Former civilian governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa has said that no Nigerianshould take serious the national leader of Movement for the actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazurike for saying that President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election is already a walk over.Balarabe Musa added that though, Uwazurike was entitled to his own opinion, he can­not in any way actualise whatever position he had taken on Jonathan’s re-election.“What can Uwazurike do than to say what he has said, he has expressed his personal opinion, and he is entitled to it, but there is nothing he can do to actualise this.“whatever he has said is the same thing with those Nigerians who are saying that they will make Nigeria ungovernable if Jonathan does not win the election, and if General Muhammadu Buhari does not win, they will form parallel government.“All these people, including Uwazurike should not be allowed by the security agencies to be walking freely on the streets because they are plunging the country into anarchy and chaos by these unguided utterances”. Balarabe Musa said.

What was his response when this ac­cusation was made?Nothing, nothing. Today, the thing Ojukwu said happened. Then how would I be happy?Do you think Biafra will come true in your lifetime?I am begging God. It is God that knows. He’s the only person that can tell.Is the zeal still there among your people?Why not? That’s what I’m praying for. That’s what I’m working for. And that’s what I will work for until my last day.There is this accusation that you abandoned Biafran members in deten­tion?Ah, no-no, it is not true. Remember I was in detention when my mother died. And I was giv­en 90 days to go and bury my mother and come back. But I used about 70 days and went back to prison. And they refused. They left theiroffice and ran away in Owerri here. It was wrong to say I abandoned my members. When I went to Enugu for a ceremony with Bianca, some of my members were arrested and I said I wouldn’t go home leaving my members. I went to the po­lice station and told them to putme inside the cell too. They said no. So, I’m notthat kind of a leader that would abandon his people. For what?Even as I’m speaking with you now, I am not sohappy that I have not gone to prison for some time now.Are you serious?Yes, of courseWhat’s your take on Buhari, the APC presidential candidate?No! Buhari will not win. He will not win when I am supporting Jonathan.You’re supporting Jonathan?You see, there’s one thing I want to tell you. I hold theofo Ndi Igboand thatofomeans a lot. Thatofois here. Ojukwu was holding it before he died. Whoever I’m supporting must win; Jonathan must win. Sure banker. It amuses me when people say APC will win, Buhari will win. Jonathan must win with a landslide because I hold theofo Igbo. As I have said, because of the national state burial he gave to Ojukwu, he will continue to win. He must win; he has already won. You will see, when he wins, I will call you and ask you, you see what Isaid.

didn’t know how to pronounce it until I came out, they watched me for almost 10 years and when they saw that I didn’t die, everybody came out. They were all afraid.This is an indictment of the previous government, because if the govern­ments wereliving up to expectation not just the Goodluck Jonathan govern­ment but the previous governments; if they were living up to expectations there shouldn’t have been this agita­tion for Biafra. What do you think?Well, nothing is greater than freedom. All over the world, look at nations, you won’t know how many countries have been liberated today untilwhen there is an International Olympic or worldcup and so on. Nothing is greater than independence. Even if you have the best gov­ernment, people want to be on their own and have their own say.Take for instance in Nigeria where you see a Muslim waking up to kill another person say­ing it’s part of his religion. Whether you believe it or not, he has done it. If you kill somebody, you go to heaven and he’s killing aninnocent person. That is not our idea of life. Don’t think that a person who practises such religion is also akin to mine. I will like to stay on my own where if I sleep, I will know that nobody will wake up in the night to kill me saying that he is appeasing his God.It is natural that you would want to stay on your own. Look at all over the world today, moreover in Nigeria, take for instance Ndi Igbo,whenever there is a fracas in the North, who suffers? The Igbo. If it is in Lagos, who suffers?The Igbo. Even if there is a cartoon in Jamaica about Islam, Igbo in the North – Kano, Kaduna will bear the brunt. Then what type of government would you put in place to stop this?Are you in support of the Igbo in the North coming back because of the pos­sible outcome of the elections?But have you forgotten that I sent buses to the North?Really?Yes. Not ordinary buses. Luxurious buses.How do you earn your income?Oh thank God, God gives the money.God doesn’t mint money. Give me practical answer?(Prolonged laughter) So, you don’t believe in the mystery of God?I believe but God doesn’t mint mon­ey. There must be a mechanism; there must be something on ground?You know one thing, if God performs a mir­acle; it shows in that miracle that I believe in God.You’re evading my question?What I’m saying is what I want to point to you is that with God everything is possible.You’re not a pastor, so don’t cajole me with religion?Well, I’m not a pastor but I have that belief.I am not taking you on that. Be prac­tical. Some people are most eager to hear about thisfrom you?Most of the things we do, let me tell you when people come to Ojukwu Centre here the library for instance, some ask; is it a federal government project? Some say no-no, no stategovernment. But we have done it, MASSAOB has done it.And from what I saw on ground at that Ojukwu Centre, you must have sunk over N500million there?There is nothing like N500m, it’s an under­statement. We have invested over N1.3 billion on that project.That must be more than that I ac­cept. All the marbles, big halls, very expensive and expansive land, it takes me back to my question, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, how do you make your money?And I answered you.You told me God?That God gives the money. There’s nothing youdo on earth without the power of God that you will succeed. Do you understand? It’s not all about; you know, I’m not a magician. I’m not a businessman. I’m in this struggle 24/7. So I say it now, quote me if there is any politician in Nigeria that is giving me money in whatever way let him say it.I understand in 2011 Jonathan gave you $2 million?Ask him now. Ask Jonathan if he had giv­en me one naira before, let him say it. Or any governor for that matter. Actually the only gov­ernor I can say that brought some money here when this property fell down was Peter Obi.Serious?Yes. It was Peter Obi that brought some money. Very little money anyway but I cannot say. No other person.In the last census, you worked against your people and it’s affecting the econ­omy of the East. Chekwas Okorie said you mobilized MASSOB people to go and be beating those National Popu­lation Commission staff. And because of this, Igbo were not properly counted and affecting federal allocation, invest­ments and every other thing we get. Chief, why did you do that against your people?No, no, no. It was caused by the governors. The governors then said that Uwazuruike was a nobody, that they were in control in the SouthEast, that Uwazuruike and his MASSOB mem­bers were touts. And I said okay let’s show it that we were in control of the masses.But you said a leader takes rubbish. So because of selfish and self-centred ego you worked against your people?No, no, no! It’s not so. I was even in pris­on then. I was in Keffi prison when that insult was done. But what I’m telling you is this, the governors instead of coming to ask MASSOB, okay please let’s agree on this. Because we said we’re not embarking, we’re Biafrans we’re not going for census.Instead of the governors coming to tell us let us reach an agreement, they said leave them they won’t do anything. So I said okay. I kept quiet. I was in prison, will I be in prison and tell people what to do? So there was a census and it didn’t work the way they wanted. The case is still in the courts.In 2007, Ikedi Ohakim came pleading and you gave him support and he won. When I came back, you were having problems with him and when you took me to Okwe you were talking about mobilizing your people for Rochas Okorocha. And you told me Rochas would win and I never believed you. But he won. But you’re falling out with Rochas again. Is the problem with you or with the politicians?No, no, no! It’s with the politicians. In the case of Rochas, when he came to my house he told me he wanted to come out for Senate, I told him come and be a governor.Are you serious?Yes, of course. I took him to Ojukwu’s house that same day, I drove him in my own car.When he came to your house, where?In Owerri here.You took him to Ojukwu’s house, you drove him, where?To Enugu now.You and Rochas and you drove him to Enugu?I drove him in my car here. Ask P.C. Onuoha from Mbaise. He was at the back of my car to Enugu. We arrived Ojukwu’s house around 2 p.m. So, I begged Ojukwu to give him the ticket and he refused. He said he was not a true Igbo man. But I pleaded with him and Ojukwu said, okay go and give him the ticket.It was in my house in the village that I gave him the ticket. That was not the problem; the problem was that he abandoned APGA and went to APC.That’s your annoyance with him?Yes, he left APGA and went to APC.But before he left APGA, you had already started having problems with him. And I have this feeling that it was because he refused to settle you?(Laughter) No-no-no. It’s not true. It’s not about settling me. Most of the things one does is not all about money. You know all along he had been failing elections and when I supported him, he won. He’s a governor today. Now I am not supporting him, you will see the difference (prolonged laughter).Let me ask you something. Each time I come to interview you I always intend to provoke you but when I throw out these questions you’re not provokedI mean, you’re a journalist, you should know the facts at times, most of the time. You may even know the answer to the questions. The issue is, if you’re serving the people, if you’re working for the people, you think of the interest of the people. I’m looking at it from the point of view that I have suffered too much in poli­tics and that if it’s money we will not support people.So, back to Rochas?So, I said okay I will support you now and the difference would be made. And the difference was made. Soon he abandoned that system, he insulted Ojukwu, insulted everybody and jumped to APC.Which was what Ojukwu warned you about?Ojukwu told me in his presence that this man you brought now he would divide the party into two and take half.That was what Ojukwu said?Yes, in the presence of Bianca. Ask her. Ask P.C. Onuoha, P.C. Onuoha was there. The rest were in the parlour. It was only him, P.C. Onuo­ha and me and Bianca.What was his response when this a

You don’t fight for the unity of any system. You don’t fight for anything. Just like I used to ask people: you say one Nigeria, have you heard Americans saying one America or the British saying one Britain? You say one Nigeria be­cause there’s nothing in the oneness. It is mere fabrication. Ifthere is one Nigeria we won’t be pronouncing it; we won’t be shouting Nigeria. Do you say one Ghana, I mean in West Africa? Do you say one South Afri­ca?No?Eheh! They’re saying it in Nigeria because people are being cheated. They are saying it because it is out of malapropism. It’s not the norm. You know people are dissenting to it. They are harping on it because they want people to follow when nobody wants to follow because there is no oneness in Nigeria.You don’t mould something out of nothing. Nothing brings Nigeria to­gether. There are no indices to bring Nigeria together. If there are indices nobody would talk about one Nige­ria. If there are things to build Nige­ria together nobody would talk about one Nigeria. Because we know that there’s nothing like one Nigeria. Nigeria is a situation where you rob Peter to pay Paul, where a President must come from your own ethnic group. He is not coming to work for everybody, he is coming to work for your own interest.That is why the Hausa man wants the President to come from his own backyard. The Igbo man wants him to come from his own backyard. The Yoruba man too wants, why? If it is one Nigeria, any President can be for everybody. Because it is not one, nobody believes in that one Nigeria.That is why everybody wants him to be from his own kindred. Do you understand what I’m saying? So, the word or term ‘one Nigeria’ is amorphous. So if you say Obasanjo fought for one Nigeria, it is deceitful.He fought for one Nigeria when a particular race is being killed all over the federation. And they said instead of killing us let us go and you said no you cannot go. You cannot be on your own. And they were mas­sacring them both in the North and in the West. There must be justice. The oneness must be justified. So, the one Nigeria they fought for was a mistake because it was fought out of bad, ill-feeling. Not because of natu­ral justice.Do you understand me? And again, the formingof the so-called Nigeria by Lord Luggard was borne out of bad faith. He wanted to merge the two protectorates together be­cause the Southern protectorates can produce what could be used to administer the Northern protectorate that was docile.So, you’re saying the North is docile?Yes. For administrative purpos­es they mergedthe South with the North so as to collect the resources of the South to manage the North. That was out of hard conscience. The forming of Nigeria was in bad faith, that is why God did not let this contraption be. That is why they’re having crises today. Because God did not bless that marriage. It was done to cheat the South to favour the North. There was cheating. Lord Luggard did it out of bad faith. He did not do it to benefit both sides. He did it to benefit only one side.As hard and convincing as you sound, it looks like you have compromised?Regarding what? Compromised in what aspect?Your radical stand on noth­ing but Biafra seems to be shifting?How? No! Nothing like that! How? Shifting at what? I can never shift. Have I stopped talking about Biafra?You keep on talking about Biafra but somehow,before you were against elections, but you seem to have sym­pathy for President Jonathan now?No! no-no-no. Let me tell you something President Jonathan, let me say this, I was one of the firstNdi Igbothat started supporting Jonathan immediately Ojukwu was buried. AndI told myself for the role Jonathan played in giving Ojukwu state burial, I will support him until he leaves government. I started that time to tell people thatNdi Igboshould support Jonathan for only that reason. And I will continue to support Jonathan even if he wants to go for a third term, fourth term, fifth term. I will support him for that hon­our he gave to Ojukwu, our leader.I’m not supporting him because he built a railway or because he had rehabilitated airports or he built schools foralmajiris, no. I’m sup­porting him because of the honour he bestowed onNdi Igbovia Ojukwu.So after 2019, if Jonathan wants to amend the constitu­tion and run for third term you will stillsupport him?I will support him. And I urgeNdi Igboto support him because of that thing he did for our leader.What is this Biafran number plate all about?You see, non-violence and that is what I urge every Igbo man. Non-vi­olence is the only option through which the independence of Biafra could be actualised. In getting our plate numbers, we are trying to dis­associate ourselves from Nigeria and to tell the whole world where we are.It is not only number plates. We have our own party. We have our own international passports. We want to say we are Biafrans. And that is what I’m saying. Instead of killing innocent people like is being done in the North byBoko Haram, don’t kill people but say, “I don’t believe in this system. I have my own system.”If in Nigeria today, there is MAS­SOB, in the North you have another group that says they don’t believe in Nigeria, in the West another group will say they don’t believe in Nige­ria, you see, Nigeria will scatter. But the idea of killing innocent people, I don’t like it. And that is why at times it looks to you as if I am inactive. No, it’s only when you shoot a gun and then people would shout that people have died. It would seem as if that person is more powerful.He’s not more powerful, any per­son can carry a gun and shoot another person and that person dies. It’s not unique to do that. But it is unique if you’re a non-violence crusader. If you’re armed, you protect your­self, it’s ok. But if you’re not violent you’re vulnerable to attack. You’re a great person, you’re a great man if you’re not violent than if you’re vio­lent. Do youunderstand me?So, the idea of a plate number is to tell the world we have our system, they have their system. We’re differ­ent from them, we don’t associate with them. Rather than fight and kill people we stay on our own and do our own thing.With all due respect, why am I getting this feeling that I’m discussing with a hypocrite?How?Can I see your number plates? Are they Biafrannum­ber plate numbers?Yes, sure!Are you serious?Definitely, yes, sure. But I don’t think anyone is here now. If you can come next time, because our meeting is day after tomorrow, you can seethem.Ok. But I mean your private cars, are they Biafran num­bers?We have just launched it. That’s what I’m telling you. My cars are here, they are covered. But from after tomorrow, I will fix them.Do you know most of these things you’re doingare influ­encing some of the Igbo boys round the world to burn their Nigerian passports?Yes, of course. Because they keep on burning it and sending me the vid­eo.Even leaders, our national leaders are joining the Biafra agitation. A person like Ikedife, a noble Igbo man has joined the struggle for Biafra. I told you that the struggle is getting status by the day. Today, go to the internet andsee people talking about Biafra. That is what I single-handed­ly started.And you were being looked down on?Yes. I was being looked down on. Everybody now is getting intoxicated about Biafra. And that’s to my plea­sure. I’m so happy about that. Today, do you know how many factions that we have? Everybody wants to be MASSOB leader; everybody wants to be Biafran leader. That’s my hap­piness.You’re happy about it?Oh my God, yes.You’re not envious?Ah my God, why should I be? I will be very stupid if I’m envious.Now, the message is sinking. Right?Yes. Supposing for instance no­body came to talk about Biafra or MASSOB after 15years, I will be a stupid person. I won’t pass in the street. People would look at me and say look atthis stupid man. Nobody bought his idea, nobody listened. To­day everybody wants to be a Biafran; everybody wants to identify himself as a Biafran.There are these Igbo boys who told me they’re ready to be suicide bomb­ers for the sake of Biafra?Yes, yes. You see, that’s what I am telling you. The thing was in them but they

When he started the struggle, he was dis­missed as one trying to make a living out of it but today, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation ofSovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is a force to listen to not only in Southeast Nigeria but across the country. In this interview withPETER AGBA KALU, the Biafra republic advocate bares his mind on the next phase of his sruggle to secure an independent nation forNdigbo. He boasted that President Goodluck Jonathan will not only win the forthcoming presidential election but that the Igbo will support him for a third term in 2019. Excerpts:You look calm, yet you are at the forefront of a tough strug­gle…?(Cuts in, then a prolonged laugh­ter). Well, people say this always and I get amused because I don’t know. That’s my nature; that’s how I live. I don’t fake, I live my normal life. I’m naturally a quiet person.Just when critics were al­most dismissing you,you turned out to be a great man?Well, if you say so, thank you very much but it’sthe grace of God. First and foremost, I wanted to create an impression. Those who thought I was a riff-raff were those who didn’t know meab initio. People who knew me knew I wasn’t a riff-raff. One, I am a lawyer. As at now, I’m getting up to 30 years at the bar.They said you don’t have certificates?Well, let the person go to the Ni­gerian Law School. I went to the Ni­gerian Law School when it was only one in Nigeria, Victoria Island,La­gos. So, I was called to the bar with others. Most of my mates today are judges in the High Courts. I have so many friends in the Law School. So, those who said I was a riff-raff were those who didn’t know me. I wasn’t really a hungry lawyer and I still say it up till today. All the facilities and offices we’re using today in MAS­SOB are all my property. And I ac­quired them before I started MASS­SOB. Right from Lagos, Okigwe, Aba.. name it, all these facilities are still being used up till today.Our head office in Lagos is my property. It is a four-storey building. In Okigwe, it is my property, it was burnt, it’s still there dilapidated. I acquired all these properties when I was not yet a MASSOB leader, when I had not started MASSOB. So, when you don’t know some­body, you can always say anything about him. Do you understand? So, if you say that our people have come to realise that I’m real, I’m happy. I thank God for that because I know what I was looking for. I knew my destination. I sacrificed myself for the wellbeing of my people. In the Igbo parlance,eji gom onwe m tua aja.( I have sacrificed myself to my people)My mates today are in the Senate, some are governors, some are this and that but I don’t regret it. I have sealed my ambition for my people. It is not everybody that would go to Abuja and be this and that. I said to my people “I will serve you” and I have been serving my people.And in serving my people, I have also been ridiculed. I have been called names but it doesn’t perturb me because a leader is like a waste basket wherein everybody throws rubbish. So, what matters are: am I serving my people well? Am I really working as I’m expected to work for my people? That is my concern and not what anybody says.This is because I did not consult people when Itook my decision to serve my people. I was notelected into this position. This is a cross I constructed myself and I am car­rying. Nobodygave me the cross; nobody forced me to carry the cross. I constructed the cross myself and I am carrying it. So, if it’s heavy on me I won’t complain because nobody forced me to carry the cross. I don’t envy anybody who is a president, or anybody who is a Senate President or anybody for that matter. I know some of my mates who are multi-bil­lionaires who were actually below me when I was not into the struggle.So, I was even dashing money to those that aremulti billionaires. I don’t envy them because I’m serving my people. And I take joy in servingmy people. With the little I make I invest in serving my people. Like the Okwe that I built forthe rehabilita­tion of Biafran disabled. I am not the richest Igbo man; there are millions of rich Igbo men out there. They didn’t see the need torehabilitate the soldiers that fought for all of us.They were languishing at Oji River, but I boughteverything, built houses for them and they’re there to­day. I am seeing to their wellbeing; they have students in the universi­ties. I’m paying them salaries so as to pay for their students in the universi­ties. There are up to 120 students. No Igbo man has asked for the past four years or five years whether they’re eating. I was giving them whatever I gather to make sure they’re eating because they suffered for our people.When you started this strug­gle, were you ready to die?Yes, of course! To be honest with you, I never thought I would live up to today. When I started, I thought I would die in the next 30 days. It was by the grace of God. I thought I would die in the next 40 days. I nev­er knew; I never dreamt of being alive today. It was just by the grace of God that I’m alive. I thank God for it.You know it was during Obasanjo’s regime andyou know who Obasanjo is and Obasanjo was the last person who wanted to hear about Biafra. There was nothing this man didn’t do tokill me. It was that time that I had high belief in God that God is great. There was nothing Obasanjo didn’t do to kill me.Can you give instances?Yes. There was one time they were carrying me from; they picked me in my house and they detained me in Shagisha, Lagos. Early in the morning, they took me to Abuja by road. There was no fuel scarcity, yet they bought fuel in gallons, in jerry cans which they packed in the booth of the car- a station wagon.Along the line, they didn’t know how to carry out the operation. At the place they planned to carry out the operations, they came out, ran outof the car, took their positions to shoot at the car. From no where, a truck load of mobile policemen landed. And immediately I saw them I start­ed shouting because I was in hand­cuffs and leg cuffs. These people ran away into the bush.Then the leader of the truckload of mobile policemen came to me and asked what’s the problem? And I said, I am Ralph Uwazuruike. The man said “you are the MAS­SOB guy?” andI said “yes.” These people picked me up and now they wanted to kill me here. And the man asked, “Why are they running?” And I replied, “I don’t know”. And he started calling on them to come out from hiding. They came out, took himaside and whispered something to him. The man didn’t want to listen to them because, you know it was like they were telling him they weresecurity men. The man brought them to me and asked them, “why did you run away in the first place? What is the problem, why did you leave him in the car?”They wanted to speak to him pri­vately. At a point the man said, “okay fine. Put him in the vehicle and all of us will escort you.” Do you know, they escorted us until we reached SSS headquarters in Abuja. If not for these policemen, I would have been killed that day.Obasanjo risked his life to fight for one Nigeria.He fought during the civil war to make sure the nation was not divided. And here you came trying to divide it?Up till today the issue of division of Nigeria is still on the table. Out­side what I’m doing, that is whatBoko Haramis doing. There’s no way you can make an omelette with­out breaking an egg. You can’t talk of unity without justice. Dividing Ni­geria is a matter of justice. Because Nigeria was fabricated from no where. They brought the Northern and Southern protectorates together for a trial of about 100 years.All along people have been say­ing we cannot live together. After 40 years, Ojukwu brought Biafra up till today people are still saying that. The popularity of the concept grows on a daily basis. People who were accus­ing Ojukwu thattime have come to­day to say “Oh that would have been the best option”. Now those who were opposing it, the Hausa-Fulani, they’re the people that are saying they want their own republic – Is­lamic Republic.So, if you say somebody fought for the unity of Nigeria, which unity of Nigeria?

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Attahiru Jega, has told Nigerian federal lawmakers he could not guarantee the 2015 general elections will hold on rescheduled dates in March and April.At a meeting with Senators Wednesday, Mr. Jega said he could not commit himself to the “sanctity” of March 28 and April 11 – dates for the rescheduled Nigeria’s general elections.He said the electoral commission could not guarantee aspects of the poll that are beyond its control.Mr. Jega met with the lawmakers to review the decision to postpone the polls from February.Under the Nigerian law, a further six-week extension of the elections is possible, a prospect opposed by many Nigerians, the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, and the international community.INEC had said the postponement were necessary for security reasons, as military chiefs had warned against going on with the vote to allow it focus on fighting the terror group, Boko Haram.But the APC said the delay was instigated by President Goodluck Jonathan, to save him and ruling party from losing the elections to the APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.Since announcing the new dates nearly two weeks ago, the commission has declined to clearly confirm that there will be no further delay beyond March 28 and April 11, for presidential, National Assembly, governorshipand state assembly polls.Responding to a question by George Akume, Senate Minority Leader, on the sanctity of the new dates, on Wednesday, Mr. Jega said it was difficult for him to respond, saying he could only give assurances over aspects within the control of INEC.“That’s a very difficult question to answer. I have said not everything that has to do with the conduct of successful election is within the control of INEC,” Mr. Jega said.Use of card readersMr. Jega also said the commission will go forward with its plan to deploy card readers for the elections.There have been some concerns, mainly fromthe ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, about the plan as Nigerian law prohibits electronic voting.On Wednesday, while PDP Senators opposed the plan, their APC counterparts welcomed it.Heineken Lokpobri, a PDP Senator from Bayelsa State and Odion Ugbesa, from Edo State, argued against the use of card readers for the elections, saying it would be illegal.In his response, Mr. Jega said card readers would only be used for accreditation not actual voting.He said there was no law forbidding the use of electronic devices for accreditation.“Card reader is used for accreditation not voting. Voting his defined as dropping of ballot paper into ballot box. Accreditation is essential for integrity of the election,” he said.“Nothing in the constitution says we should not use electronic device in the process of accreditation. Anybody that is not satisfied can go to court. We have solid ground on that,” he said.He added that the card readers would curb electoral malpractices, as cloned cards wouldbe detected.Mr. Jega said INEC will perform a mock test on the card readers.He said some tests had already been taken inthe United States, and will now be tested in the six geopolitical zones.“The card reader has passed in all the 13 test categories conducted in terms of its durabilityand versatility,” he said.Mr. Jega said the postponement of the general elections will enable INEC to have a flawless, near-perfect elections.INEC National Commissioners are to visit state offices to conduct evaluation and comprehensively determine the level of preparation in the election.He said after the visit, the commission will meet with the heads of departments and directorates of units to conduct a comprehensive assessment, to figure out additional things to be done before March 28.Mr Jega said a meeting with the inter-agency committee on security will hold a meeting to discuss security on the Election Day.

Pope Francis on Monday expressed “profound sadness” over the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by Islamic militants in Libya, saying they had been killed for their faith.

“They were executed for nothing more than the fact that they were Christians,” Francis said in impromptu remarks in his native Spanish following a meeting with John Chalmers, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

“The blood of our Christian sisters and brothers is testimony that cries out (to us),” the pontiff added.

“Be they Catholics, Orthodox, Copts, Lutherans, it does not matter. They are Christians, their blood is the same, their blood confesses (their faith in) Christ.”

The pope later called the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros II, to offer a personal message of condolence, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

“He assured him of his prayers and tomorrow, during the funerals of the victims, he will be united in spirit with the prayer and the pain of the Coptic Church,” Lombardi said.

Egypt on Monday launched air strikes against Islamic State targets in Libya on Monday after the jihadists posted a video showing the decapitations.

The killings have been condemned around the world. They have been described as “despicable” by the United States and “barbaric” by Al-Azhar, the Cairo-based institution which is regarded as Sunni Islam’s leading theological authority.

that's true because during last year election, each senatorial zone has more than one candidate contesting for senate. this time it's repeating itself again. each candidate have his or her supporters, adding the votes will gv them advantage over the other parties. let us be wise.

The office of the National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan has blamed the Nigerian media and the international community for the setback in the Federal Government’s fight against insurgency in the country.The NSA’s office however admitted that failureof the government to set up “the fusion centre or the counter-terrorism centre” headed by theNSA had been hampering the functions of the office.The counter-terrorism centre, according to an official in the NSA’s office, Col. Bello Fadile, is supposed to analyse intelligence, coordinate the activities of security agencies and apportion tasks to the appropriate organisations.Fadile said the Central Bank of Nigeria had agreed to fund the project and that a location had been provided for the project but that the final processing required for the take-off was still pending at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.He accused the international community of bias in its assessment of government’s approach to the fight against terrorism and theNigerian media of non-nationalistic reportage of the developments in the war.He spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at a seminar to raise capacity within the criminal justice system.He said that the international community continued to make so much noise about rightsviolations in the North-East region, home to Boko Haram insurgency, but that the same international community only gave scant attention to more heinous rights violations taking place in some other nations that were also fighting terrorism.Fadile said the Federal Government’s “soft approaches” strategy to prevent recruitment ofmore members for the insurgent group “is not being effective because we don’t have the media”.“The media is one of our major problems. We have to be nationalistic. They (the media) can help us. Why do we have more attention on rights violations in Nigeria? Why the double standard from the international community? Nobody is talking of human rights violations inSyria and other places,” he said.He wondered why it was difficult for the developed nations to block the posting of BokoHaram videos on the internet, adding that much more international attention was being given to ISIS than the terrorists in Nigeria.“Why is that anything about Boko Haram easily gets online? Why can’t they help us to block it?” he queried.The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, noted in his keynote address that “striking a delicate balance between the demands of human rights and national security” always constituted a grave concern in every nation that fought anti-terrorism war.Adoke, who was represented by one of his Senior Special Assistants, Prof. Peter Akper, however said “the arrest and arraignment process, including the question of remand of suspected terrorists require a delicate balancebetween constitutional liberties and national security.”

He added that INEC in the state had set up anElection Day Operations Situation Room to directly receive complaints and enquiries fromvoters, observers, journalists and the general public on the days of the elections.The numbers are 08142188630, 09021446492, 07055687657 and 08184765105.

The calls for the postponement of this month’sgeneral elections may be discussed during Thursday’s(tomorrow) Council of State meeting convened by President Goodluck Jonathan.The council consists of the President, the Vice-President, all former Presidents or ex-Heads of State, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, all state governors and the Attorney-General of the Federation.One of the key responsibilities of the body is toadvise the President in the exercise of his powers with respect to the Independent National Electoral Commission, including the appointments of members of the commission.Proponents of the polls’ shift had hinged it on the inability of INEC to distribute enough Permanent Voter Cards to registered voters. The call is widely believed to be engineered bythe Presidency, which though had denied the charge.INEC had however insisted that there would beno postponement of the elections.The PUNCHhowever learnt from a Presidency official in Abuja on Tuesday that the Council ofState would review the preparations for the elections by INEC and the relevant security agencies.He said that information available to the government showed that contrary to the claims by the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the commission was not yet ready for the elections.For example, the official claimed that INEC only awarded the contract for the printing of ballot papers for the February 14 presidential election last Monday.He wondered how the ballot papers would be made ready before February 14 which is the first day of the polls.The official said, “The truth of the matter is that if urgent step is not taken, Prof. Jega may end up ridiculing this country.“Available information shows that the commission is not set for this election contrary to Jega’s claim.“We learnt he actually summoned a meeting recently with a view to postponing the electionbut he is scared of the opposition who have been kicking against such.“This Thursday (tomorrow) meeting will definitely review INEC’s preparations and take a stand.”Another Presidency source also informedThe PUNCHthat Jonathan might use the opportunity provided by the meeting to garnersupport for the postponement of the polls.“The Presidency is not resting on its oars concerning the plan to shift the elections. It is already in talks with some members of the council,” he said.On what the Presidency would do if the plan fails, he replied, “we would opt for another plan, which is to return to the drawing board; plan a new strategy on how to deal with our opponents.”To underscore the importance Jonathan attaches to the meeting, his re-election campaign rally earlier billed to hold on Thursday in Yenagoa, the capital of his home state, Bayelsa, has been put on hold.It was gathered that the rally might hold later in the day if the meeting ended on time or be shifted to Friday.The PUNCHhas however learnt that some of the proponents of election postponement might have perfected plan to ensure that Jega did not return as INEC chairman if their plan materialises.A week-long investigation by one of our correspondents showed that the Presidency was waiting patiently for INEC to yield to the pressure before coming out with its real plan for Jega.It was gathered that the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party were not ready for the elections and believed that their chances could be affected if the elections were held as scheduled.Because of this, the Presidency, backed by some hawks in the PDP, are said to be waiting for an auspicious time to ask the INEC chairman to proceed on terminal leave. His tenure ends on June 9, 2015.The PDP source said, “The plan is to discredit the election by forcing postponement. When this is done, sponsored people and groups would start asking for the sack of Jega.“At this point, the government would then say because of this, he should proceed on terminal leave and then ask the most senior national commissioner to take over and conduct the election.”Jega’s nomination as INEC chairman followed approval by a meeting of the Council of State.Jonathan had said then that he had never known Jega, a former chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.Jega’s candidature for the job was said to have been facilitated by a presidency top official, Hassan Tukur, who is from Adamawa State.Parties disagree on postponementIndication that the 26 registered political parties are divided over the calls for the postponement of the elections emerged in Abuja with 16 of them and five presidential candidates in support.They told a news conference on Tuesday that they would boycott the polls if their opinions were not respected.The parties include the United Democratic Party, the Citizen Peoples Party, the Peoples Party of Nigeria, the Action Alliance, the Peoples Democratic Congress, the Labour Party; and Unity Party of Nigeria.Others are the Alliance for Democracy, the Democratic Peoples Party, the New Nigerian Peoples Party, the Peoples Party of Nigeria and the Independent Democrat.The five presidential candidates at the briefingwere Godson Okoye, Sam Okoye, C.O Allagoe, Tunde Anifowose and Ganiu Galadima.The political parties said, “We the concernedleaders of political parties have observed some dangerous trends, which if not checked may negatively and adversely affect our democracy.”The political parties premised their argument for the postponement on security, distribution of PVCs and people deserting their places of abode for their villages.Okoye, who spoke on their behalf, called on the Federal Government to take necessary steps to provide adequate security for Nigerians to go out and collect their PVCs in order to be able to exercise their civic and constitutional duty.He called on INEC to consider shifting the dateof elections to sometime in March or April.“We are not urging INEC to do anything that is unlawful, illegal or unconstitutional. It is unfortunately becoming clear by the day that most Nigerians appear not to be ready for election but are ready for violence,” he said.He also flayed the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, for meeting with only thepresidential candidates of the APC Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Jonathan in Lagos.But at a different news conference, the presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party, Chekwas Okorie, condemned the call for the postponement of the elections.Okorie described the call as a “mischievously contrived clamour.”He said, “The reasons given by the proponentsof the postponement that a great number of Nigerians will be disenfranchised having not been given their Permanent Voter Cards whichwill enable them to participate in the election is a contrived reason and to a large extent pedestrian.“As we speak, over 80 per cent of registered voters have received their PVCs according to latest figures released by INEC and this may increase to 90 per cent or above after the close of distribution of PVCs on February 8 2015, as planned by INEC.”Meanwhile, INEC has distributed 977,727 out of the 1,494169 PVCs received by its Ondo State office.The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Segun Agbaje, disclosed this to journalistsin Abuja on Tuesday.He said that the distribution of the cards to all the Local Government Areas in the state wouldend on Saturday.Agbaje said,”We are preparing very well for theelections as we ought to do in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).“All non-sensitive materials would be deployed in the LGAs before the end of the week as security arrangements for their movement are almost concluded.“We received 1,494,169 PVCs out of which wehave distributed 977,727, representing 65.4 per cent, remaining 516,442 representing 34.6 per cent.”On other preparations for the elections, Agbaje said, ‘‘The training of electoral officers had been completed while that of Supervisory Presiding Officers started on February 2 and will end on February 4.”According to him, the training of Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers will be between February 6 and 8.He added that INEC in the state had set

THE Nigerian security chiefs have dismissed calls from some quarters for the postponement of the forthcoming general election, due to logistics problem, saying that they were ready forthe polls.The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, stated this in Abuja, on Monday, alongside other security chiefs, at a national peace meeting with representatives of political parties.Badeh noted that though the military was occupied with combating terrorism in the North-East, they had capacity to tame any act of violence before, during and after the election.“We are not directly involved in elections and electioneering but before the elections, we deployour personnel across the nation to assist civil powers and authority.“During the elections, as we have done in other states, we also ensure that people are not used to go and cause trouble or mayhem after the elections, should there be disturbances, we assist the police.“The military will deploy as much as we can across the nation. Even though we are busy in the North-East, we also have capability across the nation,” Badeh added.

From;Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

President Goodluck Jonathan's campaign programme in Gombe Monday ended on a sour note as a bomb exploded barely five minutes after the President's convoy passed a street close to the scene of the blast.The blast killed three persons on the spot and injured about 18 others who were immediately taken to the hospital for medical attention.Details of the attack were sketchy as at the time of filing this report but our correspondent reports that the attackers were able to beat security checks and detonated the bomb close to a crowded area after people who attended the occasion were leaving the Pantami Township stadium, venue of the programme.Journalist who covered the occasion were attacked by a mob who carried dangerous weapons in the ensuing confusion after the blast as their bus was vandalized with five of them sustaining injuries.However, President Jonathan told the gathering that if given another opportunity in the next election, his administration will speed development in the country in a train speed.He promised among others, that the administration will also provide opportunities for the youth especially in the education sector by giving them the best sothat "they can take us to the moon".He said the establishment of 12 universitiesby the administration and support through TETFUND was a clear indication that the administration is determined to give the youth the best to succeed.

I am sure that Goodluck Jonathan will emerge victorious comes February 14.

The Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obianostormed the ancient city of Abeokuta at the weekend with the stalwarts of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, to present the party’s flag to David Olufemi Bamgbose who is running for the governorship of Ogun State on the platform of the party.Governor Obiano who was accompanied by his wife, Ebelechukwu Obiano, told a large crowd of party faithful that gathered at the palace of the Alake of Egbaland for the symbolic presentation of flag to the gubernatorial candidate that the arrival of APGA in Abeokuta was an historical event that would usher in a new dawn in Ogun State.Presenting the party flag to Mr. Bamgbose, a professor, Mr. Obiano said “Today is a great day in Ogun State. It is the day of a political Pentecost. From here, we urge you to go forthand preach the good news of APGA in Ogun State.”Describing the candidate as a man who was eminently qualified to bring a massive transformation to Ogun State, the governor observed that after mastering the art of purposeful governance in Anambra State in the past nine years, APGA had finally decided that it was time to export its model of governance to other parts of the country.“APGA has entrenched a remarkable model ofexcellence in governance in Anambra State for over nine years; now we are exporting the APGA model of governance to other parts of the country because we are a national party. In Ogun State, Professor Bamgbose will fly our proud flag. He will help us to plant the good governance we have in Anambra State here in Ogun State,” Mr. Obiano said while urging the people of the state to cast their votes for Mr. Bamgbose.Also speaking at the colourful ceremony, the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Ebelechukwu Obiano, urged the Ogun State women to vote for Mr. Bamgbose as he represents the change they are all looking for.Mrs. Obiano who wowed the crowd in flawless Yoruba reminded the people that it was in their power to choose the future they wanted and further emphasized that a vote for Mr. Bamgbose was a vote for a brighter future.Also speaking at the rally, the National Chairman of APGA, Victor Umeh, told the crowd that APGA had stormed the state to give the people the chance to reposition OgunState to experience the benefits of good governance.Comparing Ogun State to Anambra State, Mr. Umeh observed that “Ogun State is known to have produced a lot of giants in education, business and politics. Anambra State has also produced very heavy giants in education,business and politics. Sometimes, when giants clash, they deny the people the chanceto experience good governance. And that is what is happening in Ogun State right now – giants are clashing. It also happened in Anambra State but we used APGA to wipe it out. Today, we have a governor who is also a seasoned banker, an accountant, a chartered auditor, a former Executive Director of a bank and now that he is the governor of Anambra State, the story has changed in less than one year. That is what we have come to do in Ogun State. We are presenting to Ogun people, the best man for the job,” he said.During a courtesy call on the traditional ruler of Abeokuta, the Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Gbadebo, Mr. Obiano had described his arrival in Abeokuta as a home coming of sorts.“I am a high Chief in Yorubaland. I am the Otunba Atayeshi of Ilemesho, in Ekiti State and my wife is Erelu Atayeshi. We bring good news to the ancient city of Abeokuta. We are introducing one of your own whom we have found worthy to fly our flag in the coming election,” the governor had explained further expressing the optimism that his visit to Abeokuta would open doors for APGA in OgunState.In his response, Mr. Gbadebo had commended Governor Obiano for leading APGA to Abeokuta. “This is a good omen for the country because the right to belong to anyassociation as enshrined in our constitution will never be removed by anybody. You have a right to belong to any association you choose,” the Alake observed and further applauded APGA for offering one of his subjects a sanctuary from where he could seek the electoral support of the people of Ogun State. The traditional ruler also prayed that APGA would grow from strength to strength as it would lend more depth to Nigeria’s democracy.Responding to all the speeches, the APGA gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, Mr. Bamgbose predicted that with his entry into the fray, a new dawn was coming upon Ogun State.“I promise that if by the grace of God I become the governor of Ogun State, I will leadOgun with the fear of God. I founded the Yelwa College of Education, the first private college of education in Ogun State that has produced over 10,000 teachers. We charge the lowest fees. We shall transfer that model of excellence to governance,” he assured, urging the people to vote for him in the coming election.

http://www.naij.com/367607-thugs-attack-jonathans-convoy-in-buharis-home-state.html --

Alleged political thugs January 20 attacked President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy in Katsina State.

Punch reports that the incident occurred in the course of Jonathan’s presidential campaign continuation and recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidentialcandidate, Muhammadu Buhari, is from Katsina.Jonathan, together with Vice President Namadi Sambo; National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; and Katsina StateGovernor Ibrahim Shema, decided to visit late President Umoru Yar’Adua’s mother, Hajiya Dada.However as the officials were heading to their destination, the brooms-wielding youths, suspected to be APC members, chanting “Sai Buhari,” emerged.The young thugs made another move to attack the convoy when the country’s seniors were on their way back from the residence.The security were said to have fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd. The youth stoned the convoy when the delegation was on their way to the Katsina Airport.
It should be recalled that the beginning of the year has been marked by several dangerous incidents of pre-electoral violence.It started with the assault on the campaign buses of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in Jos, Plateau State. The APC’s office in Okrika, Rivers State, had been attacked with dynamites. After that, another incident took place in Gombe State, where the PDP’s belongings were burnt.
The presidential candidates have recently signed a peace pact aimed at avoiding violence during and after the February elections. However there are fears that violence is inevitable and might escalate.Foreign media unanimously express concern over the possibility of 2011 post-electoral bloodshed repetition.

those saying that our light hasn't improved are lying — NeboonJanuary 18, 2015 inInterview1:46 am /Comments•’Opposition state governments have questions to answer on sabotage’•Speaks on the problem with Boko Haram, vandals, generator importers•’My home has no generating set’By OLAYINKA AJAYIContrary to what many Nigerians, especially those in opposition to the Federal Government, will like others to believe, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Ostadinma, says there is substantial improvement in electricity supply across the country. In this interview, Nebo speaks on what he calls the political dimension to the challenges facing the power sector. Excerpts:Amid the allegations on corruption, vandalism and insecurity rocking our polity, how do you ratepower supply nationwide under your watch?The power sector has fared very well under President Jonathan’s administration. He has done so much for the sector. Things that appeared to had been jinxed, he broke them. The whole matter of privatisation is adjudged globallyas a very successful exercise. Nigeria has the largest global privatisation utility in the whole world. We got it in one fell swoop, it needed a courageous, determined, articulate and visionary president to bring it to conclusion. In this regard, he performed very well.When you think about the moribund, power development machinery that he met when he came on board, he revived it. And he is bringing itinto fusion.For instance the NIPP project is fantastic based on the benefit for Nigeria when it comes on stream. When the project was conceived by the previous administration, nobody thought about where the gas was going to come from. It is President Jonathan that is now working round the clock to ensure that the gas delivery infrastructure is put in place to make sure that allthe turbines are fired and can deliver electricity tothe country. For the first time, the transmission network of electricity in the country is receiving a robust attention and funding from both national and international agencies to ensure Nigerians get the promise fulfilled of delivery of electricity.Do you think Nigerians have gotten the promise of stable power supply under GEJ’s administration?FILE PHOTO: *POWER MEETING: From left— Prof.Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power; Engr. Beks Dagogo-Jack, Chairman, Presidential Task Forceon Power, and Amb. Godknows Igali, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, address newsmen after their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at Aso Villa, Abuja. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.Many people are receiving much better power supply than they have ever gotten. To mention some cases, few; there was a time Umuahia was in darkness, the town is presently enjoying steady power supply. Awka used to be a nightmare for several months without power; today Kaduna is getting up to 22/23 hours of power supply on a daily basis. Many parts of Abuja are enjoying steady power supply. But when there is a great need, and you begin to meet the need, it is like trying to nourish a child that is suffering from mal-nourishment, it definitely takes time for such a child to be healthy. Nigeria has a huge demand for suppressed electricity. In order to meet such demand, you have to multiply the efforts of this administration by four times.Even when you add a thousand mega-watts, it just goes into trickles to people which is the imagery Nigerians don’t realise. When you begin to add it, people get a little at a time but if we decide to concentrate on one particular area, Nigerians will complain of favouritism. So whatever we have, we have to distribute. In the process of distributing, how do you make the whole country feel the impact at the same time ina very short time? But as I speak, many parts of Nigeria are receiving more power supply than they used to.You are aware that the reason we are not doing better now in the capacity we ought to, is basically due to vandalism.Any time we hit 4,500/4,600 maga watts, vandalsgo to tamper with our facilities. So I ask myself, isn’t this being orchestrated by God knows who? Could it be that some people do not want Nigeria to enjoy constant power supply? These are issues Nigerians should address. So, yes, Nigeria’s power sector is doing better than before.But, on a contrary, some people in the opposition are of the view that President Jonathan failed to deliver on his promise of 5,000 mega-watt which they claim resulted to a high rate of unemployment among teeming Nigerian youths. What do you make of this?It is absolutely ridiculous! It is untrue and a figment of their imagination. How come most of the intense vandalism we are encountering on electricity facilities are mostly from states where the All Progressive Congress, APC, is in charge?I am talking about Rivers State, Lagos State in the eastern and western axis.They know what they are doing. I am not saying they are, but they may be responsible. Because ifyou look at everything the government has done in respect of power, will you ever think in the pastthat a government will ever generate power for the rural communities. It is only this administration that sees the possibility of lightingrural communities 24 hours daily that are not connected to the national grid.Youngentrepreneurs claim they are yet to feel theimpact of this administration on power. What could be the reason behind this?It depends, sometimes perception could be louder than reality. But definitely figures do not lie. If you look at everything with regards to power delivery, every year, we have the record on daily basis the power delivered to Nigerians. Nigeria has never had it this good before. The problem is because we are getting to more rural areas, distributing what we have to larger numbers of communities, so places that have notgotten power before, are beginning to see power coming to them.There is no way we can make Nigerians on the streets realise that power has improved. But go tell the people in Kaduna, Enugu, Awka and someparts of Abuja that power has not improved, then you will be amazed by their response faulting your argument and even calling you a liar because they know they are enjoying steady power supply than they used to.What about Lagos State being the commercial hub of the nation?There was a time many parts of Lagos were getting two hours of power supply per day, but under Jonathan’s administration, they have gotten more. Apart from the most recent burstingof pipe lines, Lagos has gotten for weeks 1,100 mega-watts dedicated to it alone, which has never happened before.So it baffles me, when people who are beneficiaries of the drastic change in the sector are trying to deny obvious facts on GEJ’s performance in the power sector. And the figures are there to substantiate the rate at which electricity is distributed.With these figures, are you impressed with the rate at which power is being distributed under your watch?I am impressed because of lots of challenges facing the sector. But I am thankful that we have a president that is dogged and has not given up. That is the reason we are looking for alternatives.If you are in the shoes of Mr. President, I don’t know how you will feel when you have power plants, you make sure that infrastructure is beingput in place, and each time you get to a certain point, they vandalize the facilities and even when you have not gotten to that point, they keep vandalizing. To make sure there is no gas, they steal the oil.They sometimes go under the sea to burst the gas line pipes. One of the worst vandalism occurred recently when over two dozen places were vandalized at different pipelines in a stretch. Is that not sabotage! What are they getting from such wicked act? Since they cannot steal the gas, why are they bursting the pipe linesif is not to score political points!Are you of the view that its has political undertone?Then who is doing it. I believe, strongly, that vandalization of the gas pipe lines to power our facility has political undertone! Who is fooling who! Why would people go under the sea in horrible terrain to use highly efficiency dynamite to burst gas pipe lines knowing that you have to spend months to repair the pipe lines?

Fr mbaka was right in his prophetic new yr message. looking at the nature of our airports which we hv received several promises that second fright ll land in it by October last yr which did not happen. the new building and the cargo Warehouse was very slow. if not that the past aviation minister hurriedly permits E T airways last yr, it would hv been another case by now. look at the so called sea port in Onitsha, noting has been done about it. look at our federal road (Enugu - Onitsha road) it's an insult to the whole east. but I hv looked into the list of our presidential candidates, I have seen dat no one can represent us( southeast/southsouth region) better than Gej. without him we wouldn't hv been using Enugu airport to fly to the world, our importation business will suffer if Hausa or Yoruba is voted in. (though it's suffering a little now due to the controller general in charge of cargo at Lagos airport). if we do not vote him in, our 2nija bridge ll be stooped. his major contender is buhari who believed in violence.(in 2015...baboon will be socked in blood ....) I will vote for gej cuz I know he ll complete every project he has started. so let our Bishops leave mbaka alone. goodluck should take correction where he has done wrong.