The political crisis in Ogun State has taken a new dimension as the state Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has begun to sack political office holders who fail to heed his directive to join the People’s Party of Nigeria, PPN.
P.M.NEWS checks this morning revealed that the governor, who has defected to the PPN, has in the last few weeks sacked a liaison officer and some aides in local governments.

His liaison officer for Obafemi-Owode Local Government, Hon. Obasanjo Soyeye was replaced by Dr. Femi Akinsile, which some political observers saw as a house cleaning exercise.

Similarly, the governor’s Special Assistant on media, Mr. Segun Sowunmi was affected in the latest exercise.

Others affected are the three members of the local government caretaker committee in Yewa South. They are: Hon. Remi Ogunfola, Hon. Deji Orebiyi and Mr. Taiwo Jimoh.

The Chairman Caretaker Committee, Yewa South Local Government, Dr. Mohammed Adekunle Adewunmi is said to be under pressure for his failure to fully support the PPN campaigns in the state.

It was learnt he had been threatened with removal from office if he does not change.

A close aide of the chairman told P.M.NEWS on phone this morning that his boss was being coerced to campaign for the PPN governorship candidate, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka adding that he had to agree to protect his “job

An aide to the governor who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity said four liaison officers may be removed very soon. One of the affected officers confirmed he had learnt of the plans to remove him but he has not received any official letter yet. He said he had received text messages from a customised number, which confirmed the rumour of his removal.

P.M.NEWS investigation has revealed that the governor has sworn-in new officers whereas the substantive office holders did not know what their fate would be.

Some of the new appointees include the chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Otunba Tiwalade Sobo as a special adviser on a yet to be announced portfolio, Gbemisola Onasanya, Principal General and four local government service commission officers, Kolawole Ishola, Otunba Funmi Aina, Alhaji Ade Alatishe and Chief Wale Adeogun.

Meanwhile, a media aide to Chief Mrs. Lola Abiola-Edewor confirmed that his boss had not defected to PPN.

He described as a goof the newspaper report that claimed yesterday that Lola Abiola-Edewor will be contesting on the platform of the PPN. He insisted that she is still a PDP member.

The aide said Lola Abiola-Edewor is presently working with Chief Mrs. Titilayo Ajanaku’s Women Mobilisation Committee of the Jonathan-Sambo Campaign Organisation in Ogun State.

Imagine, this woman was caught smoking igbo in public, but she claims it was good for her baby.

Guys is marijuana good for pregnant ladies?

A pregnant woman, Fumilayo Adeboye has been sent to Kirikiri prison in Apapa, Lagos State Southwest Nigeria for smoking marijuana in public place at Igando area Lagos.

She confessed to the police that she was taking the substance because it was good for her and the baby she was carrying in her womb.

Fumilayo revealed that she was introduced into smoking the weeds by her husband, Kehinde some years back and since then she was not only smoking but also selling it with her husband.
After making a confessional statement, her husband was invited but he refused to show up at the station.

Na waooo, na wicked Pyton be this one. what are they waitning for ? they never cut the thing open and rescue the child ? Naija, everything na movie to watch.

This Snake Just swallowed a child, some minutes ago in Okada, Nigeria Edo State

Fire, on Monday, raged through the runway of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport , Kano , killing a fire fighter and injuring four others persons, all staffers of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The fire started at about mid -day and lasted for about an hour and half, blazing through the long- stretch of the airport’s runway, located at the far edge of the port, before it was eventually put off.

The incident raised concern as President Goodluck would visit the State tomorrow. The big poser is why the sudden fire outbreak at the airport where the president would be using during his visit.

Although the exact cause of the tragedy is yet to be determined, it is held that the inferno may have been ignited by villagers, from the surrounding villages around the airport, who are in the habit of burning the bushes in search of animals or for farming purposes.

Airport sources told the Daily Sun that the deceased, a staff of FAAN whose name was given as Zubeiru was killed after the fire exploded from behind their vehicle as they were putting out the burning fire.
“Actually, they were quenching the fire progressively and all of a sudden, the fire exploded from their back a few minutes after they had quenched that particular spot. The fire caught up with all of them in that vehicle and killed him in the process”, said an eye witness.

Two other victims of the fire incident, whose identity could not be sourced were rushed to the nearby Armed Forces Hospital for immediate medical attention whereas two others were said to have received treatment at the airport clinic on account over minor problems.
The sudden outbreak of inferno at the airport elicited huge shock and fear on the entire airport community, forcing out workers from their duty line as they watched the tragedy unfold at the far end of the port.
So far, the airport was sober and withdrawn as workers at the airport wore long faces when the Daily Sun visited MAKIA.

As at press time, the management of the airport, led by the station manager, Mr. M .I .Ali Nok was on their way to convey the remains of the deceased to his family home in the state as it is expected that he will be buried tomorrow in the state.
The Daily Sun further gathered that the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Njedeze will lead a delegation of the Aviation Ministry to Kano on Tuesday for an on the site assessment of the tragedy. She will be accompanied by the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun.

This guy gonna kill himself becos of money, good movie to watch.

Forbes magazine yesterday, released the 2011 World’s Richest People list with Nigeria’s own industrialist, Aliko Dangote rated as the 51st Richest man in the world, with  a networth of $13.8bn and richer than Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg  who made the list for the first time with a networth of $13.5bn at the 52nd position.

Despite the recent political crisis  in Egypt, the Arab country led other African countries with 8 billionaires on the list , followed by  South Africa  with 4 billionaires,  while Nigeria  came 3rd with 2 billionaires. Chief Mike Adenuga  joined Dangote on the Forbes’ list rated 597 in the world, and worth $2bn. However,  Dangote, according to Forbes is the richest African .

Globally, Mexico’s Carlos Slim Helú is holding on to the title of world’s richest man – for the 2nd year running, worth  $74bn  while  Bill Gates is 2nd and worth $58bn.

See the top 10 richest people, below.

Name Networth

1.  Carlos Slim Helú & Family          $71bn

2. Bill Gates                                        $56bn

3. Warren Buffet                                $50bn

4.Bernard Arnault                             $41bn

5.Larry Ellison(Oracle)                     $39.5bn

6.Lakshmi Mittal                               $31.1bn

7.Amancio Ortega                              $31bn

8.Eike Batista                                     $30 bn

9.  Mukesh Ambani                           $27 bn

10.Christy Walton & family             $26.5 bn

Forbes’ list also revealed that Facebook, the social networking giant, with over 500million members, produced 6 billionaires that included Co-founders, Dustin Moskovitz and Eduardo Saverin, and Facebook’s first president, Sean Parker.

Slim Helú, Gates, Dangote and Zuckerberg

With this year’s list,  Forbes marked  25years of publishing the World’s Rich list breaking two records: the highest number of billionaires (1,210) and  a  combined wealth  of $4.5 trillion(the highest ever.)

Also, China and Russia  joined the United States as countries with over a 100 billionaires. China now has 115 and Russia 101.

More like 25 Cent: 50 Cent looks half the man after dramatic weightless for new movie role is revealed in film's new trailer

He famously launched onto the music scene with his 2003 mulch-million-selling album Get Rich Or Die Trying' - and 50 Cent has shown his dogged commitment to success in his latest film role.

He famously launched onto the music scene with his 2003 multi-million-selling album Get Rich Or Die Tryin' - and 50 Cent has shown his dogged commitment to success in his latest film role.

The 35-year-old rapstar - real name Curtis Jackson - underwent drastic weightloss to play an American football player stricken with cancer to the extent he almost looked on the brink of death in real life.

The star went on a strict liquid diet and spent three hours every day in the gym to lose four stone in two months to drop to under 11 stone for his starring role in Things Fall Apart.Fiddy’ said he was inspired to lose the weight by Robert De Niro who lost 35lbs for his award-winning role in Taxi Driver in 1976.

Director Mario Van Peebles paid tribute to the rapper, saying: ‘50 was not at all what I expected. 50 is a really focused, bright, disciplined, affable cat. In terms of directing him, he’s a dream.’And in another sacrifice to his craft, Fiddy also had his tattoos removed on his arms after getting fed up of the time spent in make-up getting the covered up before going in front of the cameras.

He admitted: 'I took ‘em off. I've been on a few acting projects and they been making me get up… My call time is four hours before the regular acting talent because of the tattoos.'
The rapper's achievement still does not top that of recent Oscar winner Christian Bale, who lost 63lbs for his role in The Machinist.

Bale went from 185lbs to 122lbs to look like he 'had not slept for a year' and did it by cutting out most foods and relentlessly exercising.

Former drug-dealer Fiddy meanwhile  has turned out to be quite the renaissance man.As well as his music and acting career, the former Eminem protegé wrote a self-help business guide called the 50th Law.

Meanwhile, he's become the latest star to donate money earned from an event linked to Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi to charity.

The rapper announced he will be making a donation to Unicef to help with that organisation's relief efforts in the turmoil-hit country.

A representative for the star said: 'In light of the on-going events in Libya, 50 Cent will be making a donation to Unicef, which is providing vital relief supplies to meet the needs of women and children at risk during this crisis.'

50 Cent performed at a private event during the 2005 Venice Film Festival that was later linked to the Gaddafi clan. Gaddafi is battling rebels who are revolting against his rule, and faces an investigation for possible war crimes.

Last week, Beyonce, Usher, Mariah Carey and Nelly Furtado announced donations to charity in the wake of their participation in private concerts connected to the Gaddafis.

Things Fall Apart is due out later this year, although a cinema release has yet to be confirmed.

He famously launched onto the music scene with his 2003 multi-million-selling album Get Rich Or Die Tryin' - and 50 Cent has shown his dogged commitment to success in his latest film role.

The 35-year-old rapstar - real name Curtis Jackson - underwent drastic weightloss to play an American football player stricken with cancer to the extent he almost looked on the brink of death in real life.

The star went on a strict liquid diet and spent three hours every day in the gym to lose four stone in two months to drop to under 11 stone for his starring role in Things Fall Apart

The usually musclebound singer however has since put the weight back on since he finished shooting the film, hich also stars Ray Liotta, last summer.
Fiddy’ said he was inspired to lose the weight by Robert De Niro who lost 35lbs for his award-winning role in Taxi Driver in 1976.

Director Mario Van Peebles paid tribute to the rapper, saying: ‘50 was not at all what I expected. 50 is a really focused, bright, disciplined, affable cat. In terms of directing him, he’s a dream.

And in another sacrifice to his craft, Fiddy also had his tattoos removed on his arms after getting fed up of the time spent in make-up getting the covered up before going in front of the cameras.

He admitted: 'I took ‘em off. I've been on a few acting projects and they been making me get up… My call time is four hours before the regular acting talent because of the tattoos.'

The rapper's achievement still does not top that of recent Oscar winner Christian Bale, who lost 63lbs for his role in The Machinist.

Bale went from 185lbs to 122lbs to look like he 'had not slept for a year' and did it by cutting out most foods and relentlessly exercising.

Former drug-dealer Fiddy meanwhile  has turned out to be quite the renaissance man.

As well as his music and acting career, the former Eminem protegé wrote a self-help business guide called the 50th Law.

Meanwhile, he's become the latest star to donate money earned from an event linked to Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi to charity.

The rapper announced he will be making a donation to Unicef to help with that organisation's relief efforts in the turmoil-hit country.

A representative for the star said: 'In light of the on-going events in Libya, 50 Cent will be making a donation to Unicef, which is providing vital relief supplies to meet the needs of women and children at risk during this crisis.'

50 Cent performed at a private event during the 2005 Venice Film Festival that was later linked to the Gaddafi clan. Gaddafi is battling rebels who are revolting against his rule, and faces an investigation for possible war crimes.

Last week, Beyonce, Usher, Mariah Carey and Nelly Furtado announced donations to charity in the wake of their participation in private concerts connected to the Gaddafis.

Things Fall Apart is due out later this year, although a cinema release has yet to be

Story by City People Magazine

In case you have not heard, one of Africa's greatest footballers, Rashidi Yekini, 47, is allegedly in dire straits as regards his sanity. The two-time African footballer of the year now walks the streets of Ibadan barefooted, a development that has shocked many people who knew him from his active playing days. Rashidi is said to suffer delusions, a neurological illness which hinges on belief that is pathological and held, despite evidence to the contrary.

Neighbours at his Oni and Sons Ring Road residence in Ibadan say he's been acting strange for some time now, always seen talking to himself. Sources say sometime late last year, Yekini, in the full glare of neighbours, brought out his belongings and allegedly set it on fire.

Yekini lives alone in his house, has a few tenants and rarely gets visitors. Since his marriage crashed in 1994, he hasn't remarried but has two children who visit him on holidays.

Friends and some of his ex-team mates worried about his mental instability are trying to get him help.

There are very strong and reliable indications that the last may not have been heard of the presidential ambition of ex-military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, Saturday Sun can reveal.
The adoption of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the consensus candidate of the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) may after all not have ended the desire of the retired General to run.

Sources have revealed that the retired General will any moment from now announce his defection to the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) as pressures on him to toe this line have not ceased.
Babangida, from impeccable sources would not likely survive the pressure to decamp to another party to ensure the north actualises its plans to produce the president in May at all costs.

Saturday Sun can authoritatively report that Babangida’s supporters feel betrayed and angry that members of the NPLF committee saddled with the responsibility of picking one person, among the former head of state, Atiku, Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki and former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau, chose another presidential aspirant when Babangida not only ranked highest in the criteria listed but also has large following across the country.

But beyond that lost battle, the calculation now is that the north feels cheated and has the clear signs that the candidates of the opposition parties from the north vying for the presidency might not make any impact to unseat President Goodluck Jonathan. The way out of the possibility of losing is to beef up the fight in choosing another candidate of a more formidable war chest to slug it out with the PDP and eventually capture power.

Sources close to the Babangida camp said that his supporters have been putting pressure on him to take advantage of the opportunity the amendment of the ANNP constitution presents and defect to the party. “Leaders of the ANPP are disposed to a candidate that could win the presidential election”, the source revealed.
The forces behind this plot argue that since the NPLF was not fair in its choice, Babangida could, as well, renege on his promise to accept its choice of consensus candidate.

The ANPP had amended its constitution and added a provision that any former head of state that wishes to pursue his presidential ambition in the political party was free to do so. The party had delayed its national convention, so that PDP would conclude its own, to make room for aggrieved members of the party to come over the ANPP.

Saturday Sun was reliably told that the Babangida camp believes that since the retired army officer would not press his presidential ambition in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) he would not have breached any agreement if he defects to the ANPP.
Sources revealed that after the NPLF forum announced Atiku as consensus candidate, some leaders of ANPP started lobbying Babangida’s supporters to prevail on him to come over to the party and pick its presidential ticket. Among ANPP leaders who want Babangida and in the forefront of the lobby is Borno State governor, Alhaji Modu Sheriff and former Kogi State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Audu. These two top shots of the ANPP, sources revealed, were instrumental to the emergence of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu as the national chairman of the party and wants a formidable presidential candidate in next year’s election.

It was gathered that the ANPP leaders want to reenact what happened in 2003 when former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari picked the presidential ticket, despite the fact that he joined the party not long before the primaries.

Babangida camp’s calculation
The Babangida camp is considering the option of joining the ANPP, as he reckons that he may eventually end up as northern preferred/consensus candidate in the 2011 presidential election. The calculation is that since President Goodluck Jonathan defeated Atiku at the primaries of the PDP, to pick the presidential ticket, it rendered the NPLF plot to have a president of northern extraction take over power from May 29 a nullity.
The belief is that in an election where Babangida squares up with Jonathan, northern political leaders would have no choice than to pitch their tent with him. Sources also revealed that such development would also see Atiku, Gusau and Saraki indirectly working with Babangida, believing that he would return to the PDP if he wins the election.

It was gathered that Babangida’s supporters are pressing it on him that if he refuses to join the ANPP and picks its presidential ticket, Buhari may be the beneficiary of the suspected defeat of Atiku at PDP primaries, since the North may switch its support to the Congress for Political Change (CPC), in a presidential election where Jonathan and Buhari are candidates of their political parties.

Anger against Ciroma committee
The Babangida camp revealed that the General’s supporters are insinuating a deliberate shortchange, betrayal and back stabbing by the nine members of the Malam Adamu Ciroma committee. They accused the group of making a decision against the run of play, insisting that the committee didn’t adhere to due process in its choice. These aggrieved Babangida diehards say that media reports on how members of the Ciroma committee voted were true. They contend that members of the committee chose to adopt secret ballot, in order to execute the plot of not picking Babangida.

Babangida started losing out in the consensus arrangement when the Ciroma committee decided to visit the states to get additional information about the preparedness of the aspirants, which was beyond its brief. It was learnt that rather than meet with major stakeholders in the North, especially the Northern Governors Forum, the committee selected a handful of Emirs and some other traditional rulers.

Saturday Sun gathered that the committee, in investigating the structures of the presidential aspirants in the consensus option, observed that Babangida had offices in 29 states, while Atiku had in 18 states. Saraki and Gusau were said to have offices in 12 and 14 states respectively. Also, the committee observed that Babangida had supporters spread across the country, especially those he empowered while in office. Based on these findings, Babangida was the favourite of members of the Ciroma committee before the Eid el Fitri holiday.

It was after the Sallah break, the committee started sounding discordant tunes. First, members of the group, it was gathered, were divided between conducting an open ballot and or secret balloting. Some of them reasoned that on account of their ages, they should not be afraid of conducting an open ballot, but Chief Audu Ogbeh, reportedly argued in favour of secret balloting to allow the members free choice.

The Lagos Command of the Nigerian Police Force has arrested a 50-year-old security officer, Emmanuel Anunobi, over the death of his wife of 16 years.

Anunobi, who is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos, was accused by the family of his wife of having a hand in the death of the woman, while alleging that the security officer had several times physically assaulted the deceased before her death.

The family of the late teacher alleged in their petition to the police about their daughter that the woman could have died over the constant assault by the husband.

A police source told CRIME DIGEST that the family of the woman suspected a foul play in the woman’s death as they believed that their daughter did not die of natural causes. “The family wrote a petition against him (Anunobi) that he was responsible for the death of his wife. They said he beat her up frequently and that must have been the cause of the death of their daughter,” the source said.

The source, who craved anonymity, stated that the suspect used to collect money from his wife, which he would spend to satisfy himself. “He was said to have collected the money that they sent to the wife and squandered it. The brother of the deceased stated that recently, his late sister asked for money. He gave her and is sure the husband took it from her and squandered it. The family said that shows he is irresponsible,” he said.

Anunobi, a security officer with an insurance firm, in an interview with CRIME DIGEST, denied that he was a wife beater, saying his wife died as a result of fibroid, a health challenge he said the couple had been battling for over 16 years. “I did not beat my wife. She died of fibroid; we have been treating this sickness for a very long time. My wife died at the General Hospital, Lagos Island. I informed my in-laws the same day she died, but her brother did not believe because she died two days after an illness,” he said.

He expressed surprise that he could find himself in his current travails. “My in-laws had a son who was also Emmanuel; he is dead now. They see me as their son, they refer to me as Emma, not the usual my in-law. I’m so surprised that I’m here as they were aware of my wife’s illness. They were even the ones that sponsored her operation in 2000,” he said.

The suspect however told CRIME DIGEST that there was no basis for him to have nurtured such an intention against his wife.

“We both travelled to the village for the festive season. When we came back, we really did not have any money to feed ourselves; so, my wife told me she was going to ask her brother (for money). She did and he sent her N50,000. She died before she was even able to collect the money. The money is still in her Diamond Bank account. Why would I want to kill my wife? It is this fibroid that did not allow us to have a child. I’m 50 years old without a child; now I have lost my wife, and I’m being accused of killing her,” he said sadly.

Anunobi expressed surprise at the attitude of his in-laws, saying he did not have any problem with his late wife’s family before now. “I wonder why he (one of the in-laws) is doing this. We don’t have a quarrel. He is a pastor, when he was studying law; I even asked him if he could combine his calling with law and he said yes. We get along well; this is all so strange to me. I sponsored my wife to school, she was a teacher,” he said.

A Federal High Court has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting governorship elections in Kogi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Cross River and Bayelsa States in the April polls, saying, there are no vacancies in the governorship seats in the affected states.

The court presided over by Justice Adamu Bello held that the tenure of the five sitting governors, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris (Kogi); Aliyu Wammakko (Sokoto); Muritala Nyako (Adamawa); Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers) and Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa) shall not expire until sometime next year.
In his judgment in the consolidated suit filed by the five governors, Justice Bello held that the tenure of the governors legally started in 2008 when they took fresh oath of office and allegiance, following the nullification of their April 14, 2007 elections by the courts.

The court held that since the 2007 elections were nullified and set aside by competent courts, the oath of office and allegiance subscribed to by the five governors have been nullified and set aside along with the elections.
Bello held that in line with Section 180 of the 1999 Constitution, the tenure of the governors legally commenced in 2008 but not in 2007 since the 2007 election that brought them into office in the first instance had been declared a nullity.

According to Justice Bello, the 2007 elections being used by INEC to determine the tenure of the governors have not existed in the eyes of the law having been legally declared null and void by competent courts of law as nothing can stand on nothing.
He said although, Section 180 of the 1999 Constitution was amended in 2010 by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President, the amendment had no effect on the five governors since their rerun elections were conducted in 2008.

Justice Bello said “there was nowhere in the world where a constitution takes retroactive effect as erroneously held by the INEC, adding that the said amendment cannot be used to determine the tenure of the governors who took oath of office in 2008.’
Consequently, the court quashed the preparations by INEC and PDP to conduct elections in the affected states and ordered that elections would only take place in the states next year.
‘INEC cannot validly conduct elections in the five states until 60 days to the expiration of the tenure of the present occupants. The notice of elections, received nominations, quid lines and time-table issued by INEC for the April 2011 election are unlawful, illegal and contrary to section 180 of the Constitution.”
The plaintiffs had sued INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking legal interpretation of their tenure in office, whether it would be extended beyond May 29 this year.

Specifically, they had challenged the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct governorship elections in their states in April 2011, claiming that their tenure would still subsist beyond 2011.
They claimed before the court that INEC came to the wrong conclusion that their tenure would expire by next May based on the court voided elections of April 14, 2007.
The governors contended that their tenure could not lapse in 2011 because they took oath of offices and oath of allegiance in 2008 after those of 2007 had been voided and set aside by different courts.
During the hearing of the suit, the Federal Government, as a defendant in the case had asked the court not to grant tenure elongation on the ground that the amended constitution was in opposition to the request of the governors.
Government lawyer, Chief Niyi Akintola SAN, argued that since the governors won the rerun elections, their tenure started from the first oath of offices they took in 2007 in line with the amended constitution.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) though a defendant in the suit, however, supported the governors that their tenure began from the day they were inaugurated on the rerun elections.

PDP National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke had argued that the 2007 elections that brought the governors to offices in the first instance were declared illegal, unlawful, null and void and set aside by the law courts and that the oath of offices taken along with the voided elections were of no effect in law.
The party insisted that the tenure of the governors started from the time they took fresh oaths of office based on fresh elections and that their tenure shall be unhindered four years.
PDP also dismissed the claims of INEC and government on the amended constitution in 2010, adding that it was untenable because it could not take retroactive effect from 2008.

Legal giants, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, Samson Ameh SAN, Godw in Kanu Agabi SAN, Ladi Rotimi Williams SAN and Paul Erokoro SAN stood for governors of Kogi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Bayelsa and Cross Rivers respectively in the consolidated suits.

Kogi
Immediately, the news filtered into Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, that the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Adamu Bello gave verdict in favour of the five governors, the sleepy confluence state went into wild jubilation.
Hundreds of commercial motorcyclists, Okada riders were seen jubilating. They formed a motrcade with other vehicles singing and dancing round major streets in the town.
One of the commercial motorcyclists who identified himself as Bala Usman told Daily Sun that he joined the convoy because he believed governor Idris had touched the lives of the people.

As for Mr. S.B Bello, a PDP stalwart, he described the court verdict as divine saying the pronouncement which gave backing to the elongation of Idris’ administration by one year actually confirmed that Idris was a man of destiny.
In his reaction, the Director-General to Governor Idris on Media Affairs, Mr Richard Elesho described the victory as a good omen for the people of the state as the Governor would be spurred to do more and consolidate on his past achievements in office.
Elesho who said the verdict had really shown that the judiciary is truly the last hope of the poor man saying the victory is dedicated to the good people of the state.

Bayelsa
There was wild jubilation among supporters of Governor Timipre Sylva in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital when the news was received. Daily Sun investigations revealed that the case was what delayed the flag-off of Sylva’s campaign who had been busy campaigning with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Checks also indicated that Sylva was billed to travel to Abuja on Tuesday to hear the judgment but later shelved the idea to attend to state matters.

Yesterday, sources close to Bayelsa State Government House said they were awaiting the verdict of the court, which would determine whether they should commence their campaign immediately or wait till 2011.
When the news of the judgment was received in Yenagoa loyalists of Sylva and top government functionaries trooped to the Government House to celebrate with the Governor,
Sylva in his reaction said it was victory for the rule of law and democratic culture, adding that the decision to approach the court was for clarification of his proper tenure due to the controversy generated by the INEC listing of Bayelsa as one of the states in which elections would hold contrary to the expectations of taking place in 2012 as it has been confirmed by the court.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr. Nathan Egba entitled ‘Federal High Court Judgment on Tenure Completion,’ the Bayelsa State government explained that Sylva did not go to court to perpetuate himself in office but get justice.
According to him, even though the governorship election would hold in 2012, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would ensure that the party sweeps the presidential, national assembly and state assembly elections in the April polls.
The statement reads in part: “Chief Sylva did not go to court out of a desire to perpetuate his stay in office, but to ensure that he gets justice in view of the annulment of the 2007 elections and his subsequent exit from office until 2008.

The Government of Bayelsa State wishes to re-state that even though the governorship election in the state has been confirmed to hold in 2012, the PDP would not rest on its oars, as there is the need to deliver all the party’s candidates, from President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to all the national and state assembly election candidates during the forthcoming elections.
Government however assured the people of Bayelsa State that the pace of development will continue so that our people will see the justification in voting for Chief Timipre Sylva.”
Daily Sun also learnt that the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Labour Party were locked in separate meetings to review the implication of the judgment for their governorship candidates.

Adamawa
Mixed reactions greeted the judgment which declared that the tenure of six governors including that of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state would end in 2012.
As at press time, supporters of the Governor and People’s Democratic Party moved in their campaign vehicles in snail speed along major streets of Yola, hailing the judgment.
A number of opposition political parties have since kept mute on the judgment as they told Daily Sun that their parties were still studying the emerging developments after which their reactions would be made known to journalists.

However, the Labour Party (LP) in the state has described the judgment as sad news because it would prolong the suffering of Adamawa State electorates who had glaringly expressed their dissatisfaction by desiring an alternative political party, which is LP.
The state secretary of the party, Alhaji Mohammed Mayes, however urged the Federal Government and INEC to appeal against the case for the sake of justice and fair play because of the preparations his party and others have made for the earlier scheduled April 2011 polls for the governorship.
“With this judgment, the pains and agonies of Adamawa citizens have been extended for about a year more. They had yearned for a change of government of Governor Murtala Nyako but with the judgment, more pains are on the way.

Mayes said LP was ever ready to join the gubernatorial contest anytime the elections were rescheduled but declared his party had already fielded candidates for other elective offices in the state, including the Senate and House of Representatives polls.
Meanwhile, Governor Murtala Nyako, has described the judgment as another one year of added responsibility to meritoriously serve Adamawa citizens and an opportunity to do more for the people of the state in terms of infrastructural and human development.

Nyako, who said this through his Special Principal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Aminu Iyawa disclosed that he would head the campaigns for other elective offices the PDP will contest for in the April polls.
Nyako advised politicians to learn a lesson from the Federal High Court judgment by not being in haste to file a suit in court on issues apparently unfavorable to them.

He appealed to governorship candidates of other political parties in the state to take the judgment in good faith, as the judiciary is the only arbiter in a dispute of this nature. The governor appealed to his supporters and good people of Adamawa state to be calm and to be law abiding.

So I used to think this Mercy Johnson of a girl is a responsible homely girl, but unfortunately I just found out that she is one of the few girls that give ladies bad name!!


What you are about to read is the synopsis of what transpired between mike and mercy on a movie set in eastern Nigeria on sunday febuary 20,2011.


I would suggest you read this with someone and both of you play mercy and mike in order to understand this true life script better.

Ready?, Here goes!

''The whole movie set had waited for about two hours with mike also waiting but lead actress mercy johnson who is enjoying the 'attention' of some particular producers was nowhere to be found.several attempts were made to call her to come to set but she wouldnt pick her call and those trying to reach her gave up the attempt and the whole set waited and waited, and waited and waited.

Finally mercy breezed into the set and before anyone could say a word she vanished for a few hours again and the waiting game began again.Finally she showed up un-apologetic and after a while exchanged a few hardsh words with the continuity manager who she threatened she would slap his ears off if he tried her.
Mike Ezeruonye and the producer on set approached mercy and told her to take it easy and mike even told her ''mercy you used to be very humble,what happened to you?please dont let this stardom thing get to your head,its really not worth it''.

According to eye witness report,that moment passed and when it was time to run their script lines,mercy refused entirely to join mike and insisted on running her lines from inside where she was seated,the producer begged and begged but mercy refused to move and after a few frustrated attempts,mike dropped his script and said he could not work like that and that when mercy was ready to run her lines they should call him.he was really upset as he stormed out and lo and behold,mercy who refused to come out all these while ran out after mike and screamed behind him the words ''Bleep YOU''.
silence enveloped the venue as everyone dropped what they were doing with mouths formed ''O''
''Mike stopped in his tracks,retraced his steps and asked her
''excuse me?''
mercy replied''you heard me,Bleep you.you can do your worst''.
Mike ezeruonye shocked to his bones,asked the actress
''i beg your pardon,what did you say''?

Mercy replies again''I said Bleep you.who do you think you are''?

The able bodied men on the set immediately came between them and mike was physically restrained from going near mercy who empited a bile of swear words on mike.


Mike stormed off the set and refused to come back to run any lines with the actress.

''The actress has been asked to apologise to mike who is her elder in nollywood but so far so good she has not done so,she is perhaps waiting for the media hype that will follow her actions and then she will publicly go on her knees to beg mike and earn the term''shes such a humble actress and will not even hesistate to go on her knees and beg when she wrongs anyone''.

Face Front Concepts Mike Ezeruonyes management team headed by Mildred Okwo was contacted after several attempts to contact the actor failed and this is her response
''Thanks for your inquiry. Our client Mike values his colleagues who act in a professional manner. It is his belief that "every actor must respect the director and people on set and he will not stand for actors who cannot check their egos". Mike is still deciding how to address the incident and we will put out a release at the appropriate time''.



Mike ezeruonye is one of the many Alist actors that have suffered ''insultive casualities'' in the hands of mercy johnson, one of her victims and older colleague ngozi ezeonu was so badly tongue lashed on set by mercy that nogzi would rather ''run into a moving train than act alongside the actress again''.


In 2010 actress Patience ozokwor forgave mercy and played a mother figure by publicly accepting the actress' public apology,

If you Call the name mercy johnson amongst the Alist actors everyone starts heading home.
One nollywood celebrity who pleaded anonymity says''acting with mercy is a no go area for me,she is talented but i guess fame got to her head''.

Whilst we beg on Mikes and Mercys Management teams to come out with their own revised and remodelled version , heres wondering who will be mercys next victim!.

The  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  yesterday released the list of the Presidential  Campaign Council (PCC), a week after President Jonathan  had concluded  zonal presidential campaigns. The list has the former Director-General of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation which operated from Plateau House as the Director-General  of the council.

The council, which is to be inaugurated today,  will operate from Legacy House. The list also revealed a harmonisation of members of the Plateau House, which handled the campaign outfit of President Goodluck Jonathan, while he was a presidential aspirant and national officers of the party to douse the cold war between those who led  President Jonathan’s campaign team  and national officers of the party at Wadata Plaza, the PDP national secretariat.

In  fulfilment of his pledge to accommodate members of his rivals, former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki and former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida,  the party  will today inaugurate the PCC with pro-Atiku and Saraki’s men as members.

Saraki was one of the four presidential aspirants screened by the Northern Political Leaders Forum, (NPLF) before the Mallam Adamu Ciroma  Committee of wise men picked Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as its anointed candidate.
According to the list of members of the PCC Governor Saraki is the chairman of the Reconciliation Committee with pro-Atiku campaigner and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, as member.  The former Senate President was initially with former military president, Ibrahim Babangida and moved to the Atiku team, after  the latter’s emergence.

The Director General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation and chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Alegho Dokpesi, is a member of the PCC Publicity Committee and will wear a second cap as one of the resource persons for the presidential campaign.
The wife of Adamu Ciroma, leader of the NPLF, Inna, is also a member of the reconciliation committee, which also had the former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Segun Agagu, and former minister of information, Prof. Jerry Gana.  Others in the committee are Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Alabo Graham Douglas, Senator Ladan Shunni and Ambassador Aminu Wali.

Former chairman of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, will serve the PCC as campaign adviser while former national secretary of PDP, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, is secretary of the PCC. The six zones will be co-ordinated by serving governors that did same job for Jonathan before the January 13 national convention.

They are Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State (South-south), Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State (South-east), Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State (South-west), Gabriel Suswan of Benue State (North-central), Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State (North-east) and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State (North-west).
Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, and the Deputy Speaker, Usman  Nafada,   are all expected to co-ordinate the National Assembly for the presidential campaign.

The former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, will head the security committee while oil magnate, Oba Otudeko, is the chairman of the finance and fund raising committee.  The inter-party relations committee that will handle affairs concerning political parties that adopted President Jonathan as their flag bearer has Chief Ebenezer Babatope as the chairman.

Names of  Nigerian business executive,  featured under the list of donors to the presidential campaign with billionaire business mogul, Aliko Dangote, leading the pack. His business rivals, Femi Otedola and Mike Adenuga  also  made  the list of donors. Others are Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group;  Tony Elumelu; Alhaji Kashim Bukar; Chief Emeka Offor of Chrome  Oil; Alhaji Sayyu Dantata; Jim Ovia (former Zenith Bank chairman) and  a close ally of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, Dahiru Manga and Kola Salako.

Court Stops Gov Orji As Pdp Candidate In Abia

I, myself will be very happy for the new development if it's true ooo becos that man called T A Orji is an armed robber i mean thief he have robbied Abia treasures for not doing anything in the state!!!!!! thief, thief, thief, ole, ole, ole,

The name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, was missing from the list of candidates for the April general elections released on Monday by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Other notable names missing from the list are those of Governor, Gbenga Daniel and Mrs. Lola Abiola-Edewor, the daughter of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Mashood Abiola.

The crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party had led to the two factions in the state producing different candidates for the elections.

While the faction led by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chief Jubril Martins-Kuye, produced former ECOMOG Commander and erstwhile military governor of Oyo State , Adetunji Olurin, as its governorship candidate, the other group loyal to Daniel produced Mr. Gboyega Isiaka as its governorship candidate.

While the Martins-Kuye faction produced Mrs. Iyabo Obasanjo Bello, the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as candidate for Ogun Central senatorial district, Abiola- Edewor emeged as the choice of the Daniel group for the same district.

Bankole emerged victorious at the primaries for Abeokuta South Federal Constituency by the Daniel group. But his name was said to have appeared on the list submitted to INEC for clearance by the Martins-Kuye faction which has the support of Obasanjo.

INEC hitherto received a list of candidates forwarded to it by the Daniel-led faction but later said it had accepted the names sent by the Martins-Kuye group. It cited a court order for its action.

In the list of candidates for the state, which was made public in Abeokuta by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Martins Okunfolami, the name of a former Commissioner for Local Government Service Commissioner, Mr. Segun Alawode, appeared for the Abeokuta South Federal constituency.

Mr. Toheeb Adetunji is to fly the party’s ticket in Ogun East and not Daniel.

Olurin, who was cleared as the PDP governorship candidate in the state, will contest the poll with a former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area , Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, as his running mate.

Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Mr. Olufolabi Adebayo and Chief Adesoji Awofeso were okayed as the governorship candidates of the ACN, ANPP and Labour Party respectively.

For the senatorial election, ACN has Mr. Odunsi Akinola (Ogun West); Obadara Olugbenga (Ogun Central); and Chief Kaka Adegbenga(Ogun East).

The son of former Governor Olusegun Osoba, Olumide, is the candidate for Abeokuta North, Obafemi Owode and Odeda Federal Constituency.

Okunfolami, who signed the list, blamed the delay in its release on the difficulty in sorting out the nomination forms sent from the commission’s head office in Abuja.

When contacted for comments Bankole’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Kayode Odunaro, declined to speak on the development.

INEC also released its approved candidates’ lists in Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Kano, and Niger states.

Fifteen candidates will run against Governor Raji Fashola in Lagos State. Among them are Dr. Ade Dosunmu, PDP; Yomi Tokoya, ANPP; Bashorun J.K Randle, SDMP; and Adegbola Dominic, APGA.

Fashola will contest the election with the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire. With Orelope-Adefulire on the list, the speculation that the governor had dropped his deputy, Mrs Sarah Sosan, has been put to rest.

The presidential candidate for Fresh Democratic Party, Pastor Chris Okotie, is the only candidate running on the party’s platform.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, said those cleared to contest the senatorial and House of Representatives elections should check for their names on the lists.

In Osun State, former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the PDP was listed for Osun Central Senatorial district.

Also listed were Senator Iyiola Omisore (Osun East), and Isiaka Adeleke (Osun West).

ACN had Prof. Sola Adeyeye as senatorial candidate for Osun West.

Senatorial candidates in Ekiti State are Senator James Olagunju; Ayo Fayose (LP); Kayode Alufa (PDP); Tony Adeniyi (ACN); Senator Sola Akinyede (PDP); Olubunmi Adetunbi (ACN), and Senator Ayo Arise (PDP).

The names of the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, his predecessor, Dele Alake, and former Managing Editor of The News, Mr. Babafemi Ojudu, were missing from the list.

The trio had sought to pick the ACN’s ticket for Ekiti Central.

The release of the list in Minna, Niger State raised dust within the ranks of the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

The clearance of Mr. David Umaru as the governorship candidate of the ANPP was questioned by the leader of the anti-Umar faction, Mr. Umar Useni, who said that Mr. Bala Kuta ought to fly the party’s governorship flag in the state.

He described the congress that produced Umaru as illegal, adding that the delegates that voted for him in the primary election were unaccredited.

Efforts to reach Umaru yielded no result as he did not pick calls to his mobile telephones.

Based on INEC’s list, the governorship candidates of nine political parties were also listed by INEC.

Those listed are Mr. Ahmed Khaliel (ARP); Mr. Daiyabu Suleiman (CPP); Mr. D.S. Galadima (NTP ); Mr. Amodu John (SDMP) and Mr. Ibrahim Shettima (CPC ).

Others are Mr. Abubakar Bwari (ACN ); Mr. David Umaru (ANPP); Dr. Babangida Aliyu (PDP) and Mr. Saheed Baba (ADC).

In Akure, Ondo State, INEC displayed the list of candidates for the April election, with 17 political parties presenting candidates.

The list did not have the names of governorship candidates because no election will be held in April to elect a governor for the state.

But it showed that the PDP, ACN, and LP had candidates presenting candidates for all the elections.

The three senatorial candidates of the LP are Prof, Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North); Akinyelure Ayo (Ondo Central) and Kunlere Boluwaji (Ondo South).

The PDP has former Governor Olusegun Agagu (Ondo South); Senator Bode Olajumoke (Ondo North) and Senator Gbenga Ogunniya (Ondo Central).

Dr. Olu Agunloye will fly the ACN flag for Ondo North; Akintade Micheal Ondo Central and Mr. Paul Akintelure, Ondo South.

The Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Dr. Folarin Awujola, said the list of the House of Assembly contestants would be made public later.

In Kwara State, INEC cleared the governorship candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, and that of the Democratic Peoples Party, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo.

Also given the nod to contest the governorship position in the state are the candidates of the PDP, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed and Mr. Dele Belgore of the ACN.

The electoral body also listed the incumbent governor of the state, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to contest the Kwara Central senatorial ticket on the platform of the PDP. Others are Senator Simeon Ajibola, Kwara South and a former governor of the state, Alhaji Sha’aba Lafiaji, Kwara North.

Twelve governorship candidates were cleared in Akwa Ibom State. They include Governor, Godswill Akpabio (PDP); a former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Senator James Udoedehe (ACN); Group Capt. Sam Ewang (retd.) of the ANPP; Mr. Larry Esin of the CPC; and Mr. David Ekanem of APGA.

The PDP had three of its candidates for senatorial position in the state given the green light by INEC. They are the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang, Senator Aloysius Etuk, and Mrs. Helen Esuene.

In Kano State, a former Minister of Defence, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of the PDP and the son of a former Head of state, Mr. Mohammed Abacha, of the CPC are to contest the governorship poll.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Tijjani Gwarzo, of the ACN and Alhaji Sagir Takai of the ANPP will also contest the governorship election.

Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime (PDP), may have had the laugh in the state as he was listed for the election by INEC.

His challengers are Dr. Dan Shere (People for Democratic Change), Pastor Ikechukwu Omenkeukwu (ACN), Mr. Okey Ezea (LP) and Paul Okafor (ANPP).

The name of APGA’s candidate, Mr. Obinna Obigue, was not on the list.

Attempts by one of our correspondents to find out why Obigue’s name was left out were futile as the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Josiah Uwazuruonye, replied, “I don’t know.”

In Abuja, the commission still disappointed candidates as it displayed only their credentials for public scrutiny, instead of the anticipated list.

Those who were in the FCT office of the commission sniffed through a stack of documents displayed haphazardly on a 40ft container in the premises.

One of them said, “What I expected to see was a list of candidates, party by party, and not what they have on the container.”

Earlier, the REC in Charge of the FCT, Mr. Eugene Amaju, said the documents on display were personal particulars of candidates.

“What is on display contains their personal particulars which will help the public verify their claims. If we just display their names (and political party) as some say, how will people know whether or not these candidates are lying?” he asked.

He explained that the displayed documents were to assist members of the public to make claims and objections before a final list would be made public.

In Kogi State , Alhaji Jibrin Isah, an ex-director in Afribank, was cleared as the PDP governorship candidate. A former governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu, of the ANPP, ex- Chaplain in the State House, Abuja, Prof. Yusuf Obaje, and Anakos Abdulazeez of the ACN were also listed as governorship candidates.

Senator Smart Adeyemi(PDP) was listed as the senatorial candidate for Kogi West; Ahmed Ogembe, Kogi Central and Mr. Dangana Ocheja, Kogi East.

The ANPP has Attai Aidoko Kogi East; Sule Abdul, Kogi West and Senator Otahiru Ohize, Kogi Central.

The ACN candidates cleared to contest in the senatorial race are Abdul Azeez Bello, Adewale Olusegun and Abdulmalik Abdulmalik.

For Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency, Dino Melaye emerged as the ANPP candidate.

Barely two months to the general elections, former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Abel Guobadia is dead. He died in the early hours of yesterday after a brief illness. He was aged 79. Guobadia, as chairman of INEC, presided over the conduct of 2003 general elections, after the death of the former chairman of the commission, Justice Ephraim Akpata, who was also from Edo State.

The former INEC chairman, a professional teacher by training, obtained a Ph.D in Physics from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. Before his appointment as INEC chairman, Guobadia had held various appointments, including commissioner for education and finance in the defunct Bendel State, acting secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) as well as Nigerian ambassador to South Korea.

When our correspondent visited his residence yesterday afternoon, his younger brother, Chris Guobadia, was seen giving orders on what to be done, while the late Guobadia’s close friends, led by former president of the Customary Court, Justice Isaac Aluyi, were seated at the entrance to the main house.
Chris Guobadia refused to make any official comment on the death, as he said that the family was awaiting the arrival of the deceased’s first son, Ibude.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has described the death of Guobadia as shocking and sad.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, President Jonathan recalled that Guobadia dedicated his life to the service of Nigeria, in various capacities, but most notably as chairman of INEC from 2000 to 2005.
The president praised the stewardship of the late Guobadia, noting that the country has lost an excellent public servant and diplomat. He stated that the former INEC boss died at a time his experience in election matters was most needed, as Nigeria prepares for the national elections in April, 2011.

Jonathan expressed condolences with the Guobadia family, the government and people of Edo State and the nation at large and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul.
Also, Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, described the death of Guobadia as shocking.
According to the governor, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, “the death of Chief Guobadia is a sad loss, as he was one of Nigeria’s senior citizens of outstanding worth.

“His death is even more painful as we still mourn the passage of another great Edo son, Chief Anthony Enahoro.
“We recall that he did creditably at INEC and remains till date, the only electoral chief in the country to have completely served out his tenure.
“We will always remember him for his forthrightness and incisive contributions to national issues. While we commiserate with his immediate family, we pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, surprised Nigerians recently when he agreed to be the running mate of General Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), in forthcoming general elections. Nigerians know him as a fiery preacher with many devoted followers.

The preacher made his way into national politics, as the convener of the Save Nigerian Group (ANG), when the late President Umar Yar’Adua was ill and receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia. He led men and women to protest, on the streets of Abuja and Lagos, over what he saw as a vacuum in the Presidency.
In this interview, Bakare justified his decision to pair with Buhari in the April presidential election. Revealed how Buhari called to offer him the position of a running mate, he said he was initially reluctant but later changed his mind, after consulting with people who have a stake in his life.

The pastor is confident that Nigerians would embrace the social contract the CPC is offering the people. He challenged the PDP presidential and vice presidential candidates to a television debates. It is also his prayers that the progressives in Nigeria would come together to face the PDP at the general elections.

You were not known to be a member of the CPC. How did General Muhammadu Buhari pick you as his running mate?
The General would be the appropriate person to answer that question. But I am sure he is a man of deep thought, as reflected in his politics and the circumstances of the nation. He extended that hand of fellowship to us and offered us this to serve the country. But he would be the appropriate person to answer how and why he did what he did.

But you could tell us why you accepted the nomination when you have a church where you preside?
You know that it would have taken a lot of consideration, consultation and prayers. But that not withstanding, to whom much is given, much is expected. I use this opportunity to articulate not just in words what we believe in and the factors we have spent quality time on, which we know can turn Nigeria around. There is a great opportunity to put into practice those things we have learnt and those things we know can work. There are those things others have said over time can push Nigeria forward. At the bottom of the critical decision is the care for our country.

Some said you are not of any electoral value, as you are not a politician.
How do you react to that?
Those who said I have no electoral value are entitled to their opinion. I remember when Chief Obafemi Awolowo began the Action Group (AG); the NCNC that had predominance before he ventured into Nigerian politics, as it were, said he had no electoral value. But he won the election. Nigerians are not blind and they are not deaf. They can see and they can hear and they are putting their thoughts together. The elections of 2011 are different from previous elections.

How?
The bulk of those who will vote don’t even have party allegiance. They want to vote for those they know fear God. They would vote those who love the country and love the people and want to see change.

What experience are you going to bring to the job, if elected, as people say you have no political experience?
I do not doubt that they are entitled to their opinion. But if you are a student of the Bible and you read your scriptures and the word of God, Joseph was a prisoner and not even a pastor. He came out of prison and his only experience was when he was in his father’s house at the age of 17 and then he was sent into slavery. His only experience at resource management was human resource, material resource that he gathered in the house of Potifer. From there, he was lied against; he was sent to prison, and he was never a lawyer or a pastor and he rose out of prison to become a world class ruler. People should know that in the process of doing other things, we have been learning how to deal with human situations and national project is just an extension of that.

If elected, what will happen to your church?
My love for God and love for the people of God cannot wane. I relocated to the United States in 2000 with my family. Between then and 2010, when we returned home, nobody knew my family even relocated because at least one Sunday in a month, I was in church. If it would not be out of place for the president to go to mosque on Friday, it cannot be out of place for me to go to church to fellowship on Sundays.

That means you will continue to preach?
I will continue to serve my God in whatever capacity is allowed by law and given time, because it is a new role and new responsibilities would come with it. I can’t say you will see me going everywhere preaching, but I will still serve my God. It is not only by preaching that you serve God. There are other ways that you serve God. Those in government are considered ministers of God too. The Bible talks about all that Jesus began to do and to teach. So, the doing comes before the preaching. It is called the Acts of Apostles and not the preaching of the Apostles. So, let us not put the cart before the horse. But that does not mean that I will never preach again. I will continue to serve God and testify about His goodness.

How would you marry politics with Christianity, as people believe that politics is very dirty?
The problem with many that raise such question is simple: they believe politics is dirty and good men and God-fearing men shouldn’t go into politics. The more such men are not in politics, the more dirty people get into politics. The scripture says when the righteous is in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, they moan, they groan. Do we want to continue groaning? Politics is dirty because dirty people are in it. If clean men get there, they will equally clean the atmosphere.

You came to national political scene, so to say, when you convene the Save Nigerian Group (SNG). You did not tell Nigerians that you would be contesting 2011 election? What happened?
I never anywhere said I will seek elective office or I would join a party. That wasn’t my contemplation. But when the General (Buhari) made the call on January the 15, I was home in Lagos. He said: if I will accept, he will consider it a great honour by accepting to be his running mate. My first natural reaction was to say thanks, but no, thanks. I am content with what I am doing. I told the whole world that I was not going this way. I am a man of my words. I keep myself out of the bargain. I wish you well. And he said: “you have not only told the world, you have told me too. But I want you to please consider and call me back.” The process of responding took some days and hours of real thinking, critical thinking and talking to stakeholders in my life – the church, my family and elderly people in the kingdom of God. When I was convinced that it was a right thing to do, I told him, yes, I will run with you.

It was Martin Luther King Junior who said: “At critical moment when certain positions are to be taken, different dimensions would begin to crop up.” For instance: cowards would ask: “ Is it safe?” Vanity would ask: “Is it popular?” Those who are politically correct would ask: “Is it politic?” But conscience would ask: “Is it right?” Is it right for a man to offer his services to the nation? That is what we should be talking about. Am I disqualified in any form? That should be the issue. If I can vote and be voted for and there is nothing against me doing that, why not? Let us all rise and bring quality men, God-fearing men and women into our polity to save our nation and pull it back from the brink.

What is the state of the alliance talks with other political parties?
Regardless of what is out there in the press, we still consider it an important factor to our electoral victory in 2011. If PDP must be roundly defeated at the polls, those who consider themselves progressives must put Nigeria first at this time. The problem that I think we have is that those who desire to function in the public arena sometimes have ego bigger than the nation they want to rule. But with trustful give and take and putting the nation first above our personal agenda, it will require that we come together and face election against PDP. I think that is still going on and it is still continuing. There maybe individuals that do not think so, but I tell you that it would happen.

What has been responsible for the parties not being able to reach an understanding to work together?
There is a committee working on this. They are working on different alliances and MOUs and they are better equipped to answer that question. You know I am just coming in and it is not proper to pass comments on what you have not been briefed thoroughly about. I was aware that those discussions are going on. From behind the scene, we encouraged it. We will still encourage it now. We will reach out to others and let them know this is not about us. It is about our nation, let us work together.

Does the CPC, as a party, have the structure, from local government to ward to face the octopus PDP at the 2011 polls?
The CPC, as a new party, is gaining ground by the day. As we are talking now, more people are rushing in; more offices have been opened. The PDP has been in office for 12 years and CPC came in a few months ago. So, you cannot compare their structure. But the truth of it is that Rome was not built in a day. We are putting structures in place. The one that are in existence are functioning and more will come. Before you know it, the remaining period that we have before the elections, people would be surprised about how many people of goodwill are willing to support and create that structure. When there is a will, there is a way.

General Buhari is not known to be a rich man and you are not known to be a millionaire. How do you hope to raise fund for the election?
Nigerians must come to terms with whether they want to continue to monetise politics, so that people would spend billions only to get into power and loot the treasury. We want to deemphasise that. Yes, General Buhari may not be a rich man and, like you have said, I may not be a millionaire also. But you know that if God is in a movement, he would raise men to give to them.

Remember Jesus was born in a manger and wise men came from the East to give him gifts. Not only that, Barack Obama, when he was going to the 2004 convention of his party, he put in his card and he was rejected and a few years later, he became the president of America. Ordinary people gave to them and we know once this thing starts, ordinary people, men and women, boys and girls of goodwill, would not only give resources, in terms of money, but their time, their talent, their energy and their ability to mobilize their friends, their relations and their territory of influence to vote. At the end of the day, money politics would fail in Nigeria.

What is the ideology of CPC? How do you integrate yourself into the system?
We talk about ideology, as if we are still polarising the world. I am talking about eastern world and western world, as if we are talking about capitalism and communism. Time has moved beyond that. The purpose of government is the welfare of the people of the country. That is the priority of government. That people’s needs are met; that we ensure there is security. That is the ideology of the hour. With all the billions voted for security, we see the insecurity in our land. That must stop. Corruption must not continue to eat into the fabric of our nation. The central ideology is that Nigeria must be saved. It must be changed and become great in our lifetime and the people of this country must not continue to suffer in the midst of plenty. Whatever policies, whatever programme we are putting in place would be articulated in our contract with Nigeria so that they know that it is not about us; it is not about title; it is not about popularity but the people of this country.

If the like of Awolowo, the like of the Ahmadu Bello, Azikiwe and the like of Okpara did not live beyond self, some of us would not be here today. Awolowo blazed so much people-oriented programme that gave the like of us education at that critical point of our national history. Where are those men? They must return and their values must come back and we must make people the focus of governmental programme, not just building fantasies in the air and voting billions on what would not touch the lives of ordinary people. If we can get to the root of the matter and make people the focus of our attention and the purpose of government to be the welfare of the people, that is the ideology that I will embrace and I believe CPC will embark upon.

What would be the thrust of your social contract with the Nigerian people?
It cannot be business as usual. The local government chairman would come in broke and they will go home building mansions and all things. Funds that are voted for specific project would be executed within timeline and it would be obvious and evident to all Nigerians. You can be rest assured, I do not think I will come back richer than I am going in. I probably would come back broke. I don’t intend to touch anybody’s money but to put attention where it matters and to focus our energy on the development of the nation. You know you can trust General Buhari for that also. He has proved it over the years.

He is the only head of state without a petrol station. He has only two houses, one in Daura and they are just basic houses. He has no oil rig or oil well. He has no foreign account. He has no house abroad. He has lived even within his pension up to this time. He was petroleum minister and has no cent or one dollar per barrel sticking to his fingers. He has been governor in this country. He was Petroleum Trust Fund executive chairman and not a dime was traceable to him as being fraudulent. I think what Nigerians are face to face with is one vote for two honest men.

It is good you spoke about General Buhari this way, but you were once quoted to have said neither Buhari, nor Babangida nor Obasanjo would be part of the emerging Nigeria. Now, you are Buhari’s running mate.

How do you reconcile the contradiction?
The Christian word Messiah is saviour of souls and of the world and I don’t like such words being used for mere men. The best of men are still men at the very best. I won’t call any man messiah. Everyman will contribute his quota to the development of the nation. I know men who are rising, who are going to do their best. Using the word Messiah is making man God. That is what I want to communicate. But besides that, you did not quote me accurately. What you are saying was in 2006 October. I said some of these old men should allow young men to operate, to come into power.

But the truth of it is that emphasis of the hour. The current emphasis of the hour is not generational shift but generational integration so that older and the younger can come together as demonstrated by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Yakubu Gowon. Awolowo could father Gowon. He was 57 when Gowon was 30; they worked together to save Nigeria from that terrible time of our people in cold blood. May God heal the wound that it affected in our nation. Time has come for the young and the old, male and female to cooperate together and move on. 2006 quotation is not applicable to 2011. That was then, this is now.

You were quoted as saying in the interview that neither of them would be president?
In 2007, did they become president? They didn’t. That was my opinion for 2007. I didn’t say 2011 and I didn’t say they would never be president forever.

So, pastor, your opinion now is different from your opinion at the time?
Definitely, it is different. Remember, that is not peculiar to man. Even God Almighty spoke to Eli and said: “I said, now I say.” It is in the Bible. So, proceeding word is not what was said but the proceeding word of the hour is: this is the time of change. Nigeria has embraced this change. They would vote for God-fearing people who love this country and have demonstrated that they are not interested in materialism and they cannot be bought by gold but can put gold to use for the benefit of the society.

Many see you and Buhari as two strong characters. How do you avoid a clash when you have different opinions on issues?
There cannot be a clash. Issues would be debated, if my attention is called. The constitution is very clear on who the boss is. I can only make known to him when and as when necessary if I see a different perspective. But that does not make me lord it over him, as long as the decision being taking is in the interest of not only the electorate and the people who voted us into power. He would not undermine the security of our people and those who voted us into power. There are bound to be differences in opinion, but it doesn’t have to create clashes. Do you have differences with your wife and you still live together? That is the way it would be.

Under what circumstance can you resign?
I have firm principles I fought over the years. You don’t compromise principle, or you destroy yourself. General Buhari is also a man of principle. I don’t think either of us would violate the principle of uprightness, the principle of fairness, justice, fair play and the principle of individual liberty and freedom. Creating environment for our people to maximise their potentials and turn this country to a great country in our live time. If those things are never violated and I don’t see them being violated, there cannot be a reason for me to say I am resigning. If anything touches on my faith or compromise my faith in God or my values or my belief that people’s welfare should be the concern of government, it would be spoken loud and clear. But this is not a battle in which we are going with the mindset of resigning. Those who put their hands on the plough and turn back are not fit for the kingdom of God.

You are not just a Christian but also a leading pastor. General Buhari is a strong Muslim. Do you think he settled for you because of the need for Muslim /Christian ticket?
General Buhari is the one to be asked that question. I will not be answering for him. We had interactions. Not only with him but even the sitting president and other political heavy weights in the country. If he makes his choice, he knows the values he was looking for. I am sure he knows those values. There are other leading Christians well known better than I am. If he didn’t call them, he must have his reasons. We seize the moment to contribute our quarter. That he is a strong Muslim and I am a strong Christian should remove the doubt of anyone trying to Islamise Nigeria.

It is absurd and it is in the mind of propagandists who are spreading the rumour. It will surprise you to know that Buhari’s driver is a Christian and he has been with him for more than 10 years. This is not known to the whole world. All those who say Buhari has done this or that, let them show prove that one day, this is what he did and he has used his position either as governor, minister or as head of state at any time to deprive any Christian of what rightly belongs to him. How many people knew that when they were in power, Idiagbon’s wife was a Christian?
For a change, God is giving us the best of the North and the best of the South to come together to steered the ship of our country.

How do you hope to move the people of the South West to CPC? The ACN is domineering in the area.
Once upon a time, the NCNC was so domineering in Western Region that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe contested to become the premier of the western region. But another person arose and swept the carpet and became the dominant person. Intrigues and other things followed. But the truth of the matter is: the South western people are very enlightened. They know what they want. They know it when they see it. They have values and when the time comes, they will answer. You can’t call monkey a dog. They know the difference. We are building alliances with all stakeholders in the South West. If alliance with the ACN does not work, direct alliance with the people will work.

What is wrong with Jonathan government that you and Buhari want to take over from him?
It is a question to be addressed at the appropriate time in a debate. I hope we would have a live television debate.

Are you calling for a debate?
I am calling for one so that the issues can be faced. The 12 years of reckless display of power and I-don’t-care attitude of PDP. You ask them how many civilians have died in the course of riot and religious crisis in the country. They don’t know. Why don’t they know? It is because they don’t care. The theme for 2011 should be anything but PDP and the best we can see is CPC: General Buhari and my humble self.

Facts are beginning to emerge on who killed the wife of the pastor-in-charge of the Zion Baptist Church in Age Quarters, Igede-Ekiti , Mrs. Taiwo Oluwole last Saturday as her photograph taken after the incident showed that something, probably her womb, was removed through her private part by her assailants.

The late woman’s body was found lying on the ground with her legs widely open as surgeons would do when attempting to operate on a patient in the theatre. Members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday staged a peaceful protest against the killing of the 56-year-old mother of three.

There were speculations that the deceased was raped before being killed by her attackers on the farm.
Leading the protesters on Thursday, Chairmen of the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government and Igede Ekiti chapters of the religious body, Rev. Clement Kayode and Rev. Peter Adegbami respectively, hit the streets as early as 7:30am with other top ministers of God in the council and the community
The protesters walked the streets without singing or talking but stopped for a while at the front of the palace of Onigede of Igede, Oba James Aladesulu.

The only placard displayed by the protesters, who clutched Holy Bibles in their hands, red: “Save Our Souls from Kidnappers and Murderers at Igede.” Irate youths, who threatened to take the body of Mrs. Oluwole to the palace of the monarch, were prevented by policemen on guard. It’s an abomination in Nigeria, especially in Yorubaland, for a traditional ruler to see a dead body, an incident which is believed would lead to immediate death of the monarch.

Giving the chronicle of the killings in the community, the CAN chairman revealed that Mrs. Olumide Akindele was mysteriously killed in (2005). In 2007, Mrs. Omoya Awawu was also murdered. Mrs. Ogbogbo Rachael (Iya Aina) and Mr. Oluwabusuyi Tayo were 2009 victims of ritualists in the town. Mrs. Apanisile was also murdered in 2010. Their killers are yet to be known.

The religious body, however, berated traditional chiefs of the community for their inability to ensure the killers of the previous six victims were tracked down. It charged security agencies and Onigede-in-council to ensure the people behind the killings were tracked down and arraigned for trial in the law court. When newsmen got to the residence of the widower, John Oluwole, he was surrounded by relations and neighbours who came to express their sympathy.

Oluwole pleaded with security agencies in the state to conduct thorough investigations into the mysterious killing of his wifeof 35 years with a view to bringing the culprits to book.
As he tried to fight back tears, the bereaved pastor explained that he went to the farm with his late wife on Saturday for different missions, but it dawned on him that his wife was missing when he came back home later in the evening.

He was depressed and disappointed by the attitude of the traditional ruler and his chiefs, who he said had not deemed it fit to send condolence message to him and his family over the death of his wife.
Oluwole, the founder of the Zion Baptist Church, described his late wife as a humble and peace-loving woman. He lamented that his 1976 bride was murdered in such gruesome manner.

According to his account, “When we got to the farm, we went to different locations like we had been doing before. I heard when she was calling me, but I thought she was returning home as earlier agreed. But I was surprised when I got home that I did not meet my wife and I immediately commenced searching for her until her dead body was seen in the place where I had visited four times.”

He said his late wife was strangulated and stripped naked while being beaten by her assailants.
Rev Michael Ige, who spoke on behalf of CAN members in Igede-Ekiti, condemned in strong words the community monarch and chiefs for their alleged lackadaisical attitude towards the killing and the victim’s family.

Oba Aladesuru has exonerated himself and members of his council from the killing, saying they were only waiting for the outcome of the Police investigations before taking further step. Spokesman to the state Police Command, Mohammed Jimoh(ASP) disclosed that autopsy had been conducted on the remains of the deceased, saying the result would soon be out. He assured that the result would be made public as soon as it’s released, adding that investigation into the killing had commenced.

THE Court of Appeal, Lagos has fixed February 8, 2011 to hear the main appeal filed by the embittered General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly (CPA), Lagos , Rev. Emeka Ezeugo, a.k.a. Rev King, challenging his death sentence for killing a member of his church.
In his submission, Olalekan Ojo, defence counsel to Rev. King urged the court to give a definite date for the hearing of the appeal, stressing that his client is awaiting death by hanging.
Rev. King who was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging in January 2007 by Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for killing a member of his church, Miss Ann Uzor Ezeugo, is praying the appellate court to set aside the death sentence imposed on him by the court.
In his notice of appeal, Rev King prayed the appellate court to strike out all the six counts proffered against him at the trial high court, and to reverse his conviction, Besides, he urged the court to order his discharge and acquittal from the counts preferred against him.
His counsel, argued that the trial judge erred in law by assuming jurisdiction over the case when the six-counts charge against him was not dated, adding that the trial judge failed to consider the adduced evidence in relation to all the counts and to make a finding on whether each count had been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
He posited that based on expert opinion, it was impossible for him to pour petrol on the late Ann Uzoh King as alleged by the prosecution without getting burnt. Condemned King further stated that the trial judge erred in law when he held that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the burning incident that occurred on the night of Saturday, July 22, 2006; and that the convict planned to kill the burnt victims, who are his church members by pouring petrol and throwing a lit match on them.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has left the country for Europe on a holiday.

A statement by his campaign organisation on Monday said the former vice-president, who participated in the voter registration in Yola, Adamwa State before his departure, however, said his absence would not affect his interest in the political direction of Nigeria.

Abubakar said he would never be detached from the affairs of the country because its progress remained uppermost in his heart.

“While taking the time to rest in Europe, the former vice-president said he would keep in touch with his associates and stakeholders wherever he is in the world,” the statement added.

The statement also said Abubakar urged Nigerians to participate in the voter registration to enable them to elect the right leaders in the April poll.

No mind him, he is just making noise,

Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, on Thursday, vowed not to register in the ongoing voter registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission if the electoral body failed to stabilise the exercise.

Obi lamented the shortage of the Direct Data Capture machine in his state. According to him, Anambra State still require about 800 units of the machines for the exercise to run smoothly.

The governor spoke when he received the Political and Economic Chief at the US Consulate-General office, Lagos, Mr. Phil Drown, at the Government House, Awka.

He said that he had made his observation known to INEC.

He listed other problems associated with the exercise to include malfunctioning machines, battery problems and low picture quality.

But he said he would not call for the extension of the period provided for the exercise, saying that INEC would first need to do an appraisal of the situation before any call for extension could be made.

“Whatever it is, we must encourage our people to come out en masse to register so that they will have a say on who govern them at various levels. This is one clear way of restoring integrity to leadership because the people will vote for those they are sure of their competence and character,” the governor said.

Also, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Pita Ejiofor, expressed doubts as to whether the registration of voters would be completed before the January 29 deadline.

“It is clear that the problem can be traced to inept operation of DDCMs by some officials; defects in some DDCMs, power supply problems; defective/uncharged batteries and more.

“I witnessed the problem of difficulty/failure to capture finger prints. Many village folks attribute it to shortage of blood,” he said.

Ejiofor suggested the suspension of the exercise for one week during which a comprehensive check of all the machines and retraining of all the registration personnel would be carried out.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Thursday expressed slightly different opinion on the performance of members of the National Youth Service Corps in the ongoing voter registration.

While Jonathan believes that the exercise had been ‘slow’ because the registrants were not well-trained, Jega blamed the hiccups that have characterised the exercise on scanners.

“I think the NYSC members were not properly trained,” the President said while addressing a delegation of the G-20 group of Northern politicians which paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja.

Jonathan, who also hinted that the registration of voters might be extended beyond two weeks, added that the Direct Data Capturing machines might have also contributed to the slow conduct of the exercise which started six days ago.

“The machines are slow in some cases; I believe that the training too may not be enough,” he said, assuring however that “we will get through these challenges.”

“We will not stop until all eligible voters have registered”, he said.

The President also said that the “complaints by Nigerians show that so many (people) are interested in registering.”

Jonathan thanked the G-20 delegation, led by a former a National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Solomon Lar, for its support during the party’s presidential primaries in Abuja a week ago.

Lar, who spoke for the group congratulated the President and gave him a new name, Mai-Nasara, (meaning Goodluck in Hausa).

But at the National Assembly, Prof. Jega told members of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters that the NYSC members, who constitute a greater percentage of the INEC ad hoc staff, were trained for the voter registration.

He defended INEC’s decision to use youth corps members for the exercise, saying that it had reduced the level of malpractices.

“Mr. chairman, we conducted training for them within available resources. They were trained; but it could be better with more funds,” the electoral commission’s chairman told the committee.

Jega, who argued that the commission would have done more with additional funding for training, added that he had ordered a fresh registration for eligible voters whose fingerprints were not captured while registering.

He lamented that some INEC personnel, who were at a time overwhelmed by the large number of people seeking to register, resorted to doing so without capturing their fingerprints.

The former Bayero University, Kano vice-chancellor, told the committee members, who grilled him on the conduct of the exercise that such officials breached the guidelines issued to them by INEC.

The committee, which is headed by Mr. Musa Adar, had said that it had received numerous complaints from Nigerians on their inability to register owing to technical and personnel hitches.

It also noted that its members monitored the exercise in some constituencies and confirmed the complaints and fears raised by Nigerians.

But Jega, who also disclosed that 2,273 registration centres were yet to receive the DDC machines, six days into the exercise, described the setback as “unfortunate.”

He flayed “cynics” for writing off the commission without being patient to allow it address the hitches so far recorded.

Jega explained that the fresh registration of those whose fingerprints were not captured was necessary because “all 10 fingers” must be captured in order to guard against double registration.

He also said that not capturing their fingerprints implied that the affected registrants had not been registered and could be deleted from the register at the point of collating data in INEC’s data base.

The INEC Chairman added, “All 10 fingers must be registered; anybody who has registered without fingerprints has to go back to the same centre and repeat it.

“This is unfortunate and we regret the inconvenience of the first few days. Some of our staff, maybe due to the long queues and the pressure on them, decided to register some voters without capturing their fingerprints.

“This is wrong; we have issued fresh guidelines on how to correct this immediately.”

However, he said that INEC had done a “wonderful” job in the last six days, saying Nigerians “should commend INEC for being able to start the exercise at all.”

Jega said that the exercise was faster now, with registration time dropping from “seven to four minutes” per registrant.

He disagreed that the DDC machines in use for the exercise were substandard.

Jega blamed much of the reported delay and hitches on the fingerprint scanners, which he said, were configured to the specification requested by INEC.

According to him, the scanners were set at the “highest quality level” of 50 point miniature recognition.

“This means that the scanners are very sensitive; any little stain, dust or crack on the finger will be rejected”, Jega told the committee.

He said the development accounted for the many cases of fingerprint rejection in the first days.

However, following complaints that the high sensitivity of the scanners was delaying the exercise, Jega informed the committee that engineers had been sent to the field to reduce the settings of the scanners.

He said INEC would only consider the calls for extension after the exercise had ran for one full week (tomorrow).

Jega said, “After one week, INEC will be in a position to assess the progress made so far. It is after then that we can give a definite position on the necessity for extension of time.

“Our definite position and progress report will be made known on Monday next week.”

He also disclosed that 115,500 DDC machines out of the 132,000 ordered by INEC had been delivered so far, while additional 16,500 machines would delivered between Thursday (yesterday) and Friday (today).

The INEC chairman said so far, six people had been arrested for attempting to divert DDC machines. He did not say where and when the arrests were made.

But he explained that the matter was being treated as an electoral offence.

He also disclosed that INEC was closely monitoring politicians who were aiding multiple registration and would release a report on their activities at the appropriate time for prosecution.

But in an interview with some journalists in his office in Abuja, Jega explained that some areas did not get the DDC machines because of the failure of a contracting Firm, Avante Technology Ltd, to supply 16,500 units.

According to him, Avante, which won the contract to supply 22,000 units of the DDC machine, had only delivered 5,500 units.

Despite this apparent setback, he promised that the DDC machines would be deployed to all the 120,000 wards in the country as Avante had assured that it would bring in another 5,500 units on Thursday (yesterday).

Based on Avante’s promise, Jega assured that the remaining units of DDC machines would be brought into the country by Sunday night.

He advised people in areas which did not receive the DDC machines deployed on the first day of the exercise against disrupting it.

“Our advice is that wherever the machines are deployed, they should allow the exercise to take place,” Jega stressed.

But as Jega spoke, officials of the commission confirmed that two of the machines were stolen in Bayelsa and five in Niger states.

The Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Edwin Nwatalari, said the two machines were for wards one and two in Oporoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Nwatalari, who said that security agencies were on the trail of the brains behind the theft of the machines, also lamented that corps members had refused to go to coastal communities in the state due to fear of insecurity.

INEC’s Public Relations Officer in Niger State, Mallam Abdulmalik Wase, who confirmed the theft of five DDC machines, said that three employees working in the commission’s Information Communication Technology Department had been arrested by the police.

He said they were being quizzed by the police to determine their level of involvement in the alleged theft.

Wase also explained that one of the machines was stressed recovered from the home of a Local Government Area Deputy Chairman.

But the Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Mr. Richard Oguche, said the three INEC employees had been released.

[b][b][b][b][b][b][b]In what context was the sentence made? Or he just stood up n made the above statement? If u can also quote what he said before and after the above statement then we can judge whether or not it really is a dumb statement like u're painting it. Until then, u and your fellow half witted posters can shut your excessively wide traps cos as it stands U folks are only making a fooool of your frigging selves. U can thank me later.

GBAM!!!![/b][/b][/b][/b][/b][/b][/b]

In what context was the sentence made? Or he just stood up n made the above statement? If u can also quote what he said before and after the above statement then we can judge whether or not it really is a dumb statement like u're painting it. Until then, u and your fellow half witted posters can shut your excessively wide traps cos as it stands U folks are only making a fooool of your frigging selves. U can thank me later.

GBAM, U ARE RITE MY GUY JOR!!!

Man Utd is a very good team i most admit but that doesnt give them the assurance that they can win Chelsea even at this critical moment. They should remember that Chelsea is also one of the most likely team to lift the trophy this season,and mind you they should also bear in mind that they are playing in Stamford brigde 2morrow so they should be praying for a draw not a win.

RUBBISH TALK THERE!!!!


Man U will carry the day, Sure, Up Man U!!!!

de-moore:

I think Igbos will benefit more from Atiku Presidedncy than GEJ. He is seriously stripping off Igbos high potfolios in his administration. eg IG of police, what do u think?

Anyway, you are saying this because you are not an Igbo, we the Igbos have already benefited so much from GEJ since he became Presido, countless things that we have been crying for the Abokis to do for us. Good examples are; Army Chief after 44 years, international airport after 50 years and many more. GEJ 4 live!!!