₦airaland Forum

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh has given assurance that the country’s military officers will never again truncate the nation’s democratic process, saying that the military is subordinate to Nigerian constitution.

Badeh made this known yesterday when the military high command played host to a high powered team of members of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Election led by its chairman and former head of state, General Abulsalami Abubakar.

“The era of military rule is gone forever and ever in this country. In fact if there was military rule I am not sure if I could have been here. We are the armed forces of Nigeria and not that of any political party and will be subordinate to the constituted authorities”, Badeh said.

The CDS said that the present crop of military leaders were the product of democratic governance and would therefore not embark on any activity that could jeopardize the electoral processes in the country.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/04/chief-of-defence-staff-era-of-military-regimes-is-over-forever/

The President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, commiserated with President Goodluck Jonathan over the demise of his Special Adviser on Strategy and Documentation, Mr Oronto Douglas.

This is contained in a statement made available to the media in Abuja by the Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign, Malam Garba Shehu.

The statement reads: “I received the news of the death of your long-standing friend and key aide, Oronto Douglas, with sadness.

“I appreciate how close he had worked with you and considered him a young and dynamic individual who still had a lot to offer our country as we build on our democracy.

“I urge you, Mr President, to take heart and to convey my condolences to his immediate family as we pray for the repose of his humble soul.’’

Douglas died on Thursday, April 9, reportedly of cancer. (NAN)

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The Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko has said that President-elect Muhammadu Buhari will unfold the master plan on job creation and social security issues of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 29.

Wamakko disclosed this yesterday while addressing APC supporters during a visit in Tambuwal, headquarters of Tambuwal local government aea of the state.

He said that the master plan would also address the security concerns in the country.

The governor, who is also a senator-elect, said that the president-elect would ensure good governance through the implementation of people-oriented programmes designed to meet the yearnings of Nigerians.

He said that Buhari’s presidency would restore the confidence of Nigerians in governance through the implementation of programmes that would enhance the socio-economic and political development of the country.

“We as progressives are in the system to bring about a responsible change in all aspects of governance,” he said.

Wamakko noted that the Nigerian nation was blessed with abundant natural and human resources necessary for effective economic growth and development even as he expressed confidence that Nigeria under Buhari would achieve greatness.

Wamakko, however, called on the people of the area to come out en masse to vote in APC candidates in the April 11 state-level elections.


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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/04/buhari-to-reveal-apc-job-creation-master-plan/

Two Igbo groups have dragged the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, to the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, for threatening that Igbos who vote for PDP’s Jimi Agbaje in this Saturday’s gubernatorial election will drown in the Lagoon.

The groups being Ohanaeze-Ndigbo Lagos and Igbo Justice Congress in a petition to the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Prof. Ben Angwe, called for the intervention of the Commission to prevent the threat by Oba Akiolu from happening.


According to the petition sponsored by Innocent Arinze and Arinze Ugwu for Ohaneze Ndigbo and Igbo Justice Congress respectively, “The entire Igbo in Lagos State seeks your intervention to forestall the threat by HRM Oba Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos to drown all Ndigbo in Lagos State inside the Lagoon if they failed to vote his candidate, Ambode of the APC – Lagos.”


http://dailypost.ng/2015/04/09/igbo-groups-drag-oba-akiolu-to-human-rights-commission/

A middle-aged man, identified as Modupe Olaiya, was yesterday killed in Efon Alaaye Ekiti, headquarters of Efon local government area of Ekiti State, as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) staged violent protests against the plot by 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers to impeach Governor Ayodele Fayose.

A source close to the town confirmed to journalists in Ado Ekiti that the incident occurred when the APC lawmakers who were said to be coming from Osun State rammed into the barricade mounted by the protesters at Ita Ore, a border town between Ekiti and Osun states.

The police were said to have fired several gunshots to scare the protesters, who had already taken over the Ado-Ita-Ore-Ilesa road with the victim reportedly sustaining gunshot injuries in the process.

Efforts made by the APC lawmakers to gain entry into Ado-Ekiti, the state capital to hold a sitting was however, not successful, as soldiers stationed at Ita Ore were said to have stopped them from entering the state.

Three persons were said to have been arrested as the police patrol van intercepted a Hilux van marked AA 363 YEK, conveying gun-wielding thugs to the Assembly at Secretariat Road in Ado Ekiti.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/04/fayoses-impeachment-1-die-as-pdp-members-protest-in-ekiti/

The President-elect, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday said that Lagos State was too important for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to lose to the opposition.

Buhari, at the APC rally in Orile area of the state, urged Lagos residents to vote en-mass for the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday.

“Defy all elements, whatever it may be, and vote for APC from top to bottom,’’ he said.

Buhari told the crowd that Lagos, with its huge investments, could not be toyed with.

“Don’t attempt to be on the wrong side of the centre because we are now the centre.

“Tell your neighbours, your relatives and even the opposition party to please bury the hatchet and fall in line and vote for APC,’’ he said.

The President-elect assured the people that they stood to benefit a lot if they voted for the APC.

Buhari said that he would prioritise investment in Lagos infrastructure, noting that the state is a “mini Nigeria”.

“Gov. Babatunde Fashola has told me how much the state has been spending to maintain Federal Government infrastructure, including roads, buildings and other institutions.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/04/buhari-lagos-too-important-for-apc-to-lose/

The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) Ogun State chapter, yesterday alleged that the state governor and the gubernatorial of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Ibikunle Amosun is planning to rig this weekend’s governorship election in Ogun State.

The allegation was made by the governorship candidate of the PDP, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka in Abeokuta while addressing a press conference.

But APC in a reaction through its deputy director, Senator Ibikunle Amosun Campaign Organisation, SIACO, Barr Bisi Adegbuyi, dismissed the allegation as spurious.

Isiaka said Amosun had bought PVCs from the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) and instructed a factional leader of National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW) in the state, Akeem Adeosun to disrupt poll with thugs.

“It has come to our notice that the Governor of Ogun State Sen. Ibikunle Amosun has purchased many of the uncollected PVCs for underhand use of the APC. While, Ogun INEC said about 400,000 cards remain uncollected, many of these cards are now in the possession of Amosun.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/04/pdp-amosun-plans-to-rig-the-election-in-ogun/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday said card readers would be used for the April 11, elections.

INEC said the complaints against the card readers had been addressed.
In a statement by the Secretary of the commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, it said the relaxation of the guideline on March 28, was only with respect to the presidential and National Assembly elections held on that date.

According to INEC, “The provision of the guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 general election which outlined what is to be done if a card reader fails and cannot be replaced by the commission within a specified time frame (i.e. reschedule the election to the next day) will be enforced.”

The commission said it had reviewed the operation of the card reader in the March 28 elections, identified the challenges and has taken adequate measures to address them.

In the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections, there were several complaints against the card users to the extent that the elections were postponed to the next day in over 374 polling stations across the federation.
In most of the complaints against the card users, it is either the card users refused to identify the thumb or that the battery failed.

The card readers in the polling station of President Goodluck Jonathan did not recognised him until after several attempts.

Also, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has expressed support for the INEC on the use of the card readers for this weekend’s gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/04/inec-card-readers-will-be-used-for-governorshipstate-assembly-elections/

Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not commit the mistake of abandoning its members as allegedly done by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Kwankwaso, who spoke to reporters in his office, said the APC would avoid mistakes that led to the fall of the PDP in the presidential elections

The APC, he said, must learn not to be like the PDP, which, he added, disrespected those members that defected to the APC through constant insults.

He said the party should recognise that “everybody is somebody in the quest to succeed”.

The governor added: “We need to have a solid government, come together, work as a family and learn from the mistakes of the PDP”.

Kwankwaso attributed the mistakes of President Goodluck Jonathan to lack of exposure to identify “who is who in the party and the country” and preferring to listen to roadside gossips against those who struggled for the success of the party.

He, however, said it was a show of statesmanship for President Jonathan to concede defeat and went ahead to congratulate the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/04/kwankwaso-apc-ll-learn-from-pdps-mistakes/

Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, yesterday denied reports that he criticised the tenure of office and legacy of President Goodluck Jonathan.

A statement by Fani-Kayode’s media consultant, Sufuyan Ojeifo, however urged the public, especially those in the social media to be wary of false publications and always check their sources.

He said, “The assertion that Chief Femi Fani-Kayode went to a book launch in Lagos last week and criticised the person, tenure of office and legacy of President Goodluck Jonathan is pure falsehood.

“Chief Fani-Kayode was not in Lagos last week; he did not attend any book launch there or anywhere else and he did not attack or criticise President Jonathan or his legacy.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/04/fani-kayode-i-never-criticised-jonathan/

The national Chairman of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has denied the allegation that the body has endorsed the Lagos State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akinwumi Ambode.

Ubah at a press conference on Sunday at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, stated categorically that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, has the full support of the organisation, which remains a creation and part of the PDP.

He described as laughable the allegation that TAN could endorse the candidate of the opponent of the PDP when a more able hand who is set to transform the state, Agbaje, was already poised to win the election on April 11.

“While having meeting with the six elected House of Representative members from the PDP, a feat which has not been achieved in the last 16 years, I was inundated with messages that alleged that we were going to endorse the governorship candidacy of Ambode of APC. This is not true. The management of TAN and I have not endorsed Ambode.

“Followers of TAN should know that our position has not changed. We will affirm this position on Wednesday. We, the Igbos living in Lagos are not perturbed by the threat to our lives and our property. If anybody is given money, let him not accept the offer. Our supporters should ask them, why did they deport us. What have we done? This is a battle that we must fight. And for those who are threatening my life, they should know that I am not alone. They should know that Boko Haram started with one man. That is all I can say for now,” Ubah said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/04/tan-denies-plans-to-endorse-ambode/

After collation of the election result from the thirty-six states of the federation and the FCT. Here is a full analysis of the results of the 2015 presidential elections in Nigeria.

See full details of Results and Analysis.
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/2015-election-at-full-time-analysis/

After the collation of thirty-five states and the FCT, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari leads with 2,123,855 votes.

See full details of results in the thirty-five states and the FCT
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/inec-result-borno-the-only-state-outstanding-buhari-ahead-with-2123855-votes/

After the collation of twenty-eight states, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari leads with 1,517,151 Votes. The APC candidate also egdes closer to the 25% mark required in 24 states and the FCT, achieving the target in 19 states and the FCT thus far. President Goodluck Jonathan though trails the APC candidate, has achieved the 25% target in 22 states.

See full details of results in the twenty-five state and the FCT
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/inec-result-so-far-so-good-for-buhari-now-leads-with-1517151-votes-eight-state-remain/

After the collation of twenty-five states the candidate of the All Progressive Congress Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari leads with 491,705 votes but however General Muhammadu Buhari is still short of the 25% mark in each state, Buhari has been able to get the 25% beach in 17 states and the FCT, President Goodluck Jonathan though trails the APC candidate, has achieved the 25% target in 21 states.
The collation is now a thirty minutes recess.

See full details of results in the twenty-five state and the FCT with the percentage difference.
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/inec-result-with-11-states-left-buhari-leads-with-491705-votes/

With eighteen state already done and eighteen more to go. Here is a full analysis of the results of the first eighteen state and see the percentage differences.

http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/2015-election-at-half-time-analysis/

According to a statement released by the national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ,Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC’s position is that the use of card readers where the equipment shows no hitches would enhance the integrity of the electoral process.

“In accordance with the directive from INEC, it is only in areas where the card readers fail to work that the electoral officials can resort to manual voting. Even then, the officials must ensure that whoever presents any PVC is the genuine owner of the card,” the APC said.

The party also demanded that the results of all the elections that were concluded on Saturday be made ready, and that all party agents must
have a copy of the results before the conduct of Sunday’s elections.

The party disclosed that the parts of Lagos State where the elections are to be held on Sunday include Alimosho, where no elections were conducted in 30 polling units on Saturday, Shomolu (where elections were not held in 15 polling units), three polling units in Eti Osa, 57 polling units in Kosofe ward 2 and five units in Oshodi/Isolo.

The party urged its members and supporters to be vigilant during Sunday’s extended voting.

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As voters in yesterday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers State, wait with bated breath on the outcome of the result, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has pre-empted the outcome of the result and out-rightly rejected whatever may be its outcome.

This is just as the state police command has confirmed the killing of three persons during the elections yesterday.

However, as the APC and the Peoples’ Democratic Party continue to trade accusations and counter-accusations over the dastard events that took place in the state, the PDP in Rivers State has described as false, the allegation by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the APC that it was colluding with INEC to rig the outcome of the elections.

INEC in Rivers State had also said the returning officer of the elections will decide the final result of the elections in Rivers State.

Rivers State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, in a statement issued last night in Port Harcourt had earlier passed a vote of no confidence on the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gesila Khan.

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The voting pattern in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections across the country showed a close race between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in some states, while there were wide margins between the two parties in several other states across geo-polical zones. Early results from some polling units also showed a lot of surprises as some prominent politicians could not deliver their polling units and in some cases, wards to their respective parties. Counting was ongoing in several polling units in the early hours on Sunday.

In Kano, Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, PDP gubernatorial candidate, Salihu Sagir Takai, Senator Bashir Lado, and Presidential aide, Hajia Baraka Sani, could not deliver their Kawaji ward as APC won the presidential and National Assembly elections there. In the presidential election, APC scored 514 while PDP got 15 votes. APC got 442 votes in the Senatorial election while PDP got 84. In the House of Representatives election in the ward, APC got 474 while PDP got 47. Also, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, lost his polling unit to APC. While PDP scored 18, APC scored 137 in his polling unit in Nasarawa local government. In Race Course polling unit 067, APC scored 292 votes, PDP got 13, while in Hotoro South Ward 6, APC scored 249, PDP 6. It was also gathered last night that Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso was in early lead in his constituency in Madobi local government where he is contesting for Kano Central Senatorial District.

In Gidan Ja’oje Ward Gidan Kara in Wamakko local government area of Sokoto State, Governor Wamakko‘s ward, APC won the presidential election recording 534 votes as against PDP’s 6 votes. The party also recorded 524 votes in the Senatorial election while PDP got 9 votes. In that same ward, APC got 513 votes in the House of Representatives election while PDP got 13.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/election-result-taking-the-similar-pattern-in-presidential-national-assembly/

Residents of Miringa town of Biu local government area, Borno state on Saturday went to polls amidst blood and tears as they had to bury 25 persons killed by Boko Haram terrorists in the early hours of election day, security sources and government official said.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima confirmed the incident to newsmen in an interview shortly after he cast his votes at his ward.

Buratai town use to be a voting centre for about six communities under Buratai District and this usually make voters to converge in the towns on the eve of elections.

Governor Shettima said “I personally witnessed massive turnout of voters, this actually showed the passion of our people in partaking in the election in order to bring about the desired change.”

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Boko Haram attacked the villages of Birin Bolawa and Birin Fulani in the Nafada local government area of Gombe state. Two people has being comfirme dead.

An election official said the gunmen were shouting “Didn’t we warn you about staying away from the election?”.

The election official said the gunmen arrived in Birin Bolawa in a pickup truck at about 8:30am. They fired shots which caused people to flee and left one voter dead. They set fire to all the abandoned election materials.

In the second attack at Birin Fulani, a resident said the attacked happened at about 9:15am. He said the gunmen opened fire on the polling station killing one man and causing others to flee.

www.Monitor9ja.com

As part of last-minute efforts to woo the electorate to vote massively for him in Saturday’s presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan has highlighted his achievements in office, stating with confidence that he will win the election because Nigerians know that he has delivered in the last four years.

In a document released on Tuesday titled: “My Vision for Nigeria,” Jonathan also unveiled his plan for Nigeria if re-elected president, stressing that his plan is to build on the platform he has laid to deliver growth, prosperity, peace and justice for all so as to take Nigeria to the next level.

In a brief history of his background, Jonathan stated that he has no sense of entitlement, and does not come from a profession or background that believes it has some “God-given right to rule”.

According to him, he is the president of Nigeria because of the will of the people and would remain the president because of the will of the people.

He added that the future he sees and works for is for a country that works for all, a country where mothers and children do not die due to lack of medical attention and a country where children are not out of school or go to bed hungry.

“Indeed, my dream is that someday, a product of the Almajiri schools becomes the president of this great country. It will be a Nigeria where justice is not measured in any currency but available even to the most vulnerable in our society. My vision is that of a Nigeria that works for all, and not just a few,” he said.
He welcomed what he called the challenge of a vigorous campaign, saying that though democracy needs competition, it should be the right type of constructive competition.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/jonathan-my-vision-for-the-next-four-years/

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja will today deliver ruling in a motion for joinder brought by two persons, Ebunoluwa Adegboruwa and Chukwuma Ochu.

The applicants in the motion are seeking to be joined in the suit challenging the academic qualification of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

A lawyer, Mr Chika Okafor, had dragged Buhari to court seeking to disqualify him from participating in the March 28 presidential election over alleged certificate forgery and perjury.

Buhari’s party, APC, joined the suit as a co-defendant after it was filed. Buhari challenged the mode of service of court papers on him and also the order to abridge time.

The court had earlier fixed yesterday for the ruling on abridgement of time and mode of service of the process on Buhari.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, Adegboruwa informed the court over the joinder application.

Chukwuma Ochu, who is also seeking to be joined, argued that Buhari is his candidate in the forthcoming election.

He further submitted that if Buhari is disqualified, he would be disenfranchised.

Lawyer to the plaintiff, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) urged the court to reject the application for joinder on the grounds that the applicants are meddlesome, interlopers and busybodies.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/buharis-certificate-court-to-give-verdict-today/

Contrary to recent reports that the Chibok community in Borno State spurned moves by the federal government to rebuild Government Secondary School in the area where over 200 schoolgirls were abducted April 14 last year by the Boko Haram sect, a delegation from the community on Wednwsday thanked the government for its development initiatives for the people.

On behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had on March 5, performed the foundation laying ceremony of the school, which was destroyed when the insurgents invaded and abducted the girls.

But shortly after the visit by the minister, the community was reported to have rejected the move, claiming that rebuilding the school under the Safe Schools Initiative of the federal government was not their priority, but the rescue of the kidnapped schoolgirls.

However, a delegation of leaders of the Chibok community under the auspices of Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), who paid a visit to Okonjo-Iweala yesterday, expressed appreciation to President Jonathan and the federal government for the development efforts in the community.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/chibok-community-insists-it-did-not-reject-fgs-safe-schools-initiative/

The Presidential Campaign Organization of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, General Muhammudu Buhari, has said that he will submit a petition against President Goodluck Jonathan to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.

The APCPCO said in a statement on Wednesday and signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, that the petition follows the massive terror unleashed on the residents of Lagos by armed pro-Jonathan groups under the dubious cover of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).

The ethnic militia groups had on Monday organised a road protest in the commercial city of Lagos demanding the sack of National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, over alleged mishandling of affairs of the commission.

However, the APC Presidential Campaign spokesman said that the machete-wielding and gun-bearing armed pro-Jonathan groups marched round the major streets of Lagos, harassing and intimidating motorists, chanting anti-Jega songs in a manner that gave them away as acting the carefully-prepared script for the truncation of the general elections.

“There was such disruption to the tranquility of the city that warranted the citizens scampering for safety in all directions, a foretaste of the violence they plan to unleash on Election Day.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/buhari-we-will-drag-jonathan-before-international-criminal-court/

As OIL PRICES head south with rising inventories in the US, Algeria’s Energy Minister, Youcef Yousfi has opened up discussions on possible responses to the continued decline in OIL PRICES with fellow Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members Angola and Nigeria, according to Algeria’s state news agency APS.

Already, low OIL PRICES, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, also warned on Tuesday, might derail Nigeria’s production and reserves targets of four million barrels per day and 40 billion barrels, respectively, by 2020.

Fears of a mounting oil glut amid resilient US oil production and brimming inventories have driven OIL PRICES down in recent days–after they were already halved since last June.

Yousfi met his Angolan counterpart, José Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos, and Nigeria’s ambassador to Algeria, Haruna Ginsau “to consider the possibilities to consolidate cohesion between the exporting countries so as to find a joint solution to this situation” of lower OIL PRICES, the agency said late Monday, without providing details.

The three countries, which need oil prices to be much higher than current levels to cover their spending, were part of a group that advocated a reduction in production at the last meeting of the OPEC in November.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/algeria-in-talks-with-nigeria-angola-over-oil-price-slump/

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has entered into a covenant with Nigerians highlighting his plan to tackle the challenges currently facing the country, including a Marshall Plan on the Boko Haram insurgency and insecurity.

In a document released on Monday titled ‘My Covenant With Nigerians’, the former military head of state unfolded his agenda for Nigeria and how his party intends to bring about a change in the country if elected into office.

He said what was required to revamp the Nigerian economy and rebuild the country was the party’s ability to galvanise all the citizens to believe once again in their government, in their country and especially in themselves.

Buhari committed to leading with integrity and honour, and committed himself totally to everything that is of concern to Nigerians: security, employment, health, education and good governance, among other issues.

One of the steps Buhari vowed he would undertake to deal with in governance is by publicly declaring his assets and liabilities and to encourage his political appointees to do the same.

He explained that his strategy for tackling corruption would not only focus on punishment but would also provide incentives for disclosure and transparency.

“I will show personal leadership in the war against corruption and also hold all the people who work with me to account and inaugurate the National Council on Procurement as stipulated in the Procurement Act so that the Federal Executive Council, which has been turned to a weekly session of contract bazaars, will concentrate on its principal function of policy making,” he said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/buhari-my-covenant-with-nigerians-my-agenda/

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was as a result of the deliberate policy of his administration to entrench democracy in the country.

Jonathan spoke at a roundtable conference in Abuja tagged: ‘The Other Side of Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration’, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

He said his administration allowed the opposition parties to merge, thus creating a formidable opposition in the country.

According to Jonathan, his deliberate policy of promoting freedom of association made it possible for those in the opposition to merge in order to contest against the ruling party.

He said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has never been afraid of the APC, and enjoys its attacks and criticism because the opposition party remains its creation.

“President Jonathan believes a strong opposition is good for our democracy. The opposition should be very grateful to Mr. President. Say whatever you want to say, it doesn’t matter, we enjoy it,” the president said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/jonathan-apc-is-a-creation-of-my-administration/

The governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu has stated that those shouting for “CHANGE“‘ are those seeking power for revenge; saying that the north cannot be deceived by such mission of revenge and slogan of change as well as religious sentiment.

Aliyu who spoke over the weekend in Minna at a lecture to mark the 40th birthday of Niger State governorship candidate of PDP, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko noted that some people are seeking power to avenge what they felt was done against them in the past.

Aliyu stated that, “you don’t look for change for revenge, Nigerians should look beyond sentiment and vote realistically”.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/north-cannot-be-deceived-by-slogan-of-change-gov-aliyu/

Following the assessment of the outcome of last Saturday’s field test of card reader, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday disclosed that it scored 100% in the verification of the authenticity of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) presented by voters at polling units.

The commission said that while there were some issues with the biometric authentication of some persons who presented their PVCs at the polling units as the legitimate holders of the cards, 59% of voters who turned out for the demonstration had their fingerprints successfully authenticated.

INEC, however, said an agreement was initially reached with the registered political parties, as contained in the approved guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 elections, that where biometric authentication of a legitimate holder of a genuine PVC becomes challenging, there could be physical authentication of the person and completion of an Incident Form, to allow the person to vote.

A statement signed by the chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, Kayode Idowu, yesterday, said INEC took a critical view of the high rate of failure of the card readers to authenticate voters’ fingerprints in some areas, particularly in Ebonyi State, and has decided to thoroughly investigate the cause as well as repeat the public demonstration in that state on March 14, 2015.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/card-reader-test-we-scored-100-in-pvc-verification-inec/

Considering the grave consequences it attracts, no police personnel will contemplate a strike action, according to Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police in charge of zone 6 command, Tunde Ogunsakin.
He disclosed this yesterday in Calabar while addressing officers and men under his command to dispel the rumour of an imminent strike action by some police personnel over their promotion arrears.
While reaffirming the Inspector General (IG) of Police, Suleiman Abba’s commitment to address the issue, he confirmed that no police officer within his command intends to embark on strike action.
“We have all sworn to an oath of allegiance to perform our statutory duties as enshrined in section 4 of the Police Act, (CAP 359 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990).
There is no doubt that any deviation from the oath of allegiance is not only unpatriotic, but amounts to mutiny, and will be met with appropriate punishments and sanction.
“I am optimistic that all officers and men will go about their lawful duties and will never contemplate a strike action in view of the grave consequences.
such action will attract.
I have met the four commissioners of police in charge of Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi and River States who are under me; I can reliably confirm that no officer and men of the Nigeria police intend to embark on strike action” he said.
Ogunsakin, who reminded his men that discipline remains the bedrock of the police force, urged them to always convey their grievances if any through the appropriate channels of communication to his office.

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