₦airaland Forum

We need to ask, what was Nigeria's rating before now? if we're to judge dis administration fairly we have to compare d situation of d country now and before d administration took over.

people easily forget that Nigeria used to take 1st or 2nd position in d list of d most corrupt countries in d world. in governance, human rights, rule of law etc, we used to be at d lowest level whether in Africa or in d whole world.

we are not yet at d top where we're supposed to be but things have been getting better. For d first time in a long while, positive things are being said about Nigeria. I don't want it to stop so I'll keep supporting dis administration. and that's why I will support GEJ to win d coming election.

Ngwakwe:
These are all lies and a personal declaration of the Secretary, Professor Ango
Abdullahi.

It is worthy to note that just recently, the amiable NEF chairman, Tanko Yakassai in his personal capacity endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second in office.

Who now speaks for Northern Elders Forum?

Tanko Yakassai is of Northern elders' council, not NEF. They are two different bodies.

APC has always been winning whenever election is conducted on nairaland. unfortunately for them, it doesn't count when d real election comes. in 2011 Buhari won on N L. also in d last election in Ekiti, Fayemi won on NL. but we all know d outcome of those elections. so elections on NL don't really count

the question to be asked is ' why should Igbos not not vote for Jonathan? ' because they've already decided to vote for him. so convince them why they should not, if u have any point.

the question to be asked is ' why should Igbos not not vote for Jonathan? ' because they've already decided to vote for him. so convince them why they should not.

THE Alaafin of Oyo State, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola
Adeyemi, has commended President Goodluck
Jonathan, for his exemplary leadership style,
saying he has presented himself as the much
expected leader Africa has been waiting for.
Disclosing this in a letter to the presidency,
Adeyemi said, “I commend the language,
persuasiveness, conviction, forthrightness and
clarity of your speeches which are no doubt clear
indications of your suave, non- obstructive, honest
and sincere personality.”
While noting that he has been following with keen
interest, developments at home in Nigeria,
especially, since the beginning of what could be
regarded as the new dawn of statesmanship in the
country, the Alaafin said, “I have also been
watching and trying to understand the politics and
praxis of the new generation of African leaders as
partakers in the global search for peace, order and
good governance.”
www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/alaafin-lauds-presidents-leadership-style/

ªThe federal government on Sunday exonerated
the President of Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN), Pastor Awyo Oritsejafor of blame in the
involvement of his aircraft in the $9.3m
controversial arms deal in South Africa.
The Senior Special Assistant to President
Goodluck Jonathan (Public Communication), Dr.
Doyin Okupe, told Religious Affairs correspondents
in Abuja that Oritsejafor, who is also the founder
of Word of Life Bible Church, is innocent and has
no business with the said deal.
"Most Nigerians do not also respect the
sensibilities of other people. Oritsejafor is the
President of CAN and head of all Christians in
Nigeria who is representing at least 50 per cent of
people in this country. When it comes to a man
like that, people should be cautious and
circumspect", Okupe advised.
www.thisdaylive.com/articles/-9-3m-arms-deal-presidency-clears-oritsejafor/191112/

Following allegations of marginalisation in the All
Progressives Congress (APC), leaders and
members of the defunct Congress for Progressive
Change (CPC) in Lagos State have pulled out of
the party to join the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).
CPC is one of the legacy parties – Action
Congress of Nigeria (CAN), All Nigerian People's
Party (ANPP) and a faction of All Progressives
Grand Alliance (APGA) – that merged to form
APC.
The state chapter of CPC had been alleging
usurpation of party structures and maginalisation
of other parties in the merger by APC, which had
carried on like the leading party in the merger.
Before pulling out of APC, the CPC group in the
Lagos chapter of APC said after months of several
meetings, consultations and deliberations, the
long-awaited justice was not done to its members
and from the look of things, they were afraid of
what would be their political fate, hence the need
to take their political future into their hands by
withdrawing their membership from the APC and
moving en-masse to the PDP where they believe
their interests would be welcome and protected.
Briefing journalists recently to announce the pull
out of CPC members from APC, the State
Chairman of APC-CPC in Lagos State, Hon.
Ashogbon Lattif, said it was unfortunate that the
leadership of APC and CPC failed to yield to their
cries of marginalisation and gross impunity
perpetrated by the defunct ACN which is running
the affairs of APC in the state.
Noting that the members of the CPC group took
their complaints to the APC National headquarters,
but nothing had been done to address the
situation, he said, “What we experienced shows
their greed of uncommon proportion and why they
turned a supposed formidable merger process to
conquest of other merging parties in order to
satisfy their uncommon greed.”
He pointed out that the APC membership
registration exercise which aimed at building a
sense of belonging among all was done in total
disregard to the APC national guidelines as
regards the involvement of the merging parties
with respect to the manner which the registration
officers, in wards and LGAs and state supervisors
for the exercise were to be shared among the
three legacy parties.
Ashogbon noted that out of the 171 supervisors
engaged at the Local Government level, CPC had
only 26 slots instead of 57 due to his party. At
the ward supervisors’ level, 376 slots were given
to CPC out of 1,128. For Polling Unit Registration
Officers, 346 was given to CPC against the
entitlement of 5,093 out of a total lots of 16, 978.
He further stated that the congresses which ought
to produce united party structure of the APC was
characterised by uncommon greed of the defunct
ACN leadership. At the state level, out of 35
executives, 34 seats were taken by CAN, while
one was left to be shared between CPC and ANPP.
In the 57 LGAs, out of 1368, ACN took 1349 and
left 19.
He however said his party members had finally
resolved in their mind without being apologetic to
anyone that the APC-CPC faction across the 57
council areas of the state was moving en-masse
to PDP where they believe that the tenets of
democracy is appreciated and practiced, and that
they remain resolute in their determination to
rescue Lagos come 2015 general elections.
www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lagos-cpc-members-pull-out-of-apc-join-pdp/191063/

size38:
Which means PDP created Boko Haram.

Yerima was d first governor to introduce Shari'a. is he pdp?

Few days ago, the publicity secretary of APC (and their lair-in-chief) Alh. Lai Mohammed insisted that Asari Dokubo was one of the two Nigerians arrested in S.Africa in the now infamous $9.3m arms deal. In arriving at this conclusion, Lai quoted two 'reliable' sources from where he got his information. One of his sources is Nairaland.com.

My argument here is not whether Asari is guilty or not. My point is that this goes to show that APC indeed HAS PAID AGENTS on Nairaland (and maybe other social media platforms). And for Lai to mention it, it suggests that they constantly monitor NL to make sure that their 'employees' are active enough to justify their pay.

What is the job of these agents?
Simple: make anti PDP/GEJ posts while flooding NL with pro APC posts; do everything possible to portray PDP & GEJ in bad light; discredit anything that seems unfavorable to APC(whether they're true or false).

My suspects are NgeneUkwenu, barcanista, berem, omenka etc (you can add to the list).
That's why every time anything negative is said about APC, they attack, they course. And whenever anything good is said about PDP, they criticized & insult. But whenever anything good is said about APC, they support & defend & exaggerate.

The most tenacious of them is berem (I think she's their NL coordinator). This lady (though I have my doubts whether she's really a lady) works very hard at her job. She's ever present on NL, hovering around, like a ghost. She neither sleeps nor slumbers, neither tires nor grows weary. I commend her tenacity.

Please understand me, I do not begrudge them, I do not condemn them (after all, man must 'wack'), I'm only making an observation. But let them beware! Don't depend sorely on this job, have an alternative. Because after Feb 2015, after Jonathan must have won (make no mistake about it, he will still win), you will be out of job - my candid advise.

The Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer
Force, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, on
Wednesday distanced himself from the $9.3
million botched arms deal in South Africa, saying
he had not been to the country since 2002.
His denial came on the heels of a call by the All
Progressive congress that the Federal
Government should explain Asari’s involvement in
the botched deal.
But reacting to the APC’s statement, Asari in a
telephone interview with journalists from Saudi
Arabia where he is presently performing the 2014
Hajj, said the last time he visited South Africa was
in the 2002 and could not have gone to any
country without a visa.
He said, “Can you enter any country without a
visa? No person can enter any country without a
visa. Presently, I am in Saudi Arabia performing
my Hajj as the Amirul Hajj of Bayelsa State and
this can be confirmed. I flew Flynass from Kaduna
on the 27th. So, it is really a shame that Lai
Mohammed who has defiled the name of Allah has
become a pathological and award-winning liar.
“Nobody enters any country without a visa and I
have not been to South Africa since 2002. My
passport is present. I flew Arik airline from Lagos
on the 27th and went to Kaduna where I flew
Flynass airline and came to Saudi Arabia.
“APC has reduced itself to a party of liars just the
same way their presidential candidate, notorious
liar and confirmed dictator, General Buhari, stage
managed an assassination in order to gain cheap
popularity and where more than 100 people were
killed and he has not been put on trial. The evil
they wish me will be visited on their home.”

www.punchng.com/news/9-3m-dokubo-asari-denies-involvement-blasts-lai-mohammed/

egift:
The thunder wey go slap am still dey do press up

The man has tasted the honey, felt the power of authority and took a marathon on looting - And He Loved It

pls take it easy on the man, it's not easy for him.
He woke up dis morning as governor, but he will in to sleep tonight as a member of house of assembly!

Power is indeed transient

Bala Ngilari sworn in as Adamawa State Governor,
but Acting Governor of the state, Ahmadu Fintiri,
says he will not vacate Government House.

More details later.

www.punchng.com/news/fintiri-refuses-to-vacate-adamawa-govt-house/

let them beg Nigeria for help now o!

A Liberian man who was diagnosed with Ebola in
Texas has died, a hospital spokesman said
Wednesday.
“It is with profound sadness and heartfelt
disappointment that we must inform you of the
death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51
am,” said the statement from Texas Health
spokesman Wendell Watson.
“Mr. Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease,
Ebola. He fought courageously in this battle.”
Duncan was the first patient diagnosed with Ebola
outside West Africa, where the hemorrhagic virus
has killed more than 3,400 people since the
beginning of the year.
He flew from Liberia to Texas to visit family,
arriving in Dallas on September 20. He began
feeling sick four days later, but was not
hospitalized until September 28.
“The past week has been an enormous test of our
health system, but for one family it has been far
more personal. Today they lost a dear member of
their family,” said Texas health commissioner
David Lakey.
“They have our sincere condolences, and we are
keeping them in our thoughts.”
He said that the medical team in Texas has
“provided excellent and compassionate care, but
Ebola is a disease that attacks the body in many
ways.”
Health officials are monitoring dozens of people
who may have come in contact with Duncan,
including about 10 who are considered at high risk
of contracting Ebola.

www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/us-ebola-patient-dead/

A lawmaker in the Rivers State House of
Assembly has petitioned the Inspector
General of Police , Suleiman Abba , and the
Director of State Security Service (SSS ) , Ita
Ekpenyong , over Governor Rotimi Amaechi’ s
utterance against President Goodluck
Jonathan.
The lawmaker, Evans Bipi , who represents
Ogu/Bolo State Constituency in the House ,
also urged the police and the SSS to
commence investigation into numerous
verbal attacks of Amaechi against Jonathan.
He said Amaechi ’ s ‘ reckless’ utterances on
Kalabari soil where he said the President
was not a Rivers indigene “ is a clear
indication of a man that is most frustrated
and stranded in his political pursuit ” .
The lawmaker said Amaechi has committed
several impeachment offences by his
treasonable acts and statements when he
called the President “ a criminal ” , thereby
inciting the people to ensure that the
“ criminal” was voted out of power in 2015 .
It would be recalled that Amaechi had last
weekend at Degema Local Government Area
of the state , where he commissioned a
sports stadium , said Jonathan was not a
Rivers man because he took the oil well in
Soku , which is in Rivers to his home state
of Bayelsa.
The governor went on to say the Federal
Government under Jonathan was owing the
state N 105 billion , adding that there was no
federal presence to reciprocate the almost
two million votes the Rivers people gave to
the President in 2011 .
On what he considered as unnecessary
vituperations on the person of the President
by Amaechi, Evans called on the director
general of SSS and the Inspector General of
Police to put aside the immunity clause that
Amaechi is hiding under to insult the
President and effect his arrest .
“ Amaechi cannot continue to hide under the
immunity clause to insult the President and
his wife at the slightest opportunity he has .
He cannot always get away with this kind of
behaviour.
“ I want to make Amaechi to understand that
the Rivers people want him to account for
about N 90 billion sunk into the failed
monorail project and the billions he
budgeted to build about 270 hospitals and
schools , of which he ended up not building
half of them. ”

dailyindependentnig.com/2014/10/lawmaker-petitions-igp-sss-amaechis-attack-jonathan/

Securitymen attached to former
President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Hilltop residence in
Abeokuta, yesterday, prevented a former governor
of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel from gaining
entry into Obasanjo’s palatial home.
Vanguard gathered last night that, Daniel who was
billed to declare his defection into the People’s
Democratic Party, PDP, very soon was at
Obasanjo’s house to seek his blessing and
possible forgiveness.
According to a source who pleaded anonymity,
Daniel allegedly sat at the back of a vehicle driven
by former minister of Mines and Steel, Sarafa
Ishola but, was uncovered and reportedly turned
back.
“Ishola who drove the vehicle, who was earlier
granted entry, was also turned back when his trick
was uncovered.
“The incident occurred at about 10.30 am and it
reportedly left the embattled former governor
humiliated and traumatised”, the source said.
Daniel was engaged in supremacy battle with the
former President which caused him to vow never
to return to the PDP, despite his declared interest
to work for the re-election of President Goodluck
Jonathan.
Efforts to get Daniel or his aides to respond to the
development were futile as their phones could not
be reached.
www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/securitymen-bar-ex-gov-daniel-entering-obasanjos-home/

The Nigerian Army has concluded arrangements
to arraign 16 soldiers over the April 14, 2014,
abduction of over 200 students of the Government
Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State.
Three of the soldiers are officers while the
remaining 13 soldiers belong to other ranks.
Our correspondent gathered in Abuja on Monday
that barring any last minute change, they would
appear before the General Court Martial at the
Maxwell Khobe Military Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos
in Plateau State after the Sallah holidays.
The officers are Lieutenant Col. A. O. Ojo, Capt.
O. O. Ogunrinde, and 2nd Lieutenant V.I.
Godknows.
The 16 are among 117 soldiers facing a GCM
convened by the General Officer Commanding 1
Division of the Army in Kaduna, Maj.Gen. K. C.
Osuji, on August 6, 2014.
A source said their trial would take place at the
headquarters of the 3rd Armoured Division,
Rukuba in Jos for security reasons.
The GCM panel comprises Col. J.J. Ogunlade
(President); Col. J. O. Sokoya, Col. M. Kadiri, Col.
M. W. Abubakar, Col. A. A. Bamgbose, Col. A.
Garba and Col E.M. Albara.
Lt. Colonels B. Garke and O. S. Obot are the
waiting members of the panel which has Captain
A. Mohammed as the judge advocate and Lt. G.
B. Suleiman as the liaison officer.
Investigations on Monday revealed that Ojo, who
was the Unit Commander, in Biu, was summoned
to the GCM in relation with the conflict in the
number of girls said to have been abducted by
Boko Haram insurgents and those rescued at the
time of the incident.
The officer is also being charged for alleged
failure to reinforce the Chibok community when
the incident occurred.
It was gathered that the officers were being
charged for failure to perform military duty, an
offence that attracts a maximum of two years’
imprisonment.
A source, who confided in our correspondent said
that the Lt. Colonel had stated that the number he
gave was not the one that was used in a
statement by the Defence Headquarters on the
reported rescue of some of the abducted girls.
The said statement was later withdrawn.
The source said, “The Lt. Colonel is being charged
for allegedly giving information without
verification, negligent performance of military duty
and not going to reinforce the place where the
incident took place. The charge attracts a
maximum of two years’ imprisonment.”
He also said that Ojo had not completely taken
over from his predecessor and had complained
about the number of men and equipment on the
ground when the abduction took place two days
after his arrival in Biu for the mission.
It was stated that the shortage of men was shown
by the fact that only the 2nd Lt. and 13 soldiers
were in Chibok in spite of the fact that the place
had a heavy presence of insurgents.
It was gathered that the other soldiers led by
Godknows were on duty at the headquarters of the
Chibok Local Government Area on the day of the
incident.
Another source told our correspondent that the
Army was not notified of the examinations that
were going on in the school.
The source said that a statement by the Principal
of the School, Asabe Kwambura, corroborated the
soldiers’ claim.
Investigations revealed that the soldiers left their
location in Chibok to lay in ambush when they
received a report that insurgents were planning to
attack them on the night the schoolgirls were
seized.
They were said to have lost a soldier during the
face-off with the Boko Haram members.
The source said, “Only Godknows and 13
soldiers were on duty in Chibok. They were not
stationed within the school. No soldier was
stationed in the school and they didn’t know that
the school was in session.
“Nobody notified these people that the girls were
having an examination in the school. Even the
principal admitted in her statement that the
soldiers were not notified.
“They were told that their camp was about to be
attacked so they went out to lay in ambush for
insurgents. One of the soldiers died.
“But I can confirm to you that the Army has
concluded preparations to arraign them.”
The abduction of the schoolgirls sparked global
outrage with world leaders calling on the
terrorist group and the Federal Government to
ensure their safe release. www.punchng.com/news/lt-col-15-others-to-face-trial-over-chibok-girls/

A security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has described
as nonsensical, allegations levelled against the
Nigerian armed forces by the Amnesty
International.
A report recently released by the body had
claimed that armed forces usually torture innocent
people in its fight against insurgency.
But Ekhomu told the United States government to
conduct an independent verification of the
allegations.
The security expert said this while speaking at the
60th annual Seminar and Exhibits of the American
Society for Industrial Security, according to a
statement on Monday.
He noted that the US had not been supplying
ammunition to Nigeria because of the allegation
which is a contravention of the provisions of the
Leahy Act.
The statement read in part, “Dr Ekhomu said
allegations of human rights abuses levelled
against the Nigerian military by Amnesty
International were untrue, exaggerated and
unsubstantiated. He said that arms sales to
Nigeria were being denied by the US government
as per provisions of the Leahy Act on the basis of
these unsubstantiated and unfortunate allegations.
“He urged the US authorities to conduct
independent verification of the nonsensical
allegations.”
Ekhomu, who is the President of the Association
of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of
Nigeria, said the Boko Haram and the ISIS were
ideologically and operationally linked as evidenced
by the “land grab strategy in north-eastern
Nigeria and the declaration of the Islamic Caliphate
of Gwoza which is similar to the ISIS land grab in
Syria and Iraq and declaration of Islamic Caliphate
in Iraq and Syria.”
He subsequently called on the US to sell arms
and ammunition to the Federal Government to
enable speedy and successful prosecution of the
war against Boko Haram.
“Nigeria needs special anti-terrorist rifles, attack
helicopters, technical intelligence and training
from the Americans in order to expedite defeat of
the enemy,” he said.
He described the Nigerian military as disciplined
and focused. He called on Nigeria’s political class
to close ranks and demonstrate unity of purpose
in the war on terror.
www.punchng.com/news/amnestys-report-is-nonsensical-expert-tells-us/

I suggest they consider Mr Ibu!

berem:
that sums it up!

Pathetic!

Did they explain what made it illegal?

'...the bank became suspicious... '

Based on mere suspicion?

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has confirmed
he will be appearing at the International Criminal
Court in The Hague this week.
He told parliament that his deputy, William Ruto,
would be in charge during his absence.
Mr Kenyatta faces charges of organising ethnic
massacres that killed 1,200 people after the 2007
elections - something he denies.
The 8 October hearing is due to set a date for his
trial to begin.
The ICC had summoned him to appear to explain
allegations that evidence against him had been
withheld.
In September, the court postponed the trial after
prosecutors said the Kenyan government had failed
to deliver key documents. Witnesses for the
prosecution have withdrawn from the case.
Dozens of Kenyan MPs are expected to travel to
The Hague to back Mr Kenyatta at the status
hearing.
Mr Kenyatta said he would be going to The Hague
in a personal capacity - not as president - so as
not to compromise the sovereignty of Kenya's 40
million people.
"To protect the sovereignty of the Kenyan republic,
I now take the extraordinary and unprecedented
step of evoking article 1473 of the constitution and
I will shortly issue the legal notice necessary to
appoint honourable William Ruto, the deputy
president, as acting president while I attend the
status conference at The Hague in the
Netherlands," he said.
He again stressed his innocence: "I wish to
reiterate here for all that my conscience is clear,
has been clear and will remain forever clear that I
am innocent of all the accusations that have been
levelled against me.
"After all this, the prosecutor of the ICC has since
last December and as recently as last month,
admitted to the judges that the available evidence
is insufficient to prove alleged criminal
responsibility beyond reasonable doubt."
There had been growing doubts as to whether Mr
Kenyatta would become the first sitting president
to attend the court. He had already been to the ICC
before becoming president in 2013.
Mr Kenyatta faces five charges relating to the
ethnic massacres - the worst violence in Kenya
since independence in 1963. Tens of thousands of
people were displaced and Kenya's reputation for
stability was tarnished.
Mr Kenyatta was a close ally of President Mwai
Kibaki, who was declared the winner of the 2007
election. Mr Kibaki's rival, Raila Odinga, claimed
the poll was marred by fraud.
The dispute took on an ethnic dimension, pitting
members of the Kikuyu ethnic group of Mr
Kenyatta and Mr Kibaki against other communities.
Mr Kenyatta is accused of organising an ethnic
Kikuyu gang, the Mungiki sect, to attack rival
groups.
Vice-President Ruto also faces charges at The
Hague, but he was on Mr Odinga's side during the
violence. He also denies the charges.
m.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29511317

A political interest group within the All
Progressives Congress (APC) operating with the
name, the APC Southern Mandate, has expressed
concern over a plot by the party’s National
Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and some other
members of the national leadership to foist a
presidential candidate on the party.
APC Southern Mandates, which comprises the
chairmen and secretaries of defunct Congress for
Progressives Change (CPC) in the 17 southern
states, held series of meeting at the weekend in
Abuja and Edo State respectively, saying it would
soon stage a national protest to demand for his
sack over his bias to a presidential aspirant at the
expense of others.
One of the leaders of the group and an aide to
the Edo State Governor, who preferred anonymity,
spoke to some journalists in Abuja, alleging a plot
by the party chairman and other national
executive members towards the adoption of
former military Head of State, Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as the party’s sole
candidate for the presidential race in 2015.
According to him, such action would spell doom
for the party in the 2015 elections.
He said the group had reached an agreement to
support a younger presidential aspirant, Governor
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, instead of Buhari.
“Our 2011 experience has shown that Buhari is
not a good product we can market in the southern
states, the few elite backing him do not have
followers anywhere in the South.
“We have successfully secure leaders of all the
legacy parties in the South, even leaders of ACN
are already buying our idea. We are going to do
everything possible to scuttle Buhari’s ambition
this time around,” he said.
Oyegun had, while addressing journalists after the
last National Executive Committee (NEC) of the
party in Abuja, said the APC was ready for more
presidential aspirants, assuring that the leadership
would be neutral.
However, THISDAY tried sunday to reach out to
the APC National Chairman to get his reaction
through telephone calls and text messages but
could not get a reply as at was time.
But the National Publicity Secretary of the party,
Alhaji Lai Muhammed, said there was no iota of
truth in the group’s accusation, describing it as
cheap blackmail.
“The allegations are cheap. There is no iota of
truth in that allegation, I can assure you,” he
said.
Meanwhile, another group drumming support for
the former Head of State, known as The Buhari
Vanguard, has issued a statement urging the party
leadership to adopt the consensus option in
picking the party’s presidential flag-bearer.
The Buhari Vanguard in a statement by the its
Chairman, Jasper Azuatalam, said the APC
constitution and other relevant laws relating to the
emergence of a presidential candidate from a
political party, had shown that consensus
remained “the most viable, cost effective and
unifying option available to the APC.”
The Buhari supporters believe that it would be in
good faith to avoid launching into full-scale
primary election, which they said would cost so
much money and even lead to financial
inducement by some who still believe in “money
politics” against credibility and popularity of the
candidate.
“A consensual arrangement as stipulated in Article
20 of APC Constitution and Section 87 (6) of the
Electoral Act is surely the best option available for
the APC. This will save the APC from unnecessary
litigations, rancor and strife that accompanies
presidential primaries. If the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) with all the resources available to
them and the power of incumbency is working
towards a consensual arrangement by adopting
Goodluck Jonathan, it will be wholly unwis e and
unintelligent for an opposition political party to
want to sell the dangerous region.
www.thisdaylive.com/articles/apc-presidential-primary-group-accuses-oyegun-of-bias/190654/

AHEAD of the 2015 general elections in the
country, a group, New Dawn Nigeria, NDN, has
promised to deliver the highest number of votes
for President Goodluck Jonathan in the South-
west. The founder of the group High Chief Tom
Ateke stated this in Akure during the inauguration
of the South-west chapter of the group.
Ateke said the group decided to work for the
emergence of Jonathan after considering his
transformation agenda.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Hon. Belief
Tamunokun, Ateke, while delivering a lecture, titled,
“Good Governance For Equity and Justice in
Nigeria,” during the inauguration said Jonathan
had shown his commitment to the development of
the country.
He described Jonathan as humane, trusted, God-
fearing, reliable and detribalized.
He said the group was planning to a mega rally in
the South-west which will hold in Akure, Ondo
State capital.
He said that the rally will be used a avenue to
sensitize the public about the concept behind
NDN.
www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/2015-jonathans-highest-votes-will-come-s-west/

Elder statesman,
Chief Ayo Adebanjo ,
was a delegate to
the recently-held National Conference . In
this interview with Senior Correspondent ,
TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he speaks on the
success of the conference, issues
surrounding implementation and other
sundry issues. Excerpts :

So many Nigerians had a lot of doubt when
President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated
the National Conference . Now that it has
come and gone, can you really say it was a
success ?

A lot of people had a lot of misconceptions
about the conference . They did not wish the
conference well . They were not thinking
about the solid interest of the country . On
the part of the All Progressive Congress
(APC ), they did not want Jonathan to take
the glory of convoking the National
Conference. If you remember , the National
Conference is part of the manifesto of APC .
And yet , when the president announced it,
they rejected it . Can you see the
contradictions ? Having started it now, they
want to debunk it as if it is something not
genuine . They called it a diversion.
Until the beginning of work of the
Okurounmu committee, they never believed
that the man was serious. He inaugurated
the conference ; again , they protested ,
saying those selected are not the true
representatives of the people . What is
important in this country , and up till now , is
that we haven ’ t got genuine political leaders
or patriots , who genuinely love this country .
All they want is to make politics out of
every issue , just like they are doing with
Boko Haram .
Everybody agreed that the constitution we
are operating is awkward . It is not a federal
constitution as it says. It was not made by
the people , as they claim in the Preamble .
All of us have been saying that . We now
agreed that we want the People ’ s
Constitution. A constitution made by the
people , that is truly federal in character and
in operation , not in theory . Now, we went to
the conference and looked at this issue one
by one.
What surprised these critics was that the
conference did not end in confusion . They
were expecting all sorts of negative things,
but God disgraced them . Having done that
now , the pattern of criticism now is not that
the conference is not a success , not that we
didn’ t achieve the set goals . They are now
saying that it won ’ t be implemented .

Those who said the president may not
implement the recommendations of the
conference, don’ t you think they have
their reasons for nursing this belief ?

If you said the president will not convene
the conference , and he did, it shows he is a
listening president . Why don’ t you continue
the pressure and ensure these
recommendations are implemented ? They
said that he will not implement the
recommendations and now he has set up
an implementation committee . Yet, they are
still reading meaning into his actions . Let
us learn to give credit to whom it is due. I
am not saying that Jonathan is perfect ,
neither am I saying that there is nothing
wrong in his government. There are lots of
things I can criticise about his
administration . But , I believe the
convocation of National Conference and with
the faith that he is going to implement it,
surpasses all other things that he could
have done.
Because of the conference , now we can live
together in lasting peace. All other things
we are talking about will only come when
the country exists. He has given us a
constitution that will make the country exist
and that is where I stand. Let us a find a
way to make Nigeria exist among the
various stakeholders .
Having done that now, then we can move to
the issue of ‘ who will rule the country ?’
That is why I said let us implement this
constitution , put it in operation before the
next election. And let the constitution come
into operation after the expiration of this
tenure on May 30 , 2015 .
Let us start on a clean slate. Why have we
got what we wanted and keep it in the
cupboard and still use the old constitution
that we have been complaining about for
another four years ? How does putting the
new constitution in use disturb the
election ? What matters is that anyone who
wins the election , there is a constitution to
operate, which is the one arrived at the
conference .
The question of the implementations of the
recommendations of the confab is political,
it is not legal .
dailyindependentnig.com/2014/10/apc-wanted-take-glory-national-conference-adebanjo/

AHEAD of the 2015 general elections the Oyo State
political landscape is astir. Politicians are moving
and cross-moving from one political party to the
other with the speed of light, a development that is
already altering calculations for the polls.
Until recently, the elections were expected to be a
two-horse race between the ruling All Progressives
Congress, APC, and the main opposition Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP). Now the Accord, which is
the prime beneficiary of the raging political
migrations is coming up strongly and altering
permutations.
People have taken flights from the PDP and APC to
the once moribund Accord, which, only few
months to the 2011 general elections, got
revitalized by former Governor of Oyo State and
one-time Senator, Alhaji Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
The migrations peaked with two recent mega
rallies that took place at the popular Mapo Hall
Arena in the ancient city of Ibadan and the City
Gate of Aseyin Palace where Senator Femi Lanlehin
and Senator Gbenga Babalola formally announced
their exits from APC and PDP, respectively. They
said they had now found their political destination
in the Accord.
Lanlehin has had frosty relations with Governor
Abiola Ajimobi for quite a while. The fact that the
APC’s remaining senator eventually defected meant
that the protracted political face-off between both
APC strongmen had gone beyond repair.
Senator Lanlehin told the mammoth crowd at the
mega rally to welcome him into the Accord that he
had left the APC for good.
But the APC, in a swift reaction, described his exit
as “good riddance to bad rubbish” adding that the
action was not worthy of being dignified with a
response.
Senator Lanlehin represented Oyo South Senatorial
District on the platform of the APC until August 26
when he defected to Accord. Before then, he had
announced in a statement that he was no longer a
member of the APC and promised that he would
soon announce his next political destination.
Announcing destination on August 26, the Senator
described Ladoja as “my leader and father” and
urged Oyo State people to vote Senator Rashidi
Ladoja as governor in 2015 and Accord candidates
in other elections to ensure that whoever would be
in government at any level from Local Government
through the state to the federal would be of
Accord.
In the same vein, former Speaker of Oyo State
House of Assembly, Adeolu Adeleke, said “The
APC, when they were ACN, said you should not
vote for a party that does not have a Senator.
Today that Senator Lanlehin is now in Accord, I
want to urge you, the people of Oyo State, not to
vote for APC because it is now truly a party that
does not have a Senator.”
APC berates Lanlehin
APC said the rally welcoming Lanlehin to Accord
was a show of shame and demonstration of
political naivety, failure and the expiration of some
political players fond of exaggerating their worth
before the electorate.
The party, in a statement by its state publicity
secretary, said Lanlehin was only putting into
action his well-known political pedigree of “party
flirtation” stating that if the senator had not
abandoned the APC, he would have made news as
acting against what the world knew him to be.
The APC’s reaction was however countered by
supporters, who said, “Won njaporo ni” (APC is
displaying its pains of losing big fishes.)
Letter of intent read at the Senate
Undeterred, Senator Lanlehin, in his letter of intent
read on the floor of the Senate by Senate
President David Mark, recalled that he contested
and got elected into the Senate in April 2011 under
the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
“The said political party has merged with other
registered political parties and now registered and
known as the All Progressives Congress.
“In exercise of my constitutional right of freedom of
association under the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and
pursuant to the proviso contained in Section 68(g)
of the said Constitution, I decided to transfer my
membership of the defunct Action Congress of
Nigeria to the Accord Party, with all the rights and
duties accruing thereto,” the letter read in part.
Adedibu political family breaks
Just as the Lanlehin concern dragged, another
implosion occurred; this time in the PDP where
Senator Andrew Gbenga Babalola, the in-law of
Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, the late god father of Ibadan
politics, quit the PDP.
Characteristic of Accord Party, the formal defection
of Babalola took place at the ancient city of Iseyin.
The entire community stood still for several hours
as people thronged the city gate of the palace of
Aseyin receiving Ladoja, who was in the town to
receive Senator Babalola, who led several other
chieftains and members of the PDP in his
senatorial district to the Accord Party.
Babalola was immediate past senator representing
Oyo North Senatorial District. Receiving the new
members, Leader of the Accord and Ladoja
observed that governance had gone beyond
whipping sentiments to lure people to support the
government of a malfunctioning party.
Ladoja said: “Now, the time has come, anyone that
has no blueprint of what governance is all about
should steer clear of canvassing for people’s
votes.”
He further stated that ambition to lead people and
to govern should stem from the fact that such a
person has a track record of what he or she had
done before, in leading people or government.
“Governance is a business that should also attract
similar demand from whoever will be the occupier
of that office,” added the former governor.
In his remarks, Senator Babalola said that his
joining the Ladoja-led party was because the PDP
had lost focus on what it set out to do for
Nigerians particularly in Oyo State.
The development, which is believed to be in line
with 2015 permutation, have been viewed in
certain quarters as capable of changing some
political calculations in Oyo State as analysts tilt
towards a possible return of Ladoja to the
Government House.
But to do this, Ladoja has to beat the incumbent
governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who may be comfortable
with the emerging factions in other parties
especially the PDP .
www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/governors-blackmail-fg/

AHEAD of the 2015 general elections the Oyo State
political landscape is astir. Politicians are moving
and cross-moving from one political party to the
other with the speed of light, a development that is
already altering calculations for the polls.
Until recently, the elections were expected to be a
two-horse race between the ruling All Progressives
Congress, APC, and the main opposition Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP). Now the Accord, which is
the prime beneficiary of the raging political
migrations is coming up strongly and altering
permutations.
People have taken flights from the PDP and APC to
the once moribund Accord, which, only few
months to the 2011 general elections, got
revitalized by former Governor of Oyo State and
one-time Senator, Alhaji Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
The migrations peaked with two recent mega
rallies that took place at the popular Mapo Hall
Arena in the ancient city of Ibadan and the City
Gate of Aseyin Palace where Senator Femi Lanlehin
and Senator Gbenga Babalola formally announced
their exits from APC and PDP, respectively. They
said they had now found their political destination
in the Accord.
Lanlehin has had frosty relations with Governor
Abiola Ajimobi for quite a while. The fact that the
APC’s remaining senator eventually defected meant
that the protracted political face-off between both
APC strongmen had gone beyond repair.
Senator Lanlehin told the mammoth crowd at the
mega rally to welcome him into the Accord that he
had left the APC for good.
But the APC, in a swift reaction, described his exit
as “good riddance to bad rubbish” adding that the
action was not worthy of being dignified with a
response.
Senator Lanlehin represented Oyo South Senatorial
District on the platform of the APC until August 26
when he defected to Accord. Before then, he had
announced in a statement that he was no longer a
member of the APC and promised that he would
soon announce his next political destination.
Announcing destination on August 26, the Senator
described Ladoja as “my leader and father” and
urged Oyo State people to vote Senator Rashidi
Ladoja as governor in 2015 and Accord candidates
in other elections to ensure that whoever would be
in government at any level from Local Government
through the state to the federal would be of
Accord.
In the same vein, former Speaker of Oyo State
House of Assembly, Adeolu Adeleke, said “The
APC, when they were ACN, said you should not
vote for a party that does not have a Senator.
Today that Senator Lanlehin is now in Accord, I
want to urge you, the people of Oyo State, not to
vote for APC because it is now truly a party that
does not have a Senator.”
APC berates Lanlehin
APC said the rally welcoming Lanlehin to Accord
was a show of shame and demonstration of
political naivety, failure and the expiration of some
political players fond of exaggerating their worth
before the electorate.
The party, in a statement by its state publicity
secretary, said Lanlehin was only putting into
action his well-known political pedigree of “party
flirtation” stating that if the senator had not
abandoned the APC, he would have made news as
acting against what the world knew him to be.
The APC’s reaction was however countered by
supporters, who said, “Won njaporo ni” (APC is
displaying its pains of losing big fishes.)
Letter of intent read at the Senate
Undeterred, Senator Lanlehin, in his letter of intent
read on the floor of the Senate by Senate
President David Mark, recalled that he contested
and got elected into the Senate in April 2011 under
the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
“The said political party has merged with other
registered political parties and now registered and
known as the All Progressives Congress.
“In exercise of my constitutional right of freedom of
association under the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and
pursuant to the proviso contained in Section 68(g)
of the said Constitution, I decided to transfer my
membership of the defunct Action Congress of
Nigeria to the Accord Party, with all the rights and
duties accruing thereto,” the letter read in part.
Adedibu political family breaks
Just as the Lanlehin concern dragged, another
implosion occurred; this time in the PDP where
Senator Andrew Gbenga Babalola, the in-law of
Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, the late god father of Ibadan
politics, quit the PDP.
Characteristic of Accord Party, the formal defection
of Babalola took place at the ancient city of Iseyin.
The entire community stood still for several hours
as people thronged the city gate of the palace of
Aseyin receiving Ladoja, who was in the town to
receive Senator Babalola, who led several other
chieftains and members of the PDP in his
senatorial district to the Accord Party.
Babalola was immediate past senator representing
Oyo North Senatorial District. Receiving the new
members, Leader of the Accord and Ladoja
observed that governance had gone beyond
whipping sentiments to lure people to support the
government of a malfunctioning party.
Ladoja said: “Now, the time has come, anyone that
has no blueprint of what governance is all about
should steer clear of canvassing for people’s
votes.”
He further stated that ambition to lead people and
to govern should stem from the fact that such a
person has a track record of what he or she had
done before, in leading people or government.
“Governance is a business that should also attract
similar demand from whoever will be the occupier
of that office,” added the former governor.
In his remarks, Senator Babalola said that his
joining the Ladoja-led party was because the PDP
had lost focus on what it set out to do for
Nigerians particularly in Oyo State.
The development, which is believed to be in line
with 2015 permutation, have been viewed in
certain quarters as capable of changing some
political calculations in Oyo State as analysts tilt
towards a possible return of Ladoja to the
Government House.
But to do this, Ladoja has to beat the incumbent
governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who may be comfortable
with the emerging factions in other parties
especially the PDP .
www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/governors-blackmail-fg/

The United States Centre for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) has categorically denied it is
planning to carry out an Ebola Virus Disease
(EVD) screening for Nigerian passengers flying
into the United States.
According to Tom Frieden, CDC director, any such
proposition would be counterproductive in
particular after the US has extolled Nigeria for its
heroic battle against the spread of the virus.
Nigeria's Ambassador to the US, Professor Ade
Adefuye who spoke with THISDAY after his
contact with Frieden said the CDC was glad to
collaborate with Nigeria after it had been certified
Ebola free with commendation from the highest
authority, in apparent reference to the executive
branch of the government, and a front page report
by the New York Times last Wednesday.
Frieden, according to Adefuye, said the US was so
impressed with Nigeria’s ability to nip in the bud
the spread of the disease that it proposed inviting
Minister of Health Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu to
the country for collaborative efforts by way of
assistance with other countries using the AU as a
platform.
However that plan was shelved when Chukwu
announced Nigeria has donated $3 million to help
fight the Ebola virus in the affected countries as
well as collaborate with the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS) in combating the
virus.
The US therefore is prepared to work with
Chukwu and the ECOWAS in its plan to assist
affected countries in the effort to fight the virus.
“The earlier plan to collaborate with Chukwu
through the AU,” Frieden said, “has been shelved.
The emphasis right now is on ECOWAS.”
Only last Tuesday after publicly stating it has
discovered a case of EVD in Dallas, Texas, which
it said was under control asking the public not to
panic, the CDC said it was sending its personnel
to study how Nigeria contained the killer disease.
According to Frieden in that report, the nation
needed a quick and thorough response to its first
Ebola patient.
He said although Nigeria was not completely out
of the woods; “their extensive response to a
single case of Ebola showed that control was
possible with rapid, focused interventions.”
Frieden said “The best practices in Nigeria and
Senegal suggest the U.S. should monitor all
individuals who may have been exposed to Ebola
and establish a dedicated management and
response system.
Senegal has had no new reported cases of Ebola
since Sept. 18 while Nigeria has not reported new
ones since August 31”
The Associated Press report carried by THISDAY
has jolted Nigerians in the US who gathered on
Independence Day to celebrate the success of the
country in fighting Ebola as well as recording a
rising profile in the comity of nations at a time the
Boko Haram insurgency has brought national
morale to a low.
www.thisdaylive.com/articles/us-denies-ebola-screening-for-nigerian-passengers/190514/

The All Progressives Congress on Thursday
recommended psychiatric test for candidates
seeking political office, saying this would improve
the quality of governance in the country.
The party said this in a statement while reacting
to allegations levelled against the Ekiti State
Governor-elect, Mr.Ayodele Fayose, who the Chief
Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola,
accused of leading thugs to beat Justice Adeyeye
of a state High Court on September 25.
The statement by its National Publicity Secretary,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, read in part, “The attack on
judges in Ekiti has also reinforced the call in some
quarters, on the basis of constitutional provisions,
to subject candidates seeking political offices in
the country to psychiatric tests, to prevent people
with mental imbalance from taking over the affairs
of state.”
It added, ‘’We do not want buffoons who have
found themselves in power to take us to those
days of buffoonery, days of anarchy as witnessed
in Uganda and elsewhere.”
The APC further stated that the police had enough
reason to arrest the governor-elect since the Chief
Judge had confirmed in a petition to the National
Judicial Council that Fayose was culpable.
The party said Fayose going unpunished was
tantamount to saying that the judiciary was no
longer a revered arm of government.
It, therefore, called on security agencies in the
state to immediately arrest Fayose who presently
does not enjoy immunity since he has not yet
been sworn-in
The statement read in part, ‘’Now that the Chief
Judge of Ekiti has confirmed, in a petition to the
NJC that Fayose was complicit in the attack, the
NJC should treat the issue expeditiously by taking
a decisive action that will make it very costly for
anyone to ever attack a judge again. The need to
act is urgent so that no judge gets killed simply
because some powerful personality does not like
his or her ruling.
“Had the relevant authorities acted with dispatch
when another court in the same state was
invaded by pro-Fayose thugs earlier the same
week, the attack on Justice Adeyeye would have
been averted.”
The APC also called on the Inspector General of
Police to sanction the policemen who stood idly
by as thugs were attacking judges, lawyers,
litigants and others, saying the police must
always carry out its constitutional duties no
matter which politician is flouting the law.
Fayose had, however, denied complicity in the
attack against the judge, stressing that the
allegation was false.
www.punchng.com/politics/apc-wants-political-candidates-to-undergo-psychiatric-test/

United States President Barack Obama has sent
his greetings and that of the American people to
Nigerians on the 54th independence anniversary
of the country.
In a letter addressed to President Goodluck
Jonathan, Obama acknowledged Nigeria’s
leadership role in Africa and at the United Nations
(UN) towards promoting regional peace and
stability.
The letter made available by the US Embassy in
Abuja read in part: “At the heart of our enduring
friendship is our shared commitment to
democratic values, the rule of law, and economic
development.
“We look forward to strengthening our relationship
and working closely in the coming year, especially
in promoting good governance and combating
terrorism. As Nigerians observe this special day,
we wish you a more peaceful and prosperous
year.”
Obama added that the US was looking forward to
strengthening its relationship with Nigeria in the
coming year, especially on good governance.
www.thisdaylive.com/articles/obama-congratulates-nigeria-at-54-pledges-support-against-terrorism/190301/

The Senate on Tuesday vowed to overrule the
decision of the Independent National Electoral
Commission to create additional polling units, if
the agency failed to heed its advice to stop the
exercise.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Senator
Andy Uba, who stated this in an interview with
journalists, said the idea behind the creation of
additional units was good but the timing of the
exercise was wrong.
He said, “We have sent a letter to the INEC
Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and we expressed
our reservations over the planned creation of
additional polling units across the country.
“What he is doing is good but the timing is
wrong. We are close to an election year and we
have so many displaced people in the north-
eastern part of the country. So, where will the
INEC put the new polling units?
“If they (INEC) continue with it (creation of new
polling centres), we will pass a resolution to
overrule it. It is simple. And once we pass our
resolution, is he going to go ahead, saying that
he doesn’t care?
“There are consequences when you say you don’t
care, that is what it is, but I know he (Jega) is a
gentle man and he is a man that keeps to his
words. We had a meeting and (we) had sent him
a letter.
“He should know that his integrity, from what
people are saying, is at stake. However, that it is
not our business. And I believe that there is
nothing he has in mind against anybody or
anything.”
Uba, who explained that the exercise would go a
long way to solve the problems which the
electorate usually encounter at polling centres,
however maintained that the grouse of his
committee with INEC was the timing.
He said, “There are over 4,000 registered voters in
Wuse 2 in Abuja, for instance, and you know the
inconvenience when 4,000 people are expected to
queue up in line. It is not possible for all of them
to be accredited before voting would start. Many
people will come and would be turned back.
“It (the exercise) is a good idea but the timing is
wrong; that is all we are saying. Nobody is saying
what they did was wrong. Some people are
saying there is ulterior motive. There is no ulterior
motive in it; that is not the issue.
“INEC needs time to educate people to let them
know that their names have been moved to a
different polling unit, but it is a good idea because
it will decongest these polling units. Five hundred
names each, it makes things work faster.
www.punchng.com/news/senate-to-overrule-inec-on-new-polling-units/

About 400 Nigerian security personnel made up of
members of the Armed Forces, Police and
Department of State Services left Abuja Sunday
evening for Russia where they are to undergo
training as Special Forces to beef up the country’s
fight against terrorism.
Vanguard gathered that the security personnel left
the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in a chattered aircraft
at about 5pm and were accompanied by Nigeria
Security officers as well as Russian instructors
who had been in the country to part of the initial
selection process of the men and officers that
would take part in the training.
This paper had exclusively reported that following
the dithering of western Nations especially Britain
and the United States of America to train Nigerian
security personnel to confront the Boko Haram
terrorist group, government decided to turn to
Russia to meet some of its immediate security
needs pending the resolution of the diplomatic
difference amongst them.
Our correspondent gathered that the latest group of
Nigerian security personnel are joining three
batches of their colleagues who had earlier left for
Russia for the training earlier this year.
The last group would be in Russia for four months
before they return to Nigeria early next year to
form a nucleus of Special Forces brigade that is to
be set up by Nigerianw armed forces and other
security forces.
www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/terrorism-400-nigerian-security-personnel-leave-russia/