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Politics / NIGERIA DECIDES: Results From Benue State by 1LRNZH: 11:02am On Mar 29, 2015 |
[img]http://2.bp..com/-0BM_T2dUkvQ/VRbWAxnULoI/AAAAAAAANMw/KX3jXtPlk4Y/s1600/benie.jpg[/img] See results below. OGBADIBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT OLACHAGBAHA COUNCIL WARD POLLING UNIT: PRIMARY SCHOOL PRESIDENTIAL PDP 89 APC 71 SENATORIAL PDP 109 A.P.C 65 POLLING UNIT: OLAPE PRESIDENTIAL PDP 62 APC 66 SENATORIAL PDP 75 A.P.C 54 POLLING UNIT: IPISU PRESIDENTIAL PDP 87 APC 41 SENATORIAL PDP 94 A.P.C 36 POLLING UNIT: OKWOLI PRESIDENTIAL PDP 81 APC 57 SENATORIAL PDP 92 A.P.C 54 OTUKPO TOWN CENTRAL WARD 3 ELECTON RESULTS OJIRA OPEN SPACE PRESIDENTIAL PDP 87 APC 67 SENATORIAL PDP 97 APC 61 HOUSE OF REPS PDP 87 APC 77 LGA: OTUKPO WARD: OTUKPO TOWN CENTRAL WARD III BEN ONAJI STREET PRESIDENTIAL PDP 58 APC 62 SENATORIAL PDP 75 APC 49 HOUSE OF REPS PDP 62 APC 61 LOCAL GOVERNMENTSECRETARIAT PRESIDENTIAL PDP 76 APC 98 SENATORIAL PDP 101 APC 77 HOUSE OF REPS PDP 52 APC 111 QUEENS' HOTEL PRESIDENTCIAL PDP 116 APC 84 SENATORIAL PDP 129 APC 72 HOUSE OF REPS PDP 101 APC 95 OHIMINI LGA EHATOKPE WARD POLLING UNITS: PLAY GROUND/UGENE PLAY GROUND -01 Senatorial - PDP 142 APC 119 House of Reps - PDP 130 APC 130 PRESIDENTIAL PDP 132 APC 108 POLLING UNITS: OPEN SPACE/ANMEJI OPEN SPACE F-03 Senatorial - PDP 79 APC 142 House of Reps - PDP 69 APC 142 PRESIDENTIAL PDP 79 APC 135 POLLING UNITS: OPEN SPACE/AI-OKE UGENE -04 Senatorial - PDP 200 APC 104 House of Reps - PDP 195 APC 105 PRESIDENTIAL PDP 194 APC 108 POLLING UNITS: OPEN SPACE/OLA-AME -05 Senatorial - PDP 92 APC 30 House of Reps - PDP 82 APC 30 PRESIDENTIAL PDP 89 APC 30 JINGIR MARKET SQUARE, Benue Buhari-257 Jonathan-165 SENATE Akume-261 Mku-166 HOUSE OF REPS Hon Orker Jev-244 Hon Terfa Ityav-174 Igbanomaje open space PRESIDENTIAL: PDP: 85 APC 29 SENATORIAL: PDP: 87 APC 30 PDP Benue State, LGEA Prim Sch Sankera Pollinh Unit President: APC 88 PDP 36 Senate APC 94 PDP 31 Reps: APC 91 PDP 37 Polling Unit 004 HUDCO II North Bank Makurdi, Benue State HOR (APC:164 PDP: 73) Senate (APC: 171, PDP: 75) Presidential (APC:178 PDP:65) Fati House in Guma LGA of Benue State President; PDP =58, APC 95 Ahwa in Gboko LGA of Benue State President; APC=161 PDP=18 Uzo village in zaki biam . Presidency PDP=73 A P C=148. Senate PDP=92 APC=140. Reps PDP123 APC=87 Adikpo: Terdoo Guest house Presidential APC---194 PDP---72 Senate APC---184 PDP---77 Reps APC---130 PDP---126 APGA---14 St. Thomas Catholic Mission, Anum, Makurdi, Opposite Benue State University First Gate: PRESIDENTIAL: APC: 354 PDP: 43 APGA: 2 SENATE ZONE 'B': APC: 354 votes. PDP: 44 REPS: APC: 342 PDP: 51 APGA: 2 Garba Salisu, behind customs makurdi House of Reps APC 84 PDP 13. Senatorial PDP 6 APC 92. Presidential PDP 2 APC 296. Hudco unit 2, Makurdi House of reps Pdp—–73 Apc——-164 Senate PDP——-75 APC——-171 Presidential PDP———-65 APC——-178 PU 011, Benpoly, Ugbokolo, Benue State. PRESIDENTIAL: PDP: 48 APC 95 ACPN 02 Invalid 16. SENATE PDP 70 APC 85 Invalid 03 Abiem from Gwer east APC 242 PDPD 86 SENATE APC 206 PDP 97 Results from Buruku LGEA IMENGER PRI SCH BKB Buhari-375 Jonathan-23 SENATE Akume-381 Mku-24 HOUSE OF REPS Hon Orker Jev-381 Hon Terfa Ityav-26 LGEA TAHAV 1 POLLING UNIT Buhari-344 Jonathan-30 SENATE Akume-340 MKu -34 HOUSE OF REPS Hon Orker Jev-342 Hon Terfa Ityav-30 ANG PRIM SCH UGANGESE Buhari-100 Jonathan-24 SENATE Akume 98 MKu 61 HOUSE OF REPS Hon Terfa Ityav-51 Hon Orker Jev 98 ANATA VILLAGE ANATA Buhari-126 Jonathan-51 SENATE Akume-123 MKu-36 HOUSE OF REPS Hon Orker Jev-127 Hon Terfa Ityav-61 TYOGBENDA MBAJOR MKT SQUARE 1 Buhari-182 Jonathan -47 SENATE Akume-148 Mku-53 HOUSE OF REPS Hon Orker Jev-136 Hon Terfa Ityav-56 TYOGBENDA MBAJOR MKT SQUARE 11 Buhari-207 Jonathan-24 SENATE Akume-206 Mku-23 HOUSE OF REPS Hon Orker Jev-206 Hon Terfa Ityav-24 JINGIR MARKET SQUARE Buhari-257 Jonathan-165 SENATE Akume-261 Mku-166 HOUSE OF REPS Hon Orker Jev-244 Hon Terfa Ityav-174 Madonna pulling unit Makurdi, 042. Presidential PDP-37 APC-284 SENATE PDP-40 APC-282, House of reps PDP 39 APC-275 AMELADU MELADU polling unit 1, Ipav in gboko local govt, For House of rep. PDP=31 APC=127 APA=1 ADP=1 invalid=3 Senate PDP=37 APC=126 President PDP=34 APC=127 CPP=1 invalid 1 AMELADU polling unit 2 House of rep. PDP=42 APC=158 President PDP=46 APC=159 1 rejected 1 invalid Senate PDP=47 APC=158 APGA=1 Fildi II (BSU) Makurdi statistics REPS: APC=220 PDP=23 Invalid=13 SENATE: APC=230 PDP=22 APGA=1 Invalid=2 PRESIDENT: APC=234 PDP=20 Invalid=2 Fildi I (BSU) Makurdi Presidency APC=173 PDP=22 PU 07-13-11-025 Makurdi, Benue State. SENATE PDP- 84 APC - 300 Obaganya Unit, Otukpo Presidential PDP 112, APC 114. House of Rep PDP 99 APC102. Pevikyaa polling unit. Presidential result 1. Apc (buhari)=118 2. Pdp(goodluck)=52 Senatorial result 1. Apc(gemade)=104 2. Pdp(suswam)=52 House of reps result 1. Apc(ateze)=27 2. Pdp(udende)=123 Zaki Akpam Abeke's palace Unit PRESIDENTIAL PDP-53 APC-167 Government house polling unit, Makurdi PU001 Presidential APC 181 PDP 99 OTUKPO CLUB (WARD 1 OTUKPO) Senate PDP 267 Senate APC 108. House of Rep PDP 168. APC 222. Presidency PDP 228. President APC 169 Gbajabiamila PU Presidential APC – 123 PDP – 81 Yila Alla Council Ward, Benue State (Presidential Elections) APC - 357 PDP 159 Wailomayo ward Unit 030 Presidential APC= 187 PDP= 67 Senate APC= 196 PDP= 64 House of Reps APC= 185 PDP= 70 Results at Madikpo Kano street polling unit 1 Reps APC- 166 PDP- 58 Invalid- 55 Senate APC- 189 PDP- 69 Invalid- 23 President APC- 186 PDP- 53 Invalid- 43 Edgar Iorshaer pulling unit, Gboko Reps: PDP 151 APC 31 INVALID 12 Senate: PDP 28 APC 160 INVALID 6 Presidential PDP 23 APC 158 INV 13 The result at Ankpa/Wadata 04 polling unit beside Queen's hotel. Reps APC- 161 PDP- 65 Invalid- 10 Senate APC- 166 PDP- 68 Invalid- 5 Presidential APC- 164 PDP- 68 Invalid- 7 Benue State University, Makurdi FIRST GATE POLLING UNIT PRESIDENTIAL: APC: 48 votes. PDP: 10 votes. S SENATE: APC: 44 votes PDP: 13 votes APGA: 1 vote HOUSE OF REPS: APC: 46 PDP: 10 2 invalid Anshange Apa polling in Gboko: House of reps: APC:190 PDP:22 Senate APC:186 PDP:28 Presidential APC:187 PDP:23 PU 07-13-11-025, Makurdi, Benue State. HOR PDP - 83 APC - 290 Gboko St John 011 Presidential PDP-31, APC-172 Reps: PDP-32 APC-178 Senate: PDP-40 APC - 175 MBAKE WARD PU 002 REPS APC 258, PDP 14 ACCORD 1 SENATE APC 262 PDP 13 PRESIDENTIAL APC 260 PDP 13 Daanyam polling station, Gboko Presidential: APC 235. PDP 39. Senate APC 229 PDP 60 House of Reps APc 240 PDP 40 Adikpo Metropolis 014 Presidential: PDP-39 APC-108 Senate: PDP-45 APC-102 Invalid-O2 House of reps PDP-71 APC-65 APGA-12 Akpehe polling unit in Makurdi. Reps ......Apc...268 pdp....39 Sen.........Apc...282 Pdp...36 Presid...Apc...288 Pdp...30 PRESIDENTIAL PDP- 45 APC-13 SENATORIAL PDP - 52 APC-10 INVALID-4 OSUKPO - PLAY GROUND SENATORIAL PDP-77 APC-20 PRESIDENTIAL PDP - 77 APC-20 OLOKWU - PLAY GROUND PRESIDENTIAL PDP-43 APC-24 SENATORIAL PDP-50 APC-19 OSABO - PLAY GROUND PRESIDENTIAL PDP - 56 APC-7 SENATORIAL PDP-61 APC-4 Kanshio Primary School, Makurdi House of Reps PDP 41 APC129 Senate PDP 43 APC 133 Presidential PDP 40 APC 133 http://www.idomavoice.com/2015/03/nigeria-decides-result-jonathan-david.html |
Politics / GRAPHIC PICS: Unknown Gunmen Kill INEC Officials in APC Stronghold (Gombe State) by 1LRNZH: 9:05pm On Mar 28, 2015 |
Unknown Gunmen are attacking INEC officials and voters in mufti in Nafada/Dukku Federal Constituency. These men are in mufti and residents believe they're not Boko Haram. This area is an APC stronghold in Gombe. An APC chieftain called the Commandant who said they don't have vehicles to come rescue the people. Kindly broadcast so this can stop. Hassan Rilwan Publisher, Sardauna Magazine @Sardaunamag
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Politics / Anxiety Over Cracks On N2.5bn Jonathan Commissioned Flyover In Kano by 1LRNZH: 2:34pm On Mar 24, 2015 |
[img]http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/jwBFrAxrPAnbyfKL8h3-Y25KIRDG0omOu5lklpI7SttMr-QQ78YldafImkq37gqV0GcZHabEiqs9id9jVtP_ZM6SLvPb2cFC7jyr=w384-h384-nc[/img] There was anxiety among residents and motorists over alleged cracks on the N2.5b Kundila flyover commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan Saturday, last Week,in Kano. Motorists were prevented from using the 2.4m bridge, Tuesday afternoon. The alleged cracks on the flyover triggered celebration among thousands of youths who chorused in unison that the federal government project was a ruse. When contacted the Managing Director, Rocad Construction company, that handled the project, Roger Farajallah told Vanguard on phone that “the bridge is intact and we are installing a speed breaker at the moment”. However, armed police have been deployed to the scene to control traffic. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/anxiety-over-cracks-on-n2-5bn-kundila-flyover-in-kano/ 1 Like 2 Shares |
Politics / NDI-IGBO: APC Promises Toll-Free 2nd Niger Bridge by 1LRNZH: 1:05pm On Mar 24, 2015 |
[img]http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/riZQK7xBvNRGl3N1dFPq7jn-VhJrb1J9utNqlBHDd4jnO_YMHqPT49juiALSjPzGi_pADElmXEfPbSkqufrg8CBvesiFFTUsuXYCMaziAHi4tZq8kH3Y9ZJVqHwXsjcEw1k=w412-h250-nc[/img] THE All Progressives Congress, APC, has promised that it would build toll –free 2nd Niger Bridge if elected into office on Saturday, vowing to revoke the ongoing contract awarded by the present administration under Public, Private, Partnership, PPP, with provision for toll collection. The APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, who spoke through Chief Audu Ogbeh, one of the leaders of the party and former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the town hall meeting organized in Onitsha, Anambra State, said it was not fair for the PDP government to be contemplating building a bridge in which users would be paying toll fees, when the country has the resources to build the bridge for the people. According to Ogbeh, money for the building of the bridge would be saved from plugging the avenues of financial corruption that had tended to impoverish the country and her people by those in authority. He said that the present government has been spending nearly 90% of the country’s income on recurrent expenditure where the high corruption is embedded, adding that an APC government would ensure that the resources of the country were properly accounted for and used for the benefit of Nigerians. Ogbeh also regretted that the economy of the South East geo-political zone has been on the downward trend because of the unfavourable government policies, assuring that APC would reverse the situation when it takes over power in May this year. He said: “The South East is the place Nigeria’s industrial revolution will take place. We recall that many industries took off in this part of the country, but unfavourable structural adjustments led to the collapse of most of the industries. The APC sees South East as a strategic zone for the survival of Nigeria industrially, but with the present situation, it is very difficult for the industries to survive.” He also said that APC believes that power must rotate among the geo-political zones, assuring that the best bet for the Igbo to occupy the office of the president of Nigeria is for them to support Buhari in 2015. He also said that the whole of the South East cities would be linked by rail, just as the party would properly dredge the River Niger to make it possible for the business community to clear their goods in Onitsha. Chairman of the town hall meeting, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, who was a former president of Ohaneze Ndigbo said there is need for the Igbo to support Buhari because of their desire to return to the center of action in Nigeria. He said: “We need a toll –free 2nd Niger Bridge because no bridge in Nigeria is on toll. We hope that if Buhari comes to office on May 29, 2015, the bridge will be completed by 2018. “Also, 32 years after the commissioning of Onitsha River Port, no ship has berthed there, just as the Aba Dry Port also commissioned several years ago has remained abandoned.” He pleaded with Nigerian leaders not to push Igbo out of the country as their actions tend to portray, and made a personal request on APC that he would like to see an Igbo president before he dies. The Onitsha town hall meeting, however, failed to live up to its billing due to the absence of the APC presidential candidate. Though the event was billed to start by 1pm, the entourage that eventually addressed the gathering arrived at 5.46 pm. Former governor of Anambra State and senatorial candidate for Anambra Central, Senator Chris Ngige, while explaining Buhari’s absence, said the APC candidate had to attend an urgent meeting with ECOWAS commission in Abuja, adding that he therefore had to travel to Abuja after APC rally in Owerri. He explained that Buhari might still make it to Onitsha before Saturday’s election, regretting his inability to speak with the people directly. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/apc-promises-toll-free-2nd-niger-bridge/ 12 Likes 1 Share |
Politics / BOKO HARAM: Nigeria Pays Chadian, Nigerien Soldiers N146m Monthly by 1LRNZH: 7:38pm On Mar 23, 2015 |
Nigeria is bearing the financial burden of the operations by multinational forces against Boko Haram insurgents, findings by The PUNCH on Sunday have revealed. The troops from Nigeria’s neighbours – Chad and Niger – it was learnt in Abuja, receive N146.25m monthly as pocket and feeding allowances from the Federal Government. The sum is however different from that paid by Nigeria for fuelling of the operational vehicles of the foreign troops and other logistics, which our source did not state. A breakdown of the N146.2m shows that the 2,500 troops contributed by Chad receive N112.5m monthly while the 750 soldiers from Niger get N33.75m. Thus each of the soldiers from the two countries gets N45,000 monthly as pocket and feeding allowances, the same amounts paid their Nigerian counterparts. The joint war was initiated by the governments of Nigeria, Chad and Niger to flush out the insurgents from the North-East and to halt their incursion into the two Francophone countries. It was further gathered that the two Francophone countries, are in addition to the allowances paid by Nigeria, making demands for funding by the international community. Our source, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not permitted to speak on the issue, said, “Although, it is a joint operation, a kind of sub-regional collaborative effort, Nigeria is the only country funding the operations. “The arrangement is not such that each participating country funds its defence forces deployed for the operation. “Nigeria is funding the operation to the extent of providing the allowances for all the Chadian and Nigerien troops involved. “Apart from that, the country is also providing for the feeding of these troops and fuelling all their operational vehicles.” It was further gathered that in spite of the sacrifices being made by the Federal Government, the joint operation is being threatened by mutual suspicion. There are allegations that reports about the conflict in the international media are being manipulated by Chadians in the mission area to portray Nigerian troops in bad light. It was learnt that the Defence Headquarters was not comfortable with the slanting of stories to highlight supposed exploits of the supporting countries to the detriment of the Nigerian forces and indeed the country. The report that Chadian troops liberated Damasak, a border community between Nigeria and Niger on March 9, 2015 was mentioned as one of such. In it, the Chadians were reported to have killed 200 insurgents while liberating the town. However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, told journalists on Monday that the town was still in terrorists’ hands. It was further gathered that the mutual suspicion was exacerbated by an incident which resulted in the killing of an unspecified number of Nigerian troops by insurgents on their way to Dikwa. The New York Times quoted the Chadian Foreign Minister, Moussa Mahamat, as having said that “the Nigerian Army has not succeeded in facing up to Boko Haram.” He had added, “The occupation of these towns, this is up to Nigeria. My fondest wish is that they assume their responsibilities. “Our biggest wish is that the Nigerian Army pulls itself together — that it takes responsibility in the towns. We are ready to disengage, right away.” However, the Director Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, who dismissed the claim on Saturday, said, “It is not true that our soldiers are not willing to take over such communities. There is no town that our soldiers have liberated that is not being well secured and well patrolled at the moment. “We have always warned against irresponsible comments in this collaboration and we are not ready to join issues with anybody. We will do everything to sustain this collaboration.” Attempts to get Olukolade to comment on Nigeria’s financial commitment to the ongoing operation were unsuccessful on Sunday. Calls to his mobile telephone number did not connect as of the time of 8pm. http://www.punchng.com/news/bharam-nigeria-pays-chadian-nigerien-soldiers-n146m-monthly/ |
Politics / [VIDEO] Vote For Progress And Security, Maintain Peace - Obama Tells Nigerians by 1LRNZH: 5:58pm On Mar 23, 2015 |
The US president has spoken, Barack Obama and written to Nigeria on the approaching General elections. The video and text was released on the US embassy website. => http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/mobile//pr_03232015.html See Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuFUPV2WLUw BEGIN TEXT Hello. Today, I want to speak directly to you—the people of Nigeria. Nigeria is a great nation and you can be proud of the progress you’ve made. Together, you won your independence, emerged from military rule, and strengthened democratic institutions. You’ve strived to overcome division and to turn Nigeria’s diversity into a source of strength. You’ve worked hard to improve the lives of your families and to build the largest economy in Africa. Now you have a historic opportunity to help write the next chapter of Nigeria’s progress—by voting in the upcoming elections. For elections to be credible, they must be free, fair and peaceful. All Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear. So I call on all leaders and candidates to make it clear to their supporters that violence has no place in democratic elections—and that they will not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence—before, during, or after the votes are counted. I call on all Nigerians to peacefully express your views and to reject the voices of those who call for violence. And when elections are free and fair, it is the responsibility of all citizens to help keep the peace, no matter who wins. Successful elections and democratic progress will help Nigeria meet the urgent challenges you face today. Boko Haram—a brutal terrorist group that kills innocent men, women and children—must be stopped. Hundreds of kidnapped children deserve to be returned to their families. Nigerians who have been forced to flee deserve to return to their homes. Boko Haram wants to destroy Nigeria and all that you have worked to build. By casting your ballot, you can help secure your nation’s progress. I’m told that there is a saying in your country: “to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.” Today, I urge all Nigerians—from all religions, all ethnic groups, and all regions—to come together and keep Nigeria one. And in this task of advancing the security, prosperity, and human rights of all Nigerians, you will continue to have a friend and partner in the United States of America. END TEXT http://newsrescue.com/video-obama-speaks-to-nigeria-says-to-defeat-boko-haram-vote-for-security-and-progress-and-keep-peace/#ixzz3VEFUo4bP |
Politics / GEJ Says Contract Awarded For ‘Technology’ To Fight Oil Theft by 1LRNZH: 1:30pm On Mar 23, 2015 |
[img]http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2014/06/640x480xPRESIDENT-Goodluck-Jonathan.jpg.pagespeed.ic.eMDKkL7Fh6.webp[/img] President Goodluck Jonathan said on Sunday in Abuja, that the Federal Government will develop a new technology to combat the activities of oil thieves in Nigeria. Mr. Jonathan made the promise while fielding questions at the second session of the 2015 Presidential Debate organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG), ahead of the general elections. Mr. Jonathan said the issue of oil theft was a serious challenge that must be dealt with, adding that the government was developing a technology to fight it to a standstill. He noted that the private sector participation must be encouraged to make the oil sector truly profitable to the point of exporting petroleum products. “The issue of stealing our common assets; we are developing a technology now, contract have been awarded and we must stop it. “The issue of downstream is a combination of government and private sector; it has to do with refining, production of fertilizers, petrochemicals. “The privatised companies of government especially the Eleme Petrochemicals is working very well. “That is a big success story as the Eleme Petrochemicals was abandoned but now it is one of the biggest in the World. “They are planning to expand and bring in fertiliser production into it,” the president said. He said that the government planned to liberalise the downstream sector for more private sector participation in the exportation of petroleum products. According to him, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and the entire sector will have to be unbundled even without the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/178952-jonathan-says-contract-awarded-for-technology-to-fight-oil-theft.html |
Politics / PRESIDENTIAL POLL: Jonathan Loses Bid To Get Igbo Bloc Votes by 1LRNZH: 11:04pm On Mar 22, 2015 |
ENUGU — With five days to the presidential election, fresh indications emerged, yesterday, that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, may have lost ground for a bloc vote in the South East geo-political zone. This is even as the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, endorsed Jonathan which had received the bashing of groups and individuals across the Igbo nation. Speaking on last Friday’s endorsement of All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate,General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) by Igbo leaders in the 19 northern states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, under the aegis of Igbo Delegates Assembly, IDA,urging him to rescue the country from being run aground by Jonathan. [img]http://cdn1.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/412x250xIgbo-leaders1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Mu1LFPRpfk.webp[/img] APC Presidential Campaign Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, (middle) flanked by APC National Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, APC Chieftain and former Goverinor, Chief Ogbonnaya Ono, Eze Ndi Igbo Suleja, Amb (Dr.) Igwe Collins Chibueze Okoli, Uche Eginti Eze Udo, President General Igbo delegates Assembly (IDA) of the19 Northern States, Chief Damian Sunny Inyamah and others adopt GEN Muhammadu Buhari for 2015 Presidency at the APC Presidential Campaign office in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE The party’s spokesperson, South East, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said in a statement: “Ndigbo should not make the mistake of putting all their eggs in one basket. “With IDA’s endorsement, it means Ndigbo will be part of the victory squad which was what the late Rt. Hon. Chuba Okadigbo predicted in 2002, that Buhari would not only spearhead a coalition to stop one party’s system in our dear country, but would fix a broken Nigeria. “The Yoruba are 60-40 per cent and the Hausas are 80-20 per cent, in support of Buhari and Jonathan respectively. Why should Ndigbo support Jonathan 100 per cent? Is it not a gross error? “It will be recalled that the IDA endorsed President Jonathan in 2011, hoping to get fresh air, only to get hot air.” http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/presidential-poll-jonathan-loses-bid-to-get-igbo-bloc-votes/ 5 Likes |
Politics / 67 Yr Old Escapee Woman Describes Her Experience In Boko Haram Camp by 1LRNZH: 5:44am On Mar 22, 2015 |
The story of how Mama Maryamu Bala of Madagali in Adamawa state is unlike the other people that were captured by insurgents. She had terrible experiences; ugly and undeserved treatments unleashed on them by Boko Haram from the north east Nigeria. Hers is a much fascinating and mind touching story. Hear her story: HOW I WAS ABDUCTED My Name is Maryamu Bala from Madagali, Marghi by tribe. The past three months was a hell of experience on earth. Though I was not being subjected to any heinous work, what I saw and went through will convey my sympathetic story to you. That fateful day, I and my granddaughter (Abigail) are working on my farm in the borders between Madagali and Gwoza when all of a sudden I heard my daughter shout “run grandma, they are coming on us, run they are here to kill us”. I told her “granddaughter run and leave me. What use will I be for them at this my age (67)? Even if they carry me to their camp I will only be a liability to them. I tell you that girl refused to go until when this people (Boko Haram) came and pounced on us. Out of shock I fainted for some hours. Before I realized it, I saw myself in a very big forest with different kinds of people both old and Young including women of different age groups having a sort of division of labour with instructors and armed men monitoring everything everyone is doing. MY LIFE IN BOKO HARAM CAMP My grown up daughter being a very agile and beautiful Girl they immediately seized her to a different unit of the camp. They converted the two of us to Islam when found out that that we are Christian from Madagali. They gave us Muslim veil and told us from today we are no longer Christians. They thought me to be meditating a portion of Koran on daily basis. My son you cannot believe me, it surprised me so much that their kind of Islam is different with the one I know many of my relations are practicing in Madagali. They thought us to be worshiping on difference timing from the time I use to see my people observing when they are to pray. Atimes east is not a compulsory focus area of worship, anywhere can serve the purpose. My first three weeks in that camp opened my eyes to discover that that place is meant to be training amateurs and foot soldiers. Sometimes you see Helicopters are dropping things in cartoons, heavy objects are always being uploaded using the people captured with very hash instructions. Failure to do that or any unnecessary delay you will just hear a gun shot on somebody’s head, if you are lucky it will be on your leg. They then drag your corpse to a nearby bush and burry. In that camp I saw different people they called Ameer, who are mostly going round the camp making sure all people are always adhering to the teachings of Islam. There are other people who are always armed and combat ready that they do refer to as commandant. These ones are more dreadful than any one; they are the people commanding thousands of newly recruited members. On daily basis I am the one that normally ask to pray for them, asking Allah’s favor on their behalf as I happened to be the oldest woman, not doing any work at all. I was later taken to a different camp close to Sambisa, the camp is between our lands in Michika and those areas of Cameroon, I know those areas very well because as a young woman we use to go there for farms, fire woods and trek through to other parts of Cameroon. That camp formation is more organized and structured than the former one. In this one I suspected it to be where Chibok Girls were kept. Every morning a lanky shrink bearded man will come and address the whole congregation, giving orders of duties. I was treated by a professional Doctor. In that camp I also saw engineers, young girls who are nurses, drivers, carpenters, communication experts and many others that I cannot describe their careers. It was only in that camp that one of the commandants came to my sleeping room and asked me to be careful to follow all instructions or else he will drink my blood for lunch. I knew that day my life has come to an end and I concluded my granddaughter has gone to our ancestors as there was no trace of her since I left the former camp. My son I saw devils; I saw cannibals and people who can do anything in the name of religion. My duty in that is to always observe the Abridged five normal prayers a day, to also sit down to be memorising Koran. After my stay in that camp for more than a month I noticed people on every day going into the other phase of the building amidst tied security, some of the people they resemble Arabs with long hair, while some are pure white coming around having some series of meetings. A girl who is one of the maids confided in me and said “Mama you see other side of the camp is where Abubakar Shekau and top commandant are living, there are many girls of our age there, even me they don’t allow to go there.” When that young girl said that to me, I quickly remember the story of abducted Chibok School Girls, though I did not see them but my spirit told me they are in there. HOW I WAS RELEASED They still transfer me with many other people to a different camp much closer to Cameroon as I was told by our Ameer that we will be taken to Sudan for special training. It was there I started crying to that man, asking him what use I will be to them, begging him to help me go back to Madagali. The Man immediately shouted me down and threatened to kill me. Same day they brought other people from another camp. Miraculously I saw my granddaughter in a very bad condition. It dawned on me that they could have defiled her. In the night, a man I never met walked up to where we were sleeping and said, “I saw you crying yesterday and it touched my heart, I was kidnaped just like you for more than four years, but don’t worry I will help you to escape you and your daughter this night.” After some few hours he still came back to us and tapped my daughter. When she woke up, he asked her to wake me too. The man held my hand, commanded us not to say a word. My brother we trekked in the that evil forest until my strength failed me, when the man notice I no longer have strength, he backed me and we walked close to thirty kilometers and got to place well fenced. There he asked us to sit down and rest. We rested for about five minutes. He now told us to go and get bench, close by. It appears that place is use to be a deserted training camp of the Boko Haram. They arranged the bench and chairs and he asked my girl to climb up to the other side. When my daughter successfully did that, this hefty man high held me up to my daughter’s end where she struggled to hold me down. Immediately he jumped up to our side, we walked outside that forest to a point we discovered a narrow path, it was there he said we should just keep on walking until the day will break and he bade us goodbye. It was from that place we trekked for five days to Yola, Adamawa state. http://newsrescue.com/white-men-arabs-cannibals-choppers-abducted-girls-and-other-details-revealed-as-67-yr-old-escapee-woman-describes-boko-haram-camps/#axzz3V2uM8Qve |
Politics / Amaechi’s Aide, Freddy Ndigbara Kidnapped By Gunmen At Rivers Rally by 1LRNZH: 7:43pm On Feb 22, 2015 |
Unknown gunmen struck again in Rivers State, kidnapping the one of the aides to the State Governor, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara. Ndigbara, who is an anchorman for Governor Rotimi Amaechi events inside and outside Government House, Port Harcourt, was whisked away on Sunday by hoodlums in Kaani Community, Khana Local Government Area. It was gathered that Ndigbara, who is popularly called Freddie by Government House workers, was accosted and forced into a waiting car by the gunmen during a ward rally organised by the All Progressives Congress in the area. Oblivious of the danger lying ahead of him, the kidnap victim was said to have travelled from Port Harcourt to his home town to be part of the rally. The hoodlums, according to an eyewitness, had stormed the rally with a red Toyota Highlander sports utility van, made a quick search for their target before forcing him into the car. It was gathered that the organisers were planning to arrange the canopy for the rally when the kidnappers struck. The PUNCH learnt that Ndigbara’s abductors immediately sped off to an unknown destination, just as members of the party in Kaani, Ward Six, took cover to avoid being shot by the suspected kidnappers. Speaking on the incident, a former Chief Press Secretary to Amaechi, Mr. Blessing Wikina, said a group of gunmen, suspected to be thugs working for the Peoples Democratic Party, invaded the rally and took Ndigbara away. State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, confirmed the incident, adding that effort had already been intensified to ensure that the governor’s aide was released. http://www.punchng.com/news/gunmen-kidnap-amaechis-aide-at-rivers-rally/ 4 Likes 2 Shares |
Politics / THE IMPLICATION Of Obasanjo’s Departure From The PDP – Buhari Campaign Group by 1LRNZH: 9:22am On Feb 22, 2015 |
Against the backdrop of the drama acted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the course of quitting PDP, Malam Garba Shehu, the Director of Communications of the APC presidential campaign, in an encounter, enjoined other members to leave the PDP and openly shred their membership cards. How do you describe the alleged moves by the ruling party, PDP, to disorganise the APC ahead of the postponed elections? PDP leaders know they are losing this election, they have seen the handwriting on the wall. How do you mean? We are aware that they commissioned opinion polls conducted by some outfits domiciled in Israel, UK, US and even Nigeria and the verdict shows they are losing the election. So it is very clear that they just want to hold us down. They decided to employ all antics to hold and slow us down, so that they can do a catch up. Basically, that is their trick and Nigerians fully understand it and that is what is playing out presently. We learnt that armed security agents besieged your residence recently as well as that of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. How do you take that? Well, is it intended to distract and intimidate our party leaders. The PDP does not want anyone to discuss corruption, the economic degradation and the unspeakable foul play in the NNPC. Neither do they want anybody to discuss the insecurity in Nigeria. If you observe very well, anytime they talk about insecurity in Nigeria, they tend to generalise it as a global phenomenon. What they want is to take away our minds, from these critical issues, to inconsequential issues. They have been on it since. They started with inconsequential age of Gen. Buhari, later they called him (Buhari) a religious bigot, they later turned into the inconsequential certificate issue; they also went too far to discuss the health of Gen. Buhari; now they are using armed security agents to intimidate our leaders. We know their tricks. It won’t change anything. Nigerians are simply sick and tired of this government. That is the truth. They are tired of unemployment, their acclaimed fastest growing economy that has no effect on the lives of average Nigerians and in a tailspin. Nigerians are tired of a government that has made corruption a culture and a government that cannot protect lives and property. We must continue to talk about them even when they surround our homes and roads with armed security agents. There have been reactions on why former President Olusegun Obasanjo left the PDP, openly shredding his membership card. What, in your view, does this portend in the political landscape? The departure of Obasanjo from the PDP, to us, is a welcome development and should be instructive enough to other card carrying members of the PDP to start shredding their own membership cards too! They are just wasting this great country’s time and theirs too! The truth is that the PDP has no solution to the problems facing us as a nation. In fact, they are wasting our time too! It took Obasanjo such a long time to realise this. But I am happy he has come to the point of realisation. What is the implication of Obasanjo shredding his membership openly? It means PDP is ruined. Being the god father of the party and he left the party, should there be any reason for any reasonable member of the party to remain there? What I expect is that other members of the party should start tearing their cards and getting out of the party. The roof is falling on the house and whoever wants to be saved should get out before the roof crashes on their heads. Do you see this move by Obasanjo as a form of endorsement of the APC? The APC is a movement. Whoever can read the hand writing on the wall, will realise that Nigerians have seized the opportunity. APC is out of pilot, Nigerians are driving it themselves. They see it as an instrument of change that they desire. Whether the PDP sees it or not is left to them. Change is imminent and APC is fully prepared to bring about the desired change the people are clamouring for. Amid the claim of lopsided distribution of the permanent voter cards (PVC) by the PDP presidential campaign spokesman,Fani-Kayode, are you optimistic of the general elections holding on the rescheduled dates? We in the APC campaign group don’t have time to discuss Fani-Kayode. We are particular about issues affecting Nigerians. APC didn’t appoint the INEC boss, or his commissioners. It is the PDP-led administration that appointed them. Why are they having problem with them? It is because they don’t want an election that is free, fair and credible? Are they not putting themselves to ridicule by attacking INEC! As a government that appointed INEC in the first place, coming to take on them in the manner they are doing is laughable! It shows that they don’t even know what they are looking for and what they want for this country. Otherwise, why would they put a commission together and then you begin to fight it? Why did you put them there in the first instance? If you deliberately ruin INEC, you destroy its responsibility. How do you ensure the integrity and that of the election they will hold? We are only hopeful the election will hold on March 28. The government, as our presidential candidate said, has played its last card. Under the Constitution, they cannot stretch the election beyond that date. It must hold on that date, unless they want to overthrow the Constitution and institute a dictatorship. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/the-implication-of-obasanjos-departure-from-the-pdp-buhari-campaign-group/ |
Politics / Re: DON'T SHIFT ELECTIONS AGAIN, UN tells GEJ Government by 1LRNZH: 2:23am On Feb 22, 2015 |
Ikengawo: When a man decides to make a fool of himself, do you force yourself to unsee the amusement in his clumsiness? The question you should ask yourself is "Why all these under GEJ?" Than Otuke He is returning to the creeks come this May 29. |
Politics / Re: N21bn Loan Fraud Latest. : Police Issue Order To Arrest Saraki by 1LRNZH: 1:54am On Feb 22, 2015 |
They should arrest Diezani and Mama Piss first. Those 'Presidents' steal more than anything on this planet. 2 Likes |
Politics / Re: OBASANJO SHUNS PDP, Jonathan Reconciliation Again! by 1LRNZH: 1:47am On Feb 22, 2015 |
Ebubeslym: More reason to vote out GEJ then because he keeps going back to beg and bow to 'Nigeria's problem'. 5 Likes |
Politics / OBASANJO SHUNS PDP, Jonathan Reconciliation Again! by 1LRNZH: 1:40am On Feb 22, 2015 |
There were indications on Friday that former President Olusegun Obasanjo might have shunned a peace move by the Peoples Democratic Party and President Goodluck Jonathan. Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered that as part of the President’s visit to Ogun State on Friday, Jonathan and the leadership of the PDP had planned to meet with the former President. It was, however, learnt that the former president, who had got wind of the peace move, travelled to Gambia on Thursday. It was not clear whether the ex-President had plans to attend the Gambia event before Jonathan’s visit. Investigations revealed that Obasanjo would have been part of the closed-door meeting Jonathan had with some Ogun State traditional rulers on Friday, but for his absence from the country. An aide of the former president, who pleaded anonymity because Obasanjo did not mandate him to speak on the issue, explained his (Obasanjo’s) main grouse with Jonathan. He said that the major problem the former president had with Jonathan and the PDP was the promotion of a chieftain of the party, Mr. Buruji Kashamu. “I can tell you authoritatively that Baba’s (Obasanjo) problem with the President and the PDP is the promotion of Kashamu,” he said. The aide recalled that Obasanjo had in 2014 written a letter to the then PDP Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, complaining about Kashamu’s membership of the party. In the letter dated 7 January, 2014, Obasanjo said he would, temporarily, cease to be a member of the party by withdrawing from its activities because Kahamu had been extolled as a party leader. “I will consider withdrawing my activity with PDP at local, state, zonal and national levels until the anomalous and shameful situation is corrected,” he had said. The aide said rather than address Obasanjo’s complaint, the PDP had appointed Kashamu the Chairman of its Mobilisation Committee in the South-West. Kashamu has also won the PDP senatorial ticket for the Ogun-East Senatorial District. Obasanjo had on Monday dumped the PDP and directed the party Chairman in Ward 11, Abeokuta North, Mr. Usman Oladunjoye, to tear his membership card. The Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido and the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, had on Wednesday met in Abuja as part of efforts to convince Obasanjo to return to the ruling party. Another Presidential staf[/b]f, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, [b]stated that the former President because of his annoyance with President Jonathan, deliberately decided to travel out of Abeokuta to avoid meeting him on Friday. He said the former Chairman of BoT was aware of the official assignment of the President in his state but chose to travel. “You can see that he deliberately avoided the President, who he even almost single-handedly made President. That’s not good enough,” he added. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh said the party had not foreclosed reconciliation with the former President. Metuh told our correspondent that the party would find a way of appeasing him. Metuh said, “The former President remains a revered member of our party; he is a statesman who led our party to two victories consecutively. “Because of our respect for him having being the chairman of our BoT and a former President, we won’t allow him leave us like that. “We agree with Lamido that we should not allow him leave like that. We will do everything within our power to bring him back. “We still believe that he would work for our Presidential candidate and all other candidates of the party during the forthcoming elections.” Asked how the party would go about it, Metuh merely said that “we would do everything within our democratic rights to being Baba back to the PDP.” Also speaking on the issue, a former spokesperson for the party, who was also a former Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odeyemi, said the party has a mechanism through which he said it revolves its crises. “We would resolve the matter in our own way, because the party has a mechanism through which it resolves its crises and settles such matters,” he added. http://www.punchng.com/news/obasanjo-shuns-pdp-jonathan-reconciliation-again/ |
Politics / DON'T SHIFT ELECTIONS AGAIN, UN tells GEJ Government by 1LRNZH: 8:15pm On Feb 21, 2015 |
[img]http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2012/10/512x449xban-ki-moon-united-nations.jpg.pagespeed.ic.sdFJWkUAAy.webp[/img] The United Nations has urged the Nigerian government to ensure the sanctity of new dates for its general elections, amid increasing concerns the government may yet again move the crucial polls from March 28 and April 11. The general elections were shifted from February 14 and 28 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over security fears. Many Nigerians and the international community have urged the government to ensure the polls are not shifted the second time. The main opposition, All Progressives Congress, APC, says the government instigated the first shift to avoid the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan at the polls. In a statement Friday, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, “strongly” urged the Nigerian government and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to respect the new dates and ensure there are no further shifts. “Following the postponement of general elections in Nigeria to 28 March and 11 April, the Secretary-General strongly urges the Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure these new dates are maintained, in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution,” a statement by the world body said. Mr. Ban’s statement came days after the head of INEC, Attahiru Jega, told Nigerian Senators he could not commit to the sanctity of the new dates for the elections, saying that was outside the powers of the electoral body. Speaking Thursday, President Goodluck Jonathan said the elections will hold as scheduled by INEC. The United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban, welcomed the president’s commitment to the new calendar. He commended the progress made by INEC in the preparation for the elections, including the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards. He urged all relevant national institutions to continue to work with INEC to ensure all voters can exercise their constitutional right to participate in the elections freely and without intimidation. The Secretary-General expressed strong concern over reports of election-related violence. He urged all political leaders to adhere to their commitments under the Abuja Accord, to refrain from inflammatory statements and to immediately condemn any statements from their supporters that amount to an incitement to violence or subversion of the electoral process. The Secretary-General reiterated to Nigerians that the United Nations will be closely following developments and is offering its full support to Nigeria at this important moment. http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/177266-dont-shift-elections-again-un-tells-nigeria.html |
Politics / SOLDIERS, CIVILIAN JTF CLASH in Adamawa by 1LRNZH: 10:48am On Feb 21, 2015 |
Civilian JTF Pandemonium ensued in Yola, the Adamawa State capital on Friday, disruptimg business activities at the popular Jimeta shopping complex, as soldiers and civilian JTF members clashed inside the complex. The development forced shops owners to close for the day for fear of being killed following the sporadic shooting by the armed soldiers in the market. An eyewitnesses said trouble started when a group of soldiers in mufti arrived the shopping complex in search of a runaway sister of one of them. The eyewitness noted that[b] on arrival in the shopping complex , the soldier went straight to a shop owner, whom they suspected was hiding the girl who did not sleep at home the previous night.[/b] He said the soldier inquired from the shop owner where he was hiding their sister and the shop owner directed them to where to meet her. He further narrated that the soldiers, after accepting the direction of the shop owner, were on their way out of the shopping complex when they met a military Hilux vehicle loaded with soldiers. According to him, when they narrated their experience to their colleagues in uniform, they were told to go back to the shop owner for proper inquiries about the runaway sister. He said it was at this stage that the Chairman of the Civilian JTF in the shopping complex, Bako Ali Kurna, arrived to stop the fracas between the soldiers and the shop owner. The eyewitness said the plea by the JTF chairman did not go down well with the armed soldiers and in the ensuing confusion, the chairman of the civilian JTF was shot at four times, but the bullets could not penetrate him. He noted that a police Inspector overseeing the gate of the shopping complex was hit in the nose by a stray bullet and was now receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital . He said in the ensuring confusion and as the crowd continued to increase , the armed soldiers led by a Lieutenant started shooting sporadically into the air to scare away the surging crowd. Our source added that before the soldiers zoomed off, the chairman of the civilian JTF, Bako Ali who attempted to alert the 23 Amoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army had his handset snatched by the fleeing soldiers. The Chairman of the civilian JTF at the shopping complex confirmed the development adding that a report has been lodged with the military and SSS while the shells of the expended bullets have been lodged with the SSS. However the Army authorities of the 23 Armoured Brigade in Yola have confirmed the clash between the soldiers and the civilian JTF but added that a full scale investigation was in progress. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/soldiers-civilian-jtf-clash-in-adamawa/202316/ |
Politics / Real Battle To Dislodge Boko Haram Begins In March by 1LRNZH: 7:44am On Feb 21, 2015 |
Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade Regional forces to become operational next month DHQ dismisses insurgents’ surrender leaflets Yemi Adebowale in Lagos with agency report and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja Nigeria’s security chiefs may have unilaterally decided a time framework to subdue Boko Haram terrorists, when they said they needed six weeks to accomplish the task, beginning 14 February. This is because the shape of the regional force Nigeria is relying upon to flush out the insurgents is yet to be concluded. Also on Friday, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) dismissed the recent report of an helicopter distributing pamphlets implying the surrender of some members of the Boko Haram terrorists. Although Nigeria’s armed forces in league with neighbouring armies of Niger, Cameroon and Chad have since stepped up the war against the insurgents, bombarding camps inside Nigeria, the real ground-and-air offensive is not scheduled to begin until end of March, when the regional force will become operational. A senior Niger Republic military officer disclosed in an interview with Reuters in N’djamena, Chad, that the shape of the regional force Nigeria is relying upon to flush out the insurgents would be concluded by the end of March. Military chiefs of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger will meet in the Chadian capital N’Djamena next week to finalise strategy for the 8,700-strong task-force of regional troops, said Colonel Mahamane Laminou Sani, director of documentation and military intelligence of Niger’s armed forces. “All we are doing right now is stopping Boko Haram from entering Niger: if they attack our positions we push them back a certain distance and Nigeria pushes from the other side to contain the situation,” he said, on the sidelines of the annual US-sponsored ‘Flintlock’ counter-terrorism exercises in Chad. “There are initiatives by our countries to make sure Boko Haram doesn’t get out of control, but we have a deadline of end-March to put the joint force into practice,” he told Reuters late on Wednesday. Highlighting the cross-border threat, militants attacked Niger overnight, killing three before they were driven back. “The force’s first commander will be a Nigerian and the position will then rotate annually among members,” Sani said. The implementation of the force has been delayed by tensions between Nigeria and Cameroon over the right to pursue militants across the border into each other’s countries, sources said. Niger and Chad already have agreements in place covering that with each other and with Nigeria. Nigeria and Cameroon will be under pressure to iron out their differences. “This should be the last meeting, I think. We don’t have any choice. If we don’t go and find Boko Haram, they are going to come and find us,” Sani said. “Niger’s military has carried out air strikes against Boko Haram positions and used ground forces to mop up the survivors,” Sani said. Sahelien.com, a regional news website, reported raids by Niger’s troops who entered the Nigerian town of Marara on February 15 and air strikes on Damasak on February 16. A security source said the reports were accurate but gave no further details. Sani denied the Niger air force was responsible for an attack on Tuesday that killed at least 36 civilians at a funeral in the border village of Abadam. A local mayor said he believed a Nigerian military plane was responsible. Nigeria has denied this and Niger has said it is investigating. “Air power will play a key role but ground troops will then be used to neutralise survivors in the wooded and mountainous terrain occupied by the Sunni jihadist group,” Sani said “Information on their location needs to come from human sources first, then you send technological resources to check it, and you maintain observation on them until air strikes arrive,” he said. Asked whether the U.S. military could help with drone intelligence on fighters’ movements, he said: “That is already a reality. They help us in that sense.” “This is no longer an issue of national security for Nigeria; it’s a question of regional and international security. If Nigeria implodes, then the whole of Africa will feel it,” he said. Boko Haram is said to have between 4,000-6,000 fighters, according to US intelligence report. The insurgents themselves estimate their forces at 30,000. Subduing them, in the view of military analysts, may not be as easy as ending a six-week affair, reports Reuters. Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has dismissed the recent report of a helicopter distributing pamphlets implying the surrender of some members of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists in some parts of North-east. The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said if such action was taken at all by the so-called repentant terrorists, it could not be genuine. According to Olukolade, "That is not how to surrender. There are proper ways of surrendering and making amends. I am sure if such report is true, it is not how to surrender". He insisted that the military was much concerned with sustaining their ongoing offensive and completing the routing of the Boko Haram terrorists from there enclaves. It could be recalled that thousands of terrorists have been killed and major towns and communities recovered since the renewed onslaught involving forces from the neighbouring Lake Chad Commission countries of Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republic. In the last two weeks strategic towns like Mongonu, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa, and Marte have been recaptured, while Baga and Bama is on the mop up stage with new fronts of aerial bombardment opened in Sambisa and Gwoza. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/real-battle-to-dislodge-boko-haram-begins-in-march/202325/ 5 Likes |
Politics / BOKO HARAM: Battle-field Account Of A Military Deserter by 1LRNZH: 5:51am On Feb 21, 2015 |
While the battle to route Boko Haram insurgents within six weeks as promised by the Federal government rages, an army officer, nursing the wounds and deep feelings over the whole incident, spoke exhaustively to Saturday Vanguard about his battle field experiences at Gombe and Yobe axis and why he deserted the profession he loves so much. His narration which runs like a ‘war memoir’ is as interesting although the military has recorded reasonable success with more equipment with which they have attacked terror camps and killed a great number of them. However we present to you an interesting account of an officer who deserted the army from the battle front. Excerpts: BACKGROUND ‘’I have served Nigerian Army for about twenty years. I enrolled through the regular course. I have served in almost all formations in the country. I am from the middle Belt part of the country, married with two children, a boy and girl. I have also served in foreign missions in Sierra-leone, Liberia and Dafur and we always came out in flying colours. Sierra-leone and Liberia were for peace enforcement while Dafur was for peace support missions. We fought real battles at Sierra-leone and Liberia for about one year. We were there as a member of ECOWAS and we proved our mettle. It was popularly called ECOMOG. The battles were tense but rewarding in the sense that we were heavily equipped and all we needed for the war were adequately provided for us. During the battles we recorded very minimal casualty though. You know that it is difficult not to record casualties in war situations. A picture taken on February 17, 2015 shows Cameroonian soldiers patrolling in the Cameroonian town of Fotokol, on the border with Nigeria, after clashes occurred on February 4 between Cameroonian troops and Nigeria-based Boko Haram insurgents. Nigerian Boko Haram fighters went on the rampage in the Cameroonian border town of Fotokol on February 4, massacring dozens of civilians and torching a mosque before being repelled by regional forces AFP PHOTO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LARGESSE ‘’In spite of the fact that the war was being fought outside Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria under General Abacha provided us with all we needed and when ever we complained of any inadequacy, the Federal government provided them without delay. That was the spirit and we relished and cherished it. It was such that we were all looking forward to being drafted back to continue with the war. But it is a totally different thing with the against Boko Haram in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. FEARS OVER ILL-PREPARATION This is a war in which almost 95% of our soldiers fear to join. Our fears are not that we were not trained enough to face the challenges but simply because we seem not to be prepared, at all, for the war. A lot of sabotage, politics and other extraneous factors are seriously inhibiting the success of the war. Unfortunately, we are loosing a lot in men and material. It is so much that whenever the toll will be taken, the world will weep for this country. Already, thousands of families are in deep grief, having lost their dear ones in the war. As we speak, I have deserted from the battle field at Bajoga, Yobe State. Let me give you a vivid account of the circumstances that led to my deserting the profession I love so much. MY STORY Until the unfortunate and very painful AWOL, I was serving in Bauchi as a Sergeant. While carrying out our normal duties, I was abreast of the ongoing war my colleagues were waging with Boko Haram and I was inwardly praying for an action whenever I would be drafted to the front. Alas, my battalion was informed of a certain foreign mission. I was ecstatic, knowing that we always triumphed during such missions. Unfortunately, when the real action came, I regretted joining the Nigerian army. FOREIGN MISSION SIGNAL After the signal came for the mission, we started training from Ohafia in Abia State. Later on, we heard that the operation had been changed from peace keeping in Liberia to Zaman-Lafia in the North East. We thought it was a joke and when we finished the training at Ohafia, we were sent to Jaji in kaduna State. It was at Jaji we realised that the rumour of going to the North East was true and we all knew that it meant going to fight the insurgents called Boko Haram. We were very sad because most of us were due for compensation and that was why they selected us to go for foreign mission. About 90% of us were victims of previous attacks at Bama and other areas and we lost both our loved ones and properties. So, military authorities selected us for foreign mission as a way of compensating us but unfortunately, we were diverted to go and fight Boko Haram insurgents. MOVEMENT TO GOMBE We, however, took it in good faith and after we completed our one month training, they moved us to Gombe. That should be around early January this year. On arrival around 2pm the next day, the Brigade Commander came to address us. To our chagrin, he told us that even members of Boko Haram were aware that we were coming, that they had sent a text message to him that we were coming to attack them with the local hunters and heavy equipment and that they were ready for us. DISAGREEMENT WITH COMMANDER The following day, he wanted to move us (about 600) to Mallam-Sidi area of the state but we objected because our Commanding Officer had not come and those heavy tanks, like the APC’s and other supporting weapons were not equipped for the battle ahead. Soldiers tasked with fighting Boko Haram militants arrive to face trials for mutiny in Abuja on October 2, 2014. Nearly 100 soldiers tasked with fighting Boko Haram militants in Nigeria’s far northeast appeared at a military court martial on Thursday, facing a range of charges including mutiny. The hearing comes just weeks after a tribunal sentenced 12 soldiers to death following their conviction for shooting at their commanding officer in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, in May. AFP PHOTO The following day when the Commanding Officer came, he compelled us to move to the place, saying that it would be more conducive and safe for us to stay there than being left at the open and ill-equipped barrack in Gombe. We then moved to Mallam-Sidi where we spent almost two weeks before advancing to the war front. While we were there, they told us they were making provision for all those weapons that were not available. And, actually, while there, they brought three armoured tanks, replaced some of the APC’s that were in bad condition and brought new ones. MOVEMENT TO THE BATTLE FIELD On a Sunday, precisely on the 8th of February, around 2am, we advanced towards Bajoga, a town between Yobe and Gombe States. We were there before 6am. Before advancing to the battle field,we were fed with tasteless jollof rice that was as dinner. About 9.30 to 10 am we started advancing to the location where the insurgents were. While we were advancing, the three helicopter gun -ships that we were earlier promised would assist in the operation hovered round and landed. Even the Alpha jet came and all of us were jubilant and battle -ready to win at all costs. HOPE DASHED However, five minutes before we met with our target, the helicopter and alpha jet disappeared. Even at the peak of the battle, our commander called them for backup but they did not surface. The battle raged for over four hours, they were surging like locusts towards us with sophisticated weapons including ant-aircraft guns. In conventional wars, such weapons are not used on human beings. They are used to fell air crafts. But, the insurgents use them brazenly to kill our soldiers. It tears human body into shreds on contact. OUR EQUIPMENT It is pertinent to let you know how we were equipped for the war. Before the battle, they gave us three armoured tanks, three artillery guns, five APC’s, grenade launchers and AK47 rifles with three magazines per soldier. But on the day we started advancing, only one armoured tank , five APC’s, and artillery guns advanced with us. If we had gone into battle with, at least, the three armoured tanks, nothing would have made us lose the war. As the battle raged, it did not take time for their fire power to surpass ours. SUICIDE BOMBING Initially, we had upper hand, but they struck with two golf cars loaded with bombs and dislodged us. It was a suicide mission. The explosion covered the whole area with thick smoke and the insurgents used the opportunity to advance towards us. In the process, we were asked to withdraw because they were coming ferociously. We were killing them but they kept on advancing like bees. Then, it was almost 5pm. RACE FOR SURVIVIAL That was how the race for survival by our men started. You know the terrain is a very open and large expanse of land with scanty vegetation. It was just like running in a football field with no place to hide. We ran into a small settlement and they pursued us. They were quite familiar with the terrain but we were not. We succeeded in crossing the first stagnant river, before we noticed the presence of our alpha jet which started backing us up. That did not deter the insurgents from pursuing and killing our soldiers one by one. IT IS NOT THE WAR YOU KNOW While we were running for dear lives, some soldiers were falling by the wayside after losing strength to continue with the long race for survival. In fact, because of the fact that we were not equipped with water bottles, our throats were drying up as we continued running. It got to a stage when dehydration set in and if you try to swallow saliva, it will be almost impossible and choking. Our spit was so white, slimy and it splattered on the faces of most of us due to exhaustion. One of the most pathetic cases was that of a colleague who got exhausted and simply collapsed on the ground. He was even pleading with us to continue without him because he could no longer make it. One of our officers, a Lieutenant pleaded that we should lend a helping hand by jointly helping him to continue with us. His plea touched us and we tried our best to help but we were also too exhausted to help offer help. BUT THE WAR THEY FOUGHT Nevertheless, some of us tried to help him but we could not continue when we saw the way the insurgents were running towards us. We dropped him and only God knows what happened later. As we were running, bodies of many of our soldiers, both wounded and killed littered the open field. It was heart-rending seeing a close friend lying helplessly and you could not help because your own life was in grave danger and you were not sure of survival. When we were about crossing the second shallow river, the villagers we met told us that we were in between Borno and Adamawa States, that from there to Bajoga was 75klm. Surprisingly, the villagers were very friendly and even gave us water. They were about giving us food but advised that we should quickly continue with our journey in order to avoid the insurgents meeting us. They arranged three vehicles that lifted us for about a kilometre and the driver refused to proceed further claiming that the road was not good. We quickly disembarked and trekked all night till around 5am when we entered a village and met members of the local vigilante who helped us to arrange for two Diana Trucks that carried us to Bajoga junction. From there, we entered another vehicle to Mallam-Sidi and that was where we met some of our soldiers with serious bullet wounds. The wounded among us pleaded with the second in command to take them to the hospital in Gombe but he objected saying that order has been given to move everybody to Ashaka where we use as harbour. After some deliberations and objections, we had no option than to obey him. When we got to Ashaka, to our chagrin, instead of taking urgent care of the wounded, feeding us and even given us a day rest after our narrow escape, the Commander ordered that we should turn back and advance, back to the battle field. That was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. At that stage, many of us decided inwardly to dessert the army and that was exactly what we did. I handed my gun to one of my colleagues to return to armoury after I left through the nearest way in the midnight. I trekked for two hours to the main road before I boarded a bike that unfortunately missed the road and we saw ourselves back at Ashaka. I then disappeared amongst the crowd at one of the checkpoints and went to the motor park where I boarded a vehicle towards Abuja. It took time for me to take that decision because this is a profession I love so much and I have put in about 20 years. Agreed that from day one, we signed to fight and die for our dear country, but of what use will it be when it was obvious to me that things could be done differently and we would have results. For instance, we were supposed to be paid N5000 daily but what our Commanders paid was N1000. If you sustain injury in the battle field, you spend your money treating yourself. The worst is that we were not adequately equipped for the war. We only got to battle field with our rifles, no kits, no vision goggles etc and this is an oil rich country where politicians are embezzle trillions yet, this battle that calls for the best in both incentives, morale and equipment is being fought this way at the grave expense of our dear lives. Our military is strong and can do better if well funded and equipped. As I speak, many soldiers have deserted the army. Their families are starving in the barracks. The most painful aspect of the whole thing is that after the battle, no efforts were made to ascertain or give account of our dead and wounded soldiers. The dead ones are left in the battle fields while most of the wounded die face agonising death. What the authorities do is to close account of soldiers not seen after some days. In the past few days, however, it has been reported that the military has received more equipment and their forces have made reasonable inroads into terrorists camps and they have recorded reasonable success although the battle is far from being won. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/b-o-k-o-h-a-r-a-m-battle-field-account-of-a-military-deserter/ 38 Likes 18 Shares |
Politics / AGAIN NIGERIAN AIRFORCE Helicopters Drop Boko Haram Flyers in Song, Adamawa by 1LRNZH: 9:43pm On Feb 20, 2015 |
We have reported on how Nigerian air force jets have recently been spotted dropping Boko Haram propaganda material over the skies of northeastern states. Flyers which claimed a Boko Haram faction was sorry and had been misled by corrupt leaders were dropped in Gombi, Adamawa state the past two days. New reports include an eyewitness who saw a Nigerian air force helicopter bearing NAF 257 flying at a very low altitude with soldiers in it seen laughing. “The door opened and he dropped the flyers; which were in English, Hausa and Arabic. It says d boko harams regret their actions n promised to stop it. It happened in Song local government of Adamawa state.” The Nigerian air force is yet to comment on why they are distributing Boko Haram propaganda material on behalf of the terrorists. NewsRescue continues to try to get their reaction. http://newsrescue.com/nigerian-air-force-helicopters-drop-boko-haram-flyers-song-adamawa/#ixzz3SJtpYUMN 1 Like |
Politics / France, Cameroun Lock Horns Over Captured French Boko Haram Fighters by 1LRNZH: 9:55am On Feb 20, 2015 |
Following the capture of eight French nationals who are members of the terror group Boko Haram, a diplomatic spat has ensued between France and Cameroun, which has insisted on trying the terror suspects. A top Nigerian intelligence source opened up to THISDAY on the brewing diplomatic tensions between France and one of her Francophone allies in the sub-region following the shocking discovery that some French citizens are staunch members of the sect, a throwback to their membership of the terror group, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). According to findings, France was reported to have chided her former colony for insisting on trying the terrorists in Cameroun instead of handing them over to the French authorities. Enraged by the audacity of Cameroun to hold its citizens, the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Lauren Fabuci, was alleged to have ordered that the suspects be handed over to the European country with immediate effect. However, Camerounian authorities were said to have felt slighted and have protested the manner in which France had demanded the release of its nationals. A Camerounian minister was quoted to have said: “Mr. Lauren Fabuci, the French Foreign Minister, has ordered Cameroun to release immediately eight Europeans captured by our security men, for being part of Boko Haram terrorists. “Mr. Fabuci demanded their immediate handover to France so that they can prosecute the terrorists on French soil, ignoring our sovereignty and independence. “The French are acting as if Cameroun is their errand boy that they can order around and ignore the fact that we have our own laws with which we can try the terrorists.” The latest revelation has lent credence to strong suspicions in the Nigerian intelligence community that Boko Haram has strong foreign backing. When contacted on the discovery of French nationals who had joined the terror sect, the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, said it was a matter for the parties involved to sort themselves out. “All I can tell you is that the matter is for Camerounian and French authorities to settle,” Olukolade stated. However, a top military officer said the Nigerian intelligence community had previously warned of a growing foreign collaboration with Boko Haram. He said other than Chadians, Boko Haram has a large presence of Arabs, Malians and other Islamists who have joined the sect. “Now we have seen evidence of French and European participation. This is one major indication that Boko Haram has very active and sophisticated foreign backing. I advise that the African Union should take this up. “France is trying to silence the Camerounians but Africa must rise to the occasion and take this findings seriously. They must not keep quiet,” the military source said. Meanwhile, the Nigerian military has continued its onslaught to rid the North-east of Boko Haram terrorists, as a concerted air campaign by the Nigerian Air Force has resulted in the death of a large number of Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State. This is coming just as military sources informed THISDAY that the boundary town of Baga and to some extent Bama, might have been liberated, save for few pockets of resistance by Boko Haram elements and mop-up operations in both towns. According to a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the Defence Headquarters, Major-General Olukolade, “A concerted air campaign by the Nigerian Air Force is ongoing in furtherance of the mission to clear terrorists from all their enclaves. “The air strikes which today (yesterday) targeted the training camps and logistics dumps of the terrorists in Sambisa forest and parts of Gwoza have been highly successful as it achieved the aim with required precision. “The death of a large number of terrorists has been recorded, while many others are also scampering all over the forest and out of the struck bases. Details of casualty will be determined in subsequent phases of the operation.” Olukolade said the strikes would continue in other locations of the theatre of war, heralding the advance of troops and other elements of the mission. In the same vein, the Nigerian military buoyed by the joint offensive of neighbouring Chad and Cameroun, is set to complete the liberation of other strategic towns in Borno State. A top intelligence source informed THISDAY that Baga followed by Bama would soon be freed from the firm grip of the terrorists. “There are some small details to be taken care of, but the operations have been largely successful. You will soon hear the cheering news from the appropriate authorities. “The Baga liberation is almost complete and mop-up operation phase is already ongoing," the source said. Also, the insurgents suffered heavy casualties when Chadian troops pushed into Nigeria this week, residents who fled the fighting told AFP yesterday. Chad’s army said Tuesday evening that they had taken control of the town of Dikwa, which is about 50 kilometres (31 miles) southwest of the Nigerian border town of Gamboru. The offensive deep inside Nigerian territory was a first and suggested strategy to tackle other rebel-controlled areas in Borno State, which is the terror group’s stronghold. The Chadians are part of a four-country coalition mounting a regional fight-back against the Islamists. “Chadian soldiers took over Dikwa from Boko Haram after heavy fighting on Tuesday,” Bababura Diwa, who lives in the town, said by telephone from Fotokol, across the border in northern Cameroun. Diwa said the Chadians came from Gamboru, which they had previously recaptured, with heavy artillery power and overpowered a group of militants at Lomani village, 15 kilometres from Dikwa. “When they came into Dikwa, there was intense fighting but at last they subdued the Boko Haram fighters,” he added. “They killed many of them, including Abu Ashshe, their commander, who was notorious for seizing cattle in the area. “I used the opportunity provided by the presence of the Chadian troops to leave the town. I was afraid to leave when Boko Haram took over the town for fear of being branded a traitor and killed,” he said. Diwa's account was backed by several other residents, who took advantage of the Chadian advance to flee the ancient town, which is near Boko Haram’s makeshift camps in the Sambisa Forest. Jidda Saleh, another resident, said Chadian troops launched heavy aerial and ground attacks on the Kala-Balge area, particularly on Nduwu village, which he said was a “major Boko Haram stronghold”. “The whole village was bombarded and it is obvious Boko Haram suffered heavy casualties from the aerial attack. Ground troops moved in later,” he added. “Meleri, which has a huge Boko Haram concentration, was also bombed by Chadian military jets and then taken over by ground troops. “By the time we left, we learnt the Chadian soldiers were on their way to Kushimori village where Boko Haram keep the livestock they seize from people. “They have kept thousands of livestock there. They sunk boreholes and recruited people to rear the animals for them,” Saleh said. Algoni Wal-Amire, another Kala-Balge resident, welcomed the offensive. “Living under Boko Haram was like living in a minefield. You are always afraid your next step could be your last. I thank God I'm now safe from them,” he said. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/france-cameroun-lock-horns-over-captured-french-boko-haram-fighters/202268/ 1 Like |
Politics / DESPERATION: Lamido, Mu’azu Meet Over Obasanjo by 1LRNZH: 6:07am On Feb 20, 2015 |
The Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, met in Abuja on Wednesday on how to convince former President Olusegun Obasanjo to return to the party. Investigations by our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday indicated that the meeting took place at the Abuja residence of Mu’azu. The meeting, it was learnt, was at the instance of Mu’azu, who was said to be worried about the political implications of Obasanjo’s decision to dump the PDP. Obasanjo, while announcing his decision to leave the party where he was once its Chairman of Board of Trustees, on Monday, also ordered that his membership card be torn to shreds. At the meeting between the governor and the national chairman of the party, it was learnt that Mu’azu expressed sadness over the turn of events in the party, which has been ruling since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999. One of the aides of the chairman, who was at the meeting, said the former governor of Bauchi State was “visibly sad that the once-cohesive party” was becoming a joke in the country. It was learnt that at the meeting, the national chairman of the party sought the opinion of Lamido on how to approach the tirade being thrown by the former President at the party and its Presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The chairman’s aide, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said that the governor warned the party against trading accusations with the former President. Lamido is considered as one of the governors very close to the former President. The chairman’s said, “The governor warned the party against fighting the former President. He also asked Mu’azu to warn some members of the party, including a governor from the southern part of the country to stop abusing the former President. “He told the chairman that the party and the President do not have the capacity to fight the President, saying that before the former President would open his mouth to say a word, he has his facts. “Besides, he added that there are other sympathisers of the former President in the party and that any attempt to rubbish him (Obasanjo)would make many of them uncomfortable.” But the party has said it would not relent in its desire to have the former President return to its fold. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday, said that having led the party to victories in the past, it would be wrong for the party to let its former chairman of Board of Trustees leave like that. http://www.punchng.com/news/lamido-muazu-meet-over-obasanjo/ |
Politics / Re: Armoured Tank Nigerian Soldiers Captured From Boko Haram Recently (Photo) by 1LRNZH: 8:35pm On Feb 19, 2015 |
Exactly why the US refuses arms sales to Nigeria. This machine has a key/code for operating it. How does BH get access to, operate and move this thing unnoticed? PDP Gov't is BH is GEJ. Period. 184 Likes 11 Shares |
Politics / Re: Armoured Tank Nigerian Soldiers Captured From Boko Haram Recently (Photo) by 1LRNZH: 8:35pm On Feb 19, 2015 |
... 1 Like 1 Share |
Travel / Re: VIDEO: Scrambling Passengers for GEJ's Disorganised Trains In Lagos by 1LRNZH: 8:17pm On Feb 19, 2015 |
eazisky: Transformation agenda has been killing people since 2010. Boko Haram our siblings, stealing not corruption, I don't give a damn... na people dey die o.... 2 Likes |
Travel / VIDEO: Scrambling Passengers for GEJ's Disorganised Trains In Lagos by 1LRNZH: 8:10pm On Feb 19, 2015 |
Politics / #SWISSLEAKS: David Mark’s Wife, Dangote, Adenuga Named Swiss Accounts Operators by 1LRNZH: 6:14pm On Feb 19, 2015 |
[img]http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2015/02/630x349xswissleaks_original.jpg.pagespeed.ic.8xEAzp4aCQ.webp[/img] Some of Nigeria’s wealthiest industrialists, former government officials and their relatives, were amongst thousands of individuals around the world who operated highly secretive foreign accounts with the Swiss branch of banking giant, HSBC, concealing their identities for years and using codes perhaps to shake off tax authorities from accounts, some of which held illicit assets from criminals, traffickers, arms dealers and other outlaws, secret files published last week by a consortium of journalists around the world have shown. http://www.premiumtimesng.com/investigationspecial-reports/177124-investigation-david-marks-wife-dangote-adenuga-others-named-in-swissleaks-as-operators-of-secret-foreign-accounts.html |
Politics / RESIGN NOW For Dereliction Of Duties, Wamakko To Service Chiefs, IGP by 1LRNZH: 2:23pm On Feb 08, 2015 |
Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, on Sunday called on the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Suleiman Abba, to resign immediately for orchestrating the postponement of the February general elections. Wamakko made the call following the postponement of the Presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections to March 28 and April 11 for security reasons. Speaking with newsmen in Sokoto, Wamakko averred that all the service chiefs and the IGP should resign now for failing to perform their duties. He maintained that they had failed the nation and Nigerians and as such had no reason to remain in office. "The service chiefs and IGP should, therefore, honourably resign as they could not guarantee the elections as their statutory and civic duties," Wamakko said. The governor emphasised that the postponement of the election was uncalled for and not the required plausible solution to their phobia. According to him, the elections should have gone ahead on February 14 to allow Nigerians to elect the candidates of their choice in line with their quest for change. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/wamakko-to-service-chiefs-igp-resign-now-for-dereliction-of-duties/201273/ 1 Like |
Politics / INEC: GEJ Plans To Replace Prof. Attahiru Jega With Prof. Olufemi Mimiko by 1LRNZH: 7:16am On Feb 08, 2015 |
Officials close to the Nigerian government have informed us that the Nigerian president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who has lost fate in the current Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, intends to get him booted and replace him with “family,” so to say; someone who will never betray or embarrass the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Professor Nahzeem Olufemi Mimiko is the currently shortlisted candidate according to our credible sources. The immediate brother of Ondo State PDP Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Prof. Nahzeem Olufemi Mimiko is the Vice chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University and has a straight academician record. An attendee of the Jonathan staged National conference, better remembered as the “sleeping conference,” Prof. Femi Mimiko is an in-house man who president Jonathan is confident will not betray the party and his presidential ambition. The top members of the People’s democratic Party, PDP were recently caught engaging in rigging several state elections with witness and recorded evidence. This was done in suit with the heads of the Nigerian army. The PDP electoral rigging machine is an open secret; however a stern INEC boss is an issue for Jonathan who is desperately seeking to oust Professor Jega. We reported that while president Jonathan has resigned to his fate, acknowledging the 4:1 odds against him, Nigeria’s embattled oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, aka, the oil-goddess, will stop at nothing to ensure the “Integrity” Buhari/Osinbajo opposition does not take over power and open up the books. Billions of dollars are looted from Nigeria’s treasury and oil wealth yearly with the African Union putting the figure at $40 billion yearly, twice the national budget. Professor Jega has been credibly reported to have been threatened at ‘gun-point,’ in attempt to force him to sign his own resignation. http://newsrescue.com/inec-jonathan-plans-replace-jega-prof-olufemi-mimiko/#ixzz3R8BnghkI Poster's comments: Remember when we posted here on NL that the PDP was working on election postponement since Dec. 2014, GEJites went on the attack cussing and using all sorts of expletives. Elections have been postponed and we were right GEJites will insult based on this news again but watch how this too shall come to pass. Nigeria is a sham. 8 Likes |
Politics / NIGERIAN COASTS Now Deadliest On Earth! by 1LRNZH: 8:24am On Feb 07, 2015 |
A pirate attack that killed a supertanker crewman off the coast of Nigeria this week has highlighted a growing threat off oil-rich West Africa, as vessels carrying millions of barrels of crude traverse a region that has become known as "pirate alley". The 2 million barrel Kalamos Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) was heading to Nigeria's main oil terminal when it was attacked late on Monday, leaving the ship's Greek deputy captain dead and three crew members taken hostage. Security experts say the waters off Nigeria are now the deadliest on earth, surpassing Somalia on Africa's east coast, which gained notoriety due to months-long hijackings, high-cost ransoms, and U.S.-led rescue missions such as the one that inspired Hollywood movie "Captain Phillips". "It's referred to as pirate alley – kidnap alley," said Ken Johnson, regional analyst with Dryad Maritime, referring to the stretch of West African coast from the Gulf of Guinea off Nigeria to as far south as Angola's capital Luanda. Johnson, who provides operations and intelligence advice to the shipping industry, said there was another deadly attack on a ship in the region last month when pirates killed a Nigerian naval seaman aboard the oil support vessel, MV Jascon. Another attack last year on an oil products tanker, the SP Brussels, killed one crew member, Johnson said. Neither Indian refiner Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), which chartered the Kalamos tanker that was attacked this week, nor the manager of the vessel, Greek shipping firm Aeolos Management, returned calls from Reuters for comment. Cyrus Mody, assistant director of the piracy-tracking International Maritime Bureau said the waters off Nigeria are now the deadliest in the world "by any length", despite attention still focused on Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. "(The Gulf of Guinea) is not perceived as bad as it is," Mody said. Mody said incidents in the region were hugely underreported due to fear of further attacks, concerns over insurance or a belief that information on vessels is sensitive or proprietary. Oil tankers make relatively easy targets for Nigerian-based pirates who usually want hostages to ransom, but will also sell stolen fuel. Security experts say the pirates have emerged from militant groups in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta, such as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). These groups have long targeted oil infrastructure and foreign companies in the region, arguing the Niger Delta has been left impoverished despite production of almost 2 million barrels of oil per day in Nigeria. The situation is further complicated by the government's ban on foreign armed guards in its waters - a method that has been used to deter pirates off Somalia and Yemen. Security experts said most companies know the risks in the region well. "It hasn't stopped or slowed down trading," said Johnson at Dryad. The danger is already priced into premiums that insurers charge for entering the region, said Dominic Enderby, marine hull practice leader for Marsh, a global insurance broker. While costs varies widely, the premium is generally "a few thousand dollars" per voyage - not enough to increase costs significantly for a tanker that may carry more than $100 million worth of crude. "It's not going to change the price of our oil," Enderby said. "These attacks are part and parcel of operating in this part of the world." http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigerian-coast-now-deadliest-on-earth/201201/ |
Politics / NDDC Can't Pay Salaries: Wike, Patience Jonathan Loot NDDC - SaharaReporters by 1LRNZH: 11:55am On Feb 02, 2015 |
Ongoing investigation by SaharaReporters has revealed that former Education Minister Nyesom Wike and Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, collaborated in a number of schemes that enabled them to loot the resources of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The commission, which was established to spearhead economic development in Nigeria’s oil-producing delta, has been left financially insolvent, unable for the first time ever to pay salaries to its staff or to meet its obligations to contractors. Patience Jonathan Over a two-week investigation, insiders within the commission told SaharaReporters that Mrs. Jonathan and Mr. Wike, current governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party in Rivers State, caused a large part of the commission’s current woes. A source at the commission alleged that its management gave Mrs. Jonathan N3 billion immediately after the National Assembly approved the commission’s budget. “They said the First Lady had facilitated the passage of the NDDC’s budget without delay by the National Assembly. That’s why they gave her such a huge sum. The payment was recorded as a consultancy undertaking,” the source said. In addition, money drained from the agency is reportedly bankrolling Mr. Wike’s governorship bid. “Barrister Wike is using billions of naira from the NDDC to run his campaign. It is one of the major reasons that the commission has not been able to honor its obligations or pay salaries,” another source at the commission stated. Numerous sources said Mr. Wike had handpicked Itotenaan Henry Ogiri as the agency’s executive director (in charge of finance and administration). The understanding was that Mr. Ogiri, a close associate of the Ikwerre-born governorship aspirant, would dip into the funds of the commission to help finance Mr. Wike’s campaign. Bassey Dan Abia, a lawyer from Akwa Ibom State, heads the commission’s management, which is in its second year. Several disaffected staffers accused the management of financing other political projects across the Niger Delta, contrary to its mandate. Mr. Wike’s campaign is said to enjoy a huge war chest from the commission’s funds. The former Education Minister, who is being backed by Mrs. Jonathan, showers tons of dollars, his preferred currency, on his supporters and underlings, including some ex-militants [/b]he has retained to intimidate supporters of his political opponents. [b]For the first time since then President Olusegun Obasanjo rebranded the commission in 2000, the NDDC missed the timetable to pay workers’ salary in January. In addition, senior staff of the commission said they were distressed that their housing, furniture and other allowances have not been paid for the first time since the establishment of the agency. A long time staff of the commission said this was the first time in his experience that the agency had failed to pay salaries in more than a decade. “I was employed here immediately after I graduated from the University and the NDDC started the graduate-training scheme. We have never been owed salary ever. We used to receive our salaries no later than the 22nd of every month. But right now we don’t even know when it is coming,” he said. Another staff said the board of the commission was filled with politicians who are bankrolling the political aspirations of their puppet masters. “We got over 400 billion naira for our budget last year. But look at the situation we are in now. It’s so embarrassing,” the staff said. He said the board members were mere proxies who take orders on how to run the agency from outsiders who are only interested in what they can get from the commission. “They are running this place like a fiefdom, and they receive orders from the politicians that put them here. They have given all the money to their political bosses and now we are in trouble here.” Occupants of the commission’s top management posts, including its chairman (from Cross River State), its executive director for projects (from Delta State), and its managing director (from Akwa Ibom) were accused of funneling funds to partisan political candidates. The governors of their state of origin nominated members of the management board, except in the case of Rivers State, where Mr. Wike chose. President Jonathan and Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers have been in a long running political feud. The NDDC was set up to fund projects designed to ameliorate the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta caused by oil exploration. The area produces more than 80% of Nigeria’s wealth. A staff source said that, while their salaries have not been paid, the management of the commission was promising them a significant bump in salaries and allowances if Mr. Jonathan wins re-election on February 14. “They keep telling us to expect a lot of goodies when the present president is returned as the country’s ruler, but does it mean we have to die of hunger because they’re doing election?” the source said. [url]http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/01/wike-patience-jonathan-loot-paralyze-nddc-agency-can%E2%80%99t-pay-salaries[/url] 4 Likes 3 Shares |
Politics / Re: PTF: Shining In The Gloom (The Buhari Success Story) by 1LRNZH: 5:26pm On Feb 01, 2015 |
azzy1: Please what Uni. is this? |
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