@redoil

why are you always against any news that speaks about or analysis the views or actions of the incumbent government.
why is it that you are fond of following them even when they are on the wrong track?

The impending gradual release of excess water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and heavy rain expected in coming months may result in massive flooding across the country soon, the Federal Government has said.

This poses a serious threat to lives and property in Nigeria. The various floods to be experienced include river flooding, coastal flooding and flash flooding.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Nana Mede, said the government was deeply concerned about the likely loss of lives and properties as well as other negative environmental consequences which the floods might bring.

Mede, who spoke during a press briefing at the ministry’s headquarters on Monday in Abuja, stated that it had become pertinent for citizens living along flood plains to prepare for relocation to areas considered to be safe and remain on the alert for any eventuality.

She said, “The impending gradual release of excess water from Lagdo Dam by our neighbouring country, Cameroon, which they have hinted could take place any time soon and the rains in the coming months pose serious threats to lives and property. The states that are likely to be affected are Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Benue and Kogi.

“On a general scale, the massive rains are also expected to cause flooding in many parts of the country. River flooding will affect Sokoto, Niger, Benue and Anambra states. Coastal flooding resulting from sea level rise and tidal surges may occur in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Lagos states.

“Flash floods could be experienced in some urban locations such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Birnin Kebbi, Ibadan and other towns along the country’s coastline.”

The government urged people living in the areas to immediately clear their drainage, culverts and canals.

Mede observed that earlier in the year, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency made predictions that the rain would come late, adding that it would be massive and could be disastrous in terms of environmental impact such as flooding with its attendant consequences of loss of lives, properties, livelihoods, outbreak of diseases and disruptions of socio-economic activities.

She said, “Furthermore, the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency has also presented the 2015 Annual Flood Outlook for the country to the public and it also confirms that there is every possibility of flooding.

“The ministry is therefore appealing to states, local governments, NGOs, churches, mosques, traditional rulers and community based organisations to take immediate steps to sensitise the people and communities as well as ensure that all the necessary things are done to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and property.

“In extreme cases, state governments and local authorities should prepare to evacuate residents. Public places should be designated and prepared for any eventuality. The ministry has already called for emergency meeting of stakeholders to discuss on elaborate strategies for tackling the impending flood.”

The Federal Government, in 2012, spent over N17bn in tackling floods across the country, while about 360 lives were lost and properties worth billions of naira were destroyed.

It has been modified, you can see the source there

Buhari faces acid test over Halliburton bribery scandal

August 2, 2015

The commitment to rid Nigeria of corruption will be tested by how far and how well President Muhammadu Buhari handles the Halliburton bribery scandal which allegedly involved highly placed Nigerians described as sacred cows; Analysts have said.
President Buhari had declared in his inaugural speech that he belonged to nobody and stated his resolve to recover the nation’s stolen funds stashed away in several overseas bank accounts.

But Balarabe Musa, a former governor of the old Kaduna State, and chairperson, Conference of Nigerian Political Party (CNPP), said the President lacked the moral fibre to bring those involved in the Halliburton scandal to book.

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State told BD SUNDAY that before the President left for a three-day official visit to the US, the White House made it clear that unless those involved in the American multinational scandal were prosecuted, part of the bribe money, about $140 million, recovered and still in the US, would not be repatriated to Nigeria, hence the President’s directive to security agencies to reopen investigations into the case.

In 2014, the US took control of more than $480 million siphoned away into banks around the world by Sani Abacha, the late Nigerian dictator, and his associates. Switzerland subsequently agreed to return some $380 million seized in Luxembourg in 2006, after a deal in which Nigeria accepted to drop a case against Abacha’s son, Mohammed.

The Halliburton bribery scandal, which dates back to 1994 when the Nigerian government launched ambitious plans to build the Bonny Island Natural Liquefied Gas Project (BINLGP), had revealed a network of secretive banks and offshore tax havens, used to funnel $182 million in bribes to Nigerian officials in exchange for $6 billion in engineering and construction work for an international consortium of companies that included a then Halliburton subsidiary.

While anti-corruption campaigners in the country have continued to call on authorities to identify and prosecute Nigerian citizens involved in the scandal, the late president Musa Umaru YarÁdau and his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan, lacked the courage to pursue the case either due to the calibre of citizens involved, or afraid that their own ‘dirty deals’ may also come to public light, some of the campaigners told BD SUNDAY.

halliburton

Although, never publicly released, a 2010 Nigerian government document reportedly included three former Nigerian presidents, a vice-president, a minister, intelligence chiefs and corporate heavyweights in a list of bribery beneficiaries that was allegedly given to the officials by Jeffrey Tesler, a British lawyer who had since pleaded guilty in a London court for serving as the middle man between Halliburton and Nigerian officials.

Also in 2010, Nigeria indicted Dick Cheney, former US vice president, who was CEO of Halliburton before he was elected, only to later clear him when Halliburton worked out a $35 million settlement.

The ‘sacred cows’, who BD SUNDAY gathered were not happy with President Buhari’s visit to the US, have started gathering records which included documents linking the president and key allies and colleagues in his administration to major fraud-related cases in various affairs of the government and that the forces were ready to release shocking documents on the President, especially during his tenure as chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

It was further gathered that the development was responsible for the recent press statement issued by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson that the President would not waste time in probing the administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Sani Abacha, and Ibrahim Babangida.

But Balarabe Musa, a former governor of the old Kaduna State, and chairperson, Conference of Nigerian Political Party (CNPP), told BD SUNDAY in an interview that President Buhari does not possess the morality to prosecute those he termed “sacred cows” in the country who were all indicted in the Halliburton bribery scandal.

“I have told you before that there are sacred cows in Nigeria that Buhari lacked the morality to raise the rod on because the President himself is entangled. The Halliburton case involved all the past presidents and some states’ governors. So many of Nigeria’s leaders are involved”, he said.

He said the White House, which is reported to have given President Buhari a list of names involved in the bribery scandal, should stand their ground by insisting that the Buhari-led government do the right thing by prosecuting those indicted since the US authorities had sentenced Americans involved or forfeit both the repatriation of the recovered money and other supports.

“Buhari told us during election campaign that he will declare his assets publicly but when he became president he declared his assets secretly; and the media is silent about it. You can see the quality of leaders that we have in the country. The Americans are prepared to deal with thieves in their country. Americans involved in the Halliburton scandal had long been convicted,” he said.

Adeleye Adewole, chairman, Centre for Organisational and Professional Ethics (COPEAFRICA), told BD SUNDAY that it would be unfortunate and saddening, if President Buhari had promised to revisit the Halliburton scandal only to reverse himself days later by categorically naming past leaders whose regimes would not be probed by his government.

“If America is ready to support him to recover the stolen money down to the beginning of Nigeria, I don’t see any reason the President should not be courageous. I know he may not be able to do everything at the same time; but cases like Halliburton and Siemens are established corrupt practices that involved some past Nigerian leaders that Nigerians must not allow to be swept under the carpet. President Bahari does not have any option concerning these peculiar cases than to comply with the wishes of America.

“I see the fresh news as the handiworks of anti-corruption ‘Bourgeoisies’ who are corruption personified fighting back by turning the whole anti-corruption war into a blame game so that the new effort can be frustrated,” he alleged.

He said although some of the high profile corruption cases in the country took place before the immediate past administration, Nigerians needed to exercise a little more patience with the President in order to see the loots he is able to recover from the Jonathan administration before asking him to probe governments before it.

According to him, most past leaders in the country have the tradition of using ugly past of a sitting leader to hide theirs from coming to the public glare, through blackmailing antics, including threats to release incriminating documents of a present leader to the general public.

“We need to put a stop to all these types of nonsense. Buhari should be very decisive in his anti corruption crusade. If he is content with limiting his corruption war to the immediate past regime, so be it! If along the line, he comes across provable corruption cases that happened before the administration of Jonathan; even down to Obasanjo and Babangida’s regime, the president must be bold to go after such individuals no matter how highly placed they are in society. There is no expiration for criminal prosecution. The President must summon up courage to prosecute those involved in the Halliburton scandal,” he said.

Adewole, however, advised that Nigerians must be at alert to ensure that the gimmicks usually employed by corrupt individuals to halt war against corruption in the country would not work this time around by distinguishing between propaganda and real issues.

Babatunde Oluajo, public policy manager, Integrity, and former secretary, Zero Corruption Coalition, told BD SUNDAY that Nigerians should also know that in governance, all the challenges cannot be taken at the same time because it would result in total failure.

“In a situation like this, the President is going to come against those who think he is going to probe them or those who feel his policies are going to hunt their business. If you take on everybody at the same time, they will rally together to frustrate you. Nigerians need to be patient with him and give him the benefits of the doubt. Without even making any noise we have seen a number of things that have started to change. Let us give the President a full year before we can rate him in the so called war against corruption”, he noted.
According to him, Nigerians also needs to be careful with the U.S because it has its own permanent interest which the House White is protecting that may not be in the interest of the country.

“The US wants to continue to be in a position where it will continue to be the policeman of the world. I think Nigeria should be more concern with its own national strategic interest. Of course the U.S has promised to assist in recovering our stolen funds; but how do we go about it in such a way that it will not become the sole preoccupation of the government at the detriment of other critical sector of our economic that required attention! The question is: do you want to take on all the criminals at the same time? I think that is very impossible,” he said.

He further added that Nigeria would have been better if other regimes had had the courage to probe their predecessors and that former President Goodluck Jonathan lacked the probity to ask President Buhari to extend his probe beyond his (Jonathan) government.

“Was it Buhari that stopped Jonathan from probing Obasanjo? What he failed to do for whatever reason he now wants another president to do for him; just to make a case that he is not the only past president who is corrupt. Even the Halliburton and Siemens bribing scandals came to the fore during the tenure of Jonathan, what did he do about it? Because he is under fire, he is now saying ‘no be only me’; Jonathan is now pointing fingers,” he said rather furiously.

www.businessdayonline.com/2015/08/buhari-faces-acid-test-over-halliburton-bribery-scandal/

The worst damage of Buhari’s governance is a total disconnection with both his subordinates in the government, party colleagues, and the masses

Governmental events in Nigeria is swiftly drawing the country closer to unrestrained anarchy. In world’s political history, Nigeria has now becomes the only country where an elected President ferociously assumed the position of the Vice President, Chief Prosecutor, Prison Director, Chief Judge, Petroleum Chief – then sits down on the constitution with unchallenged authority, undermining the powers of other segments of the government.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s current turbulent marriage with Nigeria is not new, and in fact represents a bizarre homecoming. As an army major general, Buhari dealt with Nigerians as a dictator from 1983 through 1985 in a nightmarish retributive rule, where he projected himself like a Roman god and ruled like the Taliban.

He relied heavily on decrees and special tribunals to regulate communal life and chastised a selection of law offenders with a killer- axe. Subjective orders and decrees were his only governance tools, and as of July 1984, Buhari had promulgated as much as twenty-two decrees, radiating widespread controversies and international condemnation. He subjugated the judiciary with special military tribunals, whereas the state security agency, the National Security Organization, was accorded greater powers. These were in the mid-80s.

Today, over two months in office, Buhari has not changed, and might have even gotten worse. He has assumed a dictatorship role, and deceitfully claimed to be too busy to name a working team. Yet, he had the time to make multiple trips to countries in Europe, America, and Africa, bringing back no development strategies but stacks of photo albums for image campaign.

Worse, this President while undermining the constitutional process, single handedly made key appointments, including a restructure of his nation’s intelligence and military system. He had ordered several arrests of presumably past political foes, and commandingly moved detained terror-suspects on trial around different prisons outside their judicial precincts. He has no clue about how to handle a democracy, but sits down in an undisclosed secluded government location and issued orders by the hours.

The worst damage of Buhari’s approach to issues of governance is a total disconnection with both his subordinates in the government, party colleagues, and the masses. Buhari has remained the only arm of the system, whereas his supporters chokingly struggle in the social media to defend a regime that jumpstarted into action without any platform. Consequently, the Sai-Buhari mantra has totally died in the public domain leaving only a few voices who stood back to save face.

Nigeria is not looking too good at the moment, and the truth is that the regime has been busy celebrating failures and lying to the masses about the disconnection of their Commander-in-Chief with both his subordinates and the masses: his sightlessness to issues of governance, including a total disrespect to the rule of law. The worst failure is a failure before a beginning and Buhari has demonstrated that ineptitude. As a remedy, the new leader may consider, as a beginning, reconciling issues with his first major obstacle – himself.

Wife of the richest man in the world, Melinda Gates, was pictured on Saturday carrying on her head a bucket of water fetched from a village in Malawi.

Net worth of the United States’ billionaire Bill Gates, according to Forbes magazine’s annual list of the world’s billionaires, stands at $76 billion.

The billionaire’s spouse, who described herself as “philanthropist, businesswoman, mother, passionate advocate for women and girls,” posted a photo of herself with a 20-litre bucket of water on her head alongside two other Malawian women, walking on a dirt road.

In another picture posted on her Instagram page, she was seen doing the dishes in a Malawian village.

Describing her experience, Gates said on her Facebook page, “During my stay in Malawi, I joined the women collecting drinking water. I carried 20 litres and it was tough. Meanwhile, Chrissy (middle) is carrying about 40 litres. Many women do this every day.”

She has been described as one of the world’s famous social activist “who is trying to serve the people in ignorance.”

In June, wife of the US billionaire met with Malawian President Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe. The agenda was to discuss the promotion of safe motherhood and maternal health in the country.

Onitsha has been in darkness for almost a month now. I know its de same in many parts of the country.

It will be better if it will be for part of the north ooo, not the entire nation ooo. Police officers will abuse it ooo.

Acting Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Mrs. Amina Zakari, has said that the commission will recommend the Residency Card Initiative of Ondo State government to the Federal Government for adoption by the commission.

The Residency Card Initiative, also known as Kaadi Igbeayo, is an initiative of the state government to capture the data of the residents of the state, including their bio-data, blood group, medical record and some other details of the holders.

Zakari, represented by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, during the inauguration of the project said, if adopted, the card would enable owners to vote in any part of the country without the risk of duplication of votes.

According to a statement on Friday by the state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, the INEC boss also noted that it was interesting to note that the activities of the owner already stored on the card would automatically be detected if presented for verification in any other part of the state.

Also speaking, a former Statistician General of the Federation, Prof. Doyin Akinyosoye, commended the initiative, noting that if adopted at the national level, it would aid effective planning in the country and ensure equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth.

Dignitaries at the event included political activist and National Publicity Secretary of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, and the Chairman of Globacom, Mike Adenuga Jnr., represented by Mr. Olushola Ajayi.

Thisday newspaper is the source

Eleven defecting members of the Boko Haram sect were slaughtered by the group in order to instill discipline among the members of the terror group, a member of the youth vigilante group, Abba Modu told our correspondent on phone in Maiduguri.

Modu said the militants stormed Miringa town in southern part of Borno state about 04:30am on Friday, slitting the throats of the 11 persons believed to be the members of terrorist group who defected a few days ago.

He said: "They came around 4am today (Friday) and slit the throats of 11 of their runaway members."

Modu said the villagers were previously living in fear as "they had known that the eleven persons were up to no good.

"Everyone knew in the village that the men who recently came back to settle among them were Boko Haram because they had left long ago and by their appearance and sudden return, the villagers had known they were not safe."

A resident of the town, Ibrahim Mohammed who called our correspondent on phone said about 50 terrorists sneaked into the village and went after the defecting members

President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that his age would limit his performance as the President of the country.

Buhari, who was a military governor at 33 and Head of State at the age of 40, said he would have loved being a President when he was at a younger age . He will be 73 on December 17, 2015.

The President spoke with Nigerians resident in South Africa on Monday after taking part in the 25th assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Johannesburg.

He said, “I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.”

Despite his advancement in age however, Buhari gave assurance that his administration would make a difference.

Buhari explained that what brought him to his current position was his love for the country.

He recalled that he was in the war front for 30 months during the civil war, adding that like any other Nigerian, he lost relatives and loyal people to the war.

Buhari said considering the fact that two million Nigerians died during the war, nobody should come forward to talk about a breakup of the country.

He stressed that Nigeria would remain one country since God had given him another opportunity to reorganise its affairs.

The President promised that his administration would “kill” corruption before it wrecks the nation.

He added that the All Progressives Congress government which he leads was determined to secure the country and improve its economy.

“Our government is determined to secure the country, manage the economy, create employment and fight corruption. Some articulate writers have said if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. This APC administration intends to kill corruption in Nigeria. We will do our best, I assure you,” Buhari stated.

The President said he was at a time afraid that Nigeria might become a nation like Somalia which “self-centered elite” had succeeded in turning to a war zone in the last 20 years.

He said Nigerians were more vulnerable because the country has many nationalities who were merged in 1914 in spite of their religious and cultural differences.

Buhari stated that only crazy people whom, according to him, are not in short supply, would talk of dividing the country.

He said there was no big deal in the claims by those who accused him of jailing them because he was also jailed for over three years.

“After being in the military for 25 years, and getting to the highest rank and becoming Head of State and under unusual circumstances, as Head of State, I went straight to detention for three-and-a-half years. So, those who accuse me of locking them up, I too have been locked up; so what?” he declared.

The President said he would not have believed if he had been told during his days in the military that he would one day join partisan politics.

He explained that he joined partisan politics with a view to meeting the needs of the people.

Buhari said, “Why did I join partisan politics in spite of that? When I went home people knew that I have no money and I thought they will leave me alone, but they didn’t.

“They were coming to me asking me to do this and do that. I found out that the only way I could do it is by joining partisan politics.

“And maybe if I speak even if I’m not a member at any level, people will listen to me.

“But then I joined the opposition (the All Peoples Party). I didn’t want any political office at first, if I wanted, I would have joined the PDP(Peoples Democratic Party) then and maybe I would have got to where I am much earlier. But then, I wanted to go with the opposition.

“The second thing that finally convinced me to join partisan politics was what happened in the Soviet Union. You know the Soviet Union was an empire in the 20th century that collapsed without a shot being fired.

“Everybody went home, there was confusion. Now, there are 18 countries out of the old Soviet Union.”

Buhari said he believed that the best form of governance was democracy, but elections must be free and fair.

That, he said, was why he was in trouble and he had to move from the APP to the ANPP(All Nigerian Peoples Party) to CPC(Congress for Progressive Change) and eventually to the APC.

Buhari explained that he contested his defeats in 2003, 2007 and 2011 up to the Supreme Court because of his belief that elections must be free and fair.

He said, “In all those cases from the High Court to the Supreme Court, we sent people to the field, they found out why the elections were not fair.

“They came to the court and gave evidence but in the end, they will say ‘oh well, there were some flaws in the elections but the PDP has won.

“But at last, the PDP has lost.’’

While explaining that he had occupied different positions like military governor of the North Eastern State, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Head of State and Chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund, he stated people only remember his days at the PTF because he equipped hospitals and schools.

The President said, “I bought bed sheets and X-ray machines for hospital and buses for the schools.

“They (Nigerians) remember me more as chairman of the PTF than as a former Head of State, than a governor or a Minister of Petroleum.

“In spite of the fact that it was during my time that I signed the contract for the Warri Refinery, Kaduna Refinery, more than 3,500 pipelines and more than 20 depots.

“We got the tankers off the roads; we saved lives; we saved fuel and we saved the roads.

“But from 1999 till date, the PDP messed them up. That is why Nigerians decided to vote me.”

Buhari said despite the money politics being played in Nigeria, his victories during APC’s primary and the March 28 presidential elections had proved that Nigerians knew what they wanted .

He said some rejected inducement while some collected and still did exactly what they wanted to do when there was time to vote.

Buhari regretted that some “strong Nigerians” were responsible for the destruction of strong institutions in the country.

He said, “We have a system in Nigeria. No matter what you say about the British colonialists, they built institutions for us, unfortunately we have destroyed those institutions.

“When (Barack) Obama came to Africa, he went to Ghana; he refused to come to Nigeria. And he said Africa or developing countries should have strong institutions instead of strong leaders.

“If he was in Nigeria, he would have known that it was strong Nigerians that destroyed the strong institutions. And paradoxically, maybe another strong Nigerian will come and revive the institutions and make them strong again.”

U did nothing wrong my dear, infact m using the same system now but the deference is that my is working out.let her go if she want

They (police) will start crying
if IG mentions mass transfer from east to borno. If u police no have anything to do for the east, better go to borno where ur service will be appreciated

I don't see radio Biafra fm
97.6 Biafra fm

Let the woman be jor, the subsidy she wanted to remove was it the same she sits and watch people loot heavily? None of the apc governors are thieves until pdp takes over that sit. They got the mandate to pilots the affairs of this nation for the next four yrs, lets see the direction they will go. We are watching.

They should settle out court, the father should also respect his diseased wife and his children by keeping it far enough until a gud relationship is established among them.

That's not enough reason to use this kind of words. He should be brave and audible enough to tell us why said this

The frequency is 97.6. I have listened to it too and I like the programs.

leave MASSOB out of this. similar items are always used for breaking stone during the process of excavation after which they will use hand to break it into smaller parts and sell it out to those who build houses. police will always find stories to tell when they are facing the press.

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation has said it will resist rigging of the presidential election.Its Presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, is currently facing stiff opposition from the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) for the coveted position.The Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign organsiation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.He also insisted that based on the information made available to the party, President Jonathan was leading in the race.He said, “We wish to take this opportunity to make it clear to the Nigerian public that according to the figures made available to us, we are ahead in the presidential elections by at least two to three million votes.“We have our own Situation Room and we have collated all our figures from the various polling booths, wards, local government areas and states in the Federation.“Despite the propaganda of the opposition, we are confident of victory. They and all other stakeholders can be rest assured that we will accept nothing less than the announcement ofan election result that is truthful and that reflects the true will of the Nigerian people.“Any attempt to manipulate figures or to rig us out from any quarter will be firmly resisted.”

I was rejected accreditation because my name was not found. there machine was not working and that paves way for plan B (manual accreditation)

The owner of the company ACT. Technologies Limited, Sani Musa, which printed the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) has been arrested by the officials of the Department of State Security (DSS).No reason was given for his arrest.He was arrested Tuesday at a private location in Abuja.THISDAY gathered that his arrest might not be unconnected with the allegation that he is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that he alone has the code to the smart card reader.A source close to THISDAY said that his arrest by the DSS is aimed at solving some of the controversies surrounding the Smart Card Reader and make him incommunicadothroughout the presidential election.On Wednesday, the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign organisation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, called for his arrest, accusing him of being part of the plot to rig the election in favour of APC.According to Fani-Kayode, "Our concerns stem from the fact that the moving spirit and a major shareholder and board member of the company that supplied the card reader system and machines to INEC is not only a friend of but also an ardent andkeen supporter of General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.That man's name is Sani Musa and he is indeed the main force behind the company.The company's name is Act Technologies Ltd. and the Chairman of the company is one Engineer SK Danladi."How and why INEC would give the contract to supply the card readers to a fanatical APC supporter and to a man whose other company was officially blacklisted by INEC a couple of years ago for sharp practices, needs to be explained. Sani Musa has expressed his undying support for the APC and General Buhari and his hatred and virulent opposition to the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan openly and publicly on his Facebook wall.Some of his comments on Facebook read as follows: 'I stand with him (Buhari) for whatever reason' and 'Imagine the kind of people given spaces in our nation’s news tabloids.’ ‘Hoodlums are having field day in Nigeria since the inception of GEJ’s administration. Mad men, hooligans and vultures have taken over decency of the society. May Allah save us from the torments of this (sic) rascals and expose their intentions on our nation state be it the Boko Haram, killer militants or by extension those in authority with wicked intentions-Amen,”ACT. Technologies Limited, according to the electronic payments obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) showed that over N2.6 billion was paid to the Nigerian company for the production and supplies of over 68.8 millionPVCs within a period of seven months.It was further gathered that the 68.8 million PVCs were expected to be produced at a unit cost of N65 per PVC.THISDAY gathered that the Electronic Payment Mandate for the production of the PVCs were paid through two banks – an Islamic Bank, JAIZ Bank and the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) between 2013 and2014, an indication that the firm charged with the production have been fully paid, yetit is yet to supply in full part of the 68.8 million PVCs for the election.According to the payment mandate made available to THISDAY, INEC on February 14 paid the sum of N489,937,500 to ACT.Technologies Limited as part payment for the production of the PVCs. The money was paid through JAIZ Bank.In the same manner, another lodgment of N130 million was paid to the same company on August 13, 2013, while anothersum of N585 million was paid to ACT. Technologies Limited.On July 16, 2013, the sum of N585 million was paid to the same company through the FCMB, while on June 11, 2013, another N293,962.500 was paid to the company through the Islamic bank.N234 million was specifically paid to the same company, ACT. Technologies Limited,for the supply of 40 million PVCs through JAIZ Bank on January 24, 2014 and the lastbatch of N590,871,418 was paid on February19, 2014.All the electronic payment mandates were signed by the Secretary of INEC, Augusta Ogakwu, Hajiya Salamatu Ibrahim who is the Director of Finance and the Director of Budget, T.W. Afannga.According to an INEC source, “Despite the full payment of the contract money for the supplies of the PVCs, the batch of the voter cards are yet to be produced, whereas all the money has been paid as far back as 2014.”Meanwhile, the Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has called on politicians to cultivate the habit of playing politics without bitterness, ahead of tomorrow's, presidential election.He made the call yesterday in Abuja at the PDP National Christian Praise Rally for Successful 2015 Elections, saying that this was critical to ensure peaceful polls.He also called on politicians to embrace Christ and to play politics with the fear of God, adding that though it was termed a dirty game, politics could be made clean by God-fearing politicians.He expressed the need for all to focus on God who gives inspiration to all mankind and to continue praying to Him for peace upon the nation, before, during and after theelections.``It is what you ask God with conviction thatyou will receive, as the nation cries to God to bring peace to the country with conviction, He will show himself strong,’’ Secondus said.

Only few days ago, Vatican Radio released a letter by Pope Francis to Bishops in Nigeria to express his closeness to them in prayers as well as addressing issues surrounding the country Nigeria.Pope FrancisThe 2nd paragraph of the letter, the pontiff spoke highly of the Nigerian economy which has grown to the largest in Africa in “recent years”, under Jonathan’s watch. Pope Francis wrote:“NIGERIA, known as the “African giant”, with its more than 160 million inhabitants,is set to play a primary role, not only in Africa but in the world at large. In recent years, it has experienced robust growth inthe economic sphere and has again reasserted itself on the world stage as an attractive market, on account of its natural resources as well as its commercial potential. It is now considered officially the single largest African economy. It has also distinguished itself as a political player widely committed to the resolution of crisis situations in the continent.”The text of the letter has elicited reactionsmostly favorable to the President Jonathan camp as they struggle to convince Nigerians of the Economic growth in the face of the APC’s heavy propaganda Machinery.According to Wole Akinyeye “Can anyone take this from us? But it only happened under the watch of a VISIONARY LEADER-GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN! ‪#‎GEJTill2019 is the demand of majority of NIGERIANS”Ms. Eleanya Onwuka “APC will soon claimPresident Goodluck Jonathan paid the Pope for his statement on Nigeria’s growth. APC is a party full of lies and deceptions as exposed by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State. God Bless Nigeria, God Bless President Goodluck Jonathan”Another commenter Mr. Richard, he said “Good deed has a way of speaking for itself. Good luck Jonathan is working, it’s no fiction, the world at large is attesting tothat fact. Vote him to do more!”“Pope Francis also attest to the growth of the Nigerian economy. Whose report do you believe? Don’t let the APC propaganda agents deceive you.”Timi Remi-Meindinyo also said “Never again are we allowing a confirmed NITWITrule us again! To reverse all the gains we have painstakingly achieved under the able leadership of President GEJ. Never again. Thank you and God bless Pope Frances.”The Pope’s endorsement of Nigerian Economic growth sends a strong message to many more Nigerians who exalt his office as the pontiff cannot be seen to be an agent of the PDP or President Jonathan

Just hours after it was reported thatPresident Goodluck Jonathan held a secretmeeting with Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, March 17,news just reaching us indicates that the return of the former vice president of Nigeria to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) looks quite imminent.While some sources disclosed that the aimof Jonathan’s visit was to persuade Atiku to lead an interim government of national unity, other sources said that the presidenttogether with some other top officials, including Patience Jonathan, Diezani Alison-Madueke, governors Olusegun Mimiko and Ayodele Fayose, decided in no case to hand over power to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate.Following Jonathan’s visit to Atiku, reportsmaking waves today indicate that, the Presidency believes Atiku Abubakar is on vacation in the APC, stressing that he remains a core member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Special adviser to the president on politicalmatters, Professor Rufai Alkali, stated this in Abuja, when 120 members of Atiku Abubakar Support Group formally defectedto the PDP.According to Alkali, there are high hopes that Atiku will return to the ruling party before the general elections because he remains a PDP member.He said,“Atiku is a PDP man to the core and has gone on vacation. I hope he will come back to the party before the electionsand support the president.” however, pleaded with Nigerians to ensure that they have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote forPresident Goodluck Jonathan in the coming election.Reports emerged last week that Atiku, who had previously dumped the PDP for the APC,was under pressure to return to the ruling party. He however rebuffed the reports,reinstating his commitment to the opposition party.Many will say Atiku has not been participating actively in the APC campaigns rallies. He has however continued to pledge his loyalty to the party.

The Federal Executive Council will on Wednesday (today) receive and discuss a report of a committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to draw up the implementation strategy for the 2014 National Conference, The PUNCH learnt on Tuesday.A top government official, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent on Tuesdaythat discussion on the report of the Justice Idris Kutigi-led conference would take a better part of the meeting expected to be presided over by the President.The FEC, which is the highest decision-makingbody of the Federal Government, meets every Wednesday.“The council will meet tomorrow (Wednesday) and the report of the National Conference will take the centre stage,” he said.Jonathan had during his meetings with traditional rulers from the South-West ahead of the March 28 presidential election promisedto ensure the implementation of the conference’s report if re-elected.Presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. MuhammaduBuhari (retd.) had also recently taken a swipe at the Federal Government on the conference, saying billions of naira was spent on it.Jonathan had in September 2014 shortly after the end of the conference approved the composition of a presidential committee to study and draw up the implementation strategy.The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN), is the chairman of the presidential panel while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, is the secretary.Other members of the committee are the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar; Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda; Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka; Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory Administration, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide and Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen.

Owerri—The Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has said it would resist election in the south, if the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, refuses to go.
MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who disclosed this yesterday at world press conference held at the MASSOB headquarters annex, New Owerri, Imo State, said the resolve of his group stemmed from allegations of bias against the INEC boss.
In his address, entitled “Jega Must Go”, Uwazuruike said “it has become increasingly worrisome that despite strong allegations of bias against the INEC boss, Attahiru Jega, he, ,Jega, is still preparing to conduct the forthcoming general elections.
He said the worry stemmed from the fact that the election conducted by the INEC boss would lack credibility and unavoidably put the nation into serious crisis.
“In such crisis as usual the safety of live and property of Ndigbo in the North and other parts of Nigeria will be targets for destruction.
“From the onset, Jega was not prepared for free and fair elections. He demonstrated that by his infamous 30,000 polling units, where he allotted more than two-third of the polling units to the North.
“Despite public outcry, the Senate also passed a resolution stating that the polling units should not be used. Still, Jega went ahead and converted the polling units to voting centres in the North,” he said.
The MASSOB leader also pointed out that Prof Jega was able to distribute more than 90 per cent of the Permanent Voters’ Cards,PVCs, in the North, including Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states, where there was raging insurgency, while he failed to distribute 50 per cent of the same in the South before the elections were shifted.
He, therefore, said that even when the elections were shifted, there was an avalanche of allegations that Jega would be biased in the conduct of the March and April elections.
“The governor of Plateau State, Mr Jonah Jang, has taken INEC to court based on the fact that the PVCs meant for distribution in his state is yet to arrive.
“Besides, other state governors are still complaining that PVCs meant for their states are yet to be printed.
“Jega wants to organise a kangaroo election where he intends to pronounce his preferred candidate the winner of the election.”

Owerri—The Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has said it would resist election in the south, if the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, refuses to go.
MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who disclosed this yesterday at world press conference held at the MASSOB headquarters annex, New Owerri, Imo State, said the resolve of his group stemmed from allegations of bias against the INEC boss.
In his address, entitled “Jega Must Go”, Uwazuruike said “it has become increasingly worrisome that despite strong allegations of bias against the INEC boss, Attahiru Jega, he, ,Jega, is still preparing to conduct the forthcoming general elections.
He said the worry stemmed from the fact that the election conducted by the INEC boss would lack credibility and unavoidably put the nation into serious crisis.
“In such crisis as usual the safety of live and property of Ndigbo in the North and other parts of Nigeria will be targets for destruction.
“From the onset, Jega was not prepared for free and fair elections. He demonstrated that by his infamous 30,000 polling units, where he allotted more than two-third of the polling units to the North.
“Despite public outcry, the Senate also passed a resolution stating that the polling units should not be used. Still, Jega went ahead and converted the polling units to voting centres in the North,” he said.
The MASSOB leader also pointed out that Prof Jega was able to distribute more than 90 per cent of the Permanent Voters’ Cards,PVCs, in the North, including Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states, where there was raging insurgency, while he failed to distribute 50 per cent of the same in the South before the elections were shifted.
He, therefore, said that even when the elections were shifted, there was an avalanche of allegations that Jega would be biased in the conduct of the March and April elections.
“The governor of Plateau State, Mr Jonah Jang, has taken INEC to court based on the fact that the PVCs meant for distribution in his state is yet to arrive.
“Besides, other state governors are still complaining that PVCs meant for their states are yet to be printed.
“Jega wants to organise a kangaroo election where he intends to pronounce his preferred candidate the winner of the election.”

His coming was in a seeming blaze of glory; an erudite scholar, highly principled, well-focused and an accomplished academia.Still, the Chairman, Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, may soon begiven the same treatment that appears to havebeen reserved for those with sterling qualities, but who refuse to dance to the high-tempo tunes played from the corridors of power.Do I need to remind you of a former Minister ofState for Finance, Remi Babalola, who dared tosay that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was broke? Is it necessary to refresh your memory with the case of the immediate past Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi (now Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II), after he claimed that some huge sums of foreign currencies were missing from the account of the oil corporation?Ever looking unruffled, the former vice-chancellor will right now be thinking on how to survive what I will like to refer to as his last battle.Despite his mastery of the nation’s political landscape, being his field, his piece onIdentitytransformationandidentity politics under structural adjustment in Nigeria,in a book he edited in 2000, may not be able to save him, if reasons fail to prevail in the ongoingpalongodance to uproot him as the INEC boss.Some self-appointed messiah have taken it asa task to give the former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, a bad name in order to hang him.On Jega, however, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress have expectedly taken their arguments in opposite directions. For the ruling party, the argument is not whether the INEC boss should be sacked; the question it wants answered is whythe APC is kicking against Jega’s sacking.Before now, the PDP had alleged that the INEC boss met some key opposition figures in Dubai, to plot how to skew the crucial election in favour of a particular candidate from the North. Never mind that this allegation could not be backed with any strand of evidence.According to the rules relating to Jega’s appointment, the INEC boss is expected to proceed on a three-month terminal leave, and the government is set to respect this all-important provision, which ultimately makes it mandatory for the INEC boss to start the leave by March.Though, not too politically suave, I recollect that the then ‘much-relegated’ Vice President Goodluck Jonathan became the acting President of Nigeria on February 9, 2009, through an instrument of the Senate that became known as the doctrine of necessity when the country was heading for a major constitutional crisis.One wonders how Jega’s terminal leave has become much more important than the elections involving not just 54 million potentialvoters nor about 160 million Nigerians but the life of the nation’s democracy.Does this not amount to shifting the goalpost, yes, goalpost, in the middle of the game, especially when no one has asked Jega whether he will prefer to literally abandon this ship in the middle of an ocean for his much-missed terminal leave or not? It appears to me that some elements are trying to take an overdose of pain killer for Jega’s headache. Is the National Assembly (if the organ is still alive though) saying such a doctrine that handed over power to Jonathan, could no longer be evoked to avert another major crisis?It’s becoming apparent that some people are unmindful of what this desperate move to remove Jega, if it succeeds, could fetch the country.Some key characters in the land have openly accused the political science professor of practically making up his mind to rig the presidential election in favour of a northern candidate. Expectedly, Jonathan’s godfather and Ijaw rights defender, Chief Edwin Clark, and a former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, have shouted the loudest among those calling for Jega’s head before the March 28 polls.Ezeife, a 76-year-old former university lecturer, in a national newspaper on January 15, 2014, said, “Nigeria will break if Jonathan is not allowed to contest.” He followed it up 10days later with another salvo (in the newspaper) that “Stopping Jonathan in 2015 will have grave consequences.” Can you see why Ezeife, who ruled Anambra for 23 months,may eventually displace Doyin Okupe but for the former’s age?Ezeife appears to be gunning for the ultimate; to probably preside or install a “proper” umpire, who will conduct the election proper. Having not satisfied with alleging that the INEC boss planned to rig in favour of the North,the ex-governor, again on November 19 last year, declared, “Jega has clear intention to rig,” unfortunately but not surprisingly, without supplying any evidence to support this allegation.Now, Ezeife has spoken that he is sure that Jega will not be the one to conduct the 2015 elections. With his earlier ‘prophecies’, laced with threats and sounds of war coming true, he may likely have his way as the former don, who once nursed the ambition to become the nation’s President, may be speaking for the ultimate voice, Jonathan and his powerful backers.It may be instructive, however, to remember the words of our National Anthem and the Pledge, to relegate our selfish interests to the background for the common good of the entirecountry; to refuse the temptation of setting thecountry on fire on the altar of pursuing personal, self-serving interest.While Jega may be fighting the greatest battle of his life, to preserve his name from being soiled, we collectively can avert yet another crisis, and allow the INEC boss, to conduct the elections before proceeding on his much-desired leave.
The consequences may not be palatable.

The Arewa Youth Integrity Forum (AYIF) hassupported the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign organisation that the presidentialcandidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is critically ill and unfit to be president.The group also corroborated allegations levelled against an APC leader, Bola Tinubu,accusing him of a secret plot to become president by signing a secret pact with the APC’s vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.AYIF said in a statement signed its Coordinator, Ibrahim Abubakar, the northernyouths have aligned themselves with the allegation that the fronting of Buhari by Tinubu and his cronies is an attempt to tactically move power to the South-west.Ibrahim said it was obvious that Buhari might not be strong enough to survive the four years of presidency.“The alliance between Tinubu and OlusegunObasanjo is similar to what happened in 2006 when the North was tactically denied the presidency by handing it to a man that was ill, Umaru Musa Yar A’dua who died to bequeath the seat to another southerner.“We strongly believe this to be another scheme by the Tinubu/Obasanjo alliance which does not like the North, to deny the region of the presidency. It smacks of the same scheme employed by Obasanjo in 2006, when he presented an ill Yar’Adua as the North’s candidate amidst many healthy and vibrant aspirants knowing full well that the latter’s health condition would not allowfor him to live through the tenure. We strongly refuse this tactic in 2015.”While praying for Buhari’s recovery, Ibrahimcalled on all well-meaning Nigerians to queue behind President Goodluck Jonathanin his re-election bid.This, according to him, would ensure that power returns to the North after four years.