₦airaland Forum

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She looks Voodooish if there is a word like that

Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala speaking on the Crude Oil fall and job creation...!!!

Nice presentation Dr. Iweala

Minister for Petroluem speaking next...!!!

Mr. President being ushered to the high table now

President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State locked horns again on Saturday over the use of the Rivers State stadium for a Peoples Democratic Party rally.

The two fell out with each other several months ago leading to the defection of Amaechi from the PDP to the opposition All Progressives Congress. The Rivers governor is also not in good terms with the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, over claims that the President’s wife wanted to control him and the state. Mrs. Jonathan has repeatedly denied this allegation.

On Friday, in an apparent move to counter the refusal by Amaechi to grant the state PDP permission to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for the PDP presidential rally armed soldiers took over the stadium.

Jonathan’s presidential rally is billed to hold on Wednesday, January 28.

Amaechi had cited an ongoing construction work on the sporting facility as the reason for turning down the request.

The governor had also maintained that since the stadium was one of the projects his administration was bent on completing before leaving office, it would be unnecessary to stop work on the 40,000 capacity sports complex located in Igwuruta-Ali, Ikwerre Local Government Area due to a political rally.

The soldiers moved into the stadium Friday night and were still within the facility when SUNDAY PUNCH visited the place on Saturday.

The soldiers mounted guard at the two main entrances to the stadium. More soldiers were seen alighting from a Hilux van while others were stationed at different points within the stadium complex.

One of our correspondents gathered that the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Mr. Nyesom Wike, was led to the stadium by a group of security agents, including men of the Department of State Security at about 12: 50pm on Saturday.

Sources said Wike, who is the former Minister of State for Education, was at the stadium to inspect the facility ahead of his party’s presidential rally on Wednesday.

The leadership of the PDP in the state had alerted the police and other security agencies of an alleged threat by Amaechi to mobilise his supporters against the party should it (PDP) insist on holding the President’s rally at the stadium.

Wike had also vowed that the facility would be available for the President’s rally.

Reacting to the occupation of the stadium by soldiers, Amaechi told SUNDAY PUNCH that Jonathan was not prepared for a free and fair election.

The governor, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Saturday, said it was unfortunate that the President was preaching one thing but doing another.

He said, “If the President wants free and fair election, why would he use armed soldiers to forcefully take over a state government facility when it has not be given to him or his party to campaign?

“Work is ongoing at the stadium and another one has been given to them to hold the rally. Why must he insist on using the stadium where workers are still working?”

The governor asked Nigerians and the international community to focus on the country and the state in particular, warning that the PDP and Jonathan must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order during or after the elections.

He appealed to the people of the state and members of his political party, the APC, to remain calm in the face of the “underserved provocation from the President they laboured to put in power.”

Meanwhile, suspected political thugs on Saturday attacked the venue of an APC governorship rally in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The hoodlums reportedly threw explosives into the arena, which was prepared for the campaign of the APC governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

The equipment for the event was destroyed by persons, who were said to have stormed the National School Field in a white Hiace bus.

Okrika is the home of the wife of President Jonathan, Patience, who was at the governorship rally of the PDP at the same venue on Thursday, January 22, 2015.

Speaking on the attack, the APC Chairman in Okrika, Mr. Christian Asifamaka, said the armed youths began to shoot sporadically at the venue as early as 3:45am.

Asifamaka stated that the thugs later resorted to throwing explosives into the arena, destroying the podium and sound system in the process.

The armed youths, according to the Okrika APC chairman, came from Igbiri community, an area that shares a border with Mrs. Jonathan’s Oba Ama community.

“Those setting up the sound system and the podium were forced to flee for dear lives. At about 4am they started shooting explosives into the arena. The boys came in a white Hiace bus and they are allegedly from Igbiri, a community that shares borders with Mrs. Jonathan’s Oba Ama community,” Asifamaka said in his statement.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner for Police, Mr. Dan Bature, said a group of unidentified persons attacked the campaign ground with explosive device suspected to be dynamite.

Explaining that no life was lost during the attack, Bature, who spoke with reporters in Port Harcourt, said the Police Bomb Disposal Unit had begun investigation on the matter.

He noted that the attack in Okrika had increased tension in the state ahead of the February 2015 general election

He said, “While the command is determined to discharge its constitutional mandate of protection of lives and property, all political parties are hereby warned to adhere strictly to the Code of Conduct guiding political parties in the state, respect of law and order, and eschew violence in all its ramifications before, during and after the 2015 general elections.

“The command is determined to enforce law and order, provide adequate security for all political parties and ensure that the full wrath of the law is visited on any person or persons, who dare and wish to test our capability.”

The attack on the venue for the APC campaign forced the party to call off its rally slated for Saturday.

A statement signed by Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, the Director of Communication of Greater Together Campaign Organisation, the campaign team of the governorship candidate, stated that the cancellation became necessary as a result of the early Saturday violence against APC members and supporters.

“The APC in Rivers State has called off its governorship campaign rally scheduled for Saturday, in Okrika. Okrika is the birthplace of Mrs. Patience Jonathan, wife of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, was expected to unveil his Roadmap to Prosperity, a revolutionary economic blue-print for the massive development of Rivers State, to the Okrika electorate as well as highlight the choice space the area holds in the plan.

“Heavily armed thugs had in the wee hours of the morning besieged the National School Field, Okrika, venue of the APC governorship rally and opened fire,” she said.


http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-amaechi-lock-horns-over-rivers-stadium/

Maiduguri (Nigeria) (AFP) - Nigeria's military fought Boko Haram militants in the restive northeastern city of Maiduguri on Sunday, as US Secretary of State John Kerry jetted in to discuss fears about election-related violence.

Militants launched a dawn raid on Jintilo village on the outskirts of the Borno State capital, prompting soldiers to respond with heavy weaponry and air strikes while the entire city was put on lock-down.

At the same time, Islamist fighters attacked Monguno, about 65 kilometres (40 miles) from the fishing town of Baga, where hundreds, if not more, people were killed in a devastating Boko Haram onslaught earlier this month.

Amnesty International said civilians in the city and surrounding areas were now "at grave risk" and called for their "immediate protection".

The renewed violence underscored the extent of the difficulties facing Nigeria as it scrambles for a solution to enable hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the unrest to vote next month.

It also demonstrated the uphill battle facing President Goodluck Jonathan, who was at a campaign rally for the February 14 election in Maiduguri on Saturday, where he again vowed to end the six-year insurgency.


Kerry touched down in the financial capital, Lagos, and headed straight for separate meetings with Jonathan and the main opposition's presidential candidate, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.

The Nigeria visit -- the first by a US secretary of state since Hillary Clinton in 2012 -- was announced on Friday during a speech in which Kerry warned of the dangers of Islamist extremists worldwide.

Kerry has previously described the attack on Baga as a "crime against humanity" while the United States has warned of the threat to Nigeria's sovereignty posed by the militants, who want to create a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria.

http://news.yahoo.com/nigerian-troops-fighting-boko-haram-maiduguri-military-085654900.html

At her age she can do a good advert for closeup. What do you think?

The farmer that planted those yam tubers has some questions to answer....!!! How many concoctions did he make?

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the February election, Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), has said the campaign by his opponents regarding the status of his secondary school education, is borne out of mischief.

Speaking in Kano on Wednesday on the controversy, which has suggested that Buhari might not have sat the West African School Certificate Examination as he claimed, having failed to tender the results, the APC flag bearer said he sat the Cambridge University/WASCE in 1961 and graduated in Second Division.

Buhari, a former Head of State, said, “I attended Provincial Secondary School, Kaduna, now Government College, Kaduna, and sat the University of Cambridge/WASCE in 1961, the year we graduated, alongside (now the late) Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (Chief of General Staff under Gen Olusegun Obasanjo as Head of State) and Justice Umar Abdullahi, a former President of Court of Appeal . My examination number is 8202220.”

He added that he had requested his old school, Government College, Kaduna, to make available his result.

Buhari said the controversy was the outcome of his vow to tackle unemployment, insecurity and corruption, accusing the Federal Government of employing every weapon in order to stay in power.


http://www.punchng.com/news/buhari-to-speak-about-certificate-controversy-today/

A United States-based political strategy firm, AKPD Message and Media, engaged by the opposition All Progressives Congress to improve its electoral fortunes is still active, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.

It was gathered in Abuja on Friday that the Chicago-based firm has been behind several of the party’s campaign messages and strategy.

The firm is best known for its leading role in President Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.

AKPD Message and Media is known to have worked with key Democratic Party candidates throughout the US.

It has also earned a reputation for supporting leading populist movements across the globe.

The APC had at the beginning of its contract, stated that, “we shall leverage on the firm’s skill, experience and expertise throughout the upcoming campaign cycle.’’

According to the party, the company’s track record could be seen in political climate similar to Nigeria’s, including Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana.

It said the partnership with the firm was an indication that the process of change in Nigeria had already begun and would not be stopped

A highly placed member of the APC, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, explained that the firm is working behind the scene.

The source said, “They have been doing their work; they were involved in surveys and polls, looking at areas of our strengths and weaknesses, and advising on measures to be taken to consolidate on our gains.

“They are helping to guide our campaigns to address our needs and we are getting value for our investments.”

When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed, told SUNDAY PUNCH that, “They (the firm) are political consultants; they are still with us.

“I believe they will remain with us till we win the elections. I don’t think the contract is out.”

Meanwhile, the US Government has said it is assisting the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission in providing adequate security for the February general elections.

The US stated that an American election security expert had visited Nigeria sometime in 2014.


http://www.punchng.com/news/obama-linked-us-firm-behind-apc-campaigns-party/

Apparently, Presidential Spokesman, Reuben Abati, lives and breathes politics.
He couldn’t even hide it in his New Year message to Nigerians below.

The Presidential Spokesman engrained the name of President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience, his mother Grace, and his daughter Joy, in his New Year message. Very creative.


http://www.tatafonaija.com/2015/01/reuben-abatis-new-year-message-is-one.html

No Certificates issues, I personally think the DSS should immediately arrest the APC presidential candidate GBM for lying against the constitution of the FRN...!!!
Infact, how did he become a General in the Nigerian Army without certificates? Even if he attended Military Courses, do they promote officers without these officers properly graduating and having excellent gardes after completing those courses? I strongly suggest the records in the military should be revisited. I now see why OBJ ran back to school before the books would be revisited due to GBM's insistance to via for an office he is not qualified to via for except by military force.

noetic16:
27. my letters to gej entailed the following:
a. introduced myself as a citizen of nigeria.
b. explained d circumstances of my deportation.
c. requested for help to recover my certificates and personal belongings held by d uk freemason govt.
d. requested for housing benefit.
e. requested for unemployment benefit.
f. requested for manufacturing grant to enable me start large scale manufacturing.
g. requested for a piece of land for large scale farming.
h. requested for another piece of land for large scale manufacturing.
i. requested for anoda piece of land for a business district.
j. requested for about 5 acres in each local govt to create retail mall chains that wld create over 1 million jobs as done in uk.
k. requested for contract to supply all federal govt ministries and depts basic essentials. this contract wld help finance my manufacturing dream.
l. i informed the president of my intention to run for d office of president in the 2031 presidential elections.

a) Don't you have a town head or a LGA chairman to attest for your citizenship of Nigeria?
b) Don't you have Uncles or relatives to provide shelter for you while you settle down in Nigeria?
c) Don't you have a good business plan to take to the bank for a loan for your manufacturing business?
d) If you are indeed from Lagos state then go to your family to provide a land for you.
As for unemployment benefit, its unfortunate our National Assembly members don't see anything good in their young people other than being used for political gains.
With these few questions hope you won't suspect or call me an agent of the DSS or free whatever you call them cos i don't even know who they are..

With your last post above (27) i'm done following, i recommend a free mental checkup for you. Don't worry about the bills the doctors in Nigeria can handle

noetic16:
26: my requests to fashola are legitimate because:
a. i am a citizen of nigeria and an indigene of lagos state.
b. it is the responsibilty of my govt to liase with the uk freemason govt to recover my certificates.
c. in the absence of accomodation and a source of income it bcoms d responsibility of the govt to provide social security.
d. as an aspiring enterpreneur with legitimate business interests, it is incubent on d govt to provide all forms of possible assistance n a viable environment for business to thrive. which explains my request for contracts, grant and land to kickstart large scale manufacturing like dangote.

I understand your plight but FYI this is Naija infact I'm sure when you got to the Lagos boundry what you saw was 'THIS IS LAGOS' without a courteous welcome to Lagos...!!!

There are millions of unemployed nigerians with mouth watering certificates like yours who are working as drivers in Dangote's company that you mentioned earlier....!!! Anyway, continue your gist

Its becoming obvious that the image makers of GMB and this VP guy are not Nigerians or don't understand the minds of Nigerians with regards to playing poju poju with our minds.

We are watching...!!!

Ok, just googled 'Mercy Badmus Awodogan' and saw her pretty face, baby and hubby on fb. While i have few doubts in your story, mentioning real names and real places still gives you the opportunity to prove your claims. I'm following and will ask my questions when you get to the end...!!!

when the baharist say the APC is here to change...,

Please show them the APC Gubernatorial list below,ask them what change are they talking about?

()1 SOKOTO: Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (former PDP)
(2) KEBBI: Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (former PDP)
(3) KATSINA: Aminu Bello Masari (former PDP)
(4) KANO: Umar Abdullahi Ganduje (former PDP)
(5) KADUNA: Malam Nasir El-rufa'I (former PDP)
(6) JIGAWA: Alh. Abubakar Badaru (former PDP)
(7) BAUCHI: Barr. Muhammad Abubakar (former PDP)
( GOMBE: Alh. Inuwa Yahya (former PDP)
(9) NIGER: Abubakar Bello Sani (former PDP)
(10) ADAMAWA: Umar Jibrilla Bindow (former PDP)
(11) PLATEAU: Mr Simon Lalong (former PDP)
(12) BENUE: Dr Samuel Ortom (former PDP)
(13) TARABA: Aisha Jummai Alhassan (former PDP)
(14) RIVERS: Dakuku Perterside (former PDP)
(16) IMO: Rochas Okorocha (former PDP)
(16) ENUGU: Okey Ezea (former PDP)
(17)ABIA: Dr Nyerere Anyim (former PDP)
(18) EBONYI: Dr Steve Egbo (former PDP)

And of course there is the small matter of 60% of State & National Assemblies Candidates who are all former
Aggrieved PDP's members!!!

Curlled from David Briggs's Facebook page

Someone once said that the church is becoming too worldly and the world is becoming too churchy...!!!