₦airaland Forum

Some lawyers, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria, have called for the prosecution of the Peoples Democratic Party and those who donated over N21. 27bn towards President Goodluck Jonathan’s electioneering.
They said in separate ineterviews withThe PUNCHon Tuesday that the donors breached the Electoral Act by exceeding the limit stipulated by the Act.
Section 91(9) of the Act reads, “An individual or other entity shall not donate more than N1,000,000 to any candidate.”
Sub-section 10 of the same section adds that a presidential candidate “who knowingly acts in contravention of this section commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a maximum fine of N1m or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both.”
Section 91(2) of the same Act states that, “The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall be N1bn.”
The lawyers – Prof. Itse Sagay, Femi Falana, Emeka Ngige, Mr. Jiti Ogunye and Monday Ubani – said the Peoples Democratic Party dinner/fund-raiser on Saturday was the height of impunity by the ruling party.
While Sagay said the whole exercise was suspicious, Falana and Ogunye argued that the PDP and the donors needed to be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
Falana, a SAN, said both the President and the PDP also violated the section of the Act which pegs expenses for presidential campaign at N1bn.
He said while the President could be spared from prosecution because of the immunity he currently enjoys, the PDP should be tried and the money in excess of N1bn forfeited to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “It is the height of impunity by the ruling party. The maximum election expenses cannot exceed N1bn by virtue of section 90 of the Electoral Act.
“The PDP and President Jonathan have violated the law. The President enjoys immunity but the PDP is liable to prosecution and if convicted the fine is N1m while any amount which exceeds the prescribed limit shall be forfeited to INEC.”
Falana, who urged INEC to implement the provisions of the law, added that “the impunity was promoted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who extorted huge sums from government contractors and departments for election and the so-called presidential library.”
Ogunye took a similar stance and asked the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to commence immediate investigation.
He said, “This is the time for the EFCC and the police who have the time to be harassing people doing their job at the National Assembly, to do their job.
“The recipient must be made to return the excess they collected. The case of conspiracy has been established against the donors who exceeded the N1bn limit prescribed by the law.
“Even if the recipient has not spent the money on the campaign, there is a case of obtaining by false pretences.
“The EFCC and the police should investigate and prosecute the donors immediately because whichever way there is illegality.”
To Sagay, who is also a senior advocate, the donors needed to explain to the world how they acquired the money they donated to the President’s campaign. He said, “According to the Electoral Act, the maximum amount meant to be raised for presidential election is N1bn. Secondly, all the donors have to explain to this country how they acquired such money so that we are sure that it is not state money that is being recycled as campaign donation.
“It (donation) is extremely suspicious; it is extremely improper and it is extremely obscene.”Ubani, a former Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, called for the disclosure of the names of all the donors. “The issue of transparency in donation to political parties is key. Do those whose names were not mentioned belong to a secret society? We need to know their identities,” he said. But Ngige, also a SAN, said the Electoral Act 2010 was behind time and was therefore prone to being breached by all political parties. He noted that Jonathan had already announced that they were going to be in breach of the law. “The Electoral Act is behind time. It is clear that political parties may observe the provisions in breach of the law,” Ngige added. He said that despite the shortcomings in the Electoral Act, INEC should go ahead to demand from the various political parties how much they had spent on electioneering so far “and see how they will react.”“It behoves on INEC pending the amendment of the law by the National Assembly to ask for the audited expenses parties have expended on the campaigns so far and let us see how they will react,” the SAN said. An online reader, who identified herself as Funmilola, wondered what the PDP would do with the funds. She argued that Jonathan did not need much publicity if he had performed well to merit a second term. She said, “Seriously speaking, any responsible leader will reject this ridiculous donation. For argument’s sake, what does the PDP want to do with over N21bn? “Honestly, if this administration has been doing well, its work should speak for it and the PDP won’t need to scream and shout. Do you know how many federal hospitals, schools, roads, electricity generating appliances can be refurbished with over N21bn?” Another reader, who identified himself simply as Kunle, said the donation was evidence of corruption in the different sectors of the economy. These are no donations. They are just returning part of what they got from the public purse. Check out the donors: oil and gas, road contractors, power agents, etc. Now, we know why the subsidy probe fizzled out; why so much is spent to procure darkness; and why Lokoja-Abuja road may never be completed,” Kunle added. For Israel O., the contribution was a show of wickedness. He said, “High degree of wickedness is in this country. While the masses wallow in abject poverty, our so-called leaders and businessmen are lavishing the wealth of the nation all in the name of supporting a failed government for re-election.
Today, health workers are on strike, yet politicians have time supporting a clueless government.” One of the donors who was chairman of the PDP fund-raising dinner on Saturday, Tunde Ayeni, contributed N2bn.
Players in the Oil and Gas sector announced a donation of N5bn; those in Real Estate and Building, N4bn; Transport and Aviation, N1bn; Food and Agriculture, N500m; Power, N500m; Construction, N310m; Road Construction, N250m; National Automative Association, N450m; and Shelter Development Limited, N250m. Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda, said each of the 21 PDP governors would donate N50m . The SIFAX Group announced N100m donation, while PDP stakeholders in Rivers State supported Jonathan re-election bid with N50m. The 15 states on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission donated N15m.
QUESTIONS
Under the Electoral Act, how much can a presidential candidate spend on electioneering? Sagay: N1bn What is the maximum amount a corporate entity can donate to a presidential campaign? Falana: Section 91(9) prescribes that an individual or other entity shall not donate more than N1m to any candidate. What is the penalty for flouting the provisions of the law as it relates to presidential campaign? Ogunye: Section 91(10)(a) of the Electoral Act prescribes a maximum fine of N1m or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both. Who should be prosecuted for the infraction in the N21bn donation?
Falana: The PDP
Ogunye: The donors and the PDP
Ngige: Nobody can be prosecuted because the law is no longer in tune with reality
What about the President?
Falana: He still enjoys immunity.
Ubani: He and the party may come up with the excuse that the money is not meant for presidential campaign alone. If the President is found to have expended more than N1bn as prescribed by the law, can he be prosecuted after leaving office?
Ubani: The law is meant to be obeyed and applied.
Who should ensure that the law is complied with?
Falana: INEC

Pleas o! Is somebody scared?

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, warned Nigerians against choosing the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, President in 2015.
PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu
Mu’azu is sure that with the former military Head of State, Nigeria will return to combative presidency, Vanguard reports.
He also added that Buhari was not capable of operating in a free, democratic society. Mu’azu insisted that the APC candidate, if elected, would involve in “witch-hunting” of “perceived enemies” and imprison them for “200 years. The party chairman made the claims in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tony Amadi. General Buhari is the product of military dictatorship that cannot operate in a free country, he is unlike President Jonathan who at all times favours dialogue and persuasion which are the hallmark of democratic governance. We don’t want a combative presidency, which would be busy witch-hunting perceived enemies for trumped charges, then jail them for 200 years. If you read his acceptance speech you will note the language employed show what direction his government will focus. The choice before Nigerians in 2015 is quite clear. Do you want a transforming leadership or a retrogressive return to a quasi military dictatorship clad in democratic toga or do you want an environment of human right abuses where people live in fear? Yet it is supposed to be democratic setting. All the gains of the past years will be lost when autocratic regime that General Buhari is known for takes over power in Nigeria .”
Mu’azu praised Jonathan calling his power “awesome”. According to the PDP representative, GEJ is the leader to further advance Nigeria.


Are they scared of jail already?
Gej should start developing our prisons soon so that he can have a blissful stay there.

engrflames:
North and their born to rule mentality, they just want to capture the power from the south at all cost, my fellow southerners shine your eyes. . . Don't commit an avoidable error.

Pls sir, I wana ask you these questions;
1) Who freed OBJ from prison?
2) Is Obj a northern?
3) Why didn't the north drag power with him for good 8years?
4) who killed the power of zoning in PDP, is it a northern?
5) Are you happy with GEJ government?
6) Do you pray God rule your life the way GEJ ruled Nigeria?
Pls no insults, thanks

Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has responded to ex-Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George’s recent description of him as a“desperate, sinking man in need of psychiatric help”.
It was reported on Friday that George , while responding to Obanikoro’s refusal to accept his defeatat the Lagos State governorship primary held few weeks ago, had advised the former minister to seek “ psychiatric help”.
According to a statement issued by the leader of the PDP in Lagos, he said:“One has refrained from engaging Senator Musiliu Obanikoro despite his gross and alarmist provocations. I have deliberately remained distant and quiet, ignoring the stark obscenities of a desperate and obsessed man who is apparently incapable of absorbing the reality of his defeat by a well-bred and better man.
Bode George, left and Obanikoro.
“For Obanikoro to claim in sheer ludicrousness that I, even remotely, identify with any intimations of violence is utter lunacy and blind, vindictive madness. Surely, Obanikoro is possessed and obsessed. He needs immediate psychiatric treatment. He is a desperate sinking man, grasping and thrashing in self inflicted chasm. What is the pedigree of this young man who has abandoned the typical African deference to Elders? We know who sprung from violence and banditry. We know whose antecedents reek in noisome, vagrant, untidy ruffianism. Politics is not a do or die affair. No civilized person with impeccable pedigree will seek a tacky refuge in destruction and ruin simply because he has lost in a free and fair contest. Obanikoro should go quietly into that good night if he means well for Lagos.
“Enough of his desperate tantrums and lunacy. Lagos has moved on, far beyond the primitive wretchedness of little, ill-bred hooligans.”
Responding to the statement at the weekend, Obanikoro urged George to seek rehabilitation over his post-traumatic stress arising from his stint in jail.
Musiliu Obanikoro. In a statement signed by Obanikoro, he said:“if not to set records straight, engaging Chief Bode George in an exchange of words would mean painfully indulging a man in desperate need of social rehabilitation after a traumatic stint in jail.
“Indeed, there is nothing unexpected about the recent tantrums by Chief Bode George targeted at me in spite of the ignoble role he played in the fraudulent outcome of the Lagos PDP gubernatorial primaries. “As Chief Bode George embarks on his feeble attempts at painting a picture of me that exists only in his perverted imagination, let someone remind him that the post traumatic stress disorder that comes with a time in jail would take more than just an unholy alliance with a pharmacist to heal.
“It is instructive to state here that not only that I am properly raised in the best of Yoruba tradition, I owe a large part of my successful public service career to a childhood and education built on godly principles and sound moral values.
“In all my life and public service career, I have never been accused, arrested or convicted for fraud whether at home in Nigeria or abroad and I have been happily and responsibly married for 34 years.”
Obanikoro added that his desire to challenge the outcome of the PDP Lagos guber primaries was his fundamental human rights based on his conviction that the primaries was flawed. He stated that his desire to seek a redress is not a reason for Bode George to engage in character assassination. Obanikoro had earlier described George as someone without the capacity for peace. It would be recalled that Obanikoro came secondan the controversial PDP gubernatorial primary election held in Lagos. He petitioned the PDP, after which he headed to the law courtwhen he got no response from the party.






PDP; party of confused folks

donmalcolm21:
Politics of ethnicityis rearing ts head from the North again

All is well

God bless one Nigeria

Firefire:
I thank you for the information on the subsidy on handkerchief.

I will pass the message to APC coven members as appropriate.

Each time I remember those tears, I respect the great General more. That was a tears of hope for our country Nigeria

Firefire:
RIP to the dead.

Please respect the dead as we shall all join them one day.

Many people died in Ilorin during Bukola Saraki of APC sharing gift to the deprived masses, was that not an accident?

Did Jonathan plan, organized, and supervised the recruitment exercise ?

What happen to each state governor providing jobs to their youth ?

The truth is, our current leaders in all sectors have failed us, so stop pointing accusing figures to GEJ as if he is the author of your problem.

Oga, what is been said is a federal job scam. Where did such happened in the state?
I pray your life goes the same way Gej is ruling this country.

For failing to meet the aspirations of Nigerians, Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to resign and apologise to Nigerians, both home and abroad.
The governor made the statement while speaking with journalists at the Government House in Sokoto, on December 15, 2014, Monday.
According to Wamakko, instead of making effort to meet Nigerians’ aspirations, President Jonathan has been dissipating energy on his 2015 re-election bid.
Governor Wamakko.
He added that the country had retrogressed in many respects, hence the need for Jonathan to vacate the scene.
“If I am asked to advise President Goodluck Jonathan on his re-election bid in a simple language, I will tell him to resign and apologise to Nigerians for his failure.
“This is my candid opinion as a patriotic citizen who believes in the advancement of the country,”Wamaakko said.
Goodluck Jonathan at the PDP primaries in Abuja.
He maintained that Nigerians were in dire need of change that would ensure total departure from the current situation.
According to him, this is the yearning and expectation of the majority of Nigerians and that adhering to that would further promote democracy, freedom and sense of belonging which are the ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He noted that Nigeria’s democracy was fast changing with the emergence of two strong political parties that cut across the length and breadth of the country.
Wamakko expressed delight with the outcome of APC’s primaries especially the presidential exercise which further built hope in the democratic process.
“The presidential primary election of the APC was quite free, fair and transparent and we now have two dominant political parties unlike in the past where a party behaves like an emperor.
“Our future is our right and I am glad that in the APC, we have a personality that symbolises good governance, a man with zero -tolerance for corruption and has the capacity to address the security challenges bedeviling our country,”he stated.
The governor appealed to Nigerians to come out next year and vote for the APC in the 2015 general election.
“By voting for the APC, Nigerians will usher in a government that will be responsible to address the security challenges facing our country and ensure that no part of our country is taken by any idiot or whatever name they call themselves,”Wamakko averred.
Commenting on his senatorial candidature for the Sokoto Central senatorial district, Wamakko disclosed that it was not his intention to join the race but was prevailed upon by his supporters and elders from the eight local government areas that constitute the district who bought the nomination form for him.

bynat:
Did u see mi passing out successfully by february?

Lols

Jonathan go win presidential election was the part that got me laughing

If Yobo endorses Gej for 2nd time, then I am happy because failure looms in wait for them. Sheybe na dis same yobo endorse super eagles for 2015? The outcome is what Gej should consider now.

How would they just take a Boy to Primary school one day to resume a new session wit the remaining pupils. Just his 2nd day in class, He was made the Assistant Class Monitor. Two weeks later, the Monitor died and d boy became the Monitor.
This same Boy got to Secondary School, and in His SS3, he was made the Deputy Senior Prefect. Three weeks later, the Senior Prefect fell sick and died.
He got to the University and was made the Assistant class Governor. Later, the Class Governor just slept one day, didn't wake up, and dis same Boy (young man now) was made the Class Governor.
In His Final year, they made him Vice President of the Department, during a Riot in school, the President was killed, and d boy was again made the President of Zoology Department.
He graduated and started a Lecturing Job, there he was still made a Leader.
He later ventured into Politics and he became the Deputy Governor of his state, but God saved that Governor, he didn't die. The Governor was removed, and dis man became the Governor.
Later on, one old man called Baba Iyabo by name, called dis man to become Vice President, he accepted and became d V. P. Two Years later, the President died and this man became the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Now, ECOWAS said they want to make him the Vice Chairman of ECOWAS but the Chairman of ECOWAS said No, they should rather make the man the Chairman at once, that he's not ready to die.
PLEASE WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS MAN AND WHERE IS HE HEADING TO COME 2015?

Pdp and their cohorts are busy publicizing APC to every nook and cranny of our country Nigeria. God bless you for being patriotic to the wind of change.

Mr. Lai Mohammed of
The All Progressives Congress has advised the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, to stop lying in order to project the image of the President to Nigerians.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this while reacting to Okupe’s claim that Jonathan had improved on electricity more than any other administration since independence.
Okupe had further claimed that Jonathan had been able to increase the power generation from 2,800 megawatts he met on the ground to 4,800 megawatts.
However, Mohammed, during an interview with our correspondent on Thursday, said that Okupe’s claims contradicted the figures released by the Federal Ministry of Power on December 11, 2014, which put the power generation at 2,945megawatts.
Mohammed said, “He says Jonathan has improved on electricity more than any other President. So, is that why we have gone below 3,000 megawatts? You can’t lie about that. This was contained in their official statement. I can understand his (Okupe) problem; they have to lie because they have nothing to show Nigerians.
“Anybody that buys diesel or petrol to fuel his generator everyday will know the truth. That person will be able to calculate the number of hours of blackout. It is a pity that they have nothing to show Nigerians and so they resort to telling lies which has to stop.”
Mohammed berated Okupe for claiming that the Jonathan administration had been able to curb corruption. Okupe had said Nigeria’s movement from its 144th position on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index last year to 136th position this year was an indication that a lot had been achieved by the Jonathan administration in the anti-corruption war. However, Mohammed said he was not surprised at Okupe’s remark as it showed that the Jonathan administration embraced mediocrity. He said, “Why would they celebrate such stupid mediocrity? Is that worth celebrating? Ask Okupe that if his child comes home with such a scorecard the will he be happy? We in the APC have no time celebrating such nonsense. Right now we are focusing on the issue of what we are going to give Nigerians.
“Nigerians have seen from the conduct of our convention and our presidential candidate that we are ready for change. Our ranking on corruption is shameful.
“Is it not funny that it is the same Okupe who, a couple of months ago, when Nigeria was ranked 144 by Transparency International, rejected the report and questioned the integrity of the organisation but now he is rejoicing. No serious government should celebrate such.

EldaTimba:
.This pic was taken 2011

oga, did you see okorocha there too? Or he was part of CPC then?
You too is clueless like Gej

OdionOdion:
It does appears that this APC are yet through with Gov Ameachi,having urged him to fight GEJ to finish with the promise of first party chairmanship and later VP slot both ended failed promises,Now DG for GMB campaign.Gov Ameachi need serious deliverance from this "one chance party"..Here is Christmas and new year celebrations :Rivers workers are yet to receive September salary not to talk of Nov and December.He should have learnt from Peter Odili mistake.Oh pity Gov Ameachi

Don't speak from a biased point of view. Ameachi never wanted anything, he only want to see Gej&Pej to cry a river come 2015

The All Progressives Congress has named Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, which the party says will drive the party’s efforts to win the 2015 presidential election.
In a statement in Lagos on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the announcement followed its convention at which its presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), was elected, and the choice of his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. APC said Amaechi’s outstanding reputation as a man of courage, principle, strength of character, decency and love of country, as well as his administrative prowess and organisational skills” combined to fetch him “perhaps the most important task” in the quest for positive change in Nigeria. The party thanked Nigerians for their support and prayers toward the success of the convention, the emergence of Buhari as the APC presidential candidate and the choice of Osinbajo as his running mate.
It added that it believed it had lived up to its promise to Nigerians to ensure that the choice of its presidential running mate would be made within the context of the best democratic ideals, against the backdrop of the eagerness of the general public in the choice of the party flag bearers. APC said, ”With a presidential candidate that has rekindled the hopes of the citizenry and revived their belief in democratic ideals, we believe we must also choose a running mate that will complement the sterling qualities of the presidential candidate. We must confess that the choice was a tough one, considering the array of eminently-qualified and outstanding candidates that we had to choose from. Yes, we were spoilt for choice but, at the end, we picked, as running mate, a man whose pedigree, nationally, sub-regionally, regionally and globally, attests to the fact that our party, the APC, is a repository of high quality leadership materials, and that our country, Nigeria, has no shortage of the very best human resources.”

Source: punchng.com

cocoduck:
Go and acquire a practical skill people will be willing to pay for and stop disturbing the peace on nairaland.com

smiles

cococandy:
I agree it can be overwhelming.
But she shouldn't have thrown the baby away sha.

is that the head?

cocoduck:
Talking to you.
I just finished fixing a client's starter motor. Moving on to another's alternator.

so!

cocoduck:
Like you.
You are not more Nigerian than I am. I support GEJ

who is this gameboy talking to?

cocoduck:
It seems that the only people going on these strikes are headed by yoruba and hawusa people. Chai born to rule. But I will still vote GEJ. They are suddenly all going on strike to frustrate and disenfranchise GEJ's supporters, part of lets make the country ungovernable for him
this time its against Igbos, well it won't work. ApC mice can abuse me how they like I don't care.

Sorry bro;
Abusing you is a waste of time. Sometimes we don't need to waste insults on clueless folks

VellyG:
Save your self all this noise and wait till Feb 14. APC una don use mouth win the election b4 election day.

Sorry bro, take it easy and anjoy the tsunami that has began already.

For those shouting for Source;
This is it www.punchng.com

firstolalekan:
eedrees the môron at it again
Pls when will you have sense

that will be when goats start going to school

ProfCorruption:
But the news is not on any mainstream media

mine is showing and scrolling it atm

seanet02:
Agbaje how market?
Na only you waka come?

no o! Na him and Bode George waka come so that them go still waka go.

ABAKA72:
shut up, which patriot. Amachi looted more money than what was used to reconstruct the entire Ruwanda after their civil war without anything to show for it. check out Kigali, then you will know the magnitude of crime that brainless APE commited against the people of River state. Imagine what Akpabio would have done in Rivers state with that kind of money.

Another 'story for the gods' is here