₦airaland Forum

Tell Mr president is too late...... We want change buhari is d next president

The Osun State Election Tribunal headed by Justice Elizabeth Ipejime, Friday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, declared Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the winner of the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state.
Governor Aregbesola had defeated his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP rival, Senator Iyiola Omisore in the keenly contested election scoring 392, 284 votes to the 292, 742 ballots that Omisore got.
However, the results were contested by Omisore and his party who both opted to challenge same at the tribunal.
At the time the judgment was delivered, the duo of Aregbesola and Omisore were absent in court although their party agents represented them.

Of the 246,853 candidates who sat for the November/December 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, only 72,522 candidates, representing 29.37 per cent, obtained credits in five subjects, including Mathematics and English Language.
This puts the percentage of failed candidates at 70.63 per cent.
However, the Head of the Nigeria National Office, the West African Examinations Council, Mr. Charles Eguridu, said there was an improvement when compared with last year’s 26.97 per cent (amounting to 80,135 candidates) who obtained five credits in five subjects, including Mathematics and English Language.
Announcing the results in Lagos on Thursday, Eguridu said there was a marked reduction in examination malpractices.
He attributed this to recent measures, including the introduction of biometric registration and customised mathematical sets with inbuilt calculators, taken to curb the scourge.
Notwithstanding efforts made to curb examination frauds, Eguridu said WAEC withheld results of 28,817 candidates.
He said the results which represented 11.67 of the number of candidates who wrote the examination, were withheld for “various cases of malpractices.”
The cases, according to him, are being investigated with the reports of findings expected to be presented to the National Examination Committee for consideration.
The examination agency had withheld 38,260 results, equivalent of 12.88 per cent of the total number of candidates who sat for the examination in 2013 for similar reasons.
Short of the total figures are 5,691 candidates (about 2.3 per cent) whose results, Eguridu said, were still being processed for errors he blamed on the candidates and cyber café operators.
He said, “Of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination, 75,313 candidates (30.5 per cent) obtained credits and above in six subjects; 110,346 candidates (44. 7 per cent) obtained credits and above in five.
“In addition, 145,036 candidates, representing 58.75 per cent, obtained credits and above in four subjects while 177.177 candidates, representing 71.77 per cent, obtained credits and above in three subjects. A total of 205,090 candidates (83.08) obtained credits and above in two subjects,” he presented.
The total number of candidates that sat for the examination this year is 61,364 short of the 308,217 candidates that wrote it last year – a decline of about 20 per cent.
There was also a shortfall of “blind candidates” enrollment. The figure fell from 82 recorded the previous year to 48. And while 17 of the category of candidates obtained five credits in 2013, four achieved similar feat this year.

After the war, the Israelites came to Moses and said,"we counted................ NO ONE IS MISSING"(Number31VS 49),By December 31st,I pray NONE OF US WILL BE MISSING IN OUR FAMILY IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME AMEN. HAPPY SUNDAY GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY.

I perceive these health workers in our States and teaching hospitals want to become God? Despite their huge salaries and allowances,theyalways go on strike wasting precious human lives.They should remember that GOD DEY O.ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Covered in a stream of sweat as he made for the narrow entrance leading outside the block, Okoli Nwabueze (not real name), cursed and grumbled angrily. He was deep in slumber by the time the fan in his room stopped rolling that afternoon and so couldn’t make it out on time to enjoy cool, ‘precious’ breeze. Lacking proper ventilation, electricity supply was the only means to keep the temperature within the room normal. Last year, when he paid N140, 000 as rent and related charges for 12 months to move into Agboye ‘Estate’, a gigantic structure with over 500 rooms stretching on about four plots of land on Oduntan Street, Ketu, Lagos, this was not what he expected. The situation leaves him deeply frustrated.
“The heat inside my room is crazy,” he said, nodding his head in complete dejection. “There is no ventilation and so whenever there’s power outage the place becomes very hot. This was not what I expected when I paid for the house last year. I never knew I was moving into a prison yard. I can’t use generator or other household appliances even after paying so much as rent. This is really crazy,” he fumed.
Lamentations all the way
Okoli is not the only one burning with rage in this vast and hugely populated building – the poor and extreme conditions of living is getting other tenants deeply concerned, too. Apart from paying N6, 000 as monthly charges for a single room – not more than twice the size of the space inside a commercial bus in Lagos – occupants who agreed to speak with our correspondent after they were assured their identities would be protected for fear of being victimised by the owner of the house, Onamo Agboye, said they are forbidden from using power generators, electric kettles, air conditioners or even host important social gatherings like naming ceremonies or birthdays within the facility. They were assured of constant electricity supply when moving in but they soon found out that the big generator set stationed at a section of the compound is not meant to service their interest but the comfort of the landlord alone. To make matters worse, the only entrance leading in and out of the compound closes at 11:00pm daily. Once the clock ticks, nobody goes in or out anymore, they revealed. In case of an emergency, chaos is inevitable.
“There was this day I was coming from FESTAC and I encountered traffic around Maryland, I didn’t get to Ketu until about 11:30pm. The security men at the gate of the house did not allow me to go in. I explained to them that I was new and that I didn’t know about the time of the closure but they refused to listen to my plea. I slept inside the church opposite the house that day,” Lanre Adamolekun, another tenant toldSaturday PUNCH.
The regimented nature of the building – like a Nazi facility – has left devastating consequences on some occasions. Injuries and heartbreaks have come in different forms.
“My wife almost died from pains after falling into labour around 2:30am. The security men did not open the gate for us until two hours later because they said their boss would be mad at them for opening the gate at such hour of the night. They saw her condition, that she was dying but they refused to consider her pains. By the time we got to the hospital, she had become too weak to push by herself. She had to give birth through a caesarean section . That was the moment I decided that the house was not a place to live,” Anthony Onyekwere told our correspondent in a telephone conversation during the week. He has since relocated his family to the Agric area of Ikorodu, a fast rising town within the metropolis.
During a visit to the house during the week, our correspondent observed that the sanitary conditions were in poor state, while hygiene was also a big issue. In most of the blocks which are constructed only inches away from each other thus making free flow of air almost impossible, at least 12 rooms shared a single toilet and bathroom. On the average, two persons occupy each room, bringing the number of users of a single toilet to 24. An official who works at the building confirmed to our correspondent who posed as a potential tenant that there were presently 370 tenants in the house. Meaning that on the average, there are 740 adults living in the compound. This is aside children and visitors who make frequent stopovers to their loved ones. Unhygienic as this sounds, it is a situation that has existed for a long time and shows no signs of improving soon.
Behind the compound is a vast swamp of stagnant sewage and dirt – the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and other deadly insects that combine to inflict maximum horror on the occupants. The section is also home to snakes, scorpions and other dangerous crawling animals. Together, they make life for many of Agboye’s low-income earning occupants hellish.

He's been off his program on Faaji FM for some time now. O ma se o! Ile nje eniyan. May the Lord grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Born in the mid-fifties in Igede Ekiti in the present Ekiti State,Opeyemi Fajemilehin attended both primary and secondary schools in Ekiti State and Ikire in Osun State respectiely.He equally studied at Lagos Sec. Comm. Academy(LASCA) now known as Ilupeju College,Obanikoro Lagos.
He proceeded to Nigeria Institute of Journalism(NIJ),Ogba and passed out with honours.
A versatile Yoruba broadcast journalist with over 25 years experience in the industry,Opeyemi Fajemilehin is also an Ewi exponent with19 recorded works to his credit.
Today,he presents "FAJEMILEHIN ON FM" and "PIRILOLOGO NJI" on Radio Lagos Ikeja;He Anchors "FAJEMILEHIN ON THE ROCK" on Paramount FM 94.5,Abeokuta.He has also written three books:"EWI IWOYI","EWI KIKA ATI KIKE", and "ENI BIMO ORAN".
Opeyemi Fajemilehin has received many honours/awards including "ALOYINLOUN" given by Yoruba Scholars of Obafemi Awolowo Ile-Ife,University.He is the 1s National Vice President of Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN).

Opeyemi fajemileyin buria ongoing, frm ilesha to Igede Ekiti for final burial. 2day 12/12/14.
O MA SE O, MO FE DOGUN, MOFE DOGBON, GBOGBO RE KOJU ESE MEFA LO. Oga mi sun - un re oooooo.......R.I.P.
Type R.I.P if u realy miss HIM.

A popular radio presenter withRhythm FM, Charles Bruce Chukwuma, popularly known as Chaz B has died.
He died on Saturday reportedly of kidney failure. He was a cousin of the Silverbird Group founder, Ben Bruce.
Prior to his death Chaz B was the host of the critically acclaimed radio show, ‘Sharing Life Issues With Chaz B,’ which earned him the 2010 best on-air personality in radio award by the Nigeria Media Merit Awards.
According to the radio station, his programme “is rated the number one show across the city of Lagos.” His show was aired on the station Monday to Friday at 6.15pm.
Pinned on his Twitter page were the words, “Don’t look for God in the sky; look within your own body.”
The news of his death was announced briefly on Twitter by one of his colleagues, Benedict Afagwu, also known as DJ Humility. In breaking the news, DJ Humility tweeted, “Rest in peace Chaz B ofRhythm Fm.”
About the OAP, another fan who simply identified herself as “Excuse Me Laugh,” on her Facebook account noted, “Chaz B of Rhythm 93.7 (Sharing Life’s issues) passed on. Though it’s sad, we rejoice in the fact that he did walk the path of eternal life. Those words of wisdom, encouragement, excellence, discipline, prayer and love, would forever live in our heart. Go in peace, we love you.”
Chaz B, according to the biography posted on online by Rhythm 93.7, hailed from Delta State. He was said to have had more than 20 years experience in the hospitality industry in the United States.
He was a student of Kings College, Lagos and held an Advanced Business Management Certificate from North Technical Education Centre and an Associate of Science Degree in Hotel, Travel and Tourism Management from Miami Dade Community College, Florida.

One of the great radio presenter in Nigeria opeyemi fajemilehin is the general manager of unique fm ara station ilesa is reportedly dead.

I beg make una help me vote 4 him as the next president of our nation

Pls brethren i was invited to a church yesterday & i went wen i got dia i discover dat ladies in dat church dnt cover dia hairs wen i ask they told me that there hair has serve as a cover acordim to icor 11:14-16 again dey told me dat whosova dat is coverin her hair is an unbliver, wen i try 2 challenge dem dey ask me 4 bible verse i ur help b,cos i dnt know any bible verse to prove dem wrong pls make una help me ooo

10). take care of ur appearance
9). wear a smile.
. Get out of ur chair and exercise! 1cor6:19-20
7). cut back on the sugar and drink plenty of water.
6). be urself. No need to fake it.
5). stand tall. U were handsome by God.
4). look beyond urself and celebrate the accomplishment of others.
3). never build urself up by putting others down. It doesn't work.
2). get some sleep. Short nights can result in unproductive days and weaken ur immune system.
1). get to know the one who created you!

Dis is absolutely normal wedding gown for Christians, am talking of born again Christians

The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, may dump his party, Labour Party for the Peoples Democratic Party.
A source in the Presidency on Friday told our correspondent that negotiation was in advanced stage with the governor to ensure a seamless defection to the ruling party before the 2015 elections.
Mimiko, who is the only governor elected on the platform of the Labour Party, is serving his second term in office.
Mimiko is a known political ally of the PDP and a staunch supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan. He was a member of the PDP before he defected to the LP in 2006 to contest for the governorship election in Ondo State.
His planned defection was said to be part of the efforts by the ruling party to capture Ondo State in 2015.
An Ondo State Government House source, who asked not to be named, confirmed that though Mimiko remained a member of the LP, there had been intense pressure from the ruling party to welcome him to its fold.
According to him, the PDP has doubled its efforts to ensure that the governor defects to the ruling party. He said, “We can’t deny intense pressure on Governor Mimiko to join the PDP but he must consult before making such a decision. But for now, no decision has been taken.When contacted Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said that the governor remained a member of LP.
“As of today, the governor is still a member of LP. He has not defected to PDP,” he said.

Following the boat explosion that occurred at the weekend, which left scores of passengers with varying degrees of injuries, one of the missing corpses was yesterday recovered from the depth of the ocean.
The boat belonging to Aquitien Oil and Gas, which took off from V-Craft Jetty Lekki Phase 1, exploded at Capital Oil Jetty, Victoria Island, while trying to refill petrol.
Earlier, reports had claimed the deceased, who was identified as Emmanuel Omu, had been rescued and taken to an unidentified hospital on the Island for treatment.
However, his corpse was recovered yesterday afternoon; two days after the explosion, efforts are ongoing to release the corpse to the family members one of who was identified as Sunday Ezugha.
Confirming the incident, the South-west spokesman, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said the corpse was recovered yesterday, although other injured passengers were receiving treatment at different hospitals on Lagos Island.
He said: "A case of boat explosion that occurred, August 15, was just reported to NEMA today (yesterday).
"Several injured passengers were immediately rescued by volunteers and taken to different hospitals on Lagos Island.
"The boat which was said to belong to Aquitien Oil and Gas, took off from V-Craft Jetty Lekki Phase one and while trying to refill petrol at Capital Oil Jetty at Victoria Island, the engine exploded.
"Sunday Ezugha, a relative of one of the missing passengers, Emmanuel Omu, called and narrated that the owner of the boat Aquitien Oil and Gas could not be reached since the incident occurred.
"Earlier reports indicated that he was rescued and taken to the hospital but we later found out he was dead when his corpse was recovered from the water."

There were indications on Thursday that members of the terrorist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, might have abducted about 100 young men from Doron Baga, a community in Borno State.
There were fears also that the abducted young men were being forcefully conscripted by the insurgents.
Our correspondent learnt that the victims were seized from Doron Baga during an attack, on Sunday, on the village, where at least 10 persons were allegedly killed.
A source, who spoke to journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, said the insurgents attacked the town on Sunday evening and took away some boys and young men.
It is believed that the abducted males might have been forcefully conscripted into terror activities of the insurgents.
Some of those that fled the area said in Maiduguri on Thursday that they had to flee the area because of the constant attack by insurgents.
One of them, Halima Alhaji Adamu, said six members of Hadejia community in Doron Baga were killed and about 100 young men were abducted on Sunday when the members of Boko Haram attacked the community, displacing many, most of whom had taken refuge in some parts of Borno and Yobe states.
The young woman, who spoke at a popular motor park in Maiduguri, said she was heading to Gashua in Yobe State with the surviving members of her family.
She said that she also lost her husband in the attack. She claimed that the insurgents were believed to have abducted the young men in order to forcefully conscript them.

The Transition Monitoring Group has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for the smooth conduct of Saturday抯 Osun State governorship election.
TMG, which is a coalition of civil society groups, said the Osun election was an improvement on the Ekiti State governorship election, which held in June.
The Deputy Chairperson of TMG, who led the team to observe the Osun election, Hajiya Goroso Giwa, told our correspondent that the conduct of the Osun election was very commendable, except for some hitches in the some parts of the state.
Giwa said, 揟here was a high turnout of voters and the election has been going on very well. We also observed that in the rural areas, they were able to manage the crowd and the time and the materials that were available. The problem we had was in Ikire in Ifelodun, because as of 2.45pm, some polling units there had not started voting.
揝ome of the polling units affected included Unit 10, Balogun Imole. They concluded accreditation late, so voting started late; Polling Unit 3, Ward 4, Isale Ofe-Afon, there was also late accreditation and problem with crowd control; Adeyemi Market Ward 4 Unit 6, they also had problem of late accreditation and also had challenges of managing the crowd.�
She suggested that the number of INEC officials in urban areas should be increased in future elections, adding that security operatives should also be evenly distributed.

Come out and vote. Accreditation is 8am to 12noon. Voting is from 12.30pm till last person on queue has voted. Please please and please shun violence!
God bless Nigeria, God bless osun state.

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday bowed to pressure from academic unions and students of Lagos State University, Ojo, by reversing the increase in school fees.
Fashola, who made the announcement at LASU’s convocation in Ojo, Lagos, ordered the fees to be reversed to N25, 000.
Three years ago, the state government increased the tuition to between N180,000 and N350,000.
The governor, who arrived the venue of the convocation at about 10.40am, was greeted with a series of protests from members of the Students’ Union Government, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non Academic Staff Union.
The PUNCHhad reported on Thursday that SSANU-LASU had planned to disrupt the second leg of the convocation ceremony.
The union was protesting – among other things – the payment of their salaries for the months of June and July 2014.
The university authorities, in a bid to scuttle the planned demonstration and ensure a hitch-free convocation, used security operatives to arrest some of the union executives and members.
While some of the union members were arrested at about 9.16am, some others were manhandled, even as others had their phones seized. Journalists and passers-by were also harassed.
Following the arrest of their officials, other members of the union took their protest to the Vice Chancellor’s office.
Efforts by a renowned industrialist and Chancellor of the institution, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, to stop the protest proved abortive.
The protesters also attempted to prevent the VC and his entourage from leaving his office to the convocation venue.
This prompted security operative to shoot into the air to disperse the protesters.
The protest however, took another dimension as some students and the non-academic staff members joined the agitation on sighting the governor’s convoy.
Some security officials, who tried to confront the protesters, were prevented by the governor, who alighted from his vehicle to address the union leaders.
He assured them that their grievances would be looked into.
The students, in their solidarity, chants, “PDP! Power! APC!Ole(thief).”
They displayed placards with various inscriptions such as, “Further reduction of LASU school fees; Stop the reduction in our bursary; Open registration portal.”
The atmosphere, however, took a different dimension when the governor announced the reversal of the tuition to N25, 000.
The students erupted in wild jubilation and their solidarity song changed to praise – to “APC, Change!”
However, the government gesture did not stop the SSANU members from continuing their protest.
The union members started chanting “Obafunwa must go!”
The Students’ Union President, Nurudeen Yusuf, thanked the governor for the gesture.
He said, “We thank God for everything, even though our people betrayed us by paying their fees contrary to the union’s directives.
“We would have got to this point long ago, but for their betrayal.
“Anyway, we do not blame them because they were afraid.”

Former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State on Tuesday urged the people of the state against voting for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
Oyinlola, who publicly declared for the All Progressives Congress at the mega rally of the party held at the Osogbo Township Stadium, on Tuesday, accused Omisore of being selfish.
He urged the people of the state to vote for Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who incidentally, was the one who unseated him from office after a marathon legal battle which lasted over three-and-a-half years.
The former National Secretary of the PDP, who spoke in Yoruba language, said that his former party was not fair to the Yoruba people, saying there was no Yoruba person occupying any of the top 20 political offices in the country.
Oyinlola alleged that he was badly treated by the PDP which, he said he was very loyal to.
Oyinlola said, “The candidate of their party is selfish. I don’t know how Bola Ige was killed. Although Omisore was accused of killing Bola Ige, God knows who was responsible for the killing.
“Let us look at this; he (Omisore) picked Prof. Wale Oladipo, who was in the prison with him (over Bola Ige’s case) to replace me as the National Secretary of the PDP. He nominated Jelili Adesiyan who was also with him at Agodi Prison as a minister and he installed Gani Olaoluwa, who was also with them at the prison as the PDP chairman in the state.
“Does it mean that we cannot hold public office except we are former prisoners? The running mate (Adejare Bello) is the only one different. The PDP is now empty; they pushed former Governor Isiaka Adeleke out, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade (Labour Party candidate) left them when he saw the way they were doing and I have also left them for the APC.”
Oyinlola added that Omisore had nothing good in stock for the people of the state while hailing the performance of Aregbesola who he urged the people to support.
But the Chairman of the PDP in Osun State, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, in a statement issued to react to Oyinlola’s defection, wished him well in his new political party.
Olaoluwa said that the former governor required prayers as he started a political journey with the APC, which he described as a party of professional liars.
The PDP chairman said Oyinlola’s defection was beyond the ordinary while stating that the secret behind it would soon be blown open.
He said, “I am sure that his immediate and extended family members will even be disappointed. As a political party, the PDP in Osun has shock absorbers to contain such eventuality as we are always prepared legally, constitutionally and politically.”

Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark, has appealed to perpetrators of violent crimes and terrorism ravaging Nigeria to sheath their swords and save citizens from needless agony.
Mark’s wife, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Mr. Paul Mumeh, stated this at a church service to mark her 63rd birthday in Abuja.
She specifically pleaded with the Boko Haram insurgents to release unconditionally, the Chibok schoolgirls in their custody, as a special birthday gift to her.
She noted that violent crimes and terrorism poses serious challenge and impeding the peace, unity and development of the nation.
She said, “The mood of the nation does not call for celebration. I wish that we live in peace in Nigeria . I am not celebrating the birthday because of the situation we now find ourselves . It is sad.
“The security situation is embarrassing. I wish that by next year,I will celebrate my birthday in a very joyous mood and in an atmosphere of peace and unity. Not in this kind of sober mood.
“I sincerely join our compatriots and all well meaning citizens of the world to plead with the terrorists to sheath their swords and let us come together. Let them state in clear terms what their grievances are and government would address them.
“These bombings and needless killings are heartbreaking. It cannot be a way of life.”
Mark’s wife particularly bemoaned the continued hostage of the over 200 Chibok Secondary School girls and pleaded with their captors to show mercy on the innocent girls.
She said, “It is difficult to imagine the situation of the girls held in captivity. As a mother my heart bleeds. I can only plead and pray that God almighty touches the heart of their abductors and set them free alive.
“Honestly, the best gift I will want to be given is the release of the Chibok girls and peace in Nigeria, because without peace, there will be no meaningful development.”
In his sermon, the Catholic Priest of Archangel Church, Durumi, Abuja, Rev. Fr. Raphael Madu, harped on the need for selfless service , peaceful co-existence and helping the needy especially the less privileged and the vulnerable in the society

The menace of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria will soon be a thing of the past, President Goodluck Jonathan has assured. Jonathan gave the assurance yesterday in Ile-Ife when he dropped in to pay homage to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, on the way to the Peoples Democratic Party campaign rally in Osogbo.
The president vowed to rid the country of insurgency and other forms of criminality, saying that his government is building a strong security infrastructure to deal with the country’s security challenges.
He said, “There are certain things we should have done as a government, but because of the situation in the country, we have not been able to do many of them. The kind of embarrassment we are receiving now - will never continue in this country.
“We want to build a very strong Army, Nigeria Police, Navy, and the Air Force so that these rascals called Boko Haram will never stop us because we will surely rout Boko Haram. We are very committed.
“In the next few months, no criminals will ever embarrass us again - in this country.”
The president assured Oba Sijuade that if the PDP candidate won the election in Osun, the federal government will bring development to the state.
Earlier, the monarch had while welcoming the president said both Osun State and the South-west needed federal government's presence the region’s core sectors.
“For instance, in the agricultural sector, cocoa farming, which is the mainstay of the economy of South-west, deserves better attention. In the aviation sector, it would be appreciated if the ongoing upgrading of the Ibadan airport is completed. In the transportation sector, it is high time our railway system was expanded to link the South-west with the South-east through Akure, Owo and Benin,” Oba Sijuade said.
Jonathan also paid homage to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/boko-haram-embarrassment-will-end-in-few-months-says-president/185261/

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said gifts distributed to the electorate during political campaigns should not be termed as bribe.
He said while distribution of gifts by political parties to people had “grey areas,” doing so could not incriminate the givers.
Some minority parties had described distribution of gifts by major parties as bribery.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, in an interview with our correspondent on Friday, however, debunked the notion.
He said a constitutional basis needed to be established before gifts from political parties and politicians could be referred to as bribery.
Idowu said, “If they say people are giving gifts, how do we interpret that (as bribes)? What is INEC’s provision to act on that? They (the givers) may be telling a lie but if they say they are giving gifts for Ramadan, or if they say they are doing service support, what will INEC be able to do?
“It’s a grey area that is left simply for interpretation. If there is any law that is broken, then we will act on that. How can you tell that what they are doing has anything to do with electoral law?”
Jega’s spokesperson explained that the provisions of the electoral law instead prohibit distribution of gifts on Election Day, within the vicinity of the polling unit.
“That is clearly an electoral offence by which INEC can have the police arrest such a person. But, outside that vicinity, if someone goes to another’s house to visit or to give him something, it is not an issue INEC can intervene on,” he said.
Idowu stated that what was left for the commission was to appeal to the people to make sure they voted according to their conscience.
“We should also not underestimate voters, anyway. Voters are not stupid. Quite a number of voters know what they want. What the media should keep doing is to encourage them to vote from their conscience; vote on the basis of programmes, principles and policies, and not be bullied by any ties to gifts.”

Controversy has erupted between parents of the kidnapped girls and leaders of the Chibok community in Abuja over an alleged N100m largesse given by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Some of the parents, who spoke in separate interviews on Tuesday with theBritish Broadcasting CorporationHausa service, accused the Chibok community leaders of making a fortune out of their misfortune.
One parent said, “When we came to Abuja, we were given some money. I received N200,000, some got N300,000 and some got nothing at all. Somebody told me that they (Presidency) gave about N100m.”
Another parent claimed that some of them that did not make the Abuja trip received as low as N7,000.
He said, “I was not able to go to Abuja; they chose some people from among us. Some received N100,000, some received N200,000, some N300,000. Those of us in the village were given N7,000. This is not a thing of joy. What we want are our girls to be brought back home.”
Asked if he preferred to collect the money instead of the return of his daughter, he replied, “We have not sold our daughters. I went to the farm and before I returned, the money was kept for me. This is not right.”
TheBBChad in the report said the parents were given sums ranging from N30,000 to N300,000.
The Chairman of the Kibaku area Development Association, Abuja chapter, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, who spoke on behalf of the Chibok community in Abuja, dismissed allegation against his group.
He also told the BBC that no Chibok parent could accuse him and members of the group of indifference to the plight of the kidnapped girls.
Pogu said, “We don’t know how much was given but we are glad to note that the parents and the girls (who escaped) were given money in envelopes. The only role we played was to contact them to prepare to come to Abuja.”
He also told one of our correspondents that the money that was shared to the Chibok parents was handled by Aso Rock officials.
He said, “The report is a lie, we (community leaders) didn’t share any money. The money that was shared to the parents in envelopes was shared by Presidency officials. How can they even give out N100m? We Nigerians just like stories.
“How can they give out such an amount of money? I don’t know how much they gave because I didn’t collect money, we Chibok elders only led them (parents of abducted girls and some escaped girls) to the President for the meeting.
“All these stories of N100m is just a bullshit; there is nothing like that and it is even funny talking about such a thing.”
Also, the Chairman of the Chibok community, Tsambido Abana, dismissed the allegation that the largesse was shared among the parents and that some were shortchanged by the leadership of the association.
He said, “There is no iota of truth in that report. I don’t even want to talk about it because I don’t know how such a story came about. The money that was shared to the parents was handled by Presidency officials who gave out envelopes to the parents, so I was not involved in the sharing and I can’t say anything about it.”
The BringBackOurGirls group, has however come down hard on the Presidency for allegedly doling money to more the Chibok girls parents.
It stated that the traumatised parents did not need money but psycho-social support.
The BBOG spokesman, Rotimi Olawale, said, “why should the Presidency give money to the parents? What is it meant for? It is a shameless thing to do. Is it money the parents need, because money cannot solve the trauma they are going through now. What the parents need is psycho-social support and this is what we expected the government to provide for them.
“For us in the BringBackOurGirls, our focus is on bringing back the girls and we can’t be distracted by this controversy which was meant to cause disunity in the little Chibok community.”
But the Presidency denied that money was given to the girls’ parents.
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, said the onus lay on those who made the allegation to prove it.When contacted, the Borno State Acting Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Bulama, said it was too early for anyone to conclude that the abducted girls were use to bomb Kano.
Bulama said, “It is a mere conjecture for now. While the terrorists are capable of adopting all manner of desperate measures, we have to wait for credible intelligence before we can rush to conclusions.
He said that the state government remained “hopeful that the security agencies will take measures that will not only bring back all our girls safe and alive, but will curtail the Boko Haram insurgency and bring the suffering of our people to an end soon.”

Tragedy hit the home of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in the early morning of Tuesday when his son, Hamsa, died in a road crash in Abuja.
The former minister, who is a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, announced this on his Facebook page.
He asked Nigerians to help pray for the repose of the soul of Hamsa.
El-Rufai wrote, “From Allah we came and to him we shall return. Please join our family in praying for the repose of the soul of my son, Hamza El-Rufai, who died this morning in a motor accident in Abuja.”
Details later…

Governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Alhaji Fatai Akinbade respectively on Saturday shunned a radio debate organised for them and Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
The debate which was organised by a United States of America-based International Republican Institute was billed to be broadcast live on Osun State Broadcasting Corporation Osogbo on Saturday.
Aregbesola, who was said to have gone to Mecca for the lesser hajj was said to have cut short his trip and returned to honour the debate but his co-debaters failed to show up.
The Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement said Omisore ran away from the debate.
The statement read, “ The PDP’s gubernatorial candidate in the August 9 election in Osun, Iyiola Omisore, squandered a golden opportunity to confront the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in a public radio debate when he ran away from participating.
“The debate was sponsored by the American-based International Republican Institute and put together by the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation for a live transmission in Osogbo. Saturday.
“Osun citizens had waited with bated breath to hear Omisore articulate his accusations against the governor on such issues as the debt profile of the state, the school reform programme and the vexed issue of capital flight.
“But it turned out to be almost an interview and not a debate because Omisore ran away.
“However, Aregbesola advanced his arguments virtually without challenge that the best thing to have happened in Osun since it was created are his programmes which the PDP wants to destroy.”
Omisore had earlier said that he was ready for a debate with Aregbesola but he expressed the fear that the governor might physically assault him.
The media aide of the LP candidate, Mr. Kayode Oladeji, when contacted said that his principal did not shun the debate because he sent his running mate to represent him at the debate.
Oladeji said the LP candidate had a very urgent and equally important assignment he was attending to hence the decision to send his running mate.
He said, “Alhaji Akinbade still sent his running mate, Mr. Michael Adenipekun,to go and represent him.
“He got there but they said that they would not accept any representative so, it is not right to say Akinbade shunned the debate, you cannot divorce the office of the governor from the deputy cause they are running on a joint ticket.”
Omisore had earlier said he was ready for a debate with Aregbesola but he expressed the fear that the governor might physically assault him.
Omisore said, “How can I be afraid of engaging him in a debate? But when argument is being drawn between two unequal parties, the weaker of the two may result to physical assault and harassment. We don’t want this to happen.
“Aregbesola has not hidden the fact that he has personal hatred for me and people tell me all sorts of lies he fabricates to disparage me. You don’t expect more than that from a barely literate politician like him.
You remember that Aregbesola presented O’level to INEC. So we need an assurance that Ogbeni will not resort to physical assault if he is confronted with hard facts with evidence.
“ Once we are assured that decorum would be allowed and that our safety is guaranteed, I am ready for the debate.”

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that the 2015 general elections would be peaceful and transparent despite the violence currently ravaging some parts of the country.
Jonathan said the peaceful nature of the election would surprise the world.
The President spoke on Thursday evening when members of the Diplomatic Corps, some senators, ministers and former government officials joined him for the breaking of Ramadan fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said, “I know that one thing that is dear to your hearts is what the elections in this country will look like next year.
“But let me use this unique opportunity to reassure you and I am conveying this to my brothers, your heads of government, that our elections next year will be free and fair. It will be peaceful in nature that will even surprise the whole world.”
Jonathan said with ugly incidents globally, there was need for constant prayers for divine intervention.
The President, however, regretted that some members of the society had chosen the wrong path and were being used by evil forces to wreak havoc.
He said, “Let us take the opportunity of this season to ask Allah to forgive them and guide them back to the path of righteousness and holiness.
“I request Your Excellencies and all Muslims and Christians that, as you pray this period, especially during the Night of Majesty, we pray for peace and security to reign throughout the world.
“Let us also pray for Allah to guide our leaders and grant them good health and wisdom to work for the progress of their respective countries.”

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President Goodluck Jonathan and a former Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi, on Wednesday met for the first time since he (Sanusi) became the Emir of Kano.
The former CBN boss was one of the northern traditional rulers who joined Jonathan in the Presidential Villa, Abuja for the breaking of Ramadan fast.
The traditional rulers were led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III.
Sanusi led others in a special prayer for peace during the short event held inside the President’s residence.
Jonathan later took turn to shake hands with all the traditional rulers in attendance, including Sanusi to the admiration of his aides.
Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, condemned the twin blasts recorded in Kaduna earlier in the day as well as other acts of violence across the country.
While describing the perpetrators as enemies of humanity, he insisted that they and their sponsors had no Islamic agenda.
He requested that the President should grant the traditional rulers an audience in the nearest future in order to discuss issues of national importance.
The President granted the request immediately.
In his short remarks, Jonathan urged the traditional rulers to join hands with his administration to end insurgency.
“It could have been worse than this if not for prayers. We will surely get over it. We are doing our best to ensure we end this situation and with the support of Nigerians, we shall surely overcome,” he said.