₦airaland Forum

Mmmmmh Oga CJN you mean you actually forgot......


This should serve as a lesson to everyone. Little things matters alot. Don't take anything for granted cos you don't know who is monitoring....

This should serve as a lesson to everyone. Little things matters alot. Don't take anything for granted cos you don't know who is monitoring....

PREMIUM TIMES has obtained details of a statement given by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, to the Code of Conduct Bureau which is accusing him of false asset declaration.

In one note seen by this newspaper, Mr Onnoghen said he “forgot to update his asset declaration, after the expiration of his 2005 declaration”.

Mr Onnoghen also explained that he believed that the form SCN 000015 filed in December 2016 after he emerged acting CJN would cover for the period after his confirmation as CJN.

The case against Mr Onnoghen came after a group, the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative, sent a petition against him alleging wrongdoing in his asset declaration.

The group said the CJN, Nigeria’s most senior judicial officer, maintained illegal accounts containing foreign currencies and did not declare them.

The group’s head, Denis Aghanya, is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress and a former publicity secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change.

The group said, its petition was brought “bearing in mind the imminence of the 2019 elections and the overwhelming role of the judiciary both before and after the election.”

A statement by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Saturday, said Mr Onnoghen would be arraigned for alleged false asset charge on Monday — seven days after the petition was brought.

Some lawyers have alleged the trial is politically motivated.

Sebastian Hon, a senior advocate of Nigeria, told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday it is “more political than it is honest”.

“While I know that the Chief Justice of Nigeria does not enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution, I see this move by the Federal Government as dangerously political and tendentious,” he said.

“Suddenly, we woke to see a petition leaked to the informal or social media, allegedly received by the Code of Conduct on 9th January, 2019. Suddenly, we are told charges have been filed against the CJN. Why this supersonic rush?”

In his response to the queries raised by the CCB, Mr Onnoghen wrote as follows:

“My asset declaration form numbers SCN 00014 and SCN 00005 were declared on the same day, 14/12/2016 because I forgot to make a declaration of my assets after the expiration of my 2005 declaration in 2009.

Following my appointment as acting CJN in November, 2016, the need to declare my assets anew made me to realize the mistake.

“I then did the declaration to cover the period in default. I did not include my standard charted bank account in SCN 000014 because I believed they were not opened.

“I did not make a fresh declaration of asset after my substantive appointment as CJN because I was under the impression that my SCN 000015 was to cover that period of four years which includes my term as CJN,” Mr Onnoghen said in his statement dated January 11.

Mr Onnoghen was first appointed acting CJN on November 10, 2017 following the retirement of the former CJN, Mahmoud Mohammed.

His appointment as acting CJN came amidst criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to forward his name to the Senate for confirmation as the most senior judge.

On February 8, 2017 Vice President Yemi Osinbajo returned Mr Onnoghen’s name for confirmation to the Senate on March 1.

Mr Onnoghen was subsequently sworn in to office as Nigeria’s 17th CJN on March 8, 2017.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/305421-exclusive-what-cjn-onnoghen-told-ccb-over-asset-declaration.html

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State is happy over what he calls the cordial relationship between him and President Mohammadu Buhari.

The governor says he has no regret relating well with the President.

Obiano who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said yesterday that the good relationship has “contributed in no small measure to the unrivalled social harmony in the state which has made Anambra one of the most competitive states in the country.”

“Not only do we have excellent relations with all state governments in Nigeria, we also enjoy warm relations with all political parties and their members, including candidates in the 2019 general elections,” the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, quoted him as saying in a statement in Awka.

Read Also: Buhari, El Rufai ‘ll return to office – Kaduna deputy gov
He added: “We don’t discriminate in the state, as can be testified by the presence in our administration of members of the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress and a number of non-Anambra indigenes.

“We are proud that Anambra is today the most peaceful, the most cohesive and the most inclusive state throughout the country.”

Obiano linked the level of cooperation among federal and state agencies in the state to his strategy to make Anambra the first choice investment destination in Nigeria, saying:“I have consistently stated that investments go first and foremost to peaceful and stable places.

“Frankly, I think other parts of the country should come to Anambra State and see how not only how key federal agencies work together but also how national and sub-national organizations cooperate fully with one another for the benefit of the people.

“The unprecedented investment flow of over four billion dollars in just four years in Anambra State is not fortuitous or a mere happenstance but a part of a well planned, deliberate strategy which took into consideration environmental factors affecting investment decisions everywhere in the world.”

He commended intelligence and security agencies in the state for providing impressive security in the state, especially during the Christmas and New Year Fiesta.


http://thenationonlineng.net/relationship-buhari-paid-off-obiano/

Really

Atiku is Finished

THE Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, yesterday declared that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is lucky to have Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as its National Chairman.

The monarch who disclosed this when Oshiomhole and other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party paid him a courtesy visit at his palace, asserted that Oshiomhole has all it takes to lead the party to victory come 2019.

Oshiomhole was accompanied to the palace by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Director General of the President Muhammadu Buhari Presidential campaign, Rotimi Amaechi and several other National Assembly members.

The delegation were in Adamawa for the flag –off of the governorship campaign of Governor Muhammed Jibrilla Bindow.

The royal father who commended Oshiomhole for his leadership so far as chairman of the APC, asserted that criticisms in some quarters against the national chairman of the APC was an indication that he is taking the right steps in reshaping the APC.

“I thank you Mr Chairman for paying me this courtesy visit. Since you became chairman things are going properly in the party. In Nigeria there are complaints everywhere but in such situation you will find out that the person they are complaining about is doing wonderfully well, he stated.

Oshiomhole who spoke earlier, expressed his gratitude to the royal father for his support to Governor Bindow in the state and appealed for continuous support for both the governor and President Muhammadu Buhari in the forthcoming general elections.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/apc-lucky-to-have-oshiomhole-lamido-adamawa/

Is like Reno's outburst failed?

gare:
Atiku is not sick, so that play they sickness card here, he is very fit and sound, going against someone like PMB that has thrown caution to the wind, you need to plan well, I dont know why you guys in APC want to see him, is PMB not enough for you guys.

I laugh in Swahili..... Cos na so e dey take start. Deep down I know you concerned about the way the euphoria that greeted his emergence is dying down by the day but may be afraid to express it openly.


No more news and talks about the policy document from Dubai, what we now hear on daily basis is unsubstantiated wild allegations here and there.....

gare:
What do you understand by fake news ? It can only be fake when you have the original, so if you dont have the original why call the one available fake.

Now you have defined what fake news is, kindly answer the next question...... Where is Atiku Abubakar your principal?

netpro:
We need answers. Why is the PDP hiding his condition, after all the noise about PMB.

Where is Atiku?

Maybe he is suffering from an unknown ailment and goes to Dubai for treatment every now and then.

gare:
He is on the mountain Praying, he needs Gods guidance and help, with Amina Zakari as head of collation, he had to spend more days for special prayers for Amina.

While his foot soldiers are here in Nigeria releasing Lies and Fake news in the name of press statements to divert attention.

Maybe he has gone back to Dubai. No wonder a PDP governor told premium times that Atiku's love for Dubai is disturbing and may cost him the election.


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/303511-exclusive-why-atiku-may-lose-2019-election-pdp-governor.html

Where is @atiku? 42 days to General Elections!

Obviously he's not back in Dubai or is he?

CONCESSION SPEECH L-O-A-D-I-N-G!

https://mobile.twitter.com/APCUKingdom/status/1081187486276161536

Ikpewe:
WAILERS GO AVOID THIS THREAD LIKE KILODE.

True Talk

Racoon:
Before now;
https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/inec-will-not-use-incident-form-in-2019-elections-rec/amp/

And today;

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/inec-retains-smart-card-reader.html
This Buhari-led APC government and all agencies under it can never be trusted.Please the court should address this issue.

Address what exactly? Something that has already been addressed by the Supreme Court in the case of Wike vs Peterside, Udom Emmanuel vs Umana Umana and Otti vs Ikpeazu where it ruled that where the card reader fails the incidence form can be used so as not to disenfranchise voters.

CilicMarin:
Nobody should disenfranchised on the account of Smart card that Is not even legal as pronounced by the Supreme Court..

Gbam

Mmmmmh


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/boko-haram-no-nigerian-territory-under-insurgents-control-investigation/amp/


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-nigerian-territory-under-boko-harams-control-ccrms-report.html

No Nigerian territory is currently under the control of the violent Islamic sect, otherwise known as Boko Haram, latest report has shown.

The Centre for Conflict Resolution and Management made the revelation in a report released on Wednesday.

The centre made this disclosure after an on-the-spot assessment of Baga Town Kukuwa LGA of Borno State and others parts of North Eastern Nigeria.

The centre made the revelation in the wake of the rumoured takeover of the town by Boko Haram insurgents.

Presenting the report on Wednesday, the Executive Director of the centre, Mrs. Betty Aku, said contrary to the media report, no town in the country is being controlled by the violent group.

The report reads.

Baga’s reputation and by volume of economic activity is a major economic hub in Borno State. The town is also located within the epicentre of the political insurgency in North-eastern Nigeria. By 2009, Doron Baga had become significantly affected by the activities of the insurgents, with the community experiencing frequent violent attacks and even long periods of territorial occupation by the insurgents.

The palpable insecurity in the Lake Chad region occasioned by armed banditry, arms trafficking and border intrusion along Nigeria’s border with Chad, Cameroon, and Niger necessitated the establishment of a Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in 1998 with Baga town in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State as the Headquarters.

The initial mandate of the Task Force was to conduct military operations in the Lake Chad Region, checkmate banditry activities and to facilitate free movement of the member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission across their shared border.

The actions of Boko Haram in Baga as the epicentre of strategic activities in terms of arms procurement, planning for attacks and reception centre for foreign insurgents or mercenaries (due to its proximity to porous borders) obligated and justified the expansion of the Task Force’s mandate in April, 2012 to include the fight against terrorism. The MNJTF in Baga is in charge of Lake Chad region and is administratively and operationally independent.

As in this case, it is evident that Baga has remained a battleground for the Nigerian Military and the Boko Haram insurgents for factors such as its proximity to the neighbouring francophone countries, its economic potentials, and activities evident in farming, livestock rearing, and fishing. Even before the Boko Haram conflict in the area, phenomena’s such as ambush, human trafficking, kidnapping, and robbery have been prevalent in the Lake Chad basin and specifically near the borders.

Data analysis and interviews were used to answer critical research questions. Primary source materials constituted a significant aspect of the research work. The strength of this report was in the extensive use of such sources, including oral interviews with residents of the communities.

After an analysis of the findings of the researchers, the following were arrived at:

Baga town and its environs are not under the control of Boko Haram Insurgents.

Baga Town witnessed an attempted takeover by heavily armed Boko Haram Insurgents, but the attack was successfully repelled by the combined grand and air forces of the Armed Forces

Baga and its environs are accessible to all commuters.

The rumoured takeover of Baga and other communities are aspects of propaganda in warfare

The resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram Insurgents has not decimated the claims that the sect has been technically defeated.

The Nigerian troops were in high spirit throughout the festive season. The neighbouring communities in Baga are as safe as well.

There is no section of the state under the control of Boko Haram Insurgents.

The second attempt lasted several hours until the military deployed air support to the ground troops.

Our researchers gathered that there was no attempt by the Insurgents to inflict harm on the locals. They were strictly out to take control of the military base and possibly gain access to the armoury. This much was also gathered for other communities included in the rumoured takeover by Boko Haram insurgents.

It was also gathered that the town of Cross Kauwa was briefly occupied by the Boko Haram insurgents after the first attempt at the military base in Baga. The insurgents launched the second attack from Cross Kauwa before dispersing using the Lake Chad route into the fringes in Chad and Niger.

It was also gathered that the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks might be connected to the forthcoming general elections. This much was gathered from some of the locals interviewed by our researchers on the field. There were instances where fingers were pointed at politicians (names not mentioned) who are either protesting a loss or a defeat or who have in one way or the other benefited from the malaise over the years.

The neighbouring communities also witnessed spill overs of the rage in Baga, and this saw to an increase of IDPs into Maiduguri the state capital from most of the communities surrounding Baga. Upon inquiry by our researchers, the majority of them stated that even though they have enjoyed peace over the years since they returned home, the experiences of past years have made them paranoid hence why they decided to troop to the state capital.

This was also the same reason adduced by residents in other parts of Borno state that were visited by our team of researchers. It was a case of palpable fear as a result of past experiences and not as a result of the occupation of these communities by Boko Haram Insurgents. In one of the communities in Southern Borno that didn’t witness any form of attack, residents trooped out of the town merely out of a rumour that Boko Haram insurgents were going to attack the community and this rumour caused a panic situation.

From available facts gathered it was indeed a misrepresentation by some media houses that reported that Baga and other communities were under the control of Boko Haram Insurgents. In the course of a five-day touring of these communities our researchers have been able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there was indeed a heated exchange of gunfire between the military and Boko Haram insurgents in some communities, especially Baga, and thus culminated into a rumour that the town had fallen and residents from other cities fled for fear of the unknown.


https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/181691/

The fiery catholic priest and the spiritual director, adoration ministry Enugu Nigeria, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka has endorsed president Muhammed Buhari’s second term reelection bid. This is as the priest also said he he foresee the country facing more serious economic challenge this year.

Mbaka made the endorsement and prediction in his new year message in his annual 31st cross over night. He said:

“Among all the Presidential aspirants, Buhari stands in best position in winning the presidential election.” He enumerated the achievements of President Buhari to include the of construction of Enugu- Onitsha expressway; the construction of second Niger bridge.

The prelate also applauded what he said was the agricultural revolution of the Buhari government, noting that “what happens in the ministry of agriculture such as massive production of rice is unprecedented in Nigeria agricultural history.

“In all this, we urge Nigerians to vote President Buhari in order to complete his eight years tenure and after which he will hand over to younger candidate.”

He said that three years cannot be equated with 16 years in measuring governance.

On Enugu state government, Fr Mbaka praised Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his good work in Enugu state, saying that since the inception of democracy Enugu State had not got a good leader like Ugwuanyi.

On the area of security, Mbaka said that Enugu state has been the pace setter of peace, and admonished the people of the state to vote for him in other to finish his good work.

Mbaka also told the governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC, in Enugu state, Senator Ayogu Eze to forget his governorship ambition so that governor Ugwuanyi will finish his second tenure.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/fr-mbaka-endorses-buhari-ugwuanyi-for-second-term/

The Dubai policy document has failed so these allegations

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar was showing early signs of depression as a result of frustration and is currently unable to focus on his campaign ahead of the 2019 Presidential election..

The APC in a late statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Nallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said Atiku was now unable to focus on his own campaign due to frustration.

He said: “The PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is exhibiting early signs of depression, resulting from obvious frustration.

“Consequently, he is unable to focus on his campaign. Otherwise, he should tell Nigerians why a discredited person like him should be elected as President instead of raising puerile allegations on a daily basis.

‘’President Buhari and APC, not his programmes for the country, appear to be his main campaign issues. Nigerians are desirous of campaign that focuses on issues that matter to them. For Atiku and his PDP co-travellers, the only interest is to grab power and continue where they stopped in their avarice.”

The APC said the Buhari administration “is eager to showcase the impressive achievements we have recorded in the last three and half years. This is the campaign that matters to us and this is what Nigerians are interested in.

“The trajectory is exciting as we see a brighter future shaping up. We won’t yield to the PDP’s shenanigans. The obvious strategy of the PDP is to truncate the country’s journey towards economic buoyancy and social stability. We will not play the PDP’s game”.

APC accused the PDP of acting out a script that was anti-people, saying the President remained unshaken by the efforts of Atiku and the PDP to demonize his administration.

“PDP is acting an anti-people’s script. President Buhari remains unshaken by the desperate efforts being made by Atiku and the PDP to blackmail the APC government. Everyone who was involved in corrupt practices would be brought to justice.

‘’PDP is not offering any alternative to the progressive course this government is pursuing. It is actually apparent that the party is not contesting the 2019 elections to redeem itself, least of doing any good for the country, but simply to seize power to escape justice for the grievous crimes committed against the people of this country. Nigerians won’t be fooled by the rapacious PDP gang. Never.”

Culled From Vanguard Newspaper

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/your-credibility-is-at-stake-over-etisalat-keystone-bank-shares-atiku-tells-buhari/

AAA593:
guy, buhari will receive the beating of his life in next year election in akwa ibom.

O GA eme gi Vum Na Anya very soon....

Notable leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, rose from a meeting which lasted for about three hours on Thursday, in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, and endorsed the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for re-election in February 2019.

The leaders, who came from the six states in the South West, also fixed January 29, 2019 for an official declaration for Buhari and his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo.

The Afenifere leaders, led by Pa Ayo Fasanmi, held the meeting at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat Agodi, in Ibadan.

The resolution was reached by Yoruba leaders including former governor of old Oyo state, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, former deputy governor of Lagos and Oyo states, Prince Biodun Ogunleye and Iyiola Oladokun, respectively, Dr. Abayomi Finnih; son of the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin, a former governor of old Ondo State, Tokunbo, and former commissioner for Lands in Osun State and son of Chief Bola Ige, former Minister of Justice, Muyiwa. The roll call also included Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Mr. Ayo Afolabi, Prof Adebayo Ademudi, Oladosu Oladipo, Tajudeen Olusi, and chairman of Ekiti State chapter of Afenifere, Chief Akin Fasae.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Fasae said: “We have decided to host Yorubaland in Ibadan, on January 29, next year. It is to proclaim the support of Yorubaland for president Buhari in 2019, and also, to tell the whole world that Afenifere, which Chief Obafemi Awolowo (former premier of the Western Region) created before he left, is still intact as a progressive movement. And any Afenifere person, who is not in the progressive, is not part of us. “We are now telling the Yoruba people and the whole world that Afenifere, as enunciated and enacted by Chief Awolowo is still intact and we are going to support president Buhari and Prof Osinbajo; come the presidential election in February 2019.”

Giving more information about the January 29, 2019 Declaration, Fasae said that “the owner of the mandate of the Yoruba people is APC. The six governors of Yorubaland are APC. Speakers of all Houses of Assembly in Yorubaland are APC. So, we have six speakers.

“Those people in other group of Afenifere, none of them has ever contested election. Go and research it. So, they don’t have any mandate. The Afenifere we are talking here has the mandate of the Yoruba people, and you will see them here, all of them,” and added that Osinbajo and progressive

leaders of Yoruba nation would attend the January 29 declaration. Fasae dismissed the notion that Afenifere should not be playing partisan politics by endorsing a political party.

“Yoruba, as a nation, must have a political interest. So, when they tell us this is their political interest, as Afenifere, we must support them. This is just the point. We cannot say because Afenifere and Yoruba people want this, then, we’ll run away from them. No, we don’t do that.”

In response to the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, by the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Fasae said: “The Afenifere we know in Yorubaland is progressive. And this is where we are in Ibadan. The other Afenifere that is talking about Atiku is the Ayo Adebanjo. They are not part of us. They are usurpers in the group.”



https://sunnewsonline.com/presidential-poll-afenifere-endorses-buhari-osinbajo-for-2019/

An improved supply of electricity by the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDCO) in Yobe state has laid off electricity generating set mechanics and cell phones rechargers in Damaturu and its environs.

It is recalled that the state capital has been connected recently to the newly-completed 330 KVA electricity station to boost the supply.

Kanem Trust gathered that most of these business owners have resorted to other trades to complement their sources of income.

Muhammad Tajiruna Ibrahim, a generator repairer at One Million Road, Damaturu, said he spent over 15 years in the business but the experience this time was discouraging.

“Before this improvement, I used to repair at least 40 to 50 generating sets per week but now I hardly get 15. Sometimes, a day will come and pass without getting a single one,” he said.

He said that most of the generator mechanics had left the business for other trades.

“Some have started riding commercial tricycles, some to motorcycles repair and other trades. You know, as the saying goes, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” he said.

Tajiruna said he has five men working under him and they all have families to feed.

“Recently, I opened workshops for another set of three boys I graduated but, they were caught up by the unfavorable situation.”

Ustaz Muhammad Lawan, another generating set mechanic at Gujba Road, Damaturu said the improved electricity supply was a welcome development but not for them.

Lawan said that he learnt the trade from his father and it was what he has been doing since childhood.

“I have a wife and four children and we all feed from this business. Now, I don’t know what to do because, most times we don’t have any work to do. I sometimes return home without a penny.”

However, Malam Mustapha, a resident in Damaturu, who welcomed the improved electricity supply, said the epileptic electricity supply in the past had cost him lots of money.

He said that he was spending not less than N3000 daily on fuel and servicing his generating set and the voltage doesn’t support most of his home appliances.

“I cannot iron my cloths, I can’t switch on my deep freezer. Now that the electricity voltage and supply has improved, I hardly spend N5000 per month and all my home appliances work to full capacity” he said.

Shop owners, who spoke to Kanem Trust in Damaturu said the improved power supply had raised up their profit margins.

Malam Kalli, a shop owner around Gujba Road said that using the public power supply is cost effective.

“Before the power improved, I used to buy gas, and spent on my generating sets maintenance. At the end of it, we sometimes run at a loss”.

Another shop owner, Malam Ghali Yusuf, however, complained of high voltage supply which had destroyed his refrigerator.

“The light was restored on high voltage burning down all the wires in the shop. I thanked God that there was no fire outbreak.”

He appealed to the management of YEDCO to regulate the amount of voltage being release to customers to avoid serious problems.

However, The District Manager, Yola Electricity Distribution Company, Damaturu Business District, Engineer Usman Wakta, denied the shop owner’s claim saying the problem must have been from his wiring.

He said the new station now supplied a standard 200-220 voltage, “unlike before, when we were having low voltage”.

He called on the customers to bear with the company as electric bills and charges will not be as usual due the improved in voltage and supply.


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/improved-electricity-supply-sacks-damaturu-generator-mechanics.html

baliyubla:
As if the Lifeless can rigours of campaigns.

Like someone said.. Take the battle to their strong hold that is how to know a real fighter.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday spurned reports suggesting that it has commenced moves to override President Muhammodu Buhari on the Electoral Act Amendment bill.

Spokesperson of the House, Hon Abdulrasak Namdas, who spoke with LEADERSHIP last night in a telephone chat, noted that the president acted within his constitutional powers.

He added that the lawmakers would examine the reasons adduced by the president before taking any position.

Namdas explained that the House could not have acted on speculations and media reports when it has a laid down procedure of receiving communications from the president.

He said, “The House has an established procedure for receiving communication from the president. The Speaker will come before members and read the letter addressed to the House through him by the president. Until that is done, I cannot speak about the position of the House. We will await the president’s letter and listen to his reasons; we cannot act on social media reports.

“So, we are waiting for the Speaker to read the president’s letter on the floor of the House. That is when officially we will deem it that the president has communicated to us”.

Also, a lawmaker from the North East who spoke to our correspondent noted that it would be impossible to override the president’s veto because those who are opposed to his position cannot muster the two-third majority needed.

The lawmaker who did not want his name in print said most of the lawmakers seeking re-election from the zone are banking on the goodwill of President Buhari to win elections, and as such they wouldn’t take decisions contrary to the president’s interest.

“Where will they get the number from? Let us assume that they even attempt to override it, their best will remain an attempt. The reality is that today in the House of Representatives, there is no way those opposed to the president will achieve the two-third majority of 240 members. It is impossible,” he said.

When pointedly asked if Senate President Bukola Saraki can influence two-third majority of the Red Chamber to override the veto, the lawmakers said, “Where will Saraki and his cohorts get the two-thirds majority in the Senate? It is not easy. Just as the anti-Saraki forces couldn’t get the two-third to remove him as Senate president, he is not also likely to get the two-third to veto the bill. And don’t forget that the concurrence of both the Senate and House of Representatives is needed to successfully override the president’s veto,” he stated.


Culled From Leadership Newspaper


https://leadership.ng/2018/12/10/untold-story-of-pmbs-refusal-to-sign-electoral-amendment-bill/

This is very serious

Indications emerged yesterday as to why President Muhammadu Buhari refused to append his signature on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill last Friday.

LEADERSHIP investigations revealed that the president took the decision not to sign the bill when it was discovered that some unscrupulous Nigerians had perfected plans to tamper with results of the 2019 general elections with the help of a new technology they had acquired which they would have used to distort the functioning of the electronic voter machine.

These individuals, it was also learnt, had taken their plan a notch higher by engaging the services of a Russian firm to hack into the electoral system in order to manipulate the results in favour of their clients.

Our usually impeccable source further disclosed that President Buhari declined assent because under the new electoral bill, electronic voting and transmission of results are mandatory, a situation that could have, with the hacking arrangement, vulnerably exposed the 2019 electoral process to manipulation.

According to the source, when President Buhari got wind of the sinister plot, “he quickly contacted his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, who assured him that he would ensure that no rogue elements would find the space in Russia to interfere with Nigeria’s elections in 2019”.

It was also gathered that some politicians have already entered into a contract with Cambridge Analytica, a British IT consulting firm, for the management of their political campaigns, among other services. The plan, our source added’ is to use the consultancy firm “to reach out to other ‘hacktivists’ (subversive users of computers and computer network to promote political agenda) in UK, Russia and others”.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the IT consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, had in recent past been accused of using the personal data of millions of Facebook users to influence how people vote in many countries. Following a report early this year that a former employee of Cambridge Analytica, Christopher Wylie, had told British lawmakers how an Israeli spy firm, ‘Black Cube,’ was “engaged to hack into Buhari accounts to get access to his medical records and private emails,” the federal Government in April this year commenced a probe into the revelation.

It was reported that the federal government is also probing the report which suggested that the consulting firm that combines data mining, brokerage and analysis with strategic communications for electoral process, manipulated Nigeria’s 2007 elections by organising campaigns to weaken the chances of opposition parties. Cambridge Analytica had earlier been reported to have been hired by an unnamed Nigerian billionaire to support the re-election of a former Nigerian president in the 2015 polls.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu had reacted then saying “Nigerians deserve answers from the PDP, Facebook and Cambridge Analytica on how and why they improperly obtained and used data to interfere in Nigerian elections.

“An investigation should help to determine if there is a linkage between the various killings and maiming that have characterised our elections since 2007 and the misinformation activities of the Cambridge Analytica. Such investigation will also help President Buhari to achieve his wish to leave a legacy of improved elections”, Shehu added

It was also reported on March 28, 2015 that the INEC website was hacked by a group calling themselves the ‘’Nigerian Cyber Army’’. In a statement posted on INEC’s website- www.inecnigeria.org, the group replied however that they hacked and took control of the website to protect results from being manipulated by anyone, through any means. They also claim to be protecting the rights of Nigerians to elect their leaders.

Confirming the hacking through its Twitter handle, @inecnigeria, INEC said, “We are aware of the recent hack of our @inecnigeria website, we are currently investigating this incident #NigeriaDecides”

While pre-empting the situation as well as making provision to tackle possible interference in the 2019 polls, chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on January 30, this year, said that although the 2019 election results shall be announced electronically, the physical copies of results of the elections would be given to party agents.

President Buhari had last Friday declined assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill 2018, citing impending confusion that would pervade the 2019 elections if the bill is signed into law as reason for not signing the bill. Major high points of the Bill include the use of card readers and other electronic devices in the conduct of elections.

Invariably, Sections 49 and 52 of the Electoral Act, 2010 was amended and reviewed, to allow INEC use card reader to authenticate voters’ card, use total number of voters authenticated with card reader as actual figure of voters that voted in that unit, and transmit the votes electronically.

Section 153 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) gives power to INEC to issue regulations, guidelines or manuals for the conduct of any elections in the country. Electoral Act, 2010 draws inspirations from Section 153 (1) (f) and Third Schedule Paragraph F. 15(f) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). An example of this is Guidelines and Regulations for the 2015 General Elections.

Supporters of President Buhari have described the Electoral Act amendment bill controversy as unnecessary distraction to blackmail the President into signing the law with his eyes closed. According to them, the new Electoral Act amendment bill is like a landmine laid on the path of the president by the PDP-led National Assembly, despite the fact that the president has unambiguously explained his reasons for not assenting to the Electoral Act.

They argued that the Act is fraught with dangers which, if ignored, could create chaos and confusion during the 2019 elections.

In recent survey of views conducted by our sister publication, LEADERSHIP Weekend, some lawyers had warned that since INEC neither budgeted for the use of card reader in the recently approved budget to conduct election nor trained officials for the use of the electronic device all this while, the use of card reader in view of 2015 experience in the country is enough to discard any idea of its use anywhere in the country for the conduct of the 2019 elections.

The use of card reader they held, requires INEC officials at the end of voting process to compare the number of voters verified by the card reader with the number of accredited voters, and total votes cast for consistency, which led to avalanche of conflicting judgements in the court after the 2015 elections.

Besides, they said it is fraught with abuses and is easy to manipulate the electoral system since the election officials have not been properly trained in the use of the technological device to authenticate and transmit results.

Presidential Candidates Back Decision

Meanwhile, the Forum of Presidential Candidates has endorsed President Buhari’s refusal to assent to the controversial Electoral (Amendment) Bill.

After a consultative meeting they convened yesterday to review recent developments in the polity, the 40 presidential candidates, who are members of the forum, said that they supported President Buhari’s action because “the time is obviously inauspicious to tinker with the Electoral Bill, especially when the process leading to the 2019 general elections is fully on course.”

In a statement signed on their behalf by the presidential candidate of Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance, Alhaji Shitu Mohammed Kabir and his Movement for the Restoration of Democracy counterpart, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, the presidential candidates said their earlier position had been vindicated that the amendment bill contained “deliberate hurdles” capable of derailing the forthcoming general elections.

The statement reads in part: “Our position is premised on the fact that we see stumbling blocks against a free and fair election next year. To be specific, the Amended Electoral Bill which stipulates electronic verification of voters and transmission of results will deliberately disenfranchise many voters, especially in the rural and remote areas of the country owing to obvious constraints of power supply and internet connectivity.

“The time left for the 2019 elections is too short for INEC to recruit relevant staff and give them adequate training. We also think that the electoral body may not be in a position to respond fast enough in cases where the electronic devices malfunction. The constraints and impediments of time and resources in difficult terrains will deliberately deny many local communities the opportunity to vote.”

The presidential candidates said they suspect that those asking President Buhari to sign the amendment bill have a sinister design to derail the electoral calendar.

“We suspect a hidden agenda if the electoral umpire is forced to adjust its programme to accommodate the personnel, budget and other logistics in the guise of abiding with the provisions of the amendment bill”, they said.

Last week, the forum had filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Abuja, where it prayed the court to stop Buhari from signing the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018.

The three plaintiffs, Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance, Allied Peoples Movement and Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy, joined the Senate president, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, INEC chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation ad Minister of Justice as defendants.

https://leadership.ng/2018/12/10/untold-story-of-pmbs-refusal-to-sign-electoral-amendment-bill/

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday stopped Chief Ikechi Emenike from parading himself as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Abia state. The order of the court followed an exparte application filed by Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah wherein he asked the court to restrain Emenike from parading himself as APC gubernatorial candidate for the 2019 general election having been nominated by Abia state chapter, instead of the National Executive Committee of of APC pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff/applicant’s motion on notice.

Joined as first to third defendants in the suit are Emenike, APC and INEC. Delivering ruling, Justice A.I Chikere also granted an order of interim injunction, restraining APC from forwarding to INEC any name other other the plaintiff ’s name as Abia state gubernatorial candidate for 2019 general election pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The court also granted an order of interim injunction, restraining the INEC from removing, substituting, withdrawing changing plaintiff’s name with any other name as Abia gubernatorial candidate or receiving or accepting from APC or any other person , any name other than the name of the plaintiff as its candidate for the 2019 Abia state gubernatorial election. The court also ordered that the motion on notice dated 3rd December, 2018 and filed on 4th December, 2018 be served on the defendants within five days of the making of the order Further hearing in the was adjourned to 18th December, 2018.


https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2018/12/emmanuel-court-to-emenike-youre-not-abia-apc-guber/

A group of youths under the auspices of Arewa Proactive Youth Coalition has urged Nigerians to be wary of the Peoples Democratic Party, especially the ability of the party to transparently manage public resources when voted into power.

President of the group, Inuwa Bako, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, dismissed the flag-off of the presidential campaign of the PDP as a scam, saying that the youths from the region were wiser now.

He also described the appearance of some chieftains of the party, including its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Sokoto as the latest form of “MMM” in town.

According to him, youths from the northwest would never fall for the scam the PDP is trying to sell to people of the region.

Boko said it was laughable that the PDP could described its outing in Sokoto as a huge success even when attendees did not fill up a 10,000 capacity stadium that hosted the rally.

This, he explained, has proven that the PDP can never repent of being fraudulent by passing off its rally for the north-west as a success.

Bako said: “The North West rally which had the entire PDP loyalists from all over Nigeria left a 10,000 capacity stadium still empty and the mouthpieces of the party were still bereft of shame to lie that the number of people that attended the rally portends victory for Atiku Abubakar. This is nothing but MMM whereby people were made to believe what did not exist, anyone that allow themselves to be taken in by such scam are in for disappointing surprises.

“The PDP may be playing the ostrich but the reality is that many people that should have attended the rally are aware that they will not hear anything new but that they will be plied with insult and abuses against the ruling party since the PDP and his candidate are incapable of issue based campaign.

“The people of the North West and other Nigerians are eager to attend rallies that are better organized, where they will be able to here fact based pitches from candidate and not gatherings where actors and charlatans would be hopping on soap boxes.

“We have done the simple mathematics, which people that cannot gauge the number of people that attended their rally in a 10,000 capacity venue are incapable of. If a single tenure of four years can bring the government closer to citizens more than 16 years of PDP has done then it follows that the wasted era of PDP must never be repeated, which includes not wasting time to attend the party’s paid to attend rally.

“You can imagine that a party that was in power for 16 years with a candidate that was Vice President for eight years are unable to point to concrete projects or achievements to convince the electorates with. If after previously holding office for 16 years all PDP can do is to make more promises of what it will do if elected instead of showing what it has done to be re-elected then there is something capitally wrong with the party and its candidate.

“So why should we go and listen to their lies when we know that we can listen to the other candidate that can easily show us what he has done, what he is doing and what he will do, all under four years? This is what President Buhari and the APC has above them and they are yet to realize it. They continue to live their lies.

“We have resolved that we will not allow the rural population or those with limited political exposure to be scammed by the PDP as they continue their other rallies. Arewa Proactive Youth Coalition has therefore resolved to embark on an enlightenment drive to educate people on the issues they should raise when any party approaches them with non-issue based messaging.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/wary-pdp-arewa-youths-tell-nigerians/