If reports available to us are anything to go by, no fewer than 10 serving governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party may be on their way out of the ruling party to join APC.

A key member of the merger committee, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said that more than 10 PDP governors were interested in APC.

According to the source:

“Most of the PDP governors are tired of the crisis rocking the party. They are tired because PDP has failed them. The electorate are seeking an alternative and the only way for the governors to remain relevant is to move along with the people.

“More than 10 PDP governors have shown their interest in APC. It would be like a tsunami for PDP; it will shock the leadership of the party when its prominent members defect massively. Some of the governors are doing well as individuals in PDP but they have lost their interest in the party.

“Nigerians want an alternative, so are many members of the ruling party. I will not mention names or which parts of the country they are from but the PDP will shake when these prominent members of the party defect to APC.”

Some of the names mentioned include Rivers State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger State Governor and Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum, Babangida Aliyu; Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State; Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State; Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State; Sule Lamido of Jigawa State; Seidu Dakingari of Kebbi State; and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State.

The National Publicity Secretaries of CPC and ACN, Rotimi Fashakin and Lai Mohammed, respectively, however denied knowledge of the intending defectors. They however admitted that there was a “silent movement” of people into APC.

Fashakin said, “APC is becoming more of a mass movement. Just yesterday, the Movement for Democracy and Justice — the political party of M. D. Yusuf, a former inspector-general of police — came to CPC and said they were ready to merge with it.

“Why we are being silent on other groups that are coming into APC is not to unduly frighten PDP. It’s like the entire polity is shifting to the opposition. It is not just political parties; we also have political and civil society groups coming in.”

Similarly, Mohammed said, “We have a significant group from DPP and several other political associations and groups that have stated their resolve to be part of the merger.”
www.ynaija.com

•Gowon - from 6k to 8.45k
•Murtala - from 8.45k to 9k
•Obasanjo - from 9k to 15.3k
•Shagari - from 15.3k to 20k
•Buhari - from 20k to 20k (Price remain the same)
•Babangida - from 20k to 39.5k
•Babangida - from 39.5k to 42k
•Babangida - from 42k to 60k (Private Vehicles)
•Babangida - from 60k to 70k
•Shonekan - from 70k to N5
•Abacha - from N5 to N3.25k (Price drops)
•Abacha - from N3.25k to N15
•Abacha - from N15 to N11 (Price drops)
•Abubakar - from N11 to N25
•Abubakar - from N25 to N20 (Price drops)
•Obasanjo - from N20 to N30
•Obasanjo - from N30 to N22 (Price drops)
•Obasanjo - from N22 to N26
•Obasanjo - from N26 to N42
•Obasanjo - from N42 to N50
•Obasanjo - from N50 to N65
•Obasanjo - from N65 to N75
•Yar'Adua - from N75 to N65 (Price drops)
•Jonathan - (New year present) N141
•Jonathan - (After labour strike) N97

From Gowon to Jonathan, BUHARI is the only Nigerian leader that never touched
the price of fuel (Increase or reduce).
YAR'ADUA is the only leader who did not increase the price, rather he reduced the pump price from N75 to N65 .

- PREMIUM TIMES
April 26, 2013 - 21:54 — siteadmin
e
By Premium Times
Boko Haram were paid N500 million ($3.15 million) to free seven French hostages kidnapped in February, a confidential document from the Nigerian government available to Reuters states.
The insurgent group kidnapped the French hostages in Cameroon on February 19 near Wasa National Park in Northern Cameroon, which borders North-Eastern Nigeria.
The hostages, a family of seven including four children, are believed to have been brought into Borno State after the kidnap. They were released two months after the kidnap on April 19.
The document, according to Reuters, did not state who paid the ransom although French and Cameroonian authorities denied that any ransom was paid.
The Negotiations
Apart from the money the insurgents were paid, the document states, Cameroonian authorities also released some Boko Haram suspects in detention as part of the deal.
The sect had threatened, in a video released on YouTube in March, to kill the hostages unless Nigeria and Cameroon release some of its members in custody.
The report also states that Abubakar Shekau, the sect’s leader had asked for N1 billion to free the hostages but finally accepted half of the money, after agreeing to the release of his members in Cameroonian jails as part of the deal.
French President, Francois Hollande, denied that any ransom was paid when the hostages were released, same as Cameroonian authorities. No one has, however, said what got the insurgents to release the hostages.
Boko Haram is blamed for killings of several hundreds of people in Northern Nigeria and has claimed responsibility for several attacks.
Efforts to get the federal government to react to the report were unsuccessful. The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, and his spokesperson, Joseph Mutah, could not be reached as their telephone numbers were not reachable on Friday evening.
The spokespersons to the Nigerian President, Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe, did not pick or return calls to their phone as at press time.
According to Reuters, the report suggests that the ransom was paid because officials did not want to endanger the lives of the hostages in a rescue attempt; after a rescue attempt last year March to save a Briton and an Italian hostage kidnapped by another Nigerian sect, Ansaru, led to the death of the hostages.
 
A rich Boko Haram
Apart from waging a war against the Nigerian Government, Christians and Muslims opposed to his terrorist acts, Boko Haram has also delved into kidnapping for ransom, largely to finance its operations.
Apart from kidnapping for ransom, the group also robs banks in Northern Nigeria to finance its operations.
PREMIUM TIMES had also exclusively reported how a security report sent to the Nigerian Presidency last year showed that Boko Haram got N40 million from an Algerian terrorist sect as part of a long term international terrorism collaboration.

Arnoud Van Doorn ‘I am sorry, O Prophet…’
Subhan Allah, "Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided"

we can see a man and we think that he would be in the hell but in fact may he enter the paradise and we not

Arnoud van Doorn, a former member of the Dutch right-wing Freedom Party, recently converted to Islam, regretting his contribution to the producion of the Dutch anti-prophet film.

According to the Saudi ‘Oukad’ newspaper, Van Doorn visited the holy Prophet’s Mosque and wept in repentance for his ‘evil’ deeds.

“I used to belong to the party that shows stiff hostility towards Islam and the prophet Mohamed, “he was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

“Muslims’ reactions against the anti-Islam film induced me to seek the truth about Islam,” he added, shedding tears of remorse.

While Van Doorn castigated his former party for offending Islam in general and prophet Mohamed in particular, he decided to renounce his past leanings to embrace Islam and defend Muslims.

“Reading about Islam has totally changed my previous hatred-laden attitude towards this peaceful religion,

for more details
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130422162428

subhan Allah

NATIONAL Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Saturday accused the yet to be registered All Progressive Congress, APC of copying its manifesto, just as it stressed that opposition politicalparties were in deep slumber.
The PDP also said that it was not in any way afraid of the probe of the activities of its leaders since 1999, but was quick to ask the opposition to ‘’prove its self by taming the regime of corruption in the few states it controls as a demonstration of its fidelity to the anti corruption cause.”
In a statement signed yesterday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP noted that what the APC has put in place as a manifesto was a duplication of its own manifesto.
The PDP however boasted that the opposition APC will wake up eve of 2015 only to discover that the PDP has won the election, adding that it was laughable that ‘’the opposition thinks that victory which only hard work begets will now cheaply be offered them by chance and perhaps, media bombast.
www.vanguardngr.com

Hell is the destination of all suicide bombers, fearless cleric Sheik Ahmad Mahmud Gumi warned today in a sermon SaharaReporters monitored in New York.

He pointed out that while young men commit suicide, they ought to reflect that those leaders who send them to their deaths do not commit suicide or send their children to die in the same way.

Gumi who has been critical of the Boko Haram sect, said in the sermon: “The prophet – Salawatullahi alaihi- is a mercy for mankind. He said the way to Paradise is easy for those that follow his path. He said: “everybody in my Ummah is going to enter the paradise except he who refuses. They said (the companions): oh messenger of Allah, who will refuse? He said: whoever obeys me enter the paradise and whoever disobeys me he has indeed re…fused” Al-Bukhari.”

In an important sermon that has implications for violent Islamic sects that use suicide bombing as a key tool, Gumi offered the message that those that agree to use themselves as bombs do more than die in vain.

“Despite this ease of entering Paradise, those that commit suicide for whatever reason have guaranteed for themselves the Hell Fire forever,” he said.

He called on the faithful to be aware that nobody should deceive them to take their own lives, saying that real Jihad is fought to either win or get martyrdom.

“The shahada is gotten when killed by enemy action,” he said. “Allah said: ‘Let those Fight In the cause of Allah who sell the life of This world for the Hereafter to Him who fighteth In the cause of Allah,- whether He is slain or gets victory – soon shall we give Him a reward of great (value). ” Q4/74.May Allah continue to guide us all to the straight path.”



Continuing, Sheik Gumi quoted Anas:  “If not for my hearing the prophet – alaihis Salam- saying: Do not wish for death I would wish for it” Al-Bukhari. People are forbidden to wish for death talks less of committing suicide. Islam is a practicable religion. We are required to do what we can do and leave the rest to the Al-Mighty. “So fear Allah As much As ye can; listen and obey and spend In charity for the benefit of your own soul and those saved from the covetousness of their own souls,- They are the ones that achieve prosperity.” Q64/16.

“Whoever therefore will be taken by fanaticism or sickness or depression to kill himself, he has condemned himself to eternity in the Hell fire, May Allah Save us from it. Muslim narrated from Abu Huraira who said: the messenger of Allah said: “whoever will kill himself with an iron, then he would be tormented with his iron in his hand injuring his belly continuously in Hell Fire forever. And whoever will drink poison and then kill himself, he will continue sipping the poison in the Hell fire forever. And whoever fall from a rock then kills himself, He will continue falling in the Hell fire forever”.

He stressed that whoever will explode himself with explosives for whatever reason or disguise will also continue to be in his explosion in hellfire forever, stressing that this is what the hadith teaches.  Suicides, he warned, are tormented by the same means they employ to kill themselves.

“Today we see young men killing themselves with explosives in the name of Jihad yet they never reflect that those ‘leaders’ that send them to such adventure never commit suicide nor send their children to commit it.”
www.saharareporters.com

Government magic

The house where security operatives arrested nine suspected terrorists, including a Chadian, in Ijora-Badia, a Lagos mainland suburb, belongs to Bayelsa State government, a monarch claimed.

Yesterday Ojora of Ijora, Oba Fatai Oyeyinka Aromire, in whose domain soldiers attached to Lagos internal security outfit – Operation-MESA, arrested the suspects accused the government of Bayelsa State of complicity in the presence of terrorist suspects in Nigeria’s economic hub.

Oba Aromire blamed the government for abandoning the property, a development he said encouraged miscreants to use it as a hideout.

He said all the efforts made in the past by him and security agencies to get the Bayelsa government to either demolish the building or lease it out, considering the dangers of leaving it empty, yielded no result.

There were no comments from the Bayelsa government whose official promised “to get back to” The Nation.

The royal father, who frowned at the discovery of ammunition, including two AK47 rifles in his community, said it was God who saved the state from the suspected terrorists.

The Ojora spoke during a courtesy visit of Hausa leaders, led by the Chairman of the Council of Arewa Chiefs in Lagos, Alhaji Kabiru Garuba, to his palace.

He alleged that the attack being planned by the suspects was meant to cause mayhem the Centre of Excellence. He warned the Hausa leaders to reign in their men.

According to him, the suspects were living under the umbrella of the Hausa people, who have been residing in the area for many years without crisis.

Oba Aromire urged the Hausa leaders to evict anti-social elements in their midst to avoid the wrath of the law.

His words: “Discovery of such factory in Ijora was very sad to me and the entire family of Ojora. It was God that saved the whole Lagos because the attack was meant to destroy the state as a whole and not Ijora alone.

“But let me state here clearly that you should warn your men very well. Lagos is no-go area for miscreants. Although, they call the perpetrators Malians and Chadians, but they reside among your people here in Ijora.

“Please, talk to them and call them to order because if they refuse to desist, the result will be disastrous for them.

“I also want to say that the blame should also go to the Bayelsa State government for not taking care of their abandoned house where the evil doers are using as the hideout.

“We have been talking to them for a very long time to come and lease it out for the people that will make use of it, but they refused.

“If you ask the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in this area, he will tell you all our efforts to ensure that they come to either demolish or give it to the people that will make use of it, but they are yet to respond.”

The Seriki Hawusawa, (Alhaji Garuba), condemned the incident and described the Arewa residents as peace-loving people who have been living in Lagos for a long time.

He said that the Arewa community will ensure that nobody hide under its umbrella to perpetrate evil.

Ninety-three suspected terrorists were yesterday handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command by the police.

It was reliably gathered that the suspects were mainly Chadians, Malians and Nigeriens.

Command spokesman of the NIS, Mr. Muyiwa Odunubi, who confirmed receiving the suspects from security agents, said the suspects would be paraded today by the Immigration command.

“I can confirm to you that we received 93 suspected Boko Haram members who were handed over to us by the police and other security agencies,” he said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/bayelsa-govt-owns-terrorists-lagos-hideout-says-monarch/

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Farida Waziri and former Delta State governor James Ibori brought the anti-graft agency to its knees by destroying all the effort put in place in the fight against corruption, according EFCC’s pioneer chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Ribadu, 2011 ACN presidential candidate, spoke when he featured as a guest of the week of Kaduna Liberty Radio on Saturday.

“People like Farida Waziri, James Ibori and a couple of others who are still alive and they took over the EFCC brought it to its knees because they literally destroyed the cases that were already in existence with the intention of wiping out the war against corruption.

“The intention was to reverse it and take us back to where we started and they did a lot of damage to the commission and the war against corruption, but as God will have it, the EFCC survived because today, it is still doing the work even though probably not like it did before, but somehow it has been given the chance to bounce back again,” he said.

He described the pardon granted Chief Diepriye Alamieyeseigha and Mohammed Bulama by President Jonathan as  a “tragic development”, a saying the action is against Nigerians “because corruption is our biggest problem and any step taken against the direction of reversing it is a negative development in our own country”.

In her reaction, Farida Waziri described Ribadu as somebody “suffering from delusions of grandeur.”

She spoke yesterday through one of her aides who craved for anonymity.

“He is talking rubbish, Nigerians can differentiate between someone who left about 10 high profile cases and another who took over 50 high profile cases to court, I mean the record is there for anyone who cares to check”, she said, according to her aide.

She also said more than seven former governors were taken to court during her tenure, including former ministers and about 10 corrupt bank executives.

“We arraigned former governor of Ogun State Otunba Gbenga Daniel; his Oyo counterpart Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala; Alhaji Akwe Doma of Nasarawa State and Danjuma Goje of Gombe State, among others. The single largest recovery of over N200 billion in assets and funds was gotten from a corrupt commercial bank executive, so how can anybody in his right mind say we brought EFCC to its knees”, Farida’s aide quoted her as saying.


http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/news-news/53232-farida-ibori-brought-efcc-to-its-knees-ribadu

Of the 229 people recruited recently by authorities of the Nigerian Air space Management Agency (NAMA), the five states of the South east got 106 slots representing about 47 percent of the total number of people recruited, documents seen by Daily Trust have revealed.

On Tuesday last week, the House of Representatives committee on federal character informed the parliament that is has opened an investigation into the matter following a motion sponsored by deputy minority leader Rep. Suleiman Kawu Sumaila (ANPP, Kano).

A tabulated distribution of the posts among the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) shows that Abia state where the managing director of the agency Engineer Mazi Nnamdi Udoh came from has a total of 32 slots.

In the same vein, Anambra state where aviation minister Princess Stella Oduah come from has 32 slots, while Imo has 29; while Enugu and Ebonyi states have eight and five slots respectively.

Closely following the three states of the South east are Kogi 24, Cross River 20, Delta 14, Ogun 12, Benue 11 and Akwa Ibom 10.

However, Zamfara and Jigawa states were given zero slots, while FCT, Taraba, Sokoto and Kebbi states have one each.

Adamawa, Bayelsa and Nasarawa were allocated two each and Bauchi and Ekiti have three positions.

Gombe, Yobe, Rivers, Lagos got fours each, while Borno, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, Kano and Kaduna have five slots each. Others are Kwara, Osun, Oyo with six lots, Plateau 7.

“If urgent step is not taken the problem will defeat the purpose of the federal character commission establishment Act especially with regards to equal distribution of job opportunities among states of the federation and the supposed transparency and due process in the activities of the civil service it will create serious tension in the country,” Kawu said.
Dailytrust

Societal reoriental is all Nigeria needs..

By SaharaReporters, New York

Boko Haram sect members operating in Northern Nigeria are “resilient warriors” who are guided by ideological beliefs and are fearless in confronting the security agencies, a member of Nigeria’s Joint Task Force (JTF), has said.

The soldier, who requested anonymity, told SaharaReporters that the sect has many bases in the North that are yet to be unraveled, where they are brainwashing young Muslims.  He said any one under-estimating them should rethink because the sect will never accept dialogue or any form of mediation unless they are crushed.

The soldier further said that members of the sect undertake certain rituals that make them fearless and focused in their insurgency and terrorists acts, adding that those under interrogation in JTF’s base usually confess that “they are doing Allah’s work” or “Jihad”.

The soldier explained, “I have been to Dafur and Liberia, but never experienced these kinds of fighters. Rebels want power but these ones want death, they are just resilient warriors. You will see a small boy fearless and exchanging gun fire with us and even killing and injuring our colleagues.

He described how one of them nearly killed him last year in Damaturu.  “We used to buy local food somewhere; from nowhere they trailed us and opened fire on us killing two of our colleagues, we escaped by luck with gun wounds.”

Of their use of rituals, he said those who have been capture had told them about it.  “We believed them because the level of their ideology and commitment to their action proved so. We usually recover charms and other belongings related to acts of sorcery.
Saharareporters.com

usmanyaro17: I voted for Him and i will vote for him again again,as far as i am concern he is still best amongst the clowns we have making noise..

So u mean Jonathan is a CLOWN Lol !!!

IF the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has its way, the National Assembly will begin impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan over the unconditional pardon he granted former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Mr. Shettima Bulama. The party said the lawmakers should take the step if the President failed to withdraw the pardon, which has generated debate. According to the CPC, the President’s decision was an embarrassment to the country, adding that the impeachment process should be based on gross abuse of executive authority and total disregard for the feelings of Nigerians. On March 9, the National Council of States in its capacity as an advisory body to the President assented to a presidential pardon for Chief Alamieyeseigha, Bulama (former head, Bank of the North), Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya (former Chief of General Staff), Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Maj.-Gen. AbdulKareem Adisa, Major Bello Magaji, Mohammed Lima Biu and Major Seun Fadipe. The decision was hinged on the Provisions of Section 175 (1-3) of the Constitution. Subsection 3 expressly states that: the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of State, may exercise his powers under Subsection (1) of this section in relation to persons concerned with offences against the Army, Navy or Air Force law or convicted or sentenced by a court-martial. CPC alleged that Jonathan pardoned Alamieyeseigha because of the 2015 election. According to a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, CPC said: “Though the ostensible and much-trumpeted reason is for national cohesion, we have it on good authority that the main reason is a self-serving agenda by the Jonathan administration ahead of the 2015 election. “Under the Nigerian extant law- which prescribes a 10-year disqualification for any ex-convict- Chief Alamieyeseigha is ineligible for any electoral contest in 2015 since his conviction was done in 2006. “As a party, we are aware of the burden of responsibility on us to lend our voice to the vociferous condemnation of this ‘pardon for brazen criminality’ by the Jonathan administration. The wider implications of the infra-dig by this regime concerning the issue are very worrisome. “Section 175 (1d) of the Nigerian Constitution, which deals with amnesty, states: ‘Remit the whole or any part of any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence or of any penalty or forfeiture otherwise due to the state on account of such an offence’. “Does this imply that by this amnesty, the assets unjustly accumulated by Chief Alamieyeseigha and forfeited to Nigeria shall be returned to him in part or whole? “Would this not send wrong signals to the international community that Nigeria is a big enclave of institutionalised corruption? “Would this not discourage potential investors and extirpate the implementation of the much-touted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)?; “By this action, is the Jonathan government not festering the cankerworm of corruption and implicitly encouraging the succeeding generation on imbibing that culture? “Would this action not be anti-thetical to the spirit and letter of the United Nations (UN) charter against corruption to which Nigeria is a signatory? “Without any scintilla of doubt, Dr. Jonathan, as President, has ceased from serving the collective interest of the people “He seems more pre-occupied with political manoeuvres- that are deleterious to the corporate existence of the country than ensuring good governance through enunciation of policies that do not offend the ethno-religious balance of the polity.”
The Nation

There was outrage yesterday after over N6 billion was donated in Lagos at the fund raising in aid of St. Stephen’s Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, home town of President Goodluck Jonathan. The event attended by the president held at the high brow Civic Centre, Victoria Island. The highest donation was given by Prince Arthur Eze, a business tycoon. He donated N1.8 billion. Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State made a donation of N230 million on behalf of the newly-formed PDP Governors Forum . He was recently made chairman of the forum which was created as a separate body from the Nigerian Governors Forum headed by Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Another N100million was donated by Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State on behalf of South- South state Governors. Governor Seriake Dickson pledged to build the nursery school and cancer diagnostic centre components of the project at Otuoke as the contribution of Bayelsa. The church came into national consciousness in April last year when Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited, an Italian construction firm donated the multi-million dollar building to President Jonathan’s home church. The donation of the building provoked a hail of criticism against the president with many calling on the anti-graft agencies to step into it. Several PDP governors were said to be unaware, last night, of the donation made on their behalf by Akpabio. Their spokespersons said their bosses were not consulted on the donation. Speaking at the fund raising, President Jonathan urged wealthy Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to the development of poor communities in the country. This, according to him, will go a long way in empowering youths. Jonathan noted that the only way to ensure that one’s memory is kept alive is to make positive impact in the lives of the people. He said: “We are all mortal beings, we are all biological specimen so we will all die but when you die, what will you be remembered for, what will you leave behind? I used to tell people that even the house I was struggling to build in the village, these days in this global age, how am I sure that my children will even stay in my root.” “They want to go to West Indies, they want to go to Latin America, so I was even joking with people that if I look at the behaviour of my children and if I don’t see any of them that will patronize the village, even my house I will donate it out before I die.” Jonathan, said that the project for the St. Stephens Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre in his home town was so dear to him. He spoke of his determination to ensure that the younger generation of Nigerians pass through a better system of education different from the one he experienced while growing up. “I feel the only thing I can do is to make sure that from Nursery School to Primary and Secondary School, there should be a standard educational facility and youth programme, so that it gives opportunity for the younger ones to grow even if we die in the next 100 years, people will remember that those before them have something for them” He said that the Youth Development Centre was put under the control of the church because of the long history of churches using funds effectively for development and that they had been able to ensure that such developmental projects endure. Speaking earlier, Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio said that the project was part of the vision of President Jonathan to ensure that the youths of Otuoke have better education and secured future. Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Peter Obi ( Anambra) and Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers) lauded the initiative, saying that they would replicate such initiative in their states. Present at the occasion were Chairman of Visafone, Mr.Jim Ovia; Chairman Capital oil, Chief Ifeanyi Uba; Chairman of A-Z Oil, Chika Okafor, Chairman Arik Air, Sir Joseph Arumemi–Ikhide,Mr. Oba Otudeko and Tony Elumenu. Others who attended the occasion included Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tunde Lemo, some Ministers, Senators, members of the House of Representatives and prominent indigenes of Otuoke. Critics said yesterday’s fundraising was reminiscent of the much-criticised launching by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to raise funds for his presidential library. The event held in Abeokuta on May 14, 2005 realised about N6 billion, but was widely condemned as public extortion. Reacting to the donations, renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay, said the development shows the abysmal level that ethical standards in governance had fallen in the country. He said: “This is not the first time such a thing has happened. Remember former President Olusegun Obasanjo also did a similar thing to raise money for his library.” Describing the president’s action as morally wrong, Sagay continued, “It amounts to extorting money from sycophants who are unjustly benefiting from government. As far as I am concerned, the development fell below ethical standard and was not supposed to happen.” Former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye also condemned the huge donation. “The truth of the matter is that those who made the donation did so not because they love God, but rather President Jonathan. Ask these people if they have built any church in their localities and the answer will be no,” he said. Melaye, who is also the Convener, Anti Corruption Network, added, “Not only is this action morally wrong, it is an open display of open corruption that has over the entire fabric of this country.” A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Dr. Usman Bugaje, also faulted the donations. He castigated governors who donated at the event, saying it is criminal to embark on such frivolous spending when millions of their supposed voters are languishing for absence of basic necessities of life. According to him: “Are the monies appropriated in the budget? If they are properly appropriated, is the donation in the best interest of the public? “Are the monies from their private pockets? It is criminal to ignore the dire lack and infrastructural shortcomings in their states to donate such monies. “There are people dying because they cannot afford N500 drugs in their states and the governors are busy spending public funds as they like”. The former member of the House of Representatives added: “It is a height of irresponsibility and insensitivity to spend public funds on such frivolities just because the President is involved. Human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, condemned the use of public funds for private enterprises. He said the church is a private organisation that should never benefit from public funds. Keyamo stated: “It is a gross mismanagement of the public funds. It is also against the anti-corruption laws, especially a public official like the President soliciting for donations from private individuals and government contractors like Chief Arthur Eze.” On his part, Chief Chekwas Okorie, expressed shock at the organisation of such fund raising bazaar in Lagos, “My immediate reaction to this news is that it is quite indecent for Mr. President to preside over such a fund raising bazaar. It is indecent for him to gather contractors working for government and government officials superintending over state funds, and using his position as president to extract such huge resources for a village church. “In fact, for him to even contemplate this fund-raising bazaar shows his level of insensitivity on matters of using executive influence to extract the peoples’ resources. I think it is not too far from extortion though the people and the governors that donated were not openly forced to do so. Given his position as the President and Commander-In-Chief, it is doubtful if the invited donors had any choice not to give so generously. “Also, since no village church would cost up to N6 billion, Nigerians will want to know how President Jonathan will utilise the balance. The whole thing is baffling,” he said. In his reaction, Chief Ayo Adebanjo said, “This type of uncaring attitude is now synonymous with these people. It goes a long way to show their brazen display of nonchalance towards how the people feel. How can you explain the fact that a single individual donated nearly N2 billion? It is unimaginable. Before such a person will cough out that much, he must have benefitted about ten times of that from the system either by award of contract, oil blocks or even undue waivers. I just hope they will stop this because it has a way of infuriating the people. I’m a Christian but I believe Christians too should be above board.”
Source, The Nation

Gombe United (Desert Scorpions) on point.....

Written by Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar

Fresh hurdles have emerged on the path of merging opposition parties working to register the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) confirmed the receipt of a registration application from the African People’s Congress (APC).

INEC said a group had submitted an application for registration as a political party bearing the same acronym of APC and that it is yet to receive such an application from the All Progressives Congress.

Spokesman to the INEC chairman, Kayode Idowu, who spoke with Daily Trust yesterday, said the commission will await the application from the merging parties before deciding on what to do in view of the current application before the commission.

Idowu confirmed that the African People’s Congress had submitted its application to INEC while the All Progressives Congress is yet to submit its own.

Speaking to BBC Hausa, monitored in Abuja yesterday, a spokesman for INEC Mr. Nick Dazang said it would be difficult to register a party with a name already approved for another.

“It is true that a group applied to register as political party with the name African People’s Congress (APC). And INEC has received the application but it is yet to sit down and work on the application,” he said.

He said if All Progressive Congress comes with their request, INEC “will first of all look at the application, to find out if it meets registration requirements.  As we say, those parties who are planning for merger have a lot to do. They are going to do national convention and after that they will come with their application to INEC and it must do this within 200 days before the next elections. But if it is a new party there is no need for all this. The merging parties are yet to come to us with their request and there is need for them to come and tell INEC this is our request.”

Asked if the application may be to sabotage the process of registering the All Progressives Congress, Dazang said “maybe it is true, but we do not have any evidence.
www.dailytrust.com

By SaharaReporters, New York

Harold Demuren, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, has been removed from office with immediate effect.

A statement by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said Mr. Demuren was removed as a result of pressure from "aviation stakeholders".  The statement did not say the nature of the pressure, nor indicate the stakeholders involved.  

President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have approved the removal. Dr. Demuren also confirmed his removal via a text message to to Saharareporters
www.saharareporters.com

The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC has condemned last week’s visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Borno and Yobe states and described it as a failed and fruitless attempt to match up the recent visit to the area by opposition progressive governors, saying it is purposeless.

The release which was signed by the publicity secretary of the party, Chief Rotimi Fashakin and made available to Abusidiqu.com reads thus:

On Thursday, 7th March, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan began a two-day tour of Yobe and Borno states, ostensibly to observe the relics of the unabated insecurity emblazoned on the residents of these states in the last three years.

Though the spin doctors at the Nation’s power corridor have, in their usual inimitable deceptive style, told the nation that the guided tour had been in the plans for a long time; it is difficult to believe that the real reason was not a very infantile desire to match up the progressive governors’ tumultuous visit to Borno state in the preceding week!

The unanswered question remains: what has changed between the serial postponements of the President’s visit to these states in the last two years because of the predictable reason of unfavorable security reports and the decision to visit last Thursday? Was it the feat of the Progressive Governors in freely interacting with the people on the streets of Maiduguri (with minimal security presence) that made the President believe a trip to these hot-beds is possible, albeit with the aid of a 3,000-strong Police force ably led by the Inspector General of Police (IGP)? It was obvious that the knee-jack response of the Presidency to the Progressive Governors’ visit did not consider the necessity of a meaningful interface with the traumatized citizenry
as an integral part of such a visit!

The antecedents of the President in courageous crisis management leave much to be desired. It would be recalled that after the bomb blast at the precinct of Eagle square – the venue of the Independence anniversary on 1st October, 2010 -  a timorous presidency shifted the subsequent celebrations to within the barricaded walls of the Aso-villa! The question is: with a supposition of a bomb blast around the Aso- villa, would the President’s official residence be shifted to Otuoke in Bayelsa state? It is our belief that Power of the President/Commander-in-Chief comes with the responsibility that transcends mere adornment with the epaulette of a Field Marshall at National ceremonies. The President, like the ancient Centurion, should never be lacking in nobility, honor and valor.

In the last three years, hundreds of Nigerians in these Northern states had been deceased, with many more suffering different degrees of disabilities. Indeed, countless many of Nigerians in these areas have been caught in the cross fire of the War beyond boundaries that have defined daily living. All these are desirous of succor from the leadership.

Undoubtedly, the President’s visit would serve no useful purpose and indeed very meretricious if there is no cogent plan for rehabilitating the displaced and bringing normalcy to the socio-economic life of the people. After all, the Constitution is unambiguous in aptly declaring that the purpose of Government shall be the welfare and security of the People!

Meanwhile, it is left to be seen how the President’s visit, which was mainly about flying above the heads of the Nigerian residents in these areas, would help to solve the intractable issues on the ground. God bless Nigeria.”

A  former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has dismissed claims that he and some other ‘yesterday’s men’ are criticising the Jonathan administration because they were not given appointments. He says that on the contrary, some of them were approached by the administration with ministerial offers which they declined. El-Rufai, who made the submissions in an interview with the current edition of METROPOLE Magazine published by a member of ThisDay Editorial Board, Mr. Waziri Adio, specifically picked on the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr.Reuben Abati and said: “So who is he referring to as yesterday’s men? Is it Oby that left the government and went to the World Bank and made a name for herself and came back and still has a decent job? “Before Segun Aganga was offered Minister of Finance, it was Oby that was offered. President Jonathan offered her the job and I am putting it out in the public for them to deny it. It was Oby that suggested Segun Aganga and another young man in Africa Development Bank. “And that was how Segun Aganga became finance minister when Jonathan became acting president. And after he was elected as president, they still followed Oby to South Africa to offer her the minister of power. Does that sound like yesterday’s men? “We chose not to be in this government. I can speak for myself and Oby. It’s not because of anything, but you can’t sit back and your country is being ruined by people and you don’t say anything. And when you say something, their response is to smear you. They expect that will work. We will speak next week and the week after and the week after, till they improve. We want them to improve because nobody wants to destroy them. We have been there before them and we know what it takes to get the job done. They should just do it. It’s not impossible.” Dismissing Abati’s claim as absolute nonsense, el-Rufai added: “There are two reasons why I haven’t responded to that. First for me when you write a sketch and you are too cowardly to mention my name I won’t respond. I don’t respond to cowards. That article was simply cowardly because if you want to say I allocated land to myself, wife and companies come out and say so, and we will meet in court. That is the same way the same Reuben Abati wrote about General Buhari and when his lawyers wrote to him he ran around town begging. “When I want to write about him, I will mention his name. Secondly, I don’t respond to staff. I respond to presidents. I will not respond to him. Others will respond to him and they have been responding. There is no reason responding to anyone who thinks that we are yesterday’s men because we are not running the show.” El-Rufai explained that he was not expelled from PDP. According to him, “I simply walked away. If I want to be in the scheme of things, does it not make sense to remain in PDP? Why would I leave PDP to join an opposition party in a country where opposition parties have never been able to unseat the ruling party? He should at least give me credit for having a brain. “I chose to leave PDP voluntarily because I can no longer live with the kind of characters and the thinking within PDP.” He challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo in whose administration he served as minister to open up and tell his own story since he is denying the third term agenda. The author of the controversial book Accidental Public Servant said most of the problems facing the country today have their roots in the third term bid. He said: “I was in General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s government and we briefed Obasanjo for a whole month. Each ministry had one day to brief the incoming president. But when we were handing over to Yar’Adua, each minister had 30 minutes. “Tell me, how you can brief an incoming president on the activities of any ministry in 30 minutes? I think I was the only one that got close to one hour because apart from the FCT, there were the public service reforms and others that I handled. All this is part of the problem that we are still living with. So for me, Third Term was just an adventure that this country didn’t need and I do not have any doubt in my mind that we did the right thing.” On the allegation by Obasanjo’s supporters that he is vengeful because the former President did not hand over power to him, el-Rufai insisted he had never aspired to be President. He added “I am a permanent suspect, you know. The late Yar’Adua went after me because of that. I have stopped explaining myself or defending myself on that. I have written my book and those that say this is the reason should write their own book and prove that I wanted to be president at any time. I am not an aspirant and I am not a contestant for any office. I have said so and nobody believes me and people have gone after me, people are still going after me because of that.” He insisted that his account in the book was balanced and that many were surprised that he lasted that long in Obasanjo’s cabinet because he always argued with him. He, however, admitted, “He (Obasanjo) is very important to me and he gave me the opportunity to be in public service. I will always be grateful to him. But I can’t pretend that Obasanjo as president was perfect.”
Wwww.thenationonlinenng.net

Question : How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the sword?
.
Answer : It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force. The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.
1. Islam means peace
Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’, which means peace. It also means submitting one’s will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one’s will to the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt).
2. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace
Each and every human being in this world is not in favour of maintaining peace and harmony. There are many, who would disrupt it for their own vested interests. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. It is precisely for this reason that we have the police who use force against criminals and anti-social elements to maintain peace in the country. Islam promotes peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts its followers to fight where there is oppression. The fight against oppression may, at times, require the use of force. In Islam force can only be used to promote peace and justice.
3. Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary
The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy O’Leary in the book “Islam at the cross road” (Page :
“History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated.”
4. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years
Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years. The Muslims in Spain never used the sword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain who could openly give the adhaan, that is the call for prayers.
5. 14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians
Muslims were the lords of Arabia for 1400 years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e. Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the swordthere would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.
6. More than 80% non-Muslims in India
The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they had the power of converting each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Today more than 80% of the population of India are non- Muslims. All these non-Muslim Indians are bearing witness today that Islam was not spread by the sword.
7. Indonesia and Malaysia
Indonesia is a country that has the maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, “which Muslim army went to Indonesia and Malaysia?”
8. East Coast of Africa
Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may again ask, if Islam was spread by the sword, “which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?”
9. Thomas Carlyle
The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in his book “Heroes and Hero worship”, refers to this misconception about the spread of Islam:
“The sword indeed, but where will you get your sword! Every new opinion, at its starting is, precisely in a minority of one. In one man’s head alone, there it dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he takes a sword, and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must first get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as it can.”
10. No compulsion in religion
With which sword was Islam spread? Even if Muslims had it they could not use it to spread Islam because the Qur’an says in the following verse:
“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error”
[Al Qur’an 2:256]
11. Sword of the Intellect
It is the sword of intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Qur’an says in Surah An Nahl, Chapter16 Verse 125:
“Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.”
[Al Qur’an 16:125]
12. Increase in the world religions from 1934 to 1984
An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased only by 47%. May one ask, which war took place in this century which converted millions of people to Islam?
13. Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and Europe
Today the fastest growing religion in America is Islam. The fastest growing religion in Europe is Islam. Which sword is forcing people in the West to accept Islam in such large numbers?
14. Dr Joseph Adam Pearson
Dr Joseph Adam Pearson rightly says, “People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realize that the Islamic bomb has been dropped already, it fell the day MUHAMMAD (pbuh) was born.”
.
Maasalam,
Ernieern01@yahoo.com

Nigerians and adding ZEROES... When has 500 become 5000

.Garri (x7):


PDP is‎​ Boko Haram - Azazi

Boko Haram is‎​ in my Government - President Goodluck Jonathan

Boko Haram is‎​ fighting for justice - Bamangar Tukur

I wonder if this dickheads eva had conscience... Nigerians can't be fooled again... Okupe and Abati the writings are clearly understood...

RIP EL FLAQUITO..... Adieu...

What's about the Snakes?? Mods.. Two snaky frontpage stories... Gosh... When did we start celebrating Chinese New Year

The Presidential Visitation Panel to the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) has recommended the sack of the university’s management. The panel, which admitted that the university is stinking, also said the top officials should be reprimanded for contract splitting and irrational decision to buy N37 million plastic chairs. About N110, 647, 045.00 was uncovered to have been misappropriated in the name of security honorarium. A top official of the university is expected to cough out N25, 501, 415. 08 “needlessly and unilaterally spent on image making and public relations”. But some top officers of the Federal Ministry of Education are trying to shield the report away from President Goodluck Jonathan, it was learnt at the weekend. The rot in the university was discovered by the Visitation Panel headed by Dr. T. C. Osanakpo (SAN). According to the panel’s report, many students graduated from the university without completing the requirements. It established a case of 31 students in the English Department, who graduated desspite having a number of carry-over courses in the 2003/2004 academic session. Besides lack of infrastructure, the panel said, the university’s admission has been abused without taking cognisance of the capacity of its staff and facilities. The report said: “The quality of the buildings and environment on the mini-campus is well below the standard expected of a university. The mini-campus is indeed a mockery of a university. The buildings on both the Mini and Main campuses do not provide adequate number of staff offices, classrooms, lecture theatres, laboratory spaces and other facilities for the use of both the staff and students of the university. “After a careful review and evaluation of relevant documents on admission and examination, interaction with management and senior staff in the Registry and academic Planning Unit, some heads of departments and deans, it became clear to the Panel that: “Up till now, there is no Admissions Office and a clearly identifiable desk officer. From July 2009, the Senate Committee on admission, which hitherto handled admission, became extinct. “However, it was also revealed to us that there are at present two Admissions Committee, namely Central Admissions Committee and Senate Admissions Committee, whose members were handpicked by the Vice-Chancellor. “A large number of the final Admission lists submitted to the panel did not have JAMB or Post-UTME scores; thus their authenticity was in doubt. “The administration of Post-UTME test was not consistently done and used for admission purposes. While in some cases it was written, in others it was either oral or not done at all. It is clear that the admissions based on 40 per cent of the total were solely handled by the Vice Chancellor’s office (which should not be so) after departmental and faculty recommendations of the first 60 per cent. “Only the first 60per cent of admissions adhered to the JAMB Admission categories of merit, catchment and EDLS to a large extent, while there was no evidence of how the balance of 40 per cent was done except for staff and some concessional requests from outside the University. Nonetheless, the 40 per cent often exceeded the numerical value of the earlier 60 per cent as the final figure often exceeded by a large percentage of the carrying capacity of the university. It would be safe to say that the second-tier admission exercise for a so called 40 per cent violated JAMB guidelines in every aspect. “The selection of staff/any designated university official’s biological children did not necessarily undergo scrutiny by the Deputy Registrar (Academic) to ascertain the authenticity of claims as should be the case before forwarding the requests to the Committee of Deans that approved such lists in this University. Consequently, the process was grossly abused. This was reinforced by the number of requests by an individual like the Bursar who sent in 118 names in 2009/2010 in addition to pressure from outside “Record keeping on examinations is very poor. Similarly the computation of students, Grade Point Average (GPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) was found to be poor resulting in wrong determination of final degree classification. “Thirty one (31) students of English Department graduated with varying numbers of carry-over courses in 2003/2004 session which the University panel investigated but not determined to date. This indicates the highest degree of carelessness, incompetence and insensitivity. The Department has not been able to defend this. We have every reason to believe that there could be more of such cases. The senate should be directed to revisit these cases and take appropriate action. “A number of students both regular and part-time (CDL & CE) have graduated without completing their requirements for graduation. We would by sighting some departmental results and receive complains. It is like a fairy tale what is going on in the University of Abuja . There were also petitions on errors in degree classifications of graduands already issued with success letters signed by the Registrar of the university. “Generally, it was observed that most of the departments followed the correct format of presenting results that go to Senate for approval. However, the following departments were found to be the only ones that kept spread sheets. Linguistics and African Languages, Geography and Computer Science. We also observed that there is no Examination Records Office in this University to handle all examination matters, instead they are handled either by the Academic Office or Academic Planning office with none being solely responsible.” On financial management, the panel called for the replacement of an audit firm which had undertaken the University’s Audit for the past eight years (2004 to 2012) should be replaced by the council It added: “The Auditor-General for the Federation should in the interim be directed to appoint the external auditors for the university and superintend their work plan and the segmented execution of the audit to completion “The financial system in the university needs to be overhauled. There should be a customised Accounting Manual as well as an Internal Audit Manual designed by Professionals, using the NUC Manual as a guide. “The manual which should also incorporate the computerisation of the system will help to strengthen the financial system, standardise and improve general financial operations of the university. It would also strengthen internal control and correct the anomalies of the present system whereby the operations are centered on an individual in the person of the Vice Chancellor. “The budgetary system in the university needs to be improved and budgets implemented according to plan. The Finance and General Purposes Committee responsible for budget monitoring as a committee of the university council, should stringently monitor and review the university budget implementation from time to time and report to the Council accordingly. “In accordance with the laws of the land, the university should as a matter of urgency remit all taxes deducted from contractors as well as PAYE. “The Pro-Chancellor should refund N3, 645, 578. 62 being sums expended on his wife’s medical expenses. “The management of the university should be advised in strong terms that this matter of expenditure amount to financial impunity which should not be tolerated in a federal establishment “The total amount of N25, 501, 415. 08 needlessly and unilaterally spent on image making and public relations should be recovered. “The amount of N110, 647, 045.00 misappropriated in the name of security honorarium should be recovered. “The rates applied for the payment of sitting allowances and other entitlements to external members of the University Council should conform to the provisions of the extant of government circulars.” “The university with the support of the government should embark on massive infrastructural development to correct the perceived imbalance between facilities and end users, as a way of improving the learning environment and addressing the welfare issues arising. While this is being done, the existing facilities should be revamped to serve their purpose more effectively.” A member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIABUJA Chapter, said: “Some top officers of the Ministry of Education have been trying to suppress the report. Instead, they have been encouraging security agencies to clampdown on our members. “Yet, our position is that UINABUJA ought to be a model university and not a glorified secondary school that it is today.
Source; www.thenationonline.ng

Shekau, in a video message, denied reaching any ceasefire agreement with, or having a dialogue with the Federal Government.

His translated message reads:  “May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all. This is an important message to all people.

“There is this wicked rumour making the rounds that we have dialogued with government of Nigeria which led to a ceasefire on our part. We have also heard how some of our operations and attacks are being credited to criminals.

“As such the security agents have been killing our armed members in the name of criminals. We have seen how our members who were out on holy mission are being attacked and killed with the label of criminals.

“We are telling the world that whoever kills any of our members in the name of being criminals would surely be avenged unless such person repents now. We are stating it categorically that we are not in any dialogue or ceasefire agreement with anyone. And we have never asked anybody in the name Abdulazeez to represent me, Abubakar Shekau, the leader of this movement.

Denies Abdulazeez
“I swear by Allah that Abdulazeez or whatever he is calls himself did not get any authority from me to represent me in any capacity. I do not know him. And if we peradventure encounter Abulazeez and his group, I swear by Allah we are going to mete out the grave judgment that Allah has prescribed for their likes in the holy book.

“I want the world to know that we have no dialogue with government. I have on several occasions attempted to pass this message across via the Internet and Youtube and we later realised that some agents of government kept removing our messages from the net and preventing its online publication so that our messages will not be heard. They know that if the world hears our position on this fake dialogue, their efforts of deceit would be exposed.

Threatens Yobe, Borno, others
“We are also sending this strong message to the people of Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, and any state, that whoever kills any of our members should await a grave retaliation from us.

“God knows that we don’t kill unjustly except those that conspired against us or those that directly fight us, or the government that is waging war upon Allah and His Prophet. We will continue waging war against them until we succeeded in establishing an Islamic state in Nigeria.

“This message is prepared by me and targeted towards clarifying the issue of ceasefire. We have never had any dialogue with anyone. How would we have had dialogue with the government when our members are being killed and detained in cells, both women and children? Do you call this dialogue?

‘We’re workers for Allah’
“That is not dialogue or truce in Islam. In Islam there are condition prescribed for us to go into dialogue, and there are also situation in which we cannot go in to dialogue. What we are doing now is what is prescribed for us by Allah and his holy prophet.

“We are workers in the vine yard of Allah. We are not out to cause destruction, but correct the ills of the society. And Allah is more powerful than all, and He has the might.

“Allah will surely assist us to victory. This is my message to you. If you have not heard from me all this while, now my message should have reached you all.”
Source; www.vanguardngr.com

abifoluwa: lmao, made me rem the dudes that were senators or ministers that fought years back on channels tv, one of them fainted just cause of a punch and was admitted to the hospital, akpabiol, if aboki synchronize ur belle, u go fear o

SYNCHRONISE D belle don turn Ipod?

Written by Fidelis Mac-Leva

Two Peoples Democratic Party governors nearly came to blows Sunday at a meeting in Abuja called to form a separate platform for PDP governors, Daily Trust learnt from a reliable source yesterday
The source said the formation of the forum was encouraged by President Godluck Jonathan as a counterpoise to the Governors Forum whose chairman Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state is rumoured to nurse an ambition to run in 2015 as vice president to Sule Lamido of Jigawa state.

According to the source, as soon as the meeting began Babangida Aliyu of Niger state, an Amaechi partisan, criticised the need for a PDP governors forum. He argued that the governors forum engenders unity adding that the ruling party is already dominant in the forum.

However, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, said to be a Jonathan supporter for 2015, rose to his feet and challenged Aliyu for opposing the creation of the forum. He said the decision was taken to set up the forum at a meeting the previous day where Aliyu was absent, and that he could not therefore oppose it now.

Their exchanges degenerated into harsh words for each other and they began to inch forward angrily. At this stage some governors moved forward quickly and came between them, as they continued to hurl unpleasant words over the heads of those that separated them.

Finally, the source said, they were persuaded back to their seats as a few governors moved back and forth to broker peace. At last they succeeded and they were encouraged to embrace themselves. They did and the meeting continued.

The source said no election was held when the meeting ended but PDP Chairman Bamanga Tukur announced to reporters that Akpabio had been elected chairman.
www.dailytrust.com.ng

simeonT: It is true, I learnt a suicide got bombed himself and the chairman of the association of the sand seller under the bridge.

This one is more deadlier than the bomb... CHAEI!!

Incredible SUNDAY Mba scored against Ivory Coast aήϑ Burkina Faso on SUNDAYS.. The Sun



Atiku Abubakar said the controversial book is a mere fiction.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed former minister, Nasir El Rufai’s new memoir, which characterised Mr. Atiku as a corrupt power monger, who based his decisions on the counsel of fortune-tellers.

Mr. Abubakar said on Thursday the book’s accounts were mere “fiction, half-truths, exaggeration and reflection of selective memory.”

In a Facebook post, the former vice president said he is “amazed” by the claims, but would not be angered by them, citing Mr. El Rufai’s recent controversial Twitter post on Jesus Christ, as proof the former minister needs prayers instead.

“El-Rufai’s attack on my person is to say the least not surprising considering that this is the same man who has notoriety for disparaging religions and their icons, including lately, Jesus Christ,” Mr. Atiku said.

“If he could go to such irreverent extent to disparage religious icons, who is an ordinary mortal like me? It is my belief that any man that can cross the boundary of reason and decency deserves prayers rather than anger.”

Mr. El Rufai’s book, Accidental Servant Leader, has stirred immediate controversy ahead of its public presentation, with critical reviews of key politicians who served between the Obasanjo administration, which Mr. El Rufai served; and the Jonathan administration, which he has consistently criticised.

The book chronicled multiple abuses by officials of government and the ruling party; scheming for power, and betrayals by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Atiku, and current president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr. El Rufai portrayed Mr. Atiku as an over-ambitious politician, who hoped Mr. Obasanjo would not complete his tenure, and attempted to manipulate influential power brokers, including former military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida, to back his ambition for the presidency.

Mr. Abubakar, in his capacity as the chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, also interfered with the privatisation process handled by the Bureau of Public Enterprise which Mr. El Rufai headed then, the book says.

At some point, Mr. El Rufai said he threatened to quit over the pressure.

In his reaction, Mr. Abubakar accused the former minister of lying and contradicting his earlier testimony before a senate committee, where the former minister absolved the former vice president of interfering with his work at the Bureau.

During an appearance before the senate privatisation committee in August 2011, Mr. El Rufai assured the lawmakers that the decisions taken during his tenure did not receive external influence.

“We took everything we did to the privatisation council,” Mr. El Rufai had told the lawmakers, “And I swear to God, I am under oath. Except for one time that the vice president called me and said; look I’ve got calls from A and B to help this guy win this, I said Mr. Vice president you know the rules, tell him to bid the highest price because the highest price wins and he said yes I know, I am just telling you in case they contact you.”

“And I don’t want them to say I didn’t pass on their requests. That was the only time. But no one tried to interfere with my work. There were attempts to block it. President Obasanjo blocked the privatisation of Nigeria airways practically. Okay because Kema Chikwe will go and tell him stories. And what is the result today. The company is dead,” Mr. El Rufai told the lawmakers.

Mr. Atiku also dismissed claims in the book that former president, Mr. Obasanjo, went on “bended knees” to secure his support for the 2003 election, saying the meeting was private and Mr. El Rufai could not have known what transpired.

“Such claim lacks any credibility because Obasanjo and I were alone together behind closed doors,” Mr. Atiku said. “I wonder whether el-Rufai was a fly on the wall to discuss the details of a private meeting between the two of us.”
www.premiumtimes.com