₦airaland Forum

Video: Explosive! John Fashanu Speaks On Sovereign National Conference, 2015, Margaret Thatcher and Corruption in Nigeria - NaijaPundit TV



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RSFMrAupwo

Gunmen Attack VP Sambo Family Home

Suspected militants have attacked the family home of Vice President Namadi Sambo on Baba Ahmed Road in Tudun Wada area of Zaria, Kaduna state. Eyewitnesses told media that gunmen drove by the house and shot at two policemen guarding the house.

The policemen reportedly survived the attack. The gunmen fled the scene after the attack.

Meanwhile, this is even as a chieftain of the CPC and a former political adviser of the former vice president, Turaki Atiku Abubakar, had boasted on Twitter that there had been no bombings of churches since the previous National Security Adviser was removed proving (in their view) that the General Azazi was behind the spate of Boko Haram bombings in a bid to trigger a war.

Full story at http://www.naijapundit.com/news/gunmen-attack-vp-sambo-family-home

Mallam Elrufai Attacks Reno Omokri

The story Mallam Elrufai was publicizing can be found out http://nigerianssavingnigerians.org/2012/01/10/special-assistant-to-president-jonathan-on-new-media-mr-reno-omokri-show-contempt-on-facebook-to-nigerian-citizen-by-omololu-omotosho/

Boko Haram Top Leader Killed Hours After U.S. Declares Boko Haram Leaders Terrorist,-Coincidence?

Just hours after the U.S. State Department listed the leaders of the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic terrorist sect as terrorist it was revealed the one of the leaders of the sect ranked as number 4 had been killed. The U.S. is known for using unmanned drone airplanes to kill terrorist's leaders and with the declaration the same practice could extend to Nigeria.

The member of the Islamic terror group, Boko Haram, Habeeb (Habibu) Bama from Borno State and the mastermind of the bombings of UN Building, Force HQ Abuja, Madalla and Abacha Barracks has been Killed.

A Citizen advocacy group, Hope For Nigeria, was informed this afternoon that Bama was killed in Shot-out with the Nigerian security in Yobe state.

Habeeb Bama was declared wanted by the SSS last year and was on the top Rader of the security Unit.

The full statement on the declaration by the U.S. State Department on Boko Haram leaders read as follows;



"The Department of State designated Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar, and Khalid al-Barnawi as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224. Shekau is the most visible leader of the Nigeria-based militant group Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, commonly referred to as Boko Haram. Khalid al-Barnawi and Abubakar Adam Kambar have ties to Boko Haram and have close links to al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.

“Under Shekau’s leadership, Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in northern Nigeria, its primary area of operation. In the last 18 months, Boko Haram or associated militants have killed more than 1,000 people. Boko Haram is credited with the August 26, 2011 attack on the United Nations building Abuja that killed at least 23 people and wounded scores more. Boko Haram also claimed responsibility for the December 25, 2011 attack on the Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Nigeria, that killed at least 35 and wounded dozens more. Boko Haram’s deadliest violence occurred on January 20, 2012 in Kano, Nigeria, with a series of attacks that killed more than 180 people. Boko Haram’s victims have been overwhelmingly civilian.

“The designation under E.O. 13224 blocks all of Shekau’s, Kambar’s and al-Barnawi’s property interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with or for the benefit of these individuals. These designations demonstrate the United States resolve in diminishing the capacity of Boko Haram to execute violent attacks. The Department of State took these actions in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Treasury.”

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/boko-haram-top-leader-killed-hours-after-u-s-declares-boko-haram-leaders-terrorist-coincidence

After Denying Receiving Bribe, Lawan Changes Story,'I took Otedola’s N96m bribe to expose him'

CONTRARY to his insistence on Sunday that he did not meet with or receive any bribe from anybody, documents in possession of [I]journalists[/I] showed that Chairman of the House of Representatives probe panel on fuel subsidy mismanagement, Farouk Lawal, indeed accepted $500,000 from billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola.

Clerk of the committee, Boniface Emenalo, also received $100,000 from the businessman.

The sums added up to the $600,000 bribery scandal rocking the House committee which recently exposed how some [I]subsidy thieves[/I] robbed the nation of whopping N1.7trn.

Farouk and Emenalo, as the documents, mostly correspondence, indicated, however let in the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, into the “attempt” by Otedola to bribe them.

Also, there were indications in the correspondence that Lawan intimated the House committee chairman on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Adams Jagaba.



Sundry documents

In one of the documents sourced by our correspondents in Abuja on Monday, Lawan, in a letter to Jagaba, wrote, “Attached (to the letter) is the sum of five hundred thousand dollars only offered to me with another promise of two million, five hundred thousand dollars.”

Another letter written by Emenalo to Lawan read, “I wish to inform you that I was on his invitation, at the residence of their Chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola, in Maitama (Aso Drive) this morning and he offered me the sum of one hundred thousand US dollars in two bundles of $50,000 each. The money is herewith forwarded as evidence.”

Another letter, reference number,CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/309 indicated that the IG directed “a discreet investigation into the matter.” The letter was signed by Commissioner of Police, Special Task Force, Ali Amodu.

Both Jagaba and the police on Monday declined comments on their involvement in the matter.

While Jagaba told our correspondent that he could not comment on the matter on the telephone, spokesman for the police, Frank Mba, said he had yet to get an update on the probe.

“I was unable to reach CP Ali Amodu who is handling the investigation but I will get back to you once I get an update on the matter,” he said on the telephone on Monday.

Obasanjo, Mark view video

The fresh insight into the bribery scandal came as [I]The PUNCH[/I] learnt on Monday how the video recording of the transaction between Lawan and Otedola had been shown to President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President David Mark and House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

Otedola had revealed in an interview with [I]THIS DAY [/I]newspaper how he involved the security agents to supervise Lawan’s persistent demand for a bribe from him. He also narrated how he released a total sum of $620,000 to Lawan and Emenalo in three tranches, all monitored and recorded by the security agents.

The ad hoc committee chairman said in another letter that he did not raise the issue of Otedola’s pressure on him on the floor of the House because it would overshadow the essence of the fuel subsidy probe.

Lawan stated in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by [I]The PUNCH[/I] on Monday that, “I had considered bringing this issue as a matter of privilege on the floor of the House later today (April 24), but I am concerned that the controversy it will generate will dwarf the contents of the report, which needs public attention so that necessary reforms in the sector could be affected.”

The ad hoc committee chairman added that Otedola issued veiled verbal threats against him.

He said, “Given the desperation of Mr. Otedola, handling this matter, in a firm but diplomatic manner is necessary as he has also made some veiled threats which put me and members of the committee in a delicate situation.”

The ad hoc committee chairman also disclosed that the clerk of the committee, Emenalo, had in a letter written to him on April 24, 2012, said Otedola offered him $100,000.

Threat allegation

Lawan also stated that the police were aware of the offer of a bribe as the Acting Inspector-General in a letter dated, May 9, 2012, directed the task force on investigation to meet him.

Lawan explained that in a letter dated May 31, 2012, he told the IGP that the matter (bribe offer) had been referred to the relevant committee of the House for legislative action.

He said that he promised that the House would inform him about the outcome of the legislative action.

According to him, the IGP in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, dated June 4, 2012, stated that a detailed criminal investigation had been ordered into the matter.

In the letter titled, “Investigation activities: Letter of invitation in a case of criminal conspiracy and attempt to pervert the course of justice by offering gratification,” the office of the IGP stated that “the Inspector General of Police has directed a detailed criminal investigation into the matter.”

Calls for investigation

The President of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, has however called on the EFCC to investigate the bribery allegation against Lawan.

Okei-Odumakin, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Monday berated the EFCC for not prosecuting those indicted by the committee.

She said that while the anti-graft agency had found it convenient to prosecute the Chairman of the House Committee on the Capital Market, it had found it difficult to prosecute [I]oil thieves.[/I]

The CD president said, “The EFCC is prosecuting Hembe with N600,000 estacode, yet it has not done anything to the[I] subsidy thieves [/I]who stole the country broke.

“If there is any allegation, it should be investigated. The EFCC should work rather than play media shield.”

Also, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre on Monday called for probe of the bribery scandal.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by executive director of CISLAC, Mallam Auwal Ibrahim.

The statement called on the National Assembly and the executive arm of government “not to let the current scandal serve as a straw to bury the probe report under the carpet”.

It advised the leadership of the House to urgently institute a thorough investigation into the alleged bribery and involve anti-graft agencies to also probe the circumstances and reality of all claims.

“Those indicted by the report may go to their wits’ end in order to rubbish an exercise that is widely applauded by Nigerians in view of the nasty dealings it uncovered”, CISLAC said.

A lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, also on Monday expressed shock over the bribery allegation levelled against Lawan.

Sagay, who spoke with one of our correspondents on Monday said the development was saddening, describing it as a tragedy which spelled doom for the future of Nigeria.

The Save Nigeria Group asked security operatives to invite both Otedola and Lawan for interrogation.

Spokesman for the group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said such an invitation was necessary to clear the air about the allegation that Lawan collected $600,000 bribe from the oil marketer.

Odumakin said if it was ascertained that money actually changed hands, the giver and the taker must be punished.

He, however, advised Nigerians not to allow the issue to distract them from demanding the prosecution of the [I]subsidy thieves.[/I]

Odumakin said, “Both Otedola and Lawan should be invited by security agencies to ascertain the veracity of this allegation. If it is true that money changed hands, the giver and the taker must be punished.

Nigerians must not allow this to distract them from the demand for the prosecution of the [I]subsidy thieves[/I] which this latest video production by the Presidency clearly wants to achieve.”

Meanwhile, our correspondents learnt on Monday that the EFCC was planning to use Otedola as a prosecution witness against Lawan.

Sources within the commission said though Otedola had not been officially queried over the role he played in the bribery saga, it was said that since he carried the security agencies along, he might be used to nail the lawmakers.

“Yes, we may use Otedola as a prosecuting witness in the case. But we are still carrying out our discreet investigation. When that has been sufficiently done, then we will swing into action,” the source added.

Source: http://www.naijapundit.com/news/after-denying-receiving-bribe-lawan-changes-story-i-took-otedola-s-n96m-bribe-to-expose-him

Bishop Oyedepo DID NOT Deny Slapping "Miss Justice"

Contrary to stories appearing on some websites, Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of the Living Faith Christian Church International, AKA winners Chapel, never at any time denied slapping the girl who came to the altar of his church about two years ago to say that she is "a witch for Jesus".

In the story now making the rounds, nowhere in his deposition did Bishop Oyedepo or his counsel ever deny slapping the young lady. In fact, the Bishop and his legal representative admitted to slapping the young lady but argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to try the matter.

Of late, there has been a major assault on the church of Christ in Nigeria. Only last week, Malam Nasir Elrufai who is not known to be a Christian or a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God mocked the General Overseer of RCCG, suggesting that he retire since he had reached the age of 70. Similarly, Malam Bashir Yusuf, adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insulted the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), for calling on Christiansto defend themselves against Boko Haram.Excerpts from The counter affidavit filed on behalf of Bishop Oyedepo read as follows;

"The cause of action or principal claim in this application centres merely on slapping one Miss Justice by the 1st respondent.

"The slapping of Miss Justice is an act that could be described as an assault which is a criminal offence punishable under the criminal code. "We submit that slapping being an act of assault an item outside the provisions of Chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution and the African Charter, this court therefore lacks jurisdiction over same." "We submit that slapping being an act of assault an item outside the provisions of Chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution and the African Charter, this court therefore lacks jurisdiction over same.

" From the above it is quite clear that Bishop David Oyedepo never denied slapping the girl as claimed by the screaming headlines. Bishop Oyedepo is a thorn on the side of many in Nigeria because of his work in expanding the church of Christ and the course of Western education through the church he founded and the Private University he built, Covenant University, which is one of the best in Nigeria. Naturally many are jealous of him and would do anything to pull him down.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/bishop-oyedepo-did-not-deny-slapping-miss-justice

Elrufai Urges Pastor Adeboye to Retire

Foot in Mouth suffering controversial former minister of the FCT, Malam Nasir Elrufai, has given Ann unusual birthday gift to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye. The controversial minister is asking Pastor Adeboye to resign in a post on his twitter profile.

As usual, NaijaPundit brings you the post unedited below.

Many are wondering what business Elrufai who is not a member of the RCCG has with the retirement or non retirement of Adeboye.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/elrufai-urges-pastor-adeboye-to-retire

Thisday Bombings: Elrufai Mocks Thisday/Government

In a stunning show of extreme callousness and lack of empathy at the loss of lives in the double bombings perpetrated on the premises of Thisday Newspapers, Malam Elrufai, the controversial former minister of the FCT mocked the government and Thisday on a posting on his twitter profile.

What is even more shocking about Elrufai's act is that he is a member of the editorial board of Thisday and has a regular Friday column on the back page of the paper. Amazingly, after mocking the government, Elrufai called for dialogue with Boko Haram.

As usual NaijaPundit brings you the tweet below.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/thisday-bombings-elrufai-mocks-thisday-government

Elrufai Denies Obasanjo!

Renowned Obasanjo boy and controversial former minister of the FCT, Malam Nasir Elrufai, has denied ever being an Obj boy. He denied the former President today on a posting on his twitter profile.

As usual, NaijaPundit exclusively brings you the tweet below.l

Nigerians may recall that Nasir Elrufai was one of the arrowheads of an administrative panel set up by then President Obasanjo to investigate then Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The panel eventually found Atiku Abubakar (who was Elrufai's former benefactor) guilty. The panel submitted that money was laundered from the PTDF to procure the Globacom licence. The panel was said to have confronted Atiku with incriminating documents. It questioned Atiku on the coincidence of Adenuga’s payment of the 10 per cent deposit required for Globacom’s licence shortly after ETB received the PTDF deposit. The panel also questioned Atiku on how Otunba Oyewole Fashawe, believed to be Atiku’s business associate and an estranged friend of Obasanjo, was able to secure over N700 million loan from TIB shortly after the bank secured the PTDF’s deposit. Atiku was also questioned about Fashawe's donation of a building to ABTI Academy owned by Atiku.

Elrufai was also famously a member of Obasanjo's kitchen cabinet and during the last days of the Obasanjo administration, Nuhu Ribadu, the former EFCC Chairman, described El-Rufai as the "de facto No. 2 official", tagging him with the role of a Vice-President, especially after the fall-out between the former President and his Vice-President. It is believed that Obasanjo's trust and confidence in El-Rufai angered a vast number of the political elite within the country. Indeed, it was widely believed that the former President was considering blessing EL-Rufai as his successor.

This will not be the first time Elrufai would move against Obasanjo. He had earlier this year claimed that his new found political master, Major General (Rtd) Buhari, is better than Obasanjo

Full Link: http://www.naijapundit.com/news/elrufai-denies-obasanjo

Boko Haram Disproves Elrufai: In New Video Members Wear Jeans

Malam Abubakar Shekau today released a new video threatening to destroy Christians and Christianity as well as end the administration of President Jonathan. But as he was surrounded by several body guards, not a few Nigerians were surprised to see some of his guards in jeans.

Nigerians may recall that controversial former minister of the FCT, Malam Nasir Elrufai had in an interview with the Sun News papers entitled '[LINK=/news/boko-haram-nigerians-made-a-mistake-not-electing-buhari-el-rufai]BOKO HARAM:Nigerians made a mistake not electing Buhari –el-Rufai[/LINK]' claimed that Boko Haram members do not wear jeans. He further said he was sure that the people who asked Christians and Southerners to leave the North are not Boko Haram members.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfn7AFag4nQ

In that interview, Elrufai had said the following;

[I]“A few days ago, I saw on the internet pictures of some people covering their faces, wearing jeans and saying they are Boko Haram; that Southerners should leave the North. I am sure that those people are not Boko Haram. Boko Haram people don’t wear jeans. They wear kaftan… I believe that beyond Boko Haram, which is a metaphor for dissatisfaction with the state, there is something going on.”[/I]

The members of the Boko Haram through their leader Imam Abubakar Shekau in their new video message in which the sect said the message is meant for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The sect said they are replying President Jonathan who Shekau said has initially boasted to finish them in three months time in South Korea.

The sect also vowed to finish all Christians in Nigeria and their infidel leader President Jonathan.

It also warned all Muslims who making money in the name of the sect to desist, or meet waterloo in their hands.

Shekau said “Jonathan aim is to celebrate our death, but I want to tell him and his infidel security agencies that they will fail, because we are working for Allah and will be happy dying as martyrs for Allah’s work.

“Supposing it is worldly work we will have been bothered, but one day we will finish your security agencies in hundreds. You can’t gag us, what we have done is just little and very soon you will see more attacks.”

Rocket Launchers, Bombs For Boko Haram Easter Attack Seized In Gombe Raid as Elrufai Calls for Troop Pull Out.

Heavy weapons including 60 explosives and 51 improvised rocket launchers were recovered in two separate raids in Gombe yesterday, which security agencies said were to be used in attacks during the Easter holidays. This is coming as Controversial Former minister of the FCT, has asked for the President to remove soldiers from some cities in the North claiming that the government is using Boko Haram as an excuse to engage in genocide (see tweets below). This is even as Major-General SarkinYaki Bello, Counter Terrorism Coordinator, described anybody calling for the removal of troops from certain crisis prone cities as being mischievous.

Six suspects were also arrested during the joint operations by the military and the State Security Service in the British Cotton Ginnery Area (BCGA) and Barunde quarters in the state capital.


In the first raid conducted from around 12pm, 60 improvised explosive devices packed in cans and ready for detonation were found at a house at the BCGA area, state SSS director Bitrus Asha told journalists in Gombe yesterday.

Soon after, security men found a warehouse with a large cache of heavy explosives at an uncompleted 2-room house at Burunde quarters in the outskirts of the city.

Weapons recovered there included 51 improvised rocket launchers with grenades, 48 bags of fertilizers, chemical substances and accessories used for making improvised explosive devices.

Also seized were detonating wires, firing cables, timers, codes and manuals with chemicals such as a sulphuric acids, ammonium nitrates and ethanol.

A commander in the security team that conducted the operations told reporters that they received intelligence information about plans by the arrested men and accomplices to launch a major attack from Friday to Monday in Gombe, targeting the military base, police and SSS headquarters and other security formations.

He said while security men succeeded in arresting some of them, their ring leader, one Garba Sani alias Yellow, and two others were still at large.

Our correspondent reports that the 60 explosives were detonated by bomb experts in a bush near the FCE roundabout.

The SSS director said investigation would continue to unravel sponsors of the arrested men, and urged people to be more interested in what happens in their neighbourhoods.

“It’s either the neighbours don’t know or they have compromised,” he said. “As you can see, there are a lot of explosives, numbering about 60 prepared in tins, ready for detonation.”

Asked if the suspects were attempting to detonate the bombs somewhere, Asha said: “definitely, going by experiences, they were meant to be detonated definitely and we have information on that plan.”

He said it was too early to know who they were but that they were hoodlums who never wanted peace to exist in the state.

But suspicion immediately fell on the Boko Haram sect, whose followers claimed responsibility for gun raids in Gombe on February 24, during which 12 people were killed and a police divisional office was destroyed.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed within and around the city as checkpoints have been increased with stop-and-search operations being conducted. Also, movement around the police and SSS headquarters were restricted after 6pm.

More bombs found in Kogi

The Joint Task Force in Kogi State yesterday said it discovered another bomb factory at ogaminana, the headquarters of Adavi Local Government Area, following information from one of arrested suspects.

Commander of Command of Army Records, Major General Alphonsus Chukwu, while conducting newsmen round the location, said one of those arrested during the previous operations led the security operatives to the place behind a primary school at Ogaminana.

He said they discovered that the rooms were being used for the manufacture of bombs and other explosive devices.

Chukwu said the Boko Haram sect had planned to launch attacks in the state during the Easter period.

He said no arrest was made in the latest operation.

The items recovered during the operation were metal detectors, police bullet-proof vests, cans of insecticide, gas cylinder, guns, cans of already made bombs, and some police and army uniforms.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/rocket-launchers-bombs-for-bh-easter-attack-seized-in-gombe-raid-as-elrufai-calls-for-troop-pull-out

As Elrufai Calls For Withdrawal of Troops From Kano, Army Exposes Boko Haram's Plans to Bomb Kano at Easter

Coming just a day after controversial former minister of the FCT, Malam Nasir Elrufai, called for the withdrawal of all troops from the city of Kano claiming they have been sent there by President Jonathan to commit genocide, the Nigerian Army on Wednesday issued a warning of a possible terrorist attack in Kano during the Easter.

Elrufai in a series of tweets made very wild allegations against the President and the government. He claimed that Boko Haram was an invention of the government and that the President wanted to use them to get an Ijaw Republic. He also categorically called for the removal of all soldiers (see his tweets below). But surprisingly it has been exposed that Boko Haram is actually planning to bomb Kano this Easter so the question is whether Elrufai was preparing the way for them or whether his call for the removal of troops was an innocent coincidence.

The warning by the General Officer Commanding 1 Mechanized Division, Kaduna, Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, came after the Joint Military Taskforce killed three suspected members of Boko Haram in a gunfight in Kano on Tuesday.

Wahab, who was on a familiarisation tour to his command, said at the Bukavu Barracks, Kano on Wednesday that intelligence reports had indicated a possible by suspected Boko Haram members during the Christian festivities, from Friday to Monday.

Book Haram claimed responsibility for the January 20 coordinated bombings which left 185 people dead in Kano.

The GOC, who praised Kano residents for assisting the JTF in its fight against terrorism in the state, assured that everyone would be protected during the Easter and beyond.

He said, “If security situation in Kano is guaranteed, then we will get security situation back in Nigeria. I want to appeal to the average Nigerian, especially the good people of Kano to realise that the soldiers are out to ensure their safety and security.

“Nobody is out to harass or provoke anybody, rather we want to be sure that our job is done professionally. And we all need to realize that the guys we are dealing with are living among us, they are fellow Nigerians like us.

“So, it takes a lot for us to be able to fish them out. If we don’t do a thorough job, the possibility of these people escaping from one point to the other will be high. And if they perpetrate what happened here in Kano second time—what happened on January 20, if it is repeated, I’m sure the average person will write the Nigerian Army off; and we don’t want that to happen.”

Army spokesman, Lt. Ikediche Iweha, said on Wednesday the three suspected Boko Haram members were killed by soldiers at a checkpoint while trying to escape after snatching a Honda Accord from its owner.

Iweha said in a desperate attempt to escape from being apprehended, the suspects opened fire on soldiers at the roadblock in an undisclosed location.

He said, “At about 2130hrs, a JTF checkpoint was alerted by an afflicted member of the public whose car was snatched at gunpoint at his residence by terrorist elements as he entered his house.

“The car was to be used possibly in the next few days for a suicide bombing mission. Based on the tip-off, the JTF alerted all its units within the area to look out for a Honda Accord 2008 model with the colour and description accurately given.

“The troops at all JTF checkpoints responded with all alertness and within 20 minutes, one of our checkpoints spotted the vehicle in question.

“The vehicle was flagged down for checking, but the terrorist elements on sighting the JTF opened fire in a desperate bid to get away.

“Troops at the checkpoint responded to stop the criminal terrorist elements from getting away.

“During the brief but intense encounter, three of the terrorist elements were gunned down.

“An immediate search conducted on the vehicle revealed that the occupants had 2 AK 47 Riffles, one pistol, one locally manufactured pistol, 47 rounds of 7.62mm special and six rounds of 9mm.”

[B]Elrufai Wants Troops Removed, Accuses President Jonathan of Using Boko Haram As Excuse For Genocide.[/B]

Controversial Former minister of the FCT, has asked for the President to remove soldiers from some cities in the North claiming that the government is using Boko Haram as an excuse to engage in genocide. This is even as Major-General SarkinYaki Bello, Counter Terrorism Coordinator, described anybody calling for the removal of troops from certain crisis prone cities as being mischievous.

Malam Elrufai basically accused the FG of being behind Boko Haram which he claimed was a ploy to finish of certain people. He made these wild allegations on the social media platform, Twitter. As usual NaijaPundit brings you his Tweets below.

When the issue of withdrawal of troops was placed before Major General Sarkin Yarki Bello he responded thus "Withdrawal of the military! To be replaced by who? (He laughs). That is the question! What is the alternative? So, for us professionals, I think that question is ill-advised and I don’t support it. I can’t just see the rationale of somebody saying that we should withdraw the military from the streets where they are. In the first place, they must have been deployed because of a particular security challenge and to me when that challenge is over, then the military could be withdrawn. Even me, as a Commander, in an operation, I had occasions to deploy soldiers to a particular place and also after sometime, having achieved my objective I redeploy them or withdraw them to another place. So, if the security situation improves, or if the reason for what they are there for no longer exists, then where is no reason why they should continue to be there".

[B]Finally, Campaign For El-Rufai Begins In CPC Towards 2015 Presidency[/B]

The campaign for the presidential ambition of former FCT minister, Malam Nasir el-Rufai may have begun as some political elements in the Congress for Progressive Change \[CPC] are setting up a campaign network for him across the country.

The former minister, who heads the renewal committee of the CPC, travelled out of the country, hence it was not possible to obtain his comments on the moves. But it was gathered that some campaign coordinators in Ekiti, Kebbi, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina and Sokoto States have already set up structures to facilitate this objective ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

Confirming this on phone on Saturday, one of the coordinators, Alhaji Isa Salihu Nataro, said the decision to set up campaign structures for the realization of el-Rufai’s presidential ambition became necessary in view of his contributions so far in the efforts to bring the country out of its numerous problems caused by poor leadership.

Alhaji Nataro added that the promoters of el-Rufai’s presidential project decided on this line of action after extensive consultations across the states.

“It was not really easy arriving at our choice, considering the fact that he has to be acceptable to millions of Nigerians who desire change in the way they are being governed, those who are craving for a better Nigeria, and an end to poor leadership and corruption.”

In the states where his campaign structures are being laid, notable politicians are said to be involved in the move as coordinators of this political campaign. For instance, in Ekiti state, the son of former governor of the state Mr Aina Adeniyi Adebayo is said to be in charge of the el-Rufai 2015 presidential project. Alhaji Usman Ahmed who was described as influential businessman and one of the strong chieftains of the party in Sokoto State is said to be in charge of the project in the state. In Adamawa, Alhaji Aminu Suleiman, who it was claimed is a successful businessman has thrown his weight behind the project, and in Gombe, a former commissioner in the state, Alhaji Isa Waziri is also said to be one of the coordinators of the el-Rufai project in the state. “We are also laying the structures for his campaign in other states” he said.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/finally-campaign-for-el-rufai-begins-in-cpc-towards-2015-presidency

Jonathan Nominated in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People List

President Jonathan has been nominated for Time Magazine's poll of the world's 100 most influential people. He is one of only a very few Nigerians to have ever made the list.

It is quit amazing that just two years ago this same man, Goodluck Jonathan, was not even considered influential enough to get on the U.S. list of the most influential Nigerians (click here for more on the U.S. list http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5683783-146/story.csp

But even though he has been nominated, he still has to garner votes from the public to make the published list which will be released on the 17th of April. Nigerians wishing to vote for President Jonathan have up until April 16th to vote for him.

Nigerians wishing to vote for President Jonathan may do so here [url]http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2107952_2107953_2109959,00.html[/url]

President Jonathan and NSA Azazi Are The Managers of Boko Haram- Elrufai

Controversial former minister of the FCT, Malam Nasir Elrufai, has taken his hatred for President Jonathan one step further. This time Elrufai accuses the President and his National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoeye Azazi, of managing Boko Haram!

As usual NaijaPundit exclusively brings you the tweet in which Elrufai, who is undergoing trial for corruption, made the allegation.

Elrufai has been engaging in outlandish behaviour and some believe that his hatred for the President has blinded his sense of reasoning and proportion.

It may be recalled that Elrufai had cursed all supporters of the President on Twitter (see tweet below). He als accused the President of trying to secede from Nigeria and form his own country called "Ijaw Republic" and last week he oredicted that he thought there could be a coup in Nigeria (again see tweets below).

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/president-jonathan-and-nsa-azazi-are-the-managers-of-boko-haram-elrufai

A Northerner Must Emerge in 2015 Or Nigeria Will Divide- Lawal Kaita

Lawal Kaita, the close ally of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who famously promised in October 2010 that the North would make Nigeria ungovernable for President Jonathan if he won the 2011 election is again spitting fire.

This time around he is insisting that a Northerner must emerge by 2015 or there would be no Nigeria.

Kaita said “We hear rumours all over that Jonathan is planning to contest in 2015. Well, the north is going to be prepared if the country remains one.

That is, if the country remains one, we are going to fight for it. If not, everybody can go his way,” he said in an interview in Katsina. Lawal Kaita said the recent stand of the party on consensus was a total negation of the motive behind forming the party.
It may be recalled that Alhaji Lawal Kaita had said in October 2010 that "The North is determined, if that happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy".

Kaita, founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and close ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had at that time warned that the North should not be blamed for the calamity that will befall the country, if Jonathan emerges President.

Now, if Nigerians had thought that Kaita was joking, his own principal, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, had come out openly on the 14th of December 2010 to say " Let me again send another message to the leadership of our great country, especially the political leadership that those who make peaceful change impossible, make violent change inevitable.”

Kaita, who described the emergence of the Bamanga Tukur-led NWC of the party as a grand ploy by President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 presidential race, said the north would ensure he never succeeds.

He stated: “It is a disgrace that a party like PDP is running away from election. I am one of the G18 members who founded the PDP and we formed the party because of our firm belief in election. I have contested election five or six times. We believed in election, but now the whole thing has collapsed”.

“They are running away from election. This entire consensus thing doesn’t make sense. For us who formed the PDP, we regret what is happening now. Ten candidates, overnight, all stepping down for one person! All the candidates were renowned and each of them is capable of running the party, but they all withdrew…”

Kaita, who was a governor of the old Kaduna State, insisted that the just concluded national convention of the PDP was devoid of excitement, noting: “Tukur is a highly qualified person but the fact that he allowed himself to be used as Jonathan’s candidate is what has lowered his status.”

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/a-northerner-must-emerge-in-2015-or-nigeria-will-divide-lawal-kaita

Concerned Northern Leaders to FG: We Don't Want 13% of Our Solid Minerals, We Demand More Oil Money

In another twist to the debate over the current revenue allocation formula, northern leaders have rejected the move by the Federal Government to pay 13 per cent derivation funds to host states of solid minerals in the country.

Last month, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and the Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, called for a review of the revenue allocation formula ‘to reflect current realities.’

The demand of the 19 northern governors, which was re-echoed by several leaders and groups in the region, stated that the current revenue allocation formula was unfair to northern states and that the oil-producing states that receive 13 per cent derivation funds were getting more money than they had the capacity to execute.

However, reacting to this recent move to placate the North, the Convener of the Coalition of Northern Leaders, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, described it as an abuse of the Constitution and an insult to the North.

Mohammed said what they were demanding was a total review of the revenue allocation law and not “the shortcut,” employed to appease the North.

“As far as we are concerned, the current revenue allocation formula in the Constitution is illegal and the FG does not have the right to alter it, without a proper constitutional amendment.

“So the 13 per cent derivation for solid-minerals producing states is illegal and an abuse of the constitution. If government thinks that the only way to appease political opponents is to abuse the constitution, then it is unfortunate.

“There is no shortcut to amending that law. As far as we are concerned the entire revenue allocation law must be quashed and new submissions made to the National Assembly,” he said.

Mohammed added that it was not proper for the government to approve 13 per cent derivation on solid minerals when actual mining and revenue generation had not started.

“It is not even sensible as an economic move. At the current level of exploitation, the solid minerals in the North are non-existent. You cannot give us 13 per cent derivation on something that does not exist. And if the government or anybody thinks he can appease the North by this kind of insult, then the person must be a fool or thinks we are fools,” he said.

But the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr. Elias Mbam, reportedly said the 13 per cent derivation on solid minerals which will commence next month was constitutional.

“The payment is a constitutional matter, which states that derivation should not be less than 13 per cent and derivation is not limited to oil and gas. This also includes all other mineral resources.”

The most recent report of the Nigerian Geological Survey shows that Nigeria has over 40 solid mineral resources and they are mostly found in the North.

The list showed that Gold had been discovered in Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Kebbi, Kwara, Ogun, Osun, Zamfara states and the Federal Capital Territory; Tantalite in Bauchi, Ekiti, FCT, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Osun, Oyo and Taraba states; while gemstones have been located in Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Ekiti, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara states.

However some solid minerals were found only in the North. They include Silver in Nasarawa State, Uranium in Jigawa State, Copper in Bauchi, Marl in Kano and Yobe states, Chromite in Zamfara, Trona in Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe states, Zinc in Kano and Plateau states, Magnesite in Adamawa state and Diatomite in Yobe State.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/concerned-northern-leaders-to-fg-we-don-t-want-13-of-our-solid-minerals-we-demand-more-oil-money

Elrufai Predicts Coup in Nigeria


After his friend, Malam Bashir Yusuf (political adviser to Atiku) justified the recent Malian coup, controversial former minister of the FCT, Malam Nasir Elrufai, has come out to declare that he thinks that a coup will happen in Nigeria.

As usual, NaijaPundit brings you his tweet and that of Malam Bashir Yusuf below.

It is strongly suspected in political circles that hard core Northern conservatives are so uncomfortable with life out of power that they are considering any means possible to regain power with many of them longing for the days when the military could topple civilian administrations at will.

There have also been strong calls for a review of the revenue formula of the nation to further benefit the North who feel that the SouthSouth states should not get the 13% derivation with CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, blaming 13% derivation for the upsurge of the Boko Haram insurgency, while the Niger State governor said in a statement released after Northern governors met that they will not give up "the pressure". But the most ridiculous statement on this issue was that made by Dr. Junaid Mohammed of the Concerned Northern Leaders who said that the SouthSouth is suffering from the adverse effects of 13% derivation and that it's leaders lack "the executive capacity" to manage the funds and as such those funds should be channelled to other areas (read North).

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/elrufai-predicts-coup-in-nigeria

Boko Haram Says "We Have Closed All Doors For Dialogue With Government"

The dreaded Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram, has said there was never and there will be no negotiation between it and government, adding that the media report in respect of negotiations between the group and the government was probably fuelled by the recent public statement by President Goodluck Jonathan urging the sect to come forward for dialogue, to make their demands clear with a view to resolving the protracted problem in the country.

According to the spokesman for the sect, Abul Qaqa, “the first condition we gave was the need for unconditional release of all our members. There was an initial meeting between us and the government and in the process, one of our members, Abu Dardaa, was arrested in Kaduna. Since then, we never trusted the government.

“However, following endless pleas by some notable Nigerians, whom we have enormous respect for, we resolved to give another chance. These people said they would intercede between us and the government. They said they had the capacity and we trusted them.

Unfortunately, however, the opportunity was messed up. Almighty God has told us repeatedly that the unbelievers will never respect the promises they made.

“As such, henceforth, we would never respect any proposal for dialogue. In fact, we have closed all possible doors of negotiation. We would never listen to any call for negotiations.”

Qaqa, who stated this during a telephone conference with the media in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Tuesday, also said: “Let the government forces do whatever they feel they can do and we too would use all the wherewithal at our disposal and do what we can.

“If the government thinks arresting our members will discourage us from launching onslaught, then let them continue arresting and killing our members. We strongly believe that Almighty Allah will give us the power to catch and prosecute government forces. We are optimistic that we would dismantle this government and establish Islamic government in Nigeria.

“Let the Federal Government and its agents do what they can and we, in return, would also do what we can.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/boko-haram-says-we-have-closed-all-doors-for-dialogue-with-government

Politicians Who Lost Out In Elections Behind Boko Haram Says Solomon Lar!

Miffed by the recurring security challenges in the country, the first civilian governor of Plateau State and pioneer National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomon Lar, yesterday, broke his silence on the issue, saying those behind the bombings were some unpatriotic Nigerians, who were using some non-Nigerians in the name of Boko Haram to terrorise the nation.

Lar, who spoke with journalists in Jos, Plateau State capital, after paying a sympathy visit to commiserate with the two churches which were recently attacked by the sect, said he had to cut short his medical trip to the United Kingdom on hearing of the attack. Lar attends the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), which was also bombed.

He said it was unfortunate that some politicians were bent on getting power to destroy the nation whether it was in the interest of the nation or not.

“But if they destroy the country, which one would they now rule over? If we destroy Nigeria as our country we would have nowhere to run to because no country will be able to take us. It will be worse than Tsunami,” he said.

He used the occasion to warn those bent on destroying the country’s unity, saying the nation was not a failed state for some people to think that they can create chaos and get away with it.

He said the report of the federal government committee on Jos crisis he chaired has been submitted to the government, “if implemented, it will provide solutions to our problems as a country.”

He charged Nigerians, irrespective of religious or political affiliations to partner and fight terrorism.
Earlier at COCIN, Lar informed the leadership of the church that he was devastated to hear that the church he laid its foundation in 1980 was targeted for an attack.

He recalled that it was at COCIN that the likes of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Chief MKO Abiola, and others worshipped, despite their religious backgrounds, stating that the unity of the nation was not in doubt.

Earlier, President of COCIN, Mr. Soja Bewarang, had thanked Lar for the visit and stressed that the church would not be intimidated in any way as it would continue to pray for peace to reign.

Also at the office of the Catholic Arch Bishop, Ignatius Kaigama, Lar commiserated with the church over the St. Finbarr’s attack and urged the church to be strong and pray for lasting peace.

The Catholic Church Bishops conference, he added, was very active in the past saying the conference can help in bringing an end to these security challenges. Lar was accompanied in the visit by his wife, Ambassador Mary, and his aides.

It will be recalled that members of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, headed by Adamu Ciroma had promised that if a Northerner does not emerge as President in 2011 they would "make the country ungovernable".

After a meeting last weekend at the Maizube farm residence of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, the head of the Northern Leaders Political Forum, Adamu Ciroma, pleaded for peace on the Northern part of the country.

However, Ciroma forgot to add that it was the threatening comments for him and his fellows in the Northern Elders Political Forum that had stoked religious sentiments and inspired hate groups such as Boko Haram who may have been inspired by the comments from Alhaji Lawal Kaita who said in October 2010 that "The North is determined, if that happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy".

Kaita, founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and close ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had at that time warned that the North should not be blamed for the calamity that will befall the country, if Jonathan emerges President.

Now, if Nigerians had thought that Kaita was joking, his own principal, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, had come out openly on the 14th of December 2010 to say " Let me again send another message to the leadership of our great country, especially the political leadership that those who make peaceful change impossible, make violent change inevitable.”

In the light of the above, many are beginning to ask the question if Boko Haram is just a creation of some in the North in reaction to power slipping from the zone and an attempt to have leverage to renegotiate the return of power to the region by 2015.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/politicians-who-lost-out-in-elections-behind-boko-haram-says-solomon-lar

Are Nigerian Politicians Funding Boko Haram'?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK6JBdWnqcI

It is Strange For FG to Ask Boko Haram To Stop Attacks Before Dialogue-Ciroma, Head of Northern Political Leaders Forum

Former minister of finance Mallam Adamu Ciroma has said that the federal government is being unrealistic in expecting members of Boko Haram who are in an armed conflict with it to come out into the open for dialogue.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Ciroma, an elder statesman from the northeast, said the government knows far more than it is willing to admit and must quickly come up with a serious approach before things deteriorate further.

As a founding member of the ruling PDP, Ciroma also expressed loss of confidence in the party and stated why he could never again trust President Goodluck Jonathan after the zoning debacle that occurred before the 2011 general election.

He said, “So far, when government talks about dialogue, they keep on saying Boko Haram should come out in the open, let them stop attacking people. That sounds very strange to many of us.

If you are in a confrontational situation with somebody, and if you see him, you are going to shoot him, does it make sense to say the person should come out to the open? If he comes out in the open, what does he think you are going to do to him?”

This, Ciroma said, is not a serious approach by the government. He said, “Government, whether they tell you or not, know a lot about every issue. They should take the right approach and talk to the Boko Haram people.

My recommendation is that government should deal with it quickly and effectively before it deteriorates further. It is important to arrest the situation now before it degenerates and spreads.”

On the politics of the PDP, he predicted an uncertain future for the polity because of how the issue of zoning was jettisoned for the ambition of the sitting president.

He said, “When you deal with somebody on the basis of trust and he tells you something different from the stated position, how can you trust that person again? I personally find it difficult to trust such a person.”

On the way forward for the northern political establishment, Ciroma said, “ I don’t know. I am an old man I do not know what is happening. Yes, I have lost confidence in the politics of the country. As soon as the party abandoned the position stated earlier, I lost confidence.”

Responding to questions on calls for a sovereign national conference, Ciroma said it would be hard to reconcile the need for such a conference and the fact that there is a sitting executive arm of government and a National Assembly even though proponents of the conference have a point.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/it-is-strange-for-fg-to-ask-boko-haram-to-stop-attacks-before-dialogue-ciroma

Is Boko Haram a Bargaining Chip in the North's Desire For Increased Revenue From Oil / 2015?

Most Nigerians failed to read between the lines when Buba Galadima, National Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change and right hand man of the party's presidential candidate in last year's presidential elections, Muhammadu Buhari, told the BBC that Boko Haram was more popular in certain parts of the North than the government gave it credit for.

In that Late December 2011 interview (click here for the interview) Buba Galadima had said "The people are sympathetic to certain principles and ideas," he told the BBC. "If people feel they are being denied anything or an injustice is being meted out to them then there is a likelihood that they will take the law into their own hands and help themselves."

Mr Galadima, who is from near Damaturu, where Boko Haram originally sprang from, raised the case of the former militants from the oil-rich Niger Delta who were given generous financial packages from the government to keep them out of trouble.

"Why didn't the president crush the Niger Deltans? That's a questions a lot of people in this part of the country are asking," he said.

"Instead they are being rewarded for the economic destruction they brought Nigeria. Why can't the same be true for Boko Haram?"

In the last couple of weeks prominent individuals and groups from the North have initiated a coordinated campaign to agitate for an increased share of oil revenue from the Niger Delta. This strategy has been too coordinated to be a coincidence and the first salvo was fired by the governor of the CBN, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who in an interview with the Financial Times of London on the fringes of the World Economic Forum that the 13% derivation being paid to South South states is one of the major causative reasons for the rise of the Boko Haram insurgency.

His exact words at that time were as follows "There is clearly a direct link between the very uneven nature of distribution of resources and the rising level of violence."

"When you look at the figures and look at the size of the population in the north, you can see that there is a structural imbalance of enormous proportions. Those states simply do not have enough money to meet basic needs while some states have too much money.

"The imbalance is so stark because the state still depends on oil for more than 80 per cent of its revenues"

When a stunned nation was still in shock wondering how a public servant could utter those words, the same Sanusi Lamido Sanusi then 'donated' 100 million Naira of public funds to his home state of Kano as the CBN's contribution after the state suffered an attack from Boko Haram.

Soon after this, the Chairman of the Northern States Governor's Forum, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State came out only to call for more oil money to be sent up North pledging that the current revenue formula was skewed against the North.

His words were “The revenue allocation formula should be looked at. We are hoping that within 2012, there would be discussions and review of the allocation formula.

“But there are other issues that would come. For example, there were oil wells that were over 200 kilometres away of the shore of the country. Those ones before the passage of law by the National Assembly were supposed to be oil wells for the whole country.

“But now, they have been made to be given only to the contiguous states in addition to the 13 per cent derivation. So, if you look at that, you will say that it will not serve everybody well if certain parts of the country are not doing well while some parts are doing exceptionally well. So, THE PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE until we are able to find a solution.”

Many Nigerians are still wondering what Babangida Aliyu meant by "THE PRESSURE"?

When his call was vociferously rejected by governors from the South south, home of Nigeria's oil production, Babangida Aliyu remained adamant and said no one could intimidate the North over its demand for more oil wealth.

After Sanusi and Aliyu had needed their salvo, the nation woke up to find that some elements in the North had set up a body called Concerned Northern Leaders. This group NaijaPundit gathered was set up by hard liners in the North to counter calls for a Sovereign National Conference as well as put pressure on the political infrastructure of the nation to ensure that a Northern emerges as president in 2015.

In the first salvo fired by the CNL, it's convener, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, granted an interview to the Sun Newspapers where he said that the North is ready for Nigeria's break up. He however insisted that the North would lay claim to Yoruba speaking areas of Kwara and Kogi states as well as Abuja (click here for Junaid's interview).

Many pundits had read that interview as an attempt to intimidate progressive elements who were demanding for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference and get the Yoruba proponents of the call for an SNC to count the cost of their agitation before it became too late.. In that interview, Dr. Junaid dropped with bile and scorn on proponents of the SNC.

If Nigerians thought that the first salvo from the CNL was bad, the next salvo fired this past Thursday was a bomb shell. After meeting in Asokoro, Abuja, Dr. Junaid read a communique insisting that the revenue formula must be reviewed because the 13% derivation to the South South was hurting the people of the region. According to the Concerned Northern Leaders, indigenes of oil-producing states have become victims because the revenue accruing to their states “is far beyond their executive capacity to manage".

Dr. Junaid in the said communique then incredibly called for those funds that currently accrue to the Niger Delta to be plowed to other regions most notably the North!

However, Dr. Junaid failed to tell Nigeria's that what Nigeria's founding fathers agreed with the British at independence was that each region should control its resources and that 50% of the resources in each region was kept by the region, 25% shared with other regions wile 25% is paid to the central government.

But a greater shock came the way of Nigerians when the Northern Elders Political Leaders Forum, which came into being in 2010 as an amalgamation headed by Adamu Ciroma to wrest power from president Jonathan in favor of a Northerner resurrected and began holding meetings. The first meeting was held a week ago at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. A follow up meeting was held between Thursday the 15th and yesterday, Friday the 16th of March.

In their communique released yesterday after a meeting at the Maizube farm residence of former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, the group said they would Bring back peace to the Northern region now ravaged by ethnic and religious violence driven in large part by Boko Haram.

The two main rivals for the endorsement of the Northern Elder's Political Forum's consensus ticket, General Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar met with amongst others the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, including other eminent citizens, such as Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Archbishop John Onaiyekan, among others, at the Maizube farm house of General Abubakar in Minna, Niger State, to proffer solutions to the lingering security challenges bedeviling the country.

Others in attendance at the two-day meeting included former CJN, Justice Alfa Belgore; Sheik Ahmed Lemu; Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua; Dr Bello Fadile; Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, Mrs Pauline Tallen; Alhaji Aminu Sale; Professor Jubril Aminu and Brigadier-General John Sagaya (retd).

The Chairman of yesterday's meeting was the head of the Northern Elders Political Forum, Also, Mallam Ciroma, said there were certain issues that had become concerns to all the citizens, especially issues of security, economic situation of the country, religious confrontation, as well as the use of government resources anyhow by leaders of government.

However, Ciroma forgot to add that it was the threatening comments for him and us fellows in the Northern Elders Political Forum that had stoked religious sentiments and inspired hate groups such as Boko Haram who may have been inspired by the comments from Alhaji Lawal Kaita who said in October 2010 that "The North is determined, if that happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy".

Kaita, founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and close ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had at that time warned that the North should not be blamed for the calamity that will befall the country, if Jonathan emerges President.

Now, if Nigerians had thought that Kaita was joking, his own principal, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, had come out openly on the 14th of December 2010 to say " Let me again send another message to the leadership of our great country, especially the political leadership that those who make peaceful change impossible, make violent change inevitable.”

In the light of the above, many are beginning to ask the question if Boko Haram is just a creation of some in the North in reaction to power slipping from the zone and an attempt to have leverage to renegotiate the return of power to the region by 2015.

The facts have been presented. Now make your own conclusions.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/is-boko-haram-a-bargaining-chip-in-the-north-s-desire-for-increased-revenue-from-oil

13% Derivation is Hurting Niger Delta, Send it to the North Instead-Concerned Northern Leaders.

The meeting of prominent Northern intellectuals now known as Concerned Northern Leaders has bizarrely said that the Niger Delta is suffering adversely from receiving the 13% derivation money. Instead, they want the Federal Government to immediately review the revenu allocation formula and send part of that money to the North.

According the According to the Concerned Northern Leaders, indigenes of oil-producing states have become victims because the revenue accruing to their states “is far beyond their executive capacity to manage.”

The group also curiously accused the President of scheming for a third term which does not make sense as the President is only in his first term.

Explaining its stand on 13 per cent derivation CNL said it encouraged corruption and hyper-inflation in those states, their neighbours and the country at large.

The group stated, “The law as it exists is a violation of a subsisting judgment by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a fact openly admitted to by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.”

It stated that the revenue allocation law violates the international law, particularly the International Law of Sea Convention.

It recommended the revocation of all those oil blocks and oil lifting contracts and urged that there should be a comprehensive review of all manner of refined products import contracts.

The group called for the arrest of all generals and dishonest businessmen, local chiefs and warlords involved in oil bunkering.

On the current status of Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory, it noted that land belonging to communities had been taken away from them without compensation.

“The communities and peoples alienated from their lands are rendered internally displaced persons, but lacking all the rights and privileges accorded them by UN Conventions,” it said.

When contacted the Senior Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, denied the allegation, saying it was mischievous. Abati said the committee had not submitted its report.

He said, “ It also appears strange to me that a group of people who would otherwise be described as distinguished Nigerians would claim that President is looking for a third term.

“Every intelligent man in this country knows that President Jonathan is in his first term in office, so how have they suddenly jumped from first term to third term. From the point of view of arithmetics, even their claim cannot stand, so that claim is weak, it is unacceptable.

“ If their concern is about the seven-year term, President Jonathan has made it clear that his proposal is out of patriotic concern about the amount of wastefulness, greed, tension, conflict that go into the obsession that go into the search for second term.

“It is borne out of patriotic concern that elected officials at all levels should dedicate themselves and concentrate their efforts during a specific period.”

The President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Peter Esele, who is a member of the Belgore committee, denied the allegation on the third term.

“There is nothing like that, where are they getting that from? Which one is third term agenda?” he said.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and President Goodluck Jonathan have agreed to suspend the amendment of the party’s constitution.This followed the strong objection raised by the governors elected on the platform of the party.

At the expanded National Caucus meeting of the party held at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Wednesday night, the governors insisted that the amendment must be stepped down.

In the alternative, the governors wanted the constitutional amendment taken to the party’s national convention on March 24. Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that the President and the leadership of the party knew that the governors would sway the delegates against the party and therefore gave in.

Among those at the meeting were President Jonathan; former President and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; members of the National Working Committee of the party and six governors led by the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

The Senate President, David Mark, led the delegation from the National Assembly to the meeting.

A source said, “The President and the leadership of the party knew that the governors would be the ones to bring the delegates to Eagle Square.

“The President, especially, knew that fighting them openly would not portray him in a good light and could boomerang.

The governors had, at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting held on February 29, 2012, threatened to leave the party if their views on the review of its constitution were not respected.

The governors were angered that the party’s Constitution Review Committee, led by its National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, recommended that membership of its NEC should be increased.

The Constitution Review Committee had recommended the inclusion of a senator and a member of the House of Representatives from each state of the federation and Abuja as members of NEC.

But the committee refused to include the governors as members of the party’s National Caucus, as demanded by them.

Article 12.67 of the party’s constitution stipulates those expected to attend National Caucus of the party. This list does not include governors elected on the platform of the party.

But during the lobby for the amendment of the constitution, the governors tried in vain to be made members of the National Caucus of the party.

The amended constitution of the party, which was distributed to the members of NEC at its last meeting, refused to allow the governors membership of National Caucus.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/13-derivation-is-hurting-niger-delta-send-it-to-the-north-instead-concerned-northern-leaders

Operation Stop Jonathan in 2015- Northern Elders Political Leaders Forum Resurrects to 'Save' Nigeria

After its members publicly threatened the nation that they would unleash activities that will make "Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan", prominent members of the Northern Elders Political Forum met yesterday to deliberate on how to save Nigeria from the current spate of insecurity occasioned mostly by Boko Haram.

The intellectual wing of the Northern Elders Political Forum also met differently and accused President Jonathan of scheming for a 'third term'. It is their hope to invoke the public anger that greeted former Obasanjo's attempted third term project and direct it at President Jonathan in order to ensure that the President does not think of contesting for a second term in 2015.

The two main rivals for the endorsement of the Northern Elder's Political Forum's consensus ticket, General Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar yesterday met with amongst others the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, including other eminent citizens, such as Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Archbishop John Onaiyekan, among others, at the Maizube farm house of General Abubakar in Minna, Niger State, to proffer solutions to the lingering security challenges bedeviling the country.

Others in attendance at the two-day meeting included former CJN, Justice Alfa Belgore; Sheik Ahmed Lemu; Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua; Dr Bello Fadile; Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, Mrs Pauline Tallen; Alhaji Aminu Sale; Professor Jubril Aminu and Brigadier-General John Sagaya (retd).

The Chairman of yesterday's meeting was the head of the Northern Elders Political Forum, Also, Mallam Ciroma, said there were certain issues that had become concerns to all the citizens, especially issues of security, economic situation of the country, religious confrontation, as well as the use of government resources anyhow by leaders of government.

However, Ciroma forgot to add that it was the threatening comments for him and us fellows in the Northern Elders Political Forum that had stoked religious sentiments and inspired hate groups such as Boko Haram who may have been inspired by the comments from Alhaji Lawal Kaita who said in October 2010 that "The North is determined, if that happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy".

Meanwhile, as the Northern Elders were meeting in Minna, it's intellectual wing was also meeting in Asokoro, Abuja to frustrate what they termed as the "third term" agenda of President Jonathan and to rubbish any efforts by the Justice Belgore committee on Constitutional Review.

A coalition of a northern leaders and academics, on Thursday, accused President Goodluck Jonathan of scheming for third term as president, even as they restated the opposition of the North to subsisting revenue sharing formula within the federation.

Rising from a meeting held at the Asokoro area of Abuja, the coalition, in a statement signed by Dr Junaid Mohammad, alleged that the presidency, alongside the committee headed by a former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Alfa Belgore, was plotting to impose a new constitution, under which President Jonathan would seek another term in 2015.

The coalition, in the statement, accused Justice Belgore of having “nothing but contempt for issues in which the North feels cheated,” while threatening to mobilise against the new third term bid.

The coalition also declared that the current revenue allocation formula violated international law of the sea as well as a subsisting Supreme Court judgment, declaring that “the North rejects the current obnoxious revenue allocation law and call for its immediate review.”

The convener of the meeting, General Abdul-salami, in his opening remarks, said the forum, held under the auspices of Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute for Peace and Sustainable Development, was the product of intense and wide ranging consultations he had been engaged in, in the last few months.

“Like all of you in this room, I am worried about the direction and consequences of a number of developments in our nation. Ordinarily, elders like us would take comfort in the belief that God almighty has rewarded our own past endeavours with successors who should worry over matters of national security, the state of the economy and governance generally.

“It would have been their lot to find solutions to problems that confront our people today and ours would have been to pray for them and where necessary, offer some general advice and prayers,” Abdulsalami said.

The former leader, however, said the issue of security and development should not be left only to the government, as the citizenry also had a responsibility.

Abubakar described Nigerians as their own worst enemies, adding that what the meeting intended to achieve was to restore hope to disenchanted citizenry.

General Babangida, in his speech, noted that it was becoming a matter of grave concern to all patriotic and well-meaning Nigerians that various criminal groups had, in the recent times, been operating more brazenly in the country, a reason he said security of lives and property should be uppermost in the minds of the entire citizenry.

Babangida said anytime they saw a little problem capable of aggravating the situation, past leaders had tried to assemble all the right minds to come together, based on their experiences, to find the solution.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s government has, in the last week, held its first indirect peace talks with Islamist sect, Boko Haram, meeting mediators to discuss a possible ceasefire, political and diplomatic sources told Reuters on Thursday.

Two people close to Boko Haram had been carrying messages back and forth between the sect’s self-proclaimed leader, Abubakar Shekau and government officials, the sources, who asked not to be named, said.

It was not clear whether any mediators met with President Goodluck Jonathan himself.

A source at the presidency confirmed that efforts were being made to reach out to negotiators of the sect, but that direct talks had not yet begun.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/operation-stop-jonathan-in-2015-northern-elders-political-leaders-forum-resurrect-to-save-nigeria

Deportation Saga: President Zuma of South Africa Sends Delegation to Beg Jonathan'

PHOTO 1- FROM RIGHT SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND , SPECIAL ENVOY OF THE SOUTH AFRICANPRESIDENT, MS. NOSIVEWE NGALULA, SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO NIGERIA, KINGSLEY MAMABOLO AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, SOUTH AFRICAN DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION, MRS. SONTO KUDJOE DURING A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN TODAY THURSDAY AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA IN ABUJA.

PHOTO 2 - PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WITH SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND SPECIAL ENVOY OF SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, MS. NOSIVIWE NGALULA AFTER A MEETING TODAY THURSDAY AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA IN ABUJA.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/deportation-saga-president-zuma-of-south-africa-sends-delegation-to-apologize-to-jonathan

Boko Haram: Problem Reaction Solution as a Strategy for 2015

In the military, there is a strategy called PRS or Problem Reaction Solution. This strategy works this way. Supposing you want something from any population of people and you do not get it, what you do is create a problem of monumental proportion which only you can solve because only you created it. Then you wait until this problem affects the whole populace and they get so disturbed that they are crying out for anybody with a solution. Then when the populace gets to this stage, you offer up your solution which is very easy for you because you caused the problem in the first place. And because you offered up the solution, you immediately become popular with the populace for 'solving' a problem so monumental that it affected the survival of the populace.

This PRS scenario is currently playing itself out in Nigeria. What do I mean?

In mid 2010, faced with the possibility of power staying with Goodluck Jonathan who divinely emerged as president of Nigeria after the death on May 5, 2010 of his predecessor, Umaru Yar'adua, a group of principalities who had for the most part of their lived pretended to be nationalist came out in their true tribal and regional colours to form a group called Northern Elders Political Leaders Forum with the sole aim of prosecuting an agenda to ensure that political power at the federal level did not shift to the south and that a northerner emerges as not only the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, but ultimately the next president.

To this end the began meeting all over the North with Northern irredentists who shared their pilosophy of a powerful North being at the control of Nigeria.

Sometime in October 2010, a paramount member of this Northern Elders Political Leaders Forum, one Alhaji Lawal Kaita, a former governor of Kaduna state and a close ally of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, stated that the North would make Nigeria ungovernable for President Jonathan if he emerged victorious at the polls.

In fact, his exacts words were as follows "He said: “It is becoming apparent that the recent replacement of Service Chiefs is part of President Jonathan’s plan to use state apparatus to scale the 2011 presidential hurdle.

“Anything short of a Northern President is tantamount to stealing our Presidency. Jonathan has to go and he will go. Even if he uses the incumbency power to get his nomination on the platform of the PDP, he would be frustrated out.”

Kaita, founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and close ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had at that time warned that the North should not be blamed for the calamity that will befall the country, if Jonathan emerges President next year.

"The North is determined, if that happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy.

“Feelers from the South-South clearly show that the North is not the only region that is outraged over the situation. The South-East is there grumbling and the South-South, his (Jonathan) geo-political zone, he is not sure of their support.”

Reacting to the general thinking that the minority and Christians in the North are backing Jonathan, Kaita said it was a wrong assumption.

He said: “What you may call Northern Christians are concentrated more in Benue State where they may constitute about 90 per cent. In Plateau State, if you study that carefully, the Christian/Muslim population is 60 per cent for Christians, 40 per cent Muslims, so Plateau State is not an entirely a Christian State. The only state in the North that is substantially a Christian community is Benue State.”

Now, if Nigerians had thought that Kaita was joking, his own principal, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, had come out openly on the 14th of December 2010 to say " Let me again send another message to the leadership of our great country, especially the political leadership that those who make peaceful change impossible, make violent change inevitable.”

Present when Atiku made this threat of violent change in Abuja were the following people; General Ibrahim Babangida, General Mohammed Aliyu Gusua, Atiku Abubakar, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu; Lawal Kaita; AVM Hamza Abdullahi; Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami, Professor A.T. Abubakar; Lawal Batagarawa; Saleh Hassan and Haruna Adamu.

Now amongst those listed above are some of the same people who met this past weekend in Abuja to deliberate on the current spate of insecurity in the nation. After threatening that this nation would not know peace if a Northerner does not emerge as president in 2011, this same set of people who threatened violent change are now meeting to find a solution to the insecurity they had told us was coming.

Now even the attendance of the meeting itself was a major cause for concern because though it was billed as a Northern meeting, it was heavily attended by only muslim Northerners with Senator Wash Pam being the only non Muslim who attended.

The meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton hotel on Saturday the 10th of March from around 11 am to 1 pm and had in attendance the following persons; former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Alhambra. Maitama Sule, Alhaji Sani Zango Daura, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Justice Mamman Nasir and Professor Ango Abdullahi.

It will be recalled that the caucusing of the North along religious lines has caused prominent Northerners to ask if being a Northerner means being a Muslim.

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah had once asked the question if he term North applied to a region or a religion!

The Northern leaders who met on Saturday had two items on their agenda, politics and insecurity, and amongst other things raised concerns about the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta and what they described as the conspiracy of ‘silence’ by security agencies.

It is however worthy of note that though they complained of a conspiracy of "silence" from the security agencies, most of them have been silent about the activities of Boko Haram which is the major source of insecurity in Nigeria.

Perhaps as Nigerians consider the information above, they may want to take into consideration the words spoken by the late Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who said as follows ;

"The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the north as willing tools and the south as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future." Parrot Newspaper October 12, 1960.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/boko-haram-problem-reaction-solution-as-a-strategy-for-2015

Jonathan Plans To Have Ijaw Republic Says Elrufai

Controversial former Minister of the FCT, Malam Nasir Elrufai, has accused President Jonathan of planning to opt of of the federation and create a new nation called Ijaw Republic.

Malam Elrufai made this allegation today on his Twitter profile (see below).

It is unclear whether Elrufai was upset at President Jonathan's words spoken yesterday in Makurdi ad which some believe is veiled a response to some governors who were clamouring for a greater share of proceeds from the sale of crude oil.

The President said: “We have resources in all parts of the country to sell. All states of the federation have products they can export.  The governors should work with private sector operators to produce and sell what they have not only to Nigerians but also for export.

“Nigeria is an agro-based economy even before the civil war and that is why they did not borrow money to prosecute the war.  We should be able to revive this process like it happened in those period where oil is not an issue.

“If we create the enabling environment and liase with the private sector, people will not need to steal or go into 419 before they can make it.”

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/jonathan-plans-to-have-ijaw-republic-says-elrufai

GEJ's Message to South Africa

On the 18th of September, 2010 I made a sincere and solemn promise to "never, never let" Nigerians down. I repeated this good governance promise when I took oath of office on the 29th of May, 2011. Those words of promise have remained a driving force of all I do in my sojourn in public service. In the last few months we have taken steps to actualize these promises as we were the FIRST nation to airlift her citizens from the Arab Republic of Egypt in 2011 as a result of the uprising there. To communicate to all and sundry that this was not by happen stance, we moved in to protect our citizens in Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and Cote d'Ivoire when threats to our citizens safety became apparent. The administration also ensured that Nigeria was removed from the U.S. travel blacklist which we briefly entered as a result of the Abdulmutallab incident and ensured that Nigeria received Category One Status in the U.S.A. These actions are a deliberate projection of the new citizen centered focus of Nigeria's Foreign Policy and we will not relent. We are a nation of good people and collectively we will work for the good of humanity beginning from home.

Let me use this opportunity to thank you my friends on facebook that your encouragement and support has continued to strengthen us to remain focused on the urgent business of working for peaceful co-existence, promoting the welfare, well being and dignity of the Nigerian people. I want to urge all Nigerians wherever we may find ourselves to continue to remain hardworkiing, law abiding and united. These are tough economic times and as we work night and day to turn things around for the better, I will continue to remind myself that the mandate you gave to me to defend you is a sacred mandate that will not be taken for granted. May God Almighty grant me the enablement to " never, never let you down". GEJ

http://www.facebook.com/jonathangoodluck/posts/339859636064417

[B]Sanusi's Donation to Kano Divides House of Representatives-Kano Reps Stage Walk Out![/B]

Apparently the last has not been heard of the controversial 100 million Naira donation to Kano State by the CBN on the urging of the equally controversial CBN governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Federal House of Representatives yesterday adopted a motion sponsored by Hon. Uzo Azubuike (PDP/Abia) summoning the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, over the CBN's alleged misuse of public funds through funding of projects and donations to causes outside the core duties of the apex bank.

In fact the adoption of the melee almost degenerated into a fracas as Hon. Bashir Babale (PDP/Kano) made attempts to physically attack those around him who voted in support of the motion and had to be physically restrained by other honorable members.

The sponsor of the successful motion, Hon. Uzo Azubuike, had called the House's attention to the seeming impropriety of Sanusi's N500 million Sanusi donated for the construction of a bridge at the University of Benin coming at a time when the university gave him an honorary award making it seem as if it was a deal to curry favor from the institution. Also mentioned was the N100 million donation to victims of bomb attacks in Kano, as well as the N25 million the bank donated to the victims of the Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State which was an after thought arising from the public uproar which his gift to Kano state caused.

The members from Kano state staged a walk out in protest at the successfully passage of Hon. Azubuike's motion complaining that those against the motion were not given sufficient time and opportunity to attack the motion but the Speaker of the House ruled that that was not true as those against the bill failed to utilize the time given to them.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/sanusi-s-donation-to-kano-divides-house-of-representatives-kano-reps-stage-walk-out