hubby on 08022222616 or 08029990756 if you know her whereabouts. Also help send an email to omooduarere@gmail.com as I have been informed that the more mails she gets on this, the higher the likelihood of posting. Thank you.

Lagosians on twitter call out people making an attempt to blemish Fashola's work



So this is what happened the previous evening. A hashtag was made on twitter by those opposing APC Guber competitor, Ambode, to battle against him as well as hammer officeholder Governor, Fashola, with the case that he did nothing good  for the state as representative. The individuals who saw Fashola’s two terms and knew how Lagos was before took to twitter to support him. When you do great work, individuals notice. See more tweets bellow.

'It is in your interest that you vote for APC' - President-elect Buhari appeals to Ibos in Lagos

Taking after the commotion that emerged from the recent ati- Igbo comments by the Oba of Lagos, President-elect, Gen. Buhari has engaged Igbos in Lagos state to make peace and vote in favor of APC in the April eleventh governorship decision to their greatest advantage, saying they will benefit from his administration on the off chance that they do as such.
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As per him, all tribes are decently spoken to in Lagos state and there is no Northern Nigeria or Southern Nigeria, we have one and only Nigeria. Gen Buhari said this while campaigning  for APC Governorship hopeful, Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos yesterday April seventh.


“I admire what your governor has done in terms of mobilising revenue to sustain Lagos development. I have a lot of respect for Governor Fashola for his hard work, commitment to the state and the country. There is no doubt that Lagos is a mini-Nigeria. We are all here and it has been mentioned by previous speakers that everybody (tribe) is adequately represented in Lagos. So, I assure you. If you vote for the continuity of APC in Lagos, you stand to gain more. It is in your interest that you vote for the APC. Please when you go home tell your neighbours, relatives and even the opposition to please bury the hatchet. Let them fall in line and vote the APC. When we were coming in our bus, Fashola told me how Lagos State had been spending to maintain the federal infrastructure here such as buildings, roads and other institutions. I had promised before that if I won the election and became the President, I would make Lagos my priority. Governor Fashola is already holding to me to that promise so I would like the incoming governor to listen carefully and make sure he makes me honour my undertaking.” he said