₦airaland Forum

Rich man use him money buy death...


10th dis time...I can stil do better

Rich man use him money nuy death...


10th dis time...I can stil do better

To you all taking a swipe @ tinubu for not replying smart adeyemi, I tell you....

Silence is the best answer for a fool.

It would be stupid for asiwaju to stoop so low to the extent of trading words with smart adeyemi. That should be the work of elrufai.

A wedding ceremony should not be turned into a campaign arena.

Btw... Ever since smart adeyemi has been in the senate, what tangible thing has he done for his people and nigeria @ large.

Former Petroleum Minister, Prof. Tam David-West, says the only reason Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State is being harrassed by some political forces is his refusal to be anybody’s ‘Yes man’.
Prof. David-West, speaking on a radio programme in Port Harcourt, also asked President Goodluck Jonathan to be wary of the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark and leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari. He said neither of them had the powers to make him win the 2015 election.
David-West showered encomiums on General Muhammadu Buhari, who he said stood tall when compared to President Jonathan in terms of achievement as Nigeria’s leader.
According to the former minister, Amaechi has had to fight alleged injustice of ceding oil wells belonging to Rivers State in the Kalabari axis to President Jonathan’s Bayelsa State.
This, he said has not gone down well with some people.
He added: “I am not a politician. No amount of money in the world can make me to change my mind. I support causes, not persons. What has Amaechi done wrong? He has not done anything wrong. Professional praise singers are making millions of naira through the crisis.


“Those who said Amaechi has received N2.4 trillion since he became Rivers governor, without commensurate projects on the ground, are talking rubbish. The Kalabari people fighting Amaechi are not serious. They are not more Kalabari than me. Amaechi has not disappointed Kalabari people.”
Pressed to assess President Jonathan’s achievements, he said: “I am an unapologetic critic of President Jonathan. I do not support you because you are an Ijaw person, from the South South zone or a Niger Deltan. I support performers. Twenty four per cent of Jonathan’s votes came from the South South.
“It is completely illogical to say Jonathan must be re-elected in 2015, because he is a South South man. Jonathan is not a South South President, but the President of Nigeria.
“Clark, Dokubo-Asari and others cannot save Jonathan in 2015. In an interview in a national newspaper on June 15, 2012, Dokubo-Asari declared that Jonathan would not go beyond 2015 as President. Why is he speaking from both sides of his mouth?
“You cannot compare one hundred Jonathans to one Buhari. I will always give my support to Buhari. He is the finest man I have ever known. Negative things that they say about him are not factual. I will continue to work for Buhari.
“Corruption is the bane of Nigeria. Buhari is against corruption. Buhari is not corrupt. He is very clean and disciplined. Election rigging is worse than armed robbery. Buhari wants free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.”

http://www.informationng.com/2013/06/100-jonathans-cannot-be-compared-to-buhari-tam-david-west.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

SLIDE waxie: Oppositions are but few in the oyo state house of assembly! They are well out numbered even when a vote is casted against a decision!

If they wanna act tough, they will suffer!!! And their own share of 'ghana-must-go' according to political right in Nigeria go dey jump them pass be that!

Mumu...get ur facts right next time b4 u spit rubbish. ACN av 14 honorables in oyo state house of assembly, pdp has 10 while accord party has 8 members

Senate stops N4bn first ladies' mission house project
2013-06-05 23:39:01

The Senate on Wednesday dropped the controversial African First Ladies' Peace Mission House project when it passed the N259.65bn budget of the Federal Capital Territory for the 2013 fiscal year without approving the N4bn appropriated for it.

In February when the budget proposal was brought to the National Assembly, it contained N4bn vote for the construction of the mission house in Abuja, a development that attracted a lot of criticisms from members of the public.

The Senate, during the second reading of the bill, questioned the rationale of committing scarce resources to prosecute a less important structure.

Civil rights groups and political parties had also berated the Federal Capital Territory Administration for budgeting N4bn for the construction of the building for a non-governmental body headed by the wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

They had contended that since the Federal Government had earlier declared the mission as a non-governmental organisation, it would be inappropriate for the same government to spend public funds on it.

Presenting the budget report on Wednesday, the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi, said, “It is worthy of note that the proposed appropriation for the construction of building for the African First Ladies' Peace Mission has been distributed to meet pressing needs in the area of engineering and satellite towns.”

A breakdown of the budget showed that N48.03bn was approved for personnel matters; N49.5bn for overhead; N97.54bn for recurrent expenditure; and N155.66bn as capital expenditure.

Adeyemi said the budget was predicated on a projected revenue of N259.698bn with a fiscal surplus of N645,666.

He also said that in carrying out its oversight duties, the committee identified critical areas of need for the development of the territory and to ensure improved standard of living for its inhabitants.

“Therefore, the committee jostled with the budget estimates, deploying funds to meet areas of critical needs like roads, water, health, education and development of satellite towns within the territory, city maintenance and cleaning, recreational facilities, construction of rehabilitation centres, agriculture, transportation, security services and rehabilitation of the ECOWAS Parliament Building,” he said.

After passing the budget, the President of the Senate, David Mark, called on the committee to rise up to its responsibility by discharging its oversight functions effectively.

He said the city was dilapidating and receding in its development with traffic congestion and ill maintained streets and gardens depicting the decay.

Mark said, “There is a lot of traffic congestion. The streets are not being kept in very good condition; the gardens and the lawns are not being maintained; I think there are a lot of areas where the city has to work very well.

“This is where we have to implore your oversight functions. It is our responsibility to ensure that things work properly.”

http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/senate-stops-n4bn-first-ladies-mission-house-project/

Nice one from davido...omo baba olowo

How Yar'Adua made link bridge possible --Fashola
2013-05-29 23:06:30

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Wednesday inaugurated the first cable bridge in the country, which will link Lekki and Ikoyi areas of the state.

He said the late President Umar Yar'Adua played a crucial role in the realisation of the project.

The governor said the late President's disposition as a statesman rather than politician, accelerated the completion of the bridge.

He said, "He (Yar'Adua) was in my view, the first builder of this bridge. When the design of the bridge was completed and shown to me, it was obvious that four properties would have to give way at the Ikoyi end. Two of them belonged to the Federal Government and were subjects of litigation between the state and the federal."

The governor said despite apprehension by his cabinet that the project would be scuttled by the government at the centre, he entertained no fear as he approached the late President."

He said, "When I showed him the design in his office in Abuja and told him what we wanted from him, he simply picked up his intercom and invited the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed to join the meeting.

"He told the SGF, 'There is this bridge in conception by the Lagos State Government. It will affect some properties over which we have a dispute with the state government in court, please without prejudice to the outcome of the case, please release the two properties to them. Our political difference cannot stand in the way of our peoples' development.' That was President Yar'Adua as a statesman, not a politician. This was the same President who released our seized fund."

Fashola, who commended Ahmed for implementing the late President's decision on the properties, also thanked those who voluntarily removed their properties to pave the way for the construction of the bridge.

The governor said motorists, who wanted to use the bridge would pay some fees, depending on the category of the vehicles. He added that commercial motorcycles also known as okada; commercial tricycles, trailers and commercial buses would not be allowed on the bridge.

He explained that with the construction of the bridge, traffic bottleneck often experienced in the area would be eliminated, adding that travel times would be greatly reduced.

Fashola, who said his administration was committed to making transport easier in the state, added that construction of other bridges was ongoing in the state.

On the amount to be paid by the motorists, Fashola said, "Users will have to pay a toll each way as follows: Class I saloon car, N250; Mini Vans, SUV and Light Pick Up; N300; non- Commercial buses with maximum seat of 26 persons, N400; motorcycle of 200CC, N100."

http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/how-yaradua-made-link-bridge-possible-fashola/

Why I supported Jang -- Mimiko
2013-05-25 23:00:06

The Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Saturday, said he supported Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State because he approached him to be his vice-chairmanship candidate at the election of the Nigerian Governors' Forum.

Mimiko said this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Eni Akinsola.

Mimiko said he was surprised when the camp of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State also picked him as its candidate for the same position without his consent.

The statement said, "Mimiko had earlier been approached by Jang's group to contest as the vice-chairmanship candidate and he agreed. He was surprised when he entered the venue of the election and saw his name on the list of Amaechi's camp also as the vice-chairmanship candidate.

"Confused by this development, Mimiko announced that he was stepping down as the vice-chairmanship candidate to Ameachi to avoid uproar since he was already in Jang's camp.

"Mimiko thought it wise then to step down from Amaechi's camp in the interest of democracy and fairness because it was Jang and not Amaechi, who approached him first."

Besides, the Ondo State governor said he and other governors made efforts to convince Amaechi on the need to make the process free, fair, transparent and credible, but that the pleas fell on deaf ears.

He said, "For instance, the election was to be conducted through a secret ballot arrangement and the sitting chairman refused to dissolve the house and allow a neutral body to conduct the poll.

"Apart from that, the way they carried out the entire arrangement suggested that Amaechi and his group had a predetermined agenda of some anti-Jonathan politicians which he was desperate to implement."

Mimiko said he and some governors walked out of the venue when it was glaring that Amaechi would declare himself as the winner of the election.

He added, "Why the confusion had yet to be resolved, the Director-General of the Governors' Forum came up with ballot papers which he distributed to members. But pro-Jang governors protested and walked out of the venue. There would have been uproar if that decision was not taken."

Mimiko said he read a communiqué on Saturday after a meeting with 18 of his colleagues in Abuja where he confirmed himself as the vice-chairman of the forum.

The statement added, "More than 18 governors would have attended the press conference addressed by Mimiko if some of them had not left Abuja before the notice for the press conference was sent out."

He said prior to the election, all governors from the North had adopted Jang as consensus candidate after Governor Yisa Yuguda had stepped down while the Peoples Democratic Party Governors' Forum also adopted Jang.

Mimiko said he was convinced that Ameachi's group was enjoying support from the opposition parties who were bent on dividing the NGF.

http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/why-i-supported-jang-mimiko/

The last I watched was season 3 episode 14...

Looking forward to the mother of dragons and her dragons.

Don't know wots wrong with the starks...not gettin finz right.

Can't wait to watch the complete season 3

Another reason to butress the already-established
fact that the southwesterners are not religiously biased. We do thins the best way they shld b done.


Let haterz hug transformer...

Proud to be an omo oodua

Ile yoruba koni baje

Insecurity: Stop shedding crocodile tears, Falana tells FG
2013-05-12 23:03:29

Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Sunday asked the Federal Government to equip security personnel deployed in the fight against insecurity in the country rather than shedding crocodile tears for the victims of insecurity.

Falana, in a statement, lamented the conditions of less-equipped policemen and soldiers, who were being deployed in fighting terrorists that were armed with more sophisticated weapons.

"It is inexcusable to deploy ill-trained, ill-equipped and ill-motivated soldiers and policemen to war zones, armed with only AK 47 rifles without bullet proofs, serviceable vehicles, communication gadgets to fight suicide bombers with more sophisticated weapons," he said.

He noted that the security personnel were not being provided with life insurance and accommodation, adding that their salaries were not paid regularly and the families of those who lost their lives in battle were not usually informed officially.

Falana said, "In view of the foregoing, the Federal Government should stop shedding crocodile tears having carelessly risked the lives of soldiers and policemen who are made to fight guerilla war without any training.

"The Federal Government should take urgent measures to train and equip the security personnel deployed to the battle fields; purchase helicopters for aerial survey of the north east zone; upgrade medical facilities, including the provision of ambulances; fortify police stations and barracks as well as prisons and other detention facilities.

"More importantly, the Moble Unit of the Nigeria Police Force should be retrained and equipped to contain terrorism, kidnapping, insurrection and civil disturbances so as to limit the armed forces to the defence of territorial integrity of the nation."

He warned that the Security Council of the United Nations might sanction the Federal Government while it might have to pay damages to victims if it continued to risk the lives of its security personnel and civilians.

He added, "If the Federal Government continues to risk the lives of security personnel and expose the lives of the civilian population to danger in the war against terror, Nigeria may be sanctioned by the Security Council of the United Nations in view of the ongoing investigation into the Baga invasion being conducted by the government of an influential member of the body.

"Locally, the government is also liable to be dragged to local courts to pay damages to the victims of preventable deaths arising from the negligence of the state to secure the lives of Nigerian citizens."

http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/insecurity-stop-shedding-crocodile-tears-falana-tells-fg/

Kenyan Wins Maiden Okpekpe Race
05 May 2013
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From Adibe Emenyonu  in Benin City 

The first ever International Amateur Athletics Federation-certified road race in Nigeria held yesterday at Okpekpe, Edo State, attracted 700 top athletes from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Nigeria.


The race which covered 10 kilometres over hills and sandy paths was won by Moses Masai of Kenya with a time of 29 minutes, 39 seconds. Timothy Troitich of Uganda came second with a time of 29 minutes 44 seconds and Yusuf Bitwott came third with a time of 29 minutes, 50 seconds.


Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State who also participated in the race alongside the Minister of Sports, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi and other VIPs including top Nollywood actors came 131st with a time of 59 minutes, 3 seconds. The governor, against the advice by organisers to compete in the VIP race which covered only 2.5km, ran the whole length of the 10,000 metres to the consternation of everyone.


The Minister for Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi who thanked the Edo State Government for the commitment and vision for the event promised to ensure that race is made an annual event.


“I must commend you for the sincere energy and commitment which you have demonstrated and also for the vision of this event. We will continue to cherish the connection you have brought between rural development and sports and that falls squarely within our mission for mass participation in sports. I will continue to argue that it is not all the time that the purpose of sports is for medals or for podium success or global excellence,” he noted.


According to him, “the purpose of sports is for mass participation and for unity. Today this event is uniting us because it has brought everybody here to have a pleasant Saturday in Okpekpe.”


On his part, the Governor Oshiomhole thanked the Minister for the leadership he provided in the Ministry of Sports which has taken sports to an enviable level in Nigeria.                        

  
“I think I speak the mind of the community and the good people of Edo State to say thank you when you say that this event will be repeated every year. We in Edo State will make sure we include it in our national calendar of events,” he disclosed.
The race was organised by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria in conjunction with Pamodzi Sports Marketing Nigeria Limited.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/kenyan-wins-maiden-okpekpe-race/146801/

Chibuike Amaechi: We are Not Part of Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda
01 May 2013
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Governor  Rotimi Amaechi



•Rivers State assembly warns of plot to impeach governor   
•Court stops suspension of lawmakers   
•State govt opens up on aircraft, admits it is US registered aircraft
Ernest Chinwo
 
In a direct salvo that effectively drew the battle line between himself and President Goodluck Jonathan, the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has declared that his administration is rebuilding the state’s infrastructure to complement the development efforts of its founding fathers and not the transformation agenda of the federal government.


The depth of the feud between the presidency and Amaechi also assumed a new dimension Tuesday when the leadership and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly pointedly accused the executive of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Chief Felix Obuah, of attempting to cause chaos in the state that could lead to the governor’s impeachment.

Their allegation came on the heels of the injunction granted by a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday restraining the PDP from suspending 27 members of the state House of Assembly.

The Rivers State Government also Tuesday opened up on the status of its aircraft, admitting that it is a foreign-registered aircraft and therefore enjoys the status of a US citizen.

Amaechi, while speaking on Monday when participants of the Senior Executive Course 35 from the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos paid him a visit in Port Harcourt as part of their tour and analysis of the nation’s transformation agenda, said his administration’s efforts to rebuild the infrastructure in his state was not in lock step with the transformation agenda of the federal government.

Amaechi said the transformation agenda could be implemented by the next administration after his tenure, as he was focused on rebuilding.

According to Amaechi, “We are not doing transformation; we are only going back to where our parents left us first before we can commence transformation.

“There is nothing we are doing now that King Diette-Spiff did not do, but they have all deteriorated. So we are going back to where King Diette-Spiff left the state, and hope that, whoever takes over from us can then transform.
“So here, we are not transforming, we only get back to where Spiff left us."

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and representative of the Director-General of NIPSS, Prof. Ibrahim Jumare, said the purpose of the visit was to undertake a study tour on strengthening institutional framework and the transformational agenda in the country.

He said participants would visit other states in the southern part of the country including Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ekiti and Oyo, and would also hold interactive sessions with various tiers of government on issues of the transformation agenda of the federal government.

In a statement issued by the speaker of the state assembly, Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, for and on behalf of its members, he said the state legislature wished to bring to the notice of the people of the state and Nigerians “some of the dangerous moves by the Felix Obuah-led PDP to cause general chaos and confusion in Rivers State.”

He said the leadership and members of the state assembly had been reliably informed that a fake mace had been smuggled into the state to enable “five members of the house hold an emergency session, even after the house adjourned sine die on Tuesday, April 23, 2013.

“The Abuja plan on the ground is to falsely impeach the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the executive governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and create confusion through varied responses, which they hope will make the state ungovernable and provide them with some kind of warped basis to introduce emergency rule in Rivers State.”

He alleged that there were strong indications that some persons have been detailed exclusively to create a systemic collapse of security in the state, putting lives and property in danger.

“This is undemocratic, unacceptable and a complete violation of the mandate that the good people of Rivers State have vested on us.
“We call on the good people of Rivers State to remain calm, watchful and law abiding as the scenario unfolds,” he said.

However, a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the state chapter of the PDP from suspending 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The court order was in reaction to the announcement of the suspension of the lawmakers from the PDP by the chairman of the state chapter of the party, Obuah, on Monday for failing to rescind their decision to suspend the chairman, vice-chairman and 17 councillors of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council of the state.

The lawmakers, in a suit filed at the High Court against the PDP, Obuah and Walter Ibibia, sought an injunction restraining the party from suspending them or declaring their seats vacant.

In his ruling on the injunction, Justice Sika Aprioku on Monday also restrained the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from declaring the seats of the lawmakers vacant.
“An order of interim injunction be and is hereby granted to restrain the defendants, either by themselves, servants, agents, privies or howsoever from declaring the claimants’ seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly vacant and applying to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections to replace the claimants as members of Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” Aprioku ruled.

While adjourning the matter till May 6 for hearing on the motion on notice, Aprioku also ruled that the defendants be served the originating processes by substituted means.
Also, the Rivers State Government has restated that no agency of the federal government has communicated to it the story doing the rounds about the grounding of its aircraft.

The aircraft, a Bombardier BD 700 Global Express jet, and its passengers, were first delayed at Akure last Friday before officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said the aircraft had no valid permit to fly in the Nigerian airspace.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, in a press release issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the state was dismayed by statements attributed to officials of different agencies in the aviation sector about the aircraft owned by the state.

“It is pertinent to note that all of the information and queries about this aircraft have only been through the mass media. The Rivers State Government has not received any communication from the Ministry of Aviation or any of its agencies querying the status of its aircraft even up till this moment,” Semenitari said.

She said the state was surprised to read about matters of administrative procedure and allegations of illegality and abuse of process in the media.

She said the situation had warranted the need to make clarifications about the aircraft.
Semenitari said for purposes of clarification and in keeping with its policy of rendering “transparent and accountable stewardship” to Rivers people, Aircraft N 566 RS arrived Nigeria and has been operating since October 2012.

She said the aircraft was bought by the state government and registered as a US aircraft, in the first instance, to preserve value and provide ease of operation and sourcing of available pilots.

She disclosed that to qualify for “N registration”, an operator must be a US citizen, hence the state government entered into a trust with Bank of Utah Inc, a bank that specialises in aircraft trust.

According to her, “The relationship between the state government and Bank of Utah is that of a trustor and trustee. All N registered aircraft enjoy the privileges of a US citizen.
“The trust agreement for the purpose of N registration is common in the aviation industry. It is important to state that there are other aircraft owners in Nigeria with N registered aircraft.

“This practice is because of the ease of movement that N registered aircraft are privileged to enjoy. We do not therefore understand why the Rivers State Government has been singled out.”

The commissioner disclosed that the aircraft was being operated through a local operator, Caverton Helicopters, pending approval of importation licence by the Minister of Aviation.

“A request for this licence was filed by the operator on behalf of the Rivers State Government and this was expressly stated in the request filed on August 27, 2012 and received in the minister’s office on September 4, 2012,” she said, adding that as a responsible sub-national and guardian of the resources of its people, Rivers State “will at all times and in all circumstances act within the confines of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/chibuike-amaechi-we-are-not-part-of-jonathan-s-transformation-agenda/146454/

17 persons killed, over 200 houses burnt in Bama in another Boko Haram-JTF battle
Ola' Audu - 42 mins agoNATIONAL, NEWS

About five police officers were killed in an attack in Bama Town of Borno State.
Barely a week after a massacre in Baga community of Borno State, a gun battle similar to the Baga massacre occurred on Thursday in Bama Town of the state, claiming 17 lives including soldiers and police officers, security officials said.
The commanding military officer in charge of Bama Barracks, A.G Laka told the visiting Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, that trouble started in the commercial town of Bama when armed Boko Haram gunmen attacked a police patrol vehicle of a Divisional Police Officer killing two cops.
Five police officers were also killed during the gun battle with the insurgents; while ten of the insurgents were also killed, the military officer said.
The soldier said another ambush on soldiers in the town on the same day claimed the life of a soldier and injured four others.
In response, the Joint team of soldiers and police returned fire on the raging attackers which led to a colossal destruction of buildings mostly shopping malls and shops.
Angry residents called on the federal government to withdraw the soldiers from the streets of the town; even as they vowed to lay down their lives should they suffer further attacks.
A PREMIUM TIMES reporter saw hundreds of houses and commercial buildings burnt.
A local ward head, who declined mentioning his name for security reasons, said over 200 small time traders lost their wares in the fire.
Mr. Laka said that Boko Haram insurgents were using civilians, mostly women and children in the thatch houses as shield.
He said the special bullets fired by soldiers are called tracers, saying “once they hit target they catch fire.”
The Borno State Governor expressed sadness with the development and called for a general caution on the part of operatives and residents.
He ordered that seven trucks of food items be distributed to the displaced residents, while a committee is expected to advise government on compensation for victims who suffered losses.


http://premiumtimesng.com/news/131877-17-persons-killed-over-200-houses-burnt-in-bama-in-another-boko-haram-jtf-battle.html

We will win Lagos in 2015 - PDP
2013-04-27 23:00:24

The Publicity Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Taofik Gani, in this interview with ALLWELL OKPI, restates the party's readiness to win more states, including Lagos, in 2015

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bamanga Tukur, recently said PDP would win at least 32 out of 36 states in the country in 2015. How possible is that?

For my national chairman to have said that, then he knows what he is saying. He is a man that is meticulous; he must have looked at the situation for him to be very sure the PDP will win 32 states. What I can add is that even if the national chairman had not mentioned it, Lagos will be one of the 32 states. Our national chairman is a veteran in politics, having been a governor, when politicking was actually thick. I don't expect him to lay his cards open. I'm not also going to reveal our tactics. Our gunpowder will be left dry for now. But some signs that we are going to win are obvious in the sense that the opposition that appeared to have given PDP a good run for its money - Action Congress of Nigeria - has died. Though they have this tendency to die and reincarnate. But this is their last chance, there will be no opportunity for them to reincarnate again. They were lucky to have done that from the original Alliance for Democracy to Action Congress and then to Action Congress of Nigeria. Now, they have gone to All Progressives Congress. APC is not a party that can be welcomed in the South-West. I think they have made a mistake by leaving an identity that appeared to have been a South-West identity. That is why I will agree that the national chairman of the PDP must have appreciated that fact that ACN has left its flank open. As a result, Lagos State will become a PDP state in 2015.

Are you saying the merger of the top three opposition parties into APC will not be able to dislodge PDP?

If you look at the so called merger, you will find out that it is actually coming out of frustration. The fact is that ACN is no longer a good brand to be sold to the electorate. So, the party that is benefitting the most in this change of nomenclature is ACN. It is not the Congress for Progressive Change. It is not the All Nigeria Peoples Party. That explains why ACN is the most committed to making sure that APC is adopted. It is actually ACN that has changed name. There is no merger at all. ANPP has disintegrated. CPC came out of ANPP. APGA of course is not in the hands of Rochas Okorocha. Okorocha wants to continue to be relevant. He cannot come to PDP again, because he was there and we pursued him, like we pursued Chris Ngige, like we pursued Dino Melaye; like we pursued Audu Ogbeh. These are spent forces. These are forces that we've tested in PDP and they failed. So, they cannot be trusted. If they are the people that APC is having confidence in, then APC is getting over ambitious. I agree 100 per cent that PDP will win at least 32 states in 2015.

The argument by ACN is that Tukur's assertion was based on PDP's plan to rig the 2015 elections. Do you think your party can actually win up to 32 states without engaging in electoral malpractices?

Let me tell you the fact, which the opposition will continue to controvert because of their desire to continue deceiving the Nigerian electorate. It is a fact that the Federal Government has given us the hope that we need for democracy to survive in Nigeria. This has not been done by state governments controlled by ACN and other opposition parties that are quick to criticise the Independent National Electoral Commission. It is on record that the only reason these opposition parties are confident to form a merger is because they know that the INEC will conduct a free and fair election. They saw what happened in the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states. They saw how President Goodluck Jonathan, who belongs to PDP, ensured that there was a level playing field for all political parties in the elections. PDP candidates lost in the two elections. Even PDP's challenge of the results at the electoral tribunal failed. That is to show you that even the judiciary is ready to ensure that people are duly elected in this country. PDP is confident that the 2015 elections will be free and fair and we will win. PDP has no resemblance of election riggers. It's even good that some of the ACN states have conducted local government elections. It was clear to everybody that the local government election in Lagos State, for example, was rigged by ACN. It was full of irregularities. The fact is that ACN has lost Lagos by working against the masses; the okada riders, the market women, and the students, whose school fees were raised from N25, 000 to almost N350, 000. All these will come to reckon in 2015.

Despite these, don't you think it will be extremely difficult for PDP to win South-West states, especially Lagos, given the political influence of people like the National Leader of the ACN, Bola Tinubu?

I concede that Tinubu is a tactician. But I'm sure that he cannot repeat the tactics that he used to win the South-West states. Such tactics have become archaic. It cannot work now, because the Chief Justice of Nigeria is really watching the judges to make sure that nobody can manipulate the system. However, let us not overrate Tinubu's ability to win elections. When 2015 comes Nigerians will see the difference.

Why did PDP lose some states it had won in the past?

The leaders of the PDP made a big mistake by fighting one another. That is why we lost Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, and Ondo states. But now, most of these leaders have made peace and are now in talking terms. When we were together, we won most of the states. We will do it again in 2015. It's laughable for anybody to say that PDP will rely on rigging. We are confident in the fact that our veterans, who helped us win elections in the past, are coming together.

Corruption has hindered development in the country for the past 14 years that PDP has been in-charge at the federal level and in more of the states than any other party. How can your party convince an average Nigerian to vote for its candidates in 2015?

It's not true that PDP has been the cause of corruption in Nigeria. The fact is that corruption had become ingrained in the Nigerian system before PDP came on board in 1999. In fact, PDP should be given the credit for instituting anti-corruption agencies to fight corruption. PDP-led governments have probed and discovered corruption in the petroleum sector and discovered the pension scams and fraud in some other sectors. A PDP-led government passed the Freedom of Information bill into law; an action that was commended globally. I challenge ACN to tell us how many of the states it controls have domesticated the FoI Act. In Lagos, ACN is running the state government with so much secrecy that one cannot have access to simple information that should be in the public domain. Governor Babatunde Fashola sent out memos stopping civil servants, even permanent secretaries and commissioners from talking to the press or giving out any information on how Lagos is being run. That is absurd in a democracy. Have you seen any ACN-led government probing its predecessor from the same party? But you see that happening in PDP. ACN is even shamelessly celebrating the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who is being tried for money laundering. Whenever he is going to court, the House of Assembly is shut down in solidarity. Also, when the ACN national leader, Bola Tinubu, was in court, all the ACN governors abandoned their states and went with him to the court in Abuja to show solidarity. Even my governor, Fashola, went there as a lawyer and sat among Tinubu's team of lawyers; something he was not supposed to do as governor of a state. Because ACN is run in such a way that nobody asks questions, the real corrupt politicians are comfortable in ACN.


http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/politics/crossfire/we-will-win-lagos-in-2015-pdp/

RIP to dagrin...d originator of yourba-hip.


See u in d after-life

Its exactly 3 years 2day since dagrin left ds world.

Though he is no more...his legacies stil remain til date.

The originator of yoruba-hip...we really missed u.

RIP to dagrin....

Let shout-outs start to pour in

Opposition Coalition: PDP Has Predicted Loss of 32 States in 2015
17 Apr 2013
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Chief Tony  Anenih

* CPC adopts report on APC, constitution, manifesto

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Toba Suleiman




Opposition political parties, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) have said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should rather accept its imminent defeat in the 2015 elections rather than boasting to the contrary.

This came as the CPC Tuesday said it had accepted the report of the resolutions passed at the merger negotiations for the formation of a new opposition coalition platform, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While reacting separately to the statement by the PDP's Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chief Tony  Anenih, that his party will win in 32 states,  the three  opposition parties which  are currently involved in plans for a new platform, the APC, described the assertion as mere wishful thinking.

ACN's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, who spoke to THISDAY on telephone Tuesday, said  PDP could only be joking with such a claim unless it wanted to tell the world that it had perfected a strategy to rig the 2015 general elections.

"The party is just laying foundation for rigging .  All its fence-mending efforts have been failing.  Today the Chairman of the party has been relegated to the background while Anenih has gone  on to do what  ordinarily should be the role of the chairman. From all assessment, the party has performed far below expectations.  They are just day-dreaming and Nigerians are already tired of them.

"They are jokers, they are just telling the whole world that they are going to rig.  They cannot even retain the seats they have presently," he said.

For the ANPP, Anenih's outburst is not supported by any visible performance on ground and as such should be dismissed by Nigerians.

Speaking to THISDAY on the matter, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Emma Eneukwu, said contrary to Anenih's boasting,  Nigerians were going to assess PDP's 12 years of non performance.

"He is only consoling by talking big. The elections would be done by Nigerians who will rate them according to their performance for the past 12 years. Nigerians are not fools who can be deceived by mere boast by a party that had plunged the country into terrible darkness.  The day of reckoning is approaching," he said.

CPC which held its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting yesterday also said PDP had no basis to hope on any victory at the polls in 2015.

Addressing members of the party's NEC at the CPC headquarters, the National Chairman, Prince Tony  Momoh, said PDP might have been frightened by the looming defeat staring it in the face.

He said PDP BoT chairman must have been misquoted because what he would have meant was that PDP will lose  in 32 states.

"I think he was misquoted,  I think what he must have had in mind was that PDP will lose in 32 states. We will work hard, make the sacrifice and ensure that we move into the merger and grow a new party so that Nigeria will have a change we need.

"Let me use this opportunity to make it clear that the merger is intended to take over power from PDP and do what PDP was doing, the merger is being promoted to set an agenda, look at the constitution and ensure that Nigerians have their sovereignty  returned to them.

Sovereignty will be returned to Nigerians and those elected  will be those who merit being elected, " he said.

Momoh said henceforth, every vote must be made to count, adding that not any more would we have any result not reflecting the wishes of the people.

According to him, that is part of the agenda of the merger, that freedom is protected in the constitution.

"We will ensure that welfare and security are achieved unlike the present situation where there are no welfare nor safety of lives  and property anywhere in the country.  If we can offer all these things who will have any reason to support or vote for the PDP?

While appraising the progress made by the merger talks so far, Momoh said the members of the party should appreciate the need for sacrifice as they march forward with the merger.

Meanwhile, the CPC National Executive Committee (NEC), which met Tuesday also approved May 11 as the date for its national convention that will be used to ratify CPC's merger with other parties.

In a communique signed by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, the party said it had informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the decision on the convention.

“At an expanded National  Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on April 16, an approval was given to the proposal to have the mid-term convention of the party on May 11, 2013.

"Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission had been informed about this date and an acknowledgement received.

"The meeting further approved the presentations of the constitution of the new party, APC and the manifesto. All these shall form part of the resolution to the Board of Trustees (BoT) and subsequently, the national convention on May 11," he said.

Both the national leader of the party, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and the governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura were not at the NEC meeting Tuesday.

In another development, the Ekiti State chapter of the ACN Tuesday alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan was planning to invite a military to take over the legitimate government of the country by giving matching orders to the PDP to capture 32 states during 2015 general election.

Reacting to the statement credited to the national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, that the president had instructed the party to ensure that PDP captures 32 states in 2015 general election, Awe described the statement as an indirect invitation to a military take-over.


Besides, Awe also reacted to Chief Tony Anenih’s statement that during the conduct of the election, PDP would do what it knows best to do to ensure its success.
Awe, who spoke at a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, said apart from a military take-over, the statement was equally an invitation to anarchy in the country.

According to him, the word capture is a loaded and pregnant word and a language peculiar to the military alone.

While further expressing disgust over Tukur's approach to political issues, Awe recollected that Tukur had once said elections in 2015 would be war.

He said he was not surprised with the statements, since the two personalities were acting the script of their leader, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who he said was the architect of do-or-die politics.

The ACN chieftain maintained that it was a signal to the effect that 2014 election, especially in Ekiti State may not be as expected in terms of free and fair poll.

“The ACN is demanding an explanation from the president what exactly he means by the word capture, which he described as alien to democracy.

“We hope Jonathan is not indirectly inviting military to truncate the nation’s nascent democracy which the entire people of the country suffered to attain.

“What we know is that you don’t capture with votes, but you capture with guns, which is purely military weapons.

“We don’t want Ekiti as a battle ground. We don’t want that statement to embolden the PDP in the state, as we approach 2014 governorship election,” Awe said.

He pointed out that the party was reacting to the president’s statement to let him know that every step he takes, the nation is watching him carefully.

While also commenting on Anenih’s statement that during the 2015 general election, the party would do what it knows how to do best, Awe urged Nigerians to discountenance Anenih, since he was not known to do anything better.

“If that statement is coming from Anenih, it is pardonable. We know his antecedent, as a former police officer.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/opposition-coalition-pdp-has-predicted-loss-of-32-states-in-2015/145133/

PDP 'll win at least 32 states in 2015 -Tukur
2013-04-15 23:16:13

The Peoples Democratic Party  on Monday boasted that it had no reason to lose sleep as it would convincingly  win most of the 36 states  of the federation  during the 2015 general elections.

While its  Chairman, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur,  believes that through hard work, the party would win at least 32 states, the Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, said,  "We  will do what we know how to do best"   to sweep the polls.

Tukur spoke  when members of  a PDP caucus   from  the South-West visited him  in Abuja  while Anenih did same  after a three-hour closed-door meeting with a former President, Chief  Olusegun Obasanjo,  in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

"We need to work hard now because we have a  (presidential) mandate to move beyond 23 states in our control and win at least 32," the PDP chairman told the caucus led by a former governorship  aspirant  in  Oyo State in 2011, Prof. Taoheed.

But one  of the main opposition parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria, flayed  the presidential  mandate, saying, "It is clear that the PDP does not believe that Nigerians are going to vote and have their votes   counted."

Tukur, however,  believes that  for the PDP to achieve the   mandate, reconciliation must first take place in the party so that all its  members  would  begin to invest in the future through  hard work, diligence and dedication to the cause of the party.

With this, he said, the PDP  would win the polls   without any foul play.

Tukur  said,  "We have to show electoral strength this time. In doing it, we will work hard and work well. We will move with the speed of jet and we will deliver without any foul antics. I use this opportunity to appeal to our members to bury the hatchet and cast away whatever forlorn hope they nurse about the future.

"I appeal to our members to begin to invest in the future right away and doing so involves hard work, diligence and dedication to the cause of PDP."

He said that the National Working Committee of the party under his leadership had concluded plans to embark on a tour of all the states  to carry out reconciliation and to put the party on a sound footing  for  the  general elections.

Tukur said that it was worthy of note that the Independent National Electoral Commission  had been known to conduct elections that could be adjudged to be  free, open and credible  under the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The PDP National Chairman stressed that the membership of the party had a responsibility to prove that the party had the widest spread in the country.

Earlier, Adedoja, who spoke on behalf of the 15-member  delegation,  had said that they were in Tukur's office   to discuss critical issues involving the PDP in the South -West.

 In Abeokuta,   Anenih, told journalists after his meeting with Obasanjo  that the  internal wrangling in the PDP   would not stop it from winning the  general elections.

"PDP is the  party to beat; when the time comes, I assure you we will do what we know how to do best,"Anenih, who is known as "Mr Fix it," boasted.

He dismissed the planned merger of opposition political parties as incapable of posing any threat to the ruling party during the polls, saying  that all hands were already  on deck   to ensure that the party was repositioned for better performance in  2015.

Asked to give an insight into the agenda of the   meeting with Obasanjo, the BOT chairman said they discussed issues affecting the  nation, including   insecurity and the crisis rocking the ruling party.

"I am here to see my leader (Obasanjo); I am here to pay my respect and, indeed, I am here with my colleagues, some members of the BOT of our party, to discuss some issues that affect the corporate existence of this country; some issues about the insecurity in  the country and some issues about the party itself," he said.

Anenih however declined to make public, the outcome of the meeting .

"As you see, we are all smiling. Can't you see me smiling? And my leader too is smiling. So, we are quite happy about the outcome. For now, it is not for public consumption," he stated.

He also used the opportunity to debunk recent claims by  Governor Ibikunle Amosun that the Ogun State chapter of the PDP was  "dead and burried."

"Let me tell you, almost all of us here are members of the PDP in Ogun State; so you cannot say that PDP is dead in Ogun State. The leader of PDP in Nigeria is here and that is the former President," Anenih  said.

When approached by journalists, Obasanjo merely retorted, "Did you hear what our chairman said?"

 Among  the party chieftains at the meeting   were the Chairman of the PDP Governors' Committee on Reconciliation in the South-West, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State; his Jigawa State counterpart, Alhaji Sule Lamido; a former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; former Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, and the party's BOT Secretary, Senator Walid Jubrin.

The sacked PDP National Vice- Chairman (South-West), Chief Segun Oni, a former National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha; and  former Ogun State PDP Chairman,   Joju Fadairo, were also in attendance.

Meanwhile, the ACN has denounced the presidential mandate, saying that Jonathan and Tukur must begin to realise that Nigerians would not vote for them in 2015.

National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,  in a telephone interview with one of  our correspondents, said, " They have been talking about plans to  capture 32 states.

"If you observe the lexicon of the PDP, you will  see that there is nothing democratic about them.  By the time Tukur and Jonathan wake up, they will realise that they  have been living in a fool's paradise because Nigerians  have  deserted them a very long time ago and no amount of coercion can make them achieve that kind of fathom ambition.

"The only thing is that it probably confirms our fear that there may be no election in 2015 since they have been given a mandate  to capture 32 states. They are not talking about elections.

"Nigerians should be very, very weary. Don't forget that last week, we raised the alarm that the way the Federal Government was going there was no guarantee for free and fair elections.  Nigerians should take note and be very, very vigilant but we want to assure Tukur and Jonathan that Nigerians will not vote for them in 2015."

Speaking in a similar vein, his counterpart in the All Nigerian Peoples Party, Chief Emma Eneukwu, dismissed Tukur's assertion as an empty boast.

He said, "He (Tukur) is only trying to console himself by talking big. The elections will be done by Nigerians who will rate them according to their performance in the past 12 years.

"Nigerians are not fools who can be deceived by mere boasts by a party that has plunged the country into terrible darkness. The day of reckoning is approaching."

http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/pdp-ll-win-at-least-32-states-in-2015-tukur/

Smh for nigeria...pdp is a party of looters that guaratee no hope for ds country.
The worst of acn/apc is better than the best of pdp

Army plans to stop Boko Haram in S'West
2013-04-14 23:00:22

The Nigerian Army has said the establishment of the 32 Artillery Brigade and Garrison in Akure is a strategic decision to improve the security situation in the area.

The Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali, said this while addressing journalists on the one year anniversary of the command in Akure on Saturday.

Dan-Ali explained that the Chief of Army Staff decided to establish the command because Ondo State was the gateway to the southern part of the country from the North

He said the decision had helped to guard the entrances to the state against the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, stressing that the brigade had added value to the security arrangement in Ondo and Ekiti states.

He said, "The Army has been collaborating with other security agencies in the state to ensure the security of lives and properties of the people."

Dan-Ali said it was challenging for the command to have taken off at a time political activities were in top gear for the last governorship election and expressed satisfaction over his men's performance during the exercise.

He said, "The decision of the Chief of Staff to establish this command has paid off as we have been able to block, we have been able pin down the cases of security breaches, our presence in the last one year has brought sanity to our areas of operation.

"Also within the year under review, we had a credible and acceptable election, it was the brigade that coordinated the security and I am proud to say that none of our men was found wanting.

"We were able to achieve this because of the vision of the current Chief of Army Staff to transforming the Nigerian Army into a better one that will be able to face the challenges of the century."

The Brigade Commander however commended the Ondo State Government for the cooperation and assistance rendered to the brigade since it started operations in April 2012.

http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/army-plans-to-stop-boko-haram-in-swest/

Nigeria is set for doom if boko haram should enter southwest in their campaign against gej government.

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Fasehun: Why We Revived UPN
11 Apr 2013
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Dr. Fredrick Fasehun

By Sheriff Balogun

Leader and founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, Wednesday vowed to restore sanity back to the country’s political space as he revived the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), founded by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the Second Republic.

According to him, a credible political association such as UPN would serve as a reliable, focused, people-oriented vehicle that the promoters of UPN would use to restore sanity to the political space, beginning with the South-west.

Fasehun in a statement shortly after the party’s committee meeting in Lagos, said: “One reason for our collective disappointment is that unlike many democracies of the world, government in Nigeria has failed to make the citizens the centrepiece of governance.”

He added that UPN had come to provide such a credible platform, noting that the party would meet the true yearnings of Nigerians for quality education, free health for all, a functional transportation system, rural-urban integration and mass housing.

“There is real danger for the country and we cannot continue to fold our arms and watch politicians run the country aground through profligacy and corruption.

“From all indications, Nigeria will not survive beyond 2014 as a country, unless Nigerians rise up to evolve good political platforms and traditions,” he said.

He recalled that UPN was founded in 1978 by the late Awolowo and was a popular party in the South-west until 1983 when it was proscribed along with other parties in the wake of the coup led by Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

He said before its proscription, election results in the Second Republic showed that the UPN was the dominant party in the South-west; was popular in the old Mid-West, now comprising Edo and Delta States  and the then North central, especially in Kwara State, where it won the governorship seat.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fasehun-why-we-revived-upn/144583/

Mumu old man lickin d arse of gej and pdp...

Find better thins to do woth ur time. This ur upn is already dead on arrival.
No amount of cajole all in the name of late sage awolowo can deceive highly sophisticated southwest into voting for jonathan or dividing our votes come 2015.

Apc all the way...osun a dara

Ile yoruba ko ni baje ooo

@ Op, u must b a jobless, clueless, deluded tribalist for denigratin yorubas woth useless nad baseless posts.

I also read one of ur posts whr u intentionally indicted the yoruba race as if it is the only ethnic group in nigeria associated with violence.

May sango olukoso punish u...

Amnesty C’ttee Mulls Conditions for Boko Haram

09 Apr 2013
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Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III

•Babangida Aliyu tasks northern govs to unmask members  

•Military seeks comprehensive disarmament

By Tokunbo Adedoja, Ike Abonyi, Muhammad Bello, Senator Iroegbu and Aisha Wakaso

The Amnesty Committee on Boko Haram, set up by President Goodluck Jonathan last week, may have begun its work in earnest with the consideration of certain conditions to be met by the insurgents to qualify for pardon.

THISDAY checks revealed that following the clamour that the Boko Haram members, who have killed about 4,000 people since they began their campaign of terror in 2009, deserve amnesty like Niger Delta militants, the committee tried to use the same template used for the Niger Delta militants to work out the amnesty programme for the Islamic militants. 

The military also believes the federal government should push for a comprehensive disarmament programme in the north, which is replete with weapons proliferation, as one of the steps towards returning peace to the violence-prone zone.

Of the seven members of the committee so far known, which the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III is tipped to head, four are within the security apparatchik. They are the representatives of the Directors-General of the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), while other members include a representative of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) and a former security chief in the regime of former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar.

But as the committee, which has less than two weeks to submit its report races to meet the deadline, Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Monday rallied support for it with a call to northern leaders to help unmask the insurgents.

Sources close to the Boko Haram amnesty committee confided in THISDAY Monday that the conditions the committee is working on requires that the insurgents must come out to hold negotiations and must surrender their weapons, as preconditions for pardon.

Giving further insight into the conditions being contemplated, the sources said the Islamic militants must be involved in negotiations or appoint somebody who must be in direct contact with them during negotiations.

In addition, the insurgents must not only lay down their arms, they must publicly cut off links with all international terrorist groups such as Al-Qaida and its affiliates.

The committee is also going to demand full information on the sect’s factions for proper coordination and will particularly insist on getting the direct consent of the recognised sect leader, Sheik Abu Shekau, to ensure that he is favourably disposed to the amnesty and the conditions attached.

One source said:  “The kernel of the matter is that our conditions might be too stringent for them to meet while theirs may also be too bitter a pill for the government to swallow.”

When asked if the insurgents had actually given any conditions, he said none had been given directly since last week when the federal government changed its position on consideration of amnesty for the Islamic militants.

But he said they had previously requested the unconditional release of their detained members and making Islam a state religion, adding that they might have dropped the demand on religion because it is untenable.

According to the source, the new dimension on the amnesty, which cannot be ignored, is the international angle.

This, the source said, might bring disrepute to the country and cause diplomatic tensions, if not well handled.

He explained that the amnesty issue could put the federal government in a dilemma because some of the militants seeking amnesty are known to have murdered some foreigners – Europeans and Asians inclusive.

He explained that under international agreements, it is required that people who commit such crimes must face the full wrath of the law if caught.

“If you do not value life in your country, this is a global village, others value theirs, and they will not just watch you murder their citizens and turn around to grant them amnesty in the name of politics,” the source added.

On whether the amnesty option could be effective in tackling terrorism in the north, he said: “It can work if those beating the drum that the militants are dancing decide to stop the drumming. Are you not surprised that some people are more desperate for amnesty than the rest?”

On the disposition of some foreign countries to the amnesty plan, he said none of them has opposed the idea so far, adding that those who have lost their citizens and have huge business interests in the country are keenly watching to see the government handles the initiative.

THISDAY learnt that the committee is continuing in its consultations with some strategic northern religious and political leaders to brief them on the implications of the amnesty for the Islamic militants which some of them are championing.

However, doubts in security circle continued to linger over the feasibility of the amnesty for the Islamic militants with some officials proposing other ways of dealing with terrorism in the north.

Sources said some security officials had suggested that instead of granting amnesty to Boko Haram members, government should de-radicalise them as it was done in Pakistan.

Similarly, security officials who recently came back from training in Turkey had recommended that those arrested, and currently being held, should be educated at a centre set up for the purpose of de-radicalising them, THISDAY was informed.

Security operatives had at the close of the National Security Council (NSC) meeting last week, informed the service chiefs of the futility of trying to bring the Islamic militants to any negotiation table.

In fact, it was gathered that even before they get the input of their subordinates, security chiefs had as at last Thursday’s meeting with the president, told him that the clemency option might face so many hurdles that would be impossible to surmount.

“You see, the truth of the matter is that while the presidency is considering this proposal of granting amnesty to the sectarians, the profiling of the group and its followership shows that they may not be receptive to any move to unmask them,” a source explained.

He said there was the issue of trust, which could endanger the amnesty exercise, recalling that when the Galtimari Committee was set up, it got input from a rogue member of the sect.

However, he said the situation turned sour because the government indicted a senator, who was instrumental to sourcing the information for the committee, “simply because somebody somewhere was interested in nailing the lawmaker.”

Meanwhile, Niger State governor Monday urged his colleagues in the north to unmask Boko Haram members operating in their states to create the conducive environment for the implementation of the proposed amnesty programme.

According to Aliyu, who is chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), unmasking Boko Haram members would enable “the government have discussions with human beings not ghosts.”

He spoke in Minna at the opening of a one-week workshop on ‘the review and evaluation of the 2006 population and housing census’ organised by the National Population Commission (NPC).

Aliyu added that the decision to consider amnesty for the Boko Haram sect was a welcome development, which also shows that “President Goodluck Jonathan is a listening president.”

He however warned that granting amnesty to Boko Haram was not the solution to the crisis and urged government to explore other angles to bringing lasting peace to the country.

Amid doubts over whether Boko Haram members would embrace amnesty and lay down their arms, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, however expressed optimism that if amnesty is proclaimed and the conditions spelt out, they would accept the terms.

Kwande, who was part of the delegation of the NEF that met with Jonathan last Wednesday to discuss the precarious security situation in the north, while responding to THISDAY’s inquiries, said government should not put the cart before the horse on the matter.

“My opinion is that Boko Haram should be given amnesty. Amnesty should be declared first.

“As to whether I am optimistic that they will accept it. Nobody is running away from peace. Who doesn't want peace? Even in the Niger Delta, when they declared amnesty, we saw how the fighters were coming out with their leaders to lay down their arms,” he said in a telephone conversation.

Clarifying that he was not speaking for the NEF, Kwande said it was misleading to say that members


of the sect were faceless, adding that “they have an Islamic association and there should be leaders of this association.”

On whether members of the forum and other northern leaders were reaching out to the insurgents to advise them to embrace the current efforts geared towards resolving the protracted security challenge in the north, Kwande said: “We don't know where they are; they only announce their presence when they strike here and there. I will be surprised if anybody knows where they are.”

As a way out of the security challenge in the north, the military however has called for a comprehensive disarmament programme in the area.

Commander, Special Task Force (STF) for Plateau and parts of Bauchi States, Maj Gen. Henry Ayoola, made the suggestion yesterday in Abuja when he came to brief top military chiefs on current developments in the STF assignment.

Ayoola explained that in order to rid the region of small arms and light weapons, there was a need to not only organise a mapped out programme for disarmament but also build trust amongst combatants similar to the approach adopted in the Niger Delta.

He said despite the fact that STF had been successful at uncovering weapons and ammunition caches in its areas of operation, it has been difficult to completely stop arms proliferation because the warring parties have devised various means to transport and conceal weapons.

Ayoola, who later briefed reporters after a closed-door meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim, and other top military bigwigs, also stated that peace had returned to Jos and the entire Plateau State except for some localised crises.

He said the Plateau crisis was politically motivated but assured the people that the state would soon return to what it once was as the ‘Home of Tourism’.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/amnesty-c-ttee-mulls-conditions-for-boko-haram/144421/

Renewed Attacks Claim 25 in Plateau
09 Apr 2013
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Governor Jonah Jang

By Seriki Adinoyi

Renewed attacks in Zango village and Wase town, both in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, had by the last count Monday night claimed at least 25 persons.

It was gathered that a group of armed youths alleged to be Tarok attempted to ambush Wase town Monday afternoon but were repelled by the community’s youths and vigilante groups.

Speaking on the incident, a youth leader from Wase, Shafi'i Sambo, said: “Shortly after we completed Zuhur prayers we heard gunshots being fired into our community and everybody started running, but we were able to chase the militants across Zango and burnt their camps around the area.”

Sambo explained further: “Five of our youths are dead and we brought back their corpses while I saw about 20 corpses that did not belong to us and must be the Tarok's.

He said about seven of his kinsmen were rushed to the Wase General Hospital for treatment.

Also, a member of a community development association from Yelwan Shendam, Abdullahi Danbaba, said he narrowly escaped the attack while on his way to Yelwa.

A Tarok traditional ruler, Ponzhi Kumbwang of Wase LGA, Jessey Pyenkwam, who spoke to newsmen on the phone said that he had been informed that much of the Zango settlement have been razed. He expressed bitterness over the crisis.

He said: “It is sad that this crisis has taken this turn. It is even more sad that it is being seen as a Tarok-Fulani confrontation because both communities need each other.”

Spokesman of the Special Task Force (STF), Salisu Mustapha confirmed last night that there had been attacks around Wase but did not know the casualties recorded.

Mustapha said: “There were disturbances on the outskirts of Wase but I have no report on the casualties,” adding that the disturbances have been brought under control.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/renewed-attacks-claim-25-in-plateau/144422/

Crisis here, crisis there.
May god save us in this shit hole called naija

clip: Please note, I am not in support of amnesty for Boko Haram. But the question is, what alternative do we have as a country to solve this problem?
Let us provide alternative solution.
Contributions needed.

In as much as these bh fools re set of faceless individuals, grantin amnesty to them is lik pattin dem on d back.
Thousands of ppl have been victims of their inhuman behavior.

Planned amnesty is wickedness - Oritsejafor

The President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has said it will be an act of wickedness, if President Goodluck Jonathan declares amnesty for Boko Haram.

Oritsejafor said the pardon could only be granted when members of the sect admitted their wrongdoings. He queried what would be the fate of the victims of the sect’s insurgencies, should its members be allowed to escape prosecution.

While addressing journalists at the 80th birthday ceremony of the President, Apostolic Church of Nigeria, Pastor Gabriel Oladele Olutola, in Lagos, the CAN president warned that Jonathan should not toy with the future of Nigeria by trading off its security on the altar of politics.

He said, “I don’t know his ambition for second term because I am not a politician; I am a pastor. But that (amnesty) would be wicked. I don’t see why he would have to do that and I don’t see why he would have to consider that because we are facing a very serious situation in Nigeria.

“Let us not turn this situation into politics. Let’s face it for what it is. The security of the people is the number one responsibility of the President. And I think at this point, Jonathan must wake up and just face it and do what he has to do. But these people who are putting pressure on him left and right, may God help them and deliver Nigeria from their hands. Nigeria I believe would be safe.”

He said the claim that poverty was the cause of the insurgency was not true. He queried where the sect got funds to acquire weapons and why it attacked churches and schools. He added that those who made the claim might have connections with the sect.

He argued that the insurgency should not be likened to Niger Delta militancy. According to him, the Niger Delta militants fought for their neglect and survival. He added that their leaders came to the public to make their grievances known.

“The reality is that you cannot equate those two instances. How many mosques were burnt in Warri or Port Harcourt? Can you tell me one? Young boys didn’t come on the streets to start shooting and killing people in the market. I’m from Warri, the Central Mosque is in the centre of our town. It has been there all these years. Nobody touched it.”

He said northern leaders should have emulated South-South leaders by identifying leaders of the sect and leading them to Jonathan to seek amnesty. He said the amnesty, if declared, would be like putting the cart before the horse.

The CAN boss carpeted Sheikh Abubakar Gumi over his Facebook comment on Jesus Christ. He called on the government to call the Islamic scholar and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, to order over their alleged incitements.

Gumi had reportedly said in the post that Jesus did not die after his crucifixion but only went into coma.


http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/latest-addition/270067-planned-amnesty-is-wickedness-oritsejafor.html?utm_medium=facebook




I think I agree with oritsejeafor on this.

Granting amnesty to bh is like the government open her arms and glady embraced terrorism.

How on earth will u grant amnesty to terrorists?
That means gej is trading the lives of nigerians with politics.
Bh members re d victors in this case since they have been pardoned after commiting heinous acts against the country.

Soonest, other groups will emerge and make outrageous demands knowin d fg will eventually succumb to their demands.

Its not easy to have a clueless one as president.

Mumu poster...

The fact that most politicians in this our naija have looted the entire treasury dry doesnot make we the followers to be merciless or inhuman.

This woman...olayinka funmilayo, was a mother with 3 kids. That alone should make you sympathize if not for anytin for her kids.

I suggest u read her profile u start spewin gibberish here on NL.

The last time I heard...this woman was a champion of women's right.
She was also a banker b4 goin into politics,that should tell u dat she already has a gud life b4 goin into politics . several people have been attesting to the fact that she was indeed a virtuous woman worthy of emulations and sympathy.

I advise that u take 2 doses of codein with alomo maybe dat wil help u calm down..only an advise though

New political group, APCN, emerges

3 hours 13 minutes ago // News | General | New political group, APCN, emerges
// Font size:

A new twist has been added to the unfolding drama over the APC acronym, being claimed by three political associations.
A new group claiming the acronym has emerged. Only this time, the group which also claims to be All Progressives Congress has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking to add “Nigeria” to its acronym, APC.
Our correspondent gathered in Abuja, on Friday that the group had no affiliation to the All Progressives Congress being promoted by the coalition of opposition political parties.
SUNDAY PUNCH had on March 24, 2013 reported that the APC being promoted by opposition political parties was considering adding “N” (Nigeria) to its acronym since the African People’s Congress had taken INEC to court over its refusal to register it.
But the new group will by its decision to add N to its name prevent the mega party from using it.
In an advertorial published in a national daily on Friday, the new group wrote: “The below document (sic) are evidence (sic) of our ongoing registration process to register the All Progressive Congress as a political party which started over a month ago.
“INEC in replying out ( sic) first letter advised us to change our acronym so that it will not conflict with the acronym of the African People’s Congress (APC) which at that time was the first to submit an application in compliance with the INEC letter to us and to avoid an acronym war with the African People’s Congress (APC),  which has announced their decision to challenge INEC decision to deny them registration at the court in line with Section 76 of the Electoral Act, we have adjusted our earlier application to now read All Progressive Congress of Nigeria (ACPN).”
Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Lai Mohammed, said the development was the handiwork of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
He explained that Nigerians were smart enough to read between the lines, adding that it was left for INEC to prove to the world the kind of umpire it was.
Mohammed said, “It is all the handiwork of the Presidency and the PDP. But you see, this will be a test case for INEC because INEC refused to register UPGA on the grounds that it was too close to APGA now that INEC has notice of our intention to merge under the banner of APC, we will want to see if they will still register APCN, we are waiting.”
Also speaking on the issue, National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, Rotimi Fashakin, said, “This is all part of the script we are talking about. What they are trying to do is to close whatever option which we may have should we decide to choose another name, this is clear political rascality. They are petrified at the progress of the merger. Jonathan  has learnt from the grand patriarch of the PDP, General Olusegun Obasanjo. It is executive rascality. “
However, the Peoples Democratic Party dismissed the allegations levelled against it by the opposition.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh , said, “ My response is that over the years we have had people leaving PDP, we have never accused ACN, we have had people disagreeing with PDP, and we have had internal challenges and sometimes even minor crisis, we have never blamed opposition parties.
“We do hope that when they start having their challenges and crisis they will not be blaming PDP.
“We know there is still a storm coming when they are going to do their primaries. They will have storms, when they are having their congresses they will have storms, when it comes let them not blame PDP because it is normal with administering a large party. If they do not have the capacity or the competence to be at the helm of a party then they should stop making noise. It means Nigerians cannot trust them to superintend the economy of this country.”
It will be recalled that hours after the African People’s Congress unveiled its logo and national secretariat in Abuja, the All Progressives Congress being promoted by opposition political parties insisted that the acronym, APC, remained its intellectual property and would not relinquish it.
This is just as news emerged that another political association with a similar acronym, All Patriotic Citizens, had also applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission for registration as a political party.
The African Peoples Congress and the All Progressives Congress had been laying claim to the acronym, APC, before the emergence of All Patriotic Citizens.

http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/news/general/270041-new-political-group-apcn-emerges.html?utm_medium=facebook


All these are efforts of d rulin pdp top frustrate the whole merger process.

I only hope that thins will go well and that we have a succesful merger eventually.

U may be right.

But d fact dat dbanj doesn't go about seekin public sympathy doesn't make him less matured.


Don j surely knows how to to make him win public suport...that u can't take frm him

B4 AZAZI died, he cleared the air then by stating that members of pdp re the ones fuellin bokoharam.

Clueless gej did notin then than sacking azazi.

Wot about all those pdp senators and other identified bh sponsors roamin around d country wtout anone apprehendin them.

Some of bh members caught by security agncies av even been granted bail by d socalled cabals.

Okupe has failed again in his futile attempts to rubbish d name of gmb who he believes is a thorn to d neck of d useless, visionless, focus-less, directionless pdp.

Better luck next time............

The split between two former co-label owners of Mohits Records; D'Banj and Don Jazzy, will be a year old in few weeks time. Their going-apart is still one of the most talked about in the Nigerian music industry.
Even almost a year after, people still talk about their split like it happened yesterday. Both parties have floated their own music labels: Mavin Records and DB Records; Don Jazzy and D'Banj respectively and have moved on with their lives.
At the AY Show held last night in Lagos, while answering questions on the red carpet, Don Jazzy confessed that he missed D'Banj.
The Delta State multi-award winning beats maker said, "'Banj is doing well wherever he is. You're putting words in my mouth; yes, but of course, I miss him."


http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/entertainment/267274-i-miss-d-banj-don-jazzy-confesses.html?utm_medium=facebook

I really salute don j for comin all out to attest to this fact. It is not easy and possible to cope since all these periods of their separation not to miss sumone with whom they achived a lot and re often reffered to as 'the inseparable' those days.

Even dbanj self will feel the same way.

I only hope d two of dem can bury their differences and cum back 2geda as one inivisible entity.