₦airaland Forum

Read the statement below..

On Tuesday 23rd February, I honoured an invitation from the EFCC to clarify issues related to an ongoing investigation by EFCC. They confronted me with allegations of receiving some cars from Mr. Jide Omokore who has been my friend for over 20 years.

I admitted to them that Mr. Jide Omokore has given me car gifts on several occasions in the last 10 years for my personal use.


I want to state categorically that what I received from my friend, Jide Omokore were cars and buses supplied by a well-known car company, Skymit Motors apparently from a credit facility Mr Omokore has with the company. I don’t have any knowledge of the so-called transaction the investigators are alleging he had with NNPC.

Against this background, it is most disheartening that the facts of the matter under investigation have been grossly misrepresented in the media, apparently under inducement by some political opponents in the APC particularly, a Minister from Rivers State.

This is in line with the strategy of the ruling Party to hide under the anti-corruption fight to humiliate the leadership of our Party.

I have been granted bail under very stringent conditions after 8 days in detention. Since the EFCC did not establish any case against me, I find my needless detention a clear case of witch-hunt and pure political persecution that has become a stock in trade of the APC government.

My immediate concern is the denial of the fundamental human rights, excessive physical incarceration and the orchestrated negative media campaign completely skewed against those being investigated.

Nevertheless, I hereby restate my confidence in the rule of law and the relevant institutions for the resolution of this matter on its merit in the interest of justice.

Signed:
Prince Uche Secondus
Deputy National Chairman, PDP

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/pdp-deputy-national-chairman-uche.html

cc: lalasticlala

The 6th edition of Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) was held on Saturday February 27, 2016, at the Grand Ballroom of Barcelona Hotel, Abuja.


The event was reported hosted by the famous TV celebrity couple Isaac and Nneka Moses.

Nigeria’s Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, bagged ‘Most Media Friendly Politician’ while veteran broadcasters, Olusesan Ekisola and Mani Onumonu were inducted into the Nigerian Broadcaster Hall of Fame.

Below is the full list of winners below:

A-TELEVISION STATION/CHANNEL CATEGORIES

1-Best TV Station of the Year (NATIONAL)
– TVC

2-Best TV Station (REGIONAL) (Viewer’s Choice)
– ITV (Benin)

3-Best TV Channel (Viewer’s Choice)
– Liberty TV

4-Best Indigenous TV Channel (Viewers Choice)
– Liberty TV (Hausa)

5-Best Entertainment Channel (Africa) (Viewer’s Choice)
– WAP TV

6- Best TV Station with the widest coverage
– NTA

7-Best Entertainment Channel (International) (Viewer’s Choice)
– Planet Radio TV (PRTV)

8-TV Channel with Best News coverage
– TVC News (Nigeria/Africa)

9-TV Station with Best Creative Innovation
– Ancient of Days TV

10- TV Channel with Best Station Imaging.
– EbonyLife TV

11-TV Channel with Best Coverage of Live Events
– Channels TV

12-Best New TV Station/Channel.
– Wazobia TV

13-Most Watched TV Channel of the Year (Viewers Choice)
– TVC

B-RADIO STATION CATEGORIES

1-Best Radio Station (Lagos)
-Radio Continental

2-Best Radio Station (North)
– WE FM (Abuja)

3-Best Radio Station (South-West)
– Splash FM (Ibadan)

4-Best Radio Station (South-East)
– Radio Sapientia (Onitsha)

5-Best Radio Station (SOUTH-SOUTH)
– KU FM (Benin)

6-Radio Station with Best News Coverage – (National)
– Hot FM

7-Radio Station with Best News Coverage – (North)
– Nigeria Info (Abuja)

8-Radio Station with Best News Coverage – (South-West)
– Space FM (Ibadan)

9-Radio Station with Best News Coverage – (South-East)
– Magic FM (Aba)

10-Radio Station with Best News Coverage – (South-South)
– Wave FM (Port Harcourt)

11-Best New Radio Station
– Lagelu FM (Ibadan)

12-Radio Channel with Best Station Imaging.
– City FM 25003

13-Radio Station with Best Creative Innovation
-Inspiration FM (Ibadan)

C-INDIGENOUS RADIO STATION CATEGORIES

1-Best Indigenous Radio Station (South-West) (Yoruba/Pidgin) (Listener’s Choice) (Criteria: Listenership and coverage)
– Fresh FM (Ibadan)

2-Best Indigenous Radio Station (North) (Hausa) (Listener’s Choice)
– Freedom Radio (Kano)

3-Best Indigenous Radio Station (East) (Igbo/pidgin) (Listener’s Choice)
– Odenigbo FM,(Obosi)

D-NEWSCASTERS CATEGORIES

1. Best Newscaster (TV) Male
- Sam Odion Bello (AIT)

2. Best Newscaster (TV) Female
– Azeezat Olaoluwa (TVC)

3. Best TV News Reporter
Best Mbiere (Independent Television)

4. Best Radio Newscaster (English) Male
-Abdolfatai Otori (Kapital FM Abuja)

5. Best Radio Newscaster (English) Female

-Enoh Ogbevire (Nigeria Info FM PH)

6. Best Newscaster Pidgin/Igbo
-Ben10 – Wazobia FM PH

7. Best Newscaster Yoruba
– Kola Ladoke (Splash FM,Ibadan)

8. Best Newscaster Hausa
– Salisu Umar Abdullahi a.k.a Salinger

E- PAY SATELLITE/DIGITAL TELEVISION

1-Best Pay Satellite/Digital TV channel provider
– CONSAT

2-Pay Satellite/ Digital TV channel provider with Best Technical Innovation
-StarTimes

F-BACKROOM CATEGORIES

1-Best Voice-over Artiste
– Collins Teke (Inspiration FM, Ibadan)

2-Producer of the Year
– Nneka Luke (Democracy In Practice on Liberty TV)

3-Cameraman of the Year
– Godwin Nwachukwu (TVC)

4-Best Studio Engineer
– Rasheed Oniyangi (Liberty TV)

5-Best Programme Director
– Tope Oshin Ogun (Tinsel)

6- Best Visual Editor
– Oladimeji Peter Solomon (TVC)

G-OAPs/BROADCASTERS CATEGORIES

1- Presenter Extraordinaire. (Viewers /Listeners Choice)
– Yinka Ayefele (Fresh FM, Ibadan)

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/list-of-winners-at-nigerian.html

cc: lalasticlala

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode has ordered the immediate closure of the Mile 12 Market.

The governor’s action follows three days of violence between Hausa and Yoruba traders, which have reportedly left three people dead.

The spark for the clash was ignited on Tuesday after a Hausa commercial bike rider knocked down a woman.

The bike rider was told to take the woman to the hospital, but the rider and his colleagues refused.

They insisted that the motorbike association, which collects tolls from them, should take care of the woman.

There was heated argument, which led to a fight.

The fighting continued all through Wednesday till Thursday when some thugs, believed to be of Yoruba origin, invaded the market and started attacking the Hausas.

They burnt seven cars and killed three Hausa traders.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/governor-ambode-shuts-mile-12-market.html

Zuby Victor Udemba shared this photo of an armed man in FRSC uniform warning motorists to be careful but didn't say which area. What he wrote below:

"Motorists beware. Road Safety does not carry guns according to laws of Nigeria as of today. This is a suspected robber on the road with a road safety uniform"

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photo-federal-road-safety-corps-officer.html

cc: lalasticlala

APC National leader, Bola Tinubu, was conferred with a Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration at the University of Abuja 20th Convocation Ceremony held today February 27th. See more photos after the cut...

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-bola-tinubu-bags-honorary.html

A Facebook user, Aishat shared these photos. From the little I could gather from her post, the woman had earlier killed the mother of the young girl pictured. She killed the sister, and then slashed and burnt the girl. Details are sketchy. Read her post below:

"I remember when her stepmother killed her mother, we posted it but nothing was done, hope Action will be taken now that her step mother did it again. Step mother killed sister, mother, slashed and burnt the surviving victim. Pls I need someone in Gombe to take this up"

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-woman-killed-co-wife-and-her.html

cc: lalasticlala

Former bread seller Olajumoke Orisaguna, pictured at an event in Abuja earlier today where she was unveiled as a brand ambassador for a confectionery. See another pic after the cut...

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-olajumoke-on-red-carpet-for.html

cc: lalasticlala

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu defined today the great task ahead to navigate Nigeria out its present economic quagmire, declaring that what the nation needs is a fundamental departure from the way we have been doing business.

“Nigeria needs some fundamental restructuring both politically and economically. Not the constant tinkering and patch-patch we often resort to. We must therefore begin with fundamentally restructuring the economy if we are to rid ourselves of joblessness”, he said.

He spoke in Abuja today at a ceremony at University of Abuja where he was awarded a doctorate degree in Business Administration. Former vice-president Dr. Alex Ekwueme and two former chief justices of Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi and Justice Maryam Aloma Mukhtar were also honoured with doctorate degrees.

Tinubu spoke on behalf of other honorees and devoted his speech on the problems besetting the nation and how to steer it out of the problems.

“Our nation faces many challenges, some imposed on us by forces beyond our control, some self inflicted due to the errant ways of past leadership and governance.

“Nigeria stands at the threshold of sober decision. The ways in which we have grown accustomed to running this nation suddenly no longer suffice. If we are to continue as we have done over the years that malpractice will deliver us into the vice grip of national failure. That which we used to do and laugh at ourselves for our errant ways is no longer a joking matter. It is now fatal.

“We must reform and do so quickly and with alertness to the severity of the circumstances mounting about us.

“While confronting multiple major challenges. I believe this government has the chance and the mission to better our society and forge a new model for our political economy. We have demonstrated the courage and determination to change a non-performing government through a democratic election. This electoral success has brought new chaallenges. These challenges are numerous and we must brace up and confront them.

“We dare not rest on the satisfaction of electoral victory alone. We must continue our strive toward democratic governance that can usher in a progressive era of broad prosperity, development, democracy and human dignity for our people. This is our preoccupation. Our desire.

“If you asked me to describe the state of the nation I would say it is a difficult but encouraging one, we are emerging from a period of great moral uncertainty where vice and virtue were too often indistinguishable and too often confused, one for the other.

“We must ask- are we hopeless due to the sordid nature of the past 16 years? No. Are the challenges left behind too much to surmount? No.

“Even though the nation before stood half in the light of progress and half in the darkness of injustice, there is much hope because we now have a government committed to a new era of discipline and prosperity. The journey we have embarked upon will not be easy. It requires us all to make sacrifices and persevere until we achieve…

“Agriculture remains a key pillar in our development. We must return to the days when Nigeria had surplus and exported food. Now we import too much food for our own good and security.
Our small farmers sink under the reality of rising costs and too little income from the crops they raise. Moreover, we annually lose arable land to desert encroachment.

“I believe the current administration under President Buhari has set its priorities right in this regard. Our farmers will once be proud again. We believe farmers need to earn a sufficient enough income that will bring prosperity back to their families. They must be encouraged and supported.

“A vibrant agriculture sector will produce enough food for domestic consumption and for export, thus earning foreign exchange as it did decades ago. It will also create and maintain jobs.

“We must also create jobs for our growing urban populations. We must create production to meet the rapidly expanding population. This means changing the oil export model upon which our economy has for too long been based. This means shifting to were human labor and ingenuity now feature as the catalyst of economic development and wealth creation. This means the creation of industries. This means government must embark on fiscal policies and programs that encourage industrial development and employment to create the openings and opportunities that shall employ many of you seated here and many others like you.

“As a progressive government we have as one of our top priorities the lifting of 20 per cent of Nigerians out of poverty within the first four years of our administration. To happen, the state must be a catalyst for job creation and economic development that touches all the people not just a narrow growth that benefits a small number.

“We shall do this by implementing a national industrial policy linked to a national infrastructural plan and a national employment strategy.

“Before our children can dream of a university education they must first enjoy the foundational education of primary school. Our position is that we make a special effort to draw all children to school, particularly the poor. We cannot afford to allow poverty to keep children out of the classroom. If so we are suborning a life of ignorance and poverty for millions of our young ones.

“This progressive government is committed to providing all school-age children one free meal daily. This seems a simple thing. But it is also wise and prudent. A hungry student does not learn. If the child is too hungry too often, he stops attending school altogether.

“By this program, students will more eagerly attend because their stomachs as well as their minds shall be fed. Parents will encourage children to attend because this will take the children off the streets while also alleviating pressure on the family to feed the children.
This current leadership will anchor its efforts to re-build Nigeria on massive industrialization and the re-structuring of the economy to allow for growth. Then, will hope be rekindled for millions of our people and a country of great potentials and possibilities will emerge.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/nigeria-needs-more-than-patch-patch.html

cc: lalasticlala

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has sacked the state's Internal Revenue Board,Ropo Ogunjobi over alleged fraud activities.

Ogunjobi was reported to have been relieved of his duties for negligence leading to an alleged fraud running into millions of Naira.

In furtherance, two other officials of the board, Omotayo Ojo and Akinniyi Akinsola, were reported to have been arrested by the police in connection with the alleged fraud.

The suspects reportedly made confessional statements to the police upon interrogation, indicting some other members of staff.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade, Fayose said, “The Revenue Chairman, Ropo Ogunjobi, who also doubles as Special Assistant to the State Governor on Revenue Matters, should hand over to the most senior officer of the board.”

'The people should stop paying to the officials of the board. They should pay to the banks because these touts were on the rampage and they can dupe you. “Ekiti needs money and you all know that this has been the headache of this government and we have been doing our best to shore up the revenue, but these people are desperate to thwart our efforts. They are cornering our money,” the statement read.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/fayose-sacks-aide-arrests-two-others.html

Embattled Chairman of PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, says he will not be resigning from his position as the party's Chairman despite the public outcry by some members since his appointment. Sheriff stated this at the PDP secretariat in Abuja shortly after he officially took over the party leadership.

“I won’t resigned because the leadership of the party, in their wisdom, chose me to lead the PDP for the purpose of rebuilding and repositioning the party at this critical period,”he said.


Reacting to allegations that he is a sponsor of the Insurgency group, Boko Haram, Sheriff said

“Boko Haram killed my own brother. They killed members of my family, so why should I sponsor people to kill my own brother, my own family. I am not a fanatic. I love to enjoy my life. Boko Haram are criminals who live in the bush and eat once a day. I believe their sponsors will be caught at the end of the day. I have nothing to do with Boko Haram,” he said. He singled out a former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, among the people linking him with the terror sect, saying “this time around, people like Fani-Kayode will not go scot free.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/ill-not-resign-as-pdp-chairmanffk-will.html

cc: lalasticlala

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-national-youth-council-honours.html

cc: lalasticlala

The National Youth Council (Edo State Chapter)conferred on Prince OdiOkojie (the husband of the popular Nollywood actress- Mercy Johnson Okojie) the title of a patron and a friend of the youth over the week, in recognition of his personal efforts at empowering the youths for self-subsistence and for identifying with the youths of the state.



Received by a teaming crowd of youths led by the deputy chairman of the National Youth Council at the state secretariat, The Prince (as he is popularly known) was conducted round the facilities at the secretariat which includes: a media training center, computer training center, catering training center, etc. He was then led into the office of the state chairman, Comrade Innocent Ajayi who was waiting for him with members of his exco.

In his welcoming address, Comrade Innocent Ajayi thanked Prince Odi Okojie for championing the course of the youth and for becoming the face of the youth. He noted that the lack of a vibrant figure for the youth had led in the past to men in their late 40s and 50s been made to represent the youth. He emphasized that he had told all who care to listen that the youth will no longer take the back stage in the affairs of this state.


On his part, Prince OdiOkojie in his acceptance speech reminded his host that the task of building a better tomorrow that fulfills the aspirations of the youth begins today. The youths he said must stop looking for somebody else to solve their problem because as the saying goes, “dey no dey eat Panando for another man headache”. He thanked the National Youth Council for their effort in building a better Edo state and advised them to be ready to build a synergy with other youth organizations in Edo because only through synergy will their vision for the state be realized.

He ended with a personal promise to channel his numerous youth empowerment programs and that of his wife through the National Youth Council umbrella body. And made humble contribution for the expansion of the facilities at the secretariat so that more youths can be trained in skills acquisition.



http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-national-youth-council-honours.html

cc: lalasticlala

This Saturday morning, 20 February 2016, a vulcanizer, Fatai Sulemon, committed suicide by hanging.

This happened at 26 Olorunda Sreet, Ijaiye bus-stop close to Amadiya on Lagos Abeokuta expressway. Pictures 1 to 3 show Sulaimon and sympathizers in front of the man’s house

https://12800-presscdn-0-96.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/suicide-gidi-e1455963658312.jpg
https://12800-presscdn-0-96.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/suicide-anoth-e1455963574654.jpg
https://12800-presscdn-0-96.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/The-crowd-e1455963744964.jpg

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-vulcanizer-commits-suicide-in.html

Today, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu received the award of The Sun Man of the Year at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos. inset. Gov.Ambode of Lagos. Asiwaju Tinubu The Sun Man of the year. Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Sir Arthur Mbanefo.

https://12800-presscdn-0-96.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Gov.Ambode-of-Lagos.-Asiwaju-Tinubu-The-Sun-Man-of-the-year.-Senator-Oluremi-Tinubu.-Sir-Arthur-Mbsnefo2-e1455990816255.jpg
Gov.Ambode of Lagos. Asiwaju Tinubu The Sun Man of the year. Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Sir Arthur Mbsnefo2
https://12800-presscdn-0-96.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Alhaji-Lai-Mohammed-Information-Minister-and-other-guests-e1455990865438.jpg
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Information Minister and other guests
https://12800-presscdn-0-96.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Oluremi-Tinubu-Mbanefo-Chief-Orji-Kalu-The-Sun-publisher-and-Gov-Willie-Obiano-of-Anambra-State-e1455990913101.jpg
L-R: Oluremi Tinubu, Mbanefo, Chief Orji Kalu, The Sun publisher and Gov Willie Obiano of Anambra State

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-bola-tinubu-wins-sun-man-of-year.html

Founding member of the PDP and immediate past Nigeria's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida has dumped the embattled opposition party.

Tafida, who headed victorious ex-President Goodluck Jonathan's presidential campaign in 2011, said PDP market in Nigeria's politics is over, and no sensible man will remain in a market that has closed.

The top politician, while speaking in a interview monitored in Lagos, said there is no more respect for the party across the country.

"I have decided to leave PDP, and I will not join another party. I left because there is no focus, if a market is over, a responsible man should go home. Now the market is over. It was good in the past, but now it is the worst, with impunity and confusion.

"The party has been destroyed and reduced to nothing, and I have decided to dump the party. I don't think our stay in the party is wise, because the people now abuse everyone, and no one will even listen to you."

Tafida, who is from Kaduna, also condemned the way and manner the party is being run by party leaders hurling series of insults daily and refusing counsel by respectable elders.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/dalhatu-tafida-dumps-pdp.html

cc: lalasticlala

Boko Haram started killings with my own blood brother

I Will Hit the Road, pacifying PDP members, asking them to return


Not a few Nigerians were surprised and shocked by the announcement of former governor of Borno State, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff as the new Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), especially because of his alleged links with the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram. It was therefore natural to be eager to put a number of questions to him on the issue. It was a long wait as guests continuously streamed into the expansive living room to confer with him. It was not until the wee hours that we were able to corner him and once we did, he took our questions calmly and vehemently denied any association with Boko Haram, saying they killed some people around him and would still kill him if they had the opportunity. He said he moved against the sect when it started in his state, culminating in them being outlawed and their leaders were arrested and taken to Abuja more than five times but that they were all freed. In this interview, he tells Ahamefula Ogbu that those who had access to the media foist the Boko Haram label on him but points out that President Muhammadu Buhari would not spare even his son if proven to be linked to the sect. Sheriff says he never had any plans to lead PDP, though he is perfectly up to the task. He outlines his plans to rejuvenate the party explaining that his sojourn in opposition politics all his political life made him the right candidate to lead the party now…Excerpts


How did you emerge as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in these turbulent times?

Well, it is an act of God. I truly believe that whatever God decides is what happens. I did not plan to be the Chairman of PDP; it was the collective decision of owners and leaders of the party that felt that I could offer a leadership that is needed at this moment in time. Any party that is in opposition needs someone that would unite the people to confront the challenges ahead of that party. For me I have been in opposition politics all my life. I was a minority leader in the Senate which is an opposition; in the APP and ANPP, I was in the Senate as an NRC Senator which was also then an opposition party because the SDP had a larger number of members even though it was truncated by the military. It was also an opposition party. I was a governor in Borno State. You know that when I was a governor, we were in opposition for the eight years; so today my emergence as the Chairman of the PDP is to build a party that has lost election after nearly two decades as the party in government.

More importantly, most of the people today that are in APC were PDP members. I am ready for the job and I am going to build all the bridges so that we can bring the party together once again. That was how I became the Chairman, it was not planned, but when God wants to change something He makes people to make the right decision.

In this country today, whether rightly or wrongly, you are seen as the progenitor of Boko Haram, so many were surprised by your emergence?
Well, you see, Nigeria is a country of laws. Nigeria is a country that has the largest black population in the world and nobody today in this country is above the law. It was fiction and imagination of the writers. Let me ask you, I was the governor of Borno State for eight years and, when I was a governor, there was no local government that was under Boko Haram. The issue of Boko Haram came when the government at that time, under President Umaru Yar’Adua, destroyed their mosque and, that was it. They succeeded in killing three people when I was the governor and, do you know who those three people are? One of them was my blood brother, same father and same mother; second one that they killed was the gubernatorial candidate of my political party; third one was Chairman of my party who was also my first cousin. I have never seen anybody in my life that was connected to Boko Haram apart from their leader who was arrested by the military then. The military invited me to see him for the first time in their barracks. If for any reason I had any connection with Boko Haram, I would have been arrested. I am not above the law but you know media is a very strong institution; if your enemy or the people who are afraid of you go to the media and put a false report, the author will write based on information that was given to them by people who believe that unless they dent your image, they will not get what they want politically. Otherwise, there is no way I could be linked to Boko Haram because by my disposition, my background and where I come from, I have nothing to do with Boko Haram.

Boko Haram wanted to kill me all the time because they believed that I was the one that reported them to President Musa Yar’Adua to destroy their enclave when it was destroyed that time. It was after I left government that they moved to their different camps and bushes. Why should they kill my brother? Why should they kill my family if I am a sponsor of Boko Haram? Is there anywhere in the world that you sponsor something to kill you? But unfortunately, the wrong information was circulated to the media by our enemies and, unfortunately, I am not the talking type, so along the line, they kept on fabricating the same lies until it stuck. Let me give you a typical example. Just a week ago, all the social media planted my picture, showing me with the card of APC purporting that I was joining the party. At that time nobody wrote that I was Boko Haram, only that Sheriff is going back to APC. When we registered with APC we went to our villages to do it, that village they are showing on the social media was a village that was taken over by Boko Haram for the past three years, so how could I have gone there to register? Few days after I became the Chairman of the PDP, Ali Sheriff is now Boko Haram; so if you are in APC you are not a Boko Haram.

Throughout my period in APC nobody said I was Boko Haram. Immediately I left the APC, I was termed Boko Haram, therefore you could understand that Nigeria is a very interesting country and the fact that today you cannot do without the media and whosoever has the machinery of the media, unless by chance like the way you have talked to me, they would still be disseminating every kind of stories but nobody will ask why is it that when Ali Modu Sheriff went back to APC, nobody said he is Boko Haram but today that he is PDP Chairman, he is Boko Haram. To cut the story short, I have nothing to do with Boko Haram in my entire life. Nobody in my family or relation is Boko Haram or close to any Boko Haram member. These people that wanted to kill me? Up till today, if they have the chance they will kill me because they think I reported them to Yar’Adua who leveled their places of worship and, along the line their leader was killed. And that is my crime and why they want to kill me but people that are afraid of me changed the story and they keep on doing it. Every day they write different things, but you and I know that nobody is above the laws of Nigeria. I believe today that President Buhari, even if it is his son or blood brother that is Boko Haram member, he will arrest and prosecute him. So the allegation is the figment of the imagination of the writers.

You said they were trying to kill you when you were in power?

Yes

So that means they were there during your tenure?
No

As the Chief Security officer of the state then, how would you say the problem of Boko Haram started?

It is not just when I was there, if they have the opportunity today, they will kill me. They wanted to kill me, and my crime was simple; I stopped them from operating in the state and in fact, I outlawed them. I did a lot to stop them in Borno. I made it clear that if you are found among them, you will be prosecuted and jailed. It was a proscribed group in the state during my time as governor.

Apart from the proscription, were there other actions you took to stop them?

Their leader was arrested and taken to Abuja severally but each time they bailed him before it culminated in their attacks. And eventually, their building was destroyed and their leader was killed. The military threw them out of the towns and they entered the bushes. After my regime, they regrouped from the bushes and other local governments and started what they are doing now. I have nothing to do with them.

How many times did you take action against them?

It was during my administration that their leader was arrested; it was during my time they were proscribed; it was under my regime that their leader was arrested and charged to court and they were bailed by citizens of Nigeria from Abuja, they are all on record. It was my own family that they started killing. They went to that mosque to kill my younger brother thinking it was me and that was the mosque I usually go to pray; so where did I come in?

How many times was their leader arrested and brought to Abuja?

More than five times

And the security system didn’t take the issue seriously?

The security system cannot do much once they arrest and arraign them and the court grants them bail; what would they do since we are in the time of rule of law. If the court says you are not guilty, then you are not guilty.

One of the issues your people have against you is that you destroyed the local government system and didn’t allow it to function as governor; why did you do that?

It is absolutely false. All my local governments were functioning. I was the only governor, I remember that time that conducted local government election, and gave them independence. In my time I had an opposition local government chairman, even inside Maiduguri which is Juare Local government. In my time, every local government in Borno State had a hospital and, today, most of these refugees are in the buildings I constructed in Borno State. In my time, I did many roads in all the local governments and the local governments were functioning and, to crown it all, their money was never missing. When I was leaving government, I left N65 billion. Today, I stand to be corrected; if any state in Nigeria has left even N5 billion for his successor. I still stand to be corrected. So, anybody telling you that I destroyed local government system in the state is not being truthful. The most-properly run government in Nigeria was in Borno and I want to tell you that the statements of accounts of how Borno Local governments operated; the outstanding money, close to N40 billion was part of the N65 billion that I left in the coffers of Borno State. So, for anybody to write that is absolutely rubbish. I challenge anybody to prove me wrong.

How would you rebuild PDP because it is a party in disarray now?

Well, I will give you food for thought and it is up to you to judge whether I have the capacity to rebuild it or not, but I tell you very clearly, PDP will be rebuilt, will be reunited, PDP will come together. I formed a party from the scratch that won elections all over Nigeria. The UNCP, which was short-lived, was built by me and we won elections all over Nigeria. I won election to the senate and 80 per cent of those that won election at that time were from UNCP and I, by the grace of God with few other leaders like Jerry Useni who is still alive, Issah Mohammed, built it together and it won elections all over Nigeria. So, I have the capacity to rebuild PDP. UNCP was started by me from the confab. It was UNCP that birthed PDP and APP; some members of UNCP went to form PDP and some went to form APP at that time. PDP formed government in Nigeria and we (APP) were strong opposition party in the country. This APC you are seeing, I was a founding member. APC is ACN and CPC that got together to form the APC. Therefore, from my antecedents, I have won elections from scratch; I built party in Borno State, we formed government of APP then; I came to the National Assembly and due to disagreements, I unseated a sitting government to become the governor for eight years; therefore somebody that is not a builder cannot achieve such feat.

What do you think is the problem of PDP that brought it to this present state?

The problems of PDP were many and we understood them and we can reposition this party. At a point in time the leaders of the party could not agree on certain basic principles. For arguments sake, many states lost elections today because those the people wanted were not the ones eventually given the tickets of the party. Some of them did not leave the party but they stayed within the party and because of anger, they allowed the party to lose the election. We will reconcile with them and bring them back to the party. We will go to their homes, talk to them and make sure that everyone put his dagger down. They should know that the party they built would not be allowed to be destroyed. We will beg everybody, we will go to everybody’s home to make sure that their anger does not exist because when a human being is angry he has a right to be pacified and we are going to pacify them in their homes because when wrongs are done, another wrong cannot correct that. When people leave their anger the right things would be done.

Are you not afraid of the present government coming after you seeing this is the era or arrests?

I strongly believe that there is no government in the world that can operate without an opposition. Most governments listen to constructive opposition. If being in opposition is a crime, they will have the right to do whatever they want to do but as a politician we would say what we believe is right to be said. It is our fundamental right to practice party politics and that is all we are doing; we are not insulting anybody, all we are saying is we believe every citizen has the right to aspire and the judgment is left to Nigerians to decide. President Buhari is a President, he was there by the will of God, whatever God destines will happen and party politics is the right of everybody. You have the freedom of choice like you have the right to freedom of worship and the constitution of Nigeria provides for freedom of expression. Nobody can be jailed because he is expressing his fundamental human rights.

Have you started reaching out to estranged members?

Yes

What is the response like?

Wonderful. There are people that had been sitting down in their houses after losing the election but after talking to them they have accepted. Calls are coming and I have been making calls every day and immediately we finish the handover and take over, I will hit the road everywhere, pacifying them, asking them to come back; it is a home they built and it is a home that they should not leave. I will visit the zones; I will visit the states and I will visit individuals whose sacrifices made the party and, insha Allah, we will succeed.

So you are hoping to take over power from APC in 2019

It is not yet 2019, but I will tell you that we will build our party and put our people together before 2019 that you are talking about. What I am ready to do today is to build my party; the rest is left to Allah, God almighty who says that power belongs to Him and He gives it to who he wants to give. Only God knows who reaches 2019, but I tell you that the party will be rebuilt, the party will be repositioned. Every member of this party will be happy to be a member of the PDP.

There is this assertion that PDP destroyed the economy and that is why it is in a mess. What is your response?

The economy is something that is sometimes affected by global factors that affects people globally. The price of crude oil today is not determined by PDP; it is a global issue. Today, crude oil prices are $28-$29 and PDP does not determine oil price. By 1990 when the world economy crashed the whole world was affected. Today, the EU, US, Caribbean, all over the world are affected by the oil price and other economic factors. It is in every part of the world. When certain indices that affect the economy change, they affect the global economy. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and other oil producers are also affected by the slump in oil prices that has nothing to do with government; PDP is not the one in power now.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I have been a businessman all my life. I was born to a business family, and I ventured into politics in 1978 when NPN came and my uncle was running as a senator. We went to campaign for him and he won the elections and that encouraged me; how he was talking to villagers, how he was getting reception interested me. By the time I came back from England, I lived in Lagos, concentrating on my business. In 1992, I was invited by the NRC in my state, which was in minority, to come around for the senate. I contested against the National Chairman of the SDP’s wife, Ambassador Kingibe and I won the election and it became the election of the century because at the point I joined the NRC, out of the eight local governments in my senatorial district, six of them were controlled by the SDP, only two of them were controlled by the NRC and, everybody had written it off that I will not win the election but eventually I won.

What do you see as the future of Nigeria?

It will be great, Nigeria will bounce back. Nigeria is a very interesting country that is politically aware. Nigerians will make a decision and when they want to change they will change. Nigeria is a country that no one but Nigerians can determine who will be their leader at any given time. Nigerians collectively voted for Buhari and removed Jonathan who was a sitting President and that makes our country very interesting.


How would you use the knowledge you garnered as governor to help resuscitate PDP?

PDP is a deep rooted political party in Nigeria but it was unfortunate that few people destroyed the party. Why they did it, only they know but we will rebuild PDP and put that all behind us and bring the party back to life. Politics is give and take, talking to the people, listening to the views of other people. It is about peoples interests, feelings and combine them to ensure peoples’ views are respected and that they are given the chance to say what they want that is why it is democracy, it cannot be regimental and one directional. People have to be flexible.

How do you see the apprehension of Nigerians over failure of their expectations by the incumbent APC regime?

The disappointment of the youths in any government of the day if their expectations are not met is understandable, because the suffering of Nigerians today is too much. Unless you take deliberate steps to remedy the suffering, it would always breed disappointment. We will tell them what we will do if given the opportunity to rule, we will give them hope.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/buhari-would-ve-arrested-me-if-i-had-any-links-with-boko-haram/232444/

The couple who got married in 2014 welcomed their first child, a baby boy yesterday Feb. 15th.
Adanna is former Governor Ikedi Ohakim's daughter. Congrats to the couple!

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-adanna-ohakim-husbanddavid.html

cc: lalasticlala

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola and Body of Permanent Secretaries in the State, presented gifts to the wife of the Governor on her 52nd birthday, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday, February 15, 2016. Another photo after the cut...

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-permanent-secretaries-present.html

cc: lalasticlala

This Oyibo man was spotted buying Akara somewhere in Lagos this evening. See more photos after the cut...

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-oyibo-man-seen-buying-akara-in.html

cc: lalasticlala

President Buhari received the Director General, World Trade Organization, Ambassador Roberto Azevedo, and his team at the state house Abuja today February 15th. Continue to see more photos...

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-world-trade-organization-visits.html

cc: lalasticlala

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, has revealed that herdsmen who launched violent attack on farmers in Nigeria, were mostly foreigners.

The IGP made this known at an interactive section with stakeholders on community policing in Akure, the Ondo State capital, over the weekend.

While reacting to a question raised by a farmer on “persistent attacks of herdsmen,” Arase said most of the troublesome herdsmen were not Nigerians but foreigners, who entered the country with their cattle due to porous borders.


He said they were either from Mali or Chad, adding that Nigerian herdsmen were law abiding and would not indulge in such an act.

Urging the farmers to be careful and take caution in dealing with them, the police boss said, “We should also know about the history of migration.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/violent-fulani-herdsmen-are-not.html

cc: lalasticlala

According to a www.metronaija.com reader, who happens to be a student of YABATECH told us that Students of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos protested today on the death of one of their colleagues,sources at the institution confirmed that that a female final year student, who is said to be from the department of Food Technology, was admitted at the institution’s medical centre but was not properly attended to, a situation which led to her demise this morning.

https://www.nigerianbulletin.com/data/attachments/52/52166-551b96c179a958a740f1b10a7a702c7c.jpg
[img]http://www.nigerianbulletin.com/attachments/yaba2-jpg.70864/[/img]

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-yabatech-students-protest-death.html

cc: lalasticlala

Miss Heritage Africa 2015, Benedicta Akpana has bagged a political appointment in Cross Rivers state.

https://www.nigerianbulletin.com/data/attachments/52/52178-2f400316d3286e9b0d639fc873ce8fa0.jpg
The 24years old beauty queen was appointed the Executive Protocol officer to the Governor of Cross Rivers state, Benedict Ayade.

Speaking with us, on how she felt about her new appointment, Benedicta said: “words are not enough to describe how happy I am and I thank God for being blessed.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/cross-rivers-gives-miss-heritage.html

cc: lalasticlala

No fewer than 1,500 women gave birth in 28 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno in 2015, the State Primary Health Care Management Board said on Sunday in Maiduguri.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Sule Mene, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the deliveries were recorded between January 2015 and January 2016.

Mene said about 14,600 pregnant women received anti-natal health care, psycho-social services and child nutrition support.

He said that the agency had also received about 1,200 severe medical cases, which were referred to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for proper care.

The official said the agency had established 20 Integrated Primary Health Care Centres for IDPs in all the camps to provide integrated primary health care and referral services.

"The Borno Government has procured health kits for each of the IDPs to help cater for their immediate needs.

"We have equally distributed mosquito nets to each and every one of them," he said.

According to him, the agency, in collaboration with Federal Road Safety Commission, had trained its drivers to ensure prompt response to expectant mothers to access health facilities

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/over-1500-pregnant-women-gave-birth-in.html

cc: lalasticlala

The Nigeria Police (Anambra State Traffic Office) needs the help of the public to identify the person in the photo, a victim of a fatal accident which occurred in Awka on February 1, 2016.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photo-who-knows-this-accident-victim.html

Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central, has given President Muhammadu Buhari rules on how to handle his vacation.

According to the Senator, President Buhari Buhari must follow these 11 tips in order to enjoy his five days vacation....

- President Buhari needed rest and must avoid anything that could distract him

- Shut down your Facebook account for the duration of the holidays. “Freeze your twitter accounts for the duration of the holidays.

- Shut down your phone and get a new foreign SIM card only accessible to your immediate family members and instruct them not to give that number to anyone outside of the family. Nigerian SIM card will always have a way of popping up local news through bulk sms.

- Avoid reading newspapers both foreign and local; and if you must read foreign avoid the Africa section.



- Avoid watching local TV stations via cable and even BBC and CNN; our north east problem are always there. If you must watch just stay tuned to Sunna TV or national geographic or discovery or Comedy Central.

- Don’t attend to office files, leave them till you are back.

- Ask not to be updated on the current price of crude oil or the state of the naira or the state of the foreign reserve.

- Avoid the temptation of calling any Governor, Senator or Minister or party chieftain for any briefing.

- Avoid people who want to pay a ‘courtesy visits to our president who is on vacation”

- Avoid business men and politicians who will trail and trace you there.

- Just eat, pray, engage in sports, read your religious books and sleep for the duration of your well deserved holidays.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/shut-down-your-facebook-and-twitter.html

The Senate Unity Forum, has asked Dr. Bukola Saraki to resign as the Senate President of Nigeria.

This follows Friday’s Supreme Court judgement on the trial of the Senate President at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The apex court declared that Saraki’s CCT trial is proper and in order.

The Code of Conduct Bureau had leveled a 13-count criminal charge against the former Kwara State Governor before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged false declaration of assets

The pro-Ahmed Lawan group during the Senate presidential election in June last year, had said the senate president is not morally fit to lead the senate following his trial at the Code of Conduct.

The anti-Saraki senators demanded the immediate resignation of Senate President so that he could concentrate on his trial at the CCT.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/saraki-should-step-down-as-senate.html

cc: lalasticlala

I know many Nigerians will be looking at this like 'yeah, right! :-)

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/funny-photo-for-your-sunday_7.html

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has described the validation of the elections of Governors Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State as the consolidation of the will of the people through the judicial process.

In a congratulatory message to the two governors on Wednesday night after the affirmation of their elections, Governor Wike praised the Supreme Court for always upholding the supremacy of the rule of law in the nation’s democracy.

Governor Wike rejoiced with his Akwa Ibom and Abia State colleagues on their deserved victory at the Supreme Court, urging them to be magnanimous in victory by continuing to run inclusive governments in their respective states.


He particularly congratulated the people of Akwa Ibom and Abia States on the Supreme Court judgments, saying that they are the ultimate victors and beneficiaries of the process because their mandates were deservedly upheld.

A statement signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media noted that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, remains the party of choice, because its programmes and projects are pro-people.


The governor said that the Supreme Court through her judgments have strengthened the nation’s democracy.



Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
3rd February, 2016.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/supreme-court-judgments-governor-wike.html

cc: lalasticlala