Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has written a fresh open letter describing the administration of President Buhari as an Abacha era. The former President also accused President Buhari of planning to rig the 2019 election.

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I am concerned as a Democrat who believes that with faithful and diligent practice of democracy, we can get over most of our political problems and move steadfastly and surefootedly on the course of stability, unity of purpose, socio-economic growth, and progress for all.

Democracy becomes a sham if elections are carried out by people who should be impartial and neutral umpires, but who show no integrity, acting with blatant partiality, duplicity and imbecility. For all democrats and those carrying out the process of elections, there must be the redline that must not be crossed in tactics and practices of democracy.

I personally have serious doubt about the present INEC’s integrity, impartiality and competence to conduct a fair, free and credible election. And if the INEC is willing, will the ruling party and government allow it? From what we saw and knew about Osun State gubernatorial election, what was conclusive was declared inconclusive despite all advice to the contrary.

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https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/20/full-text-points-for-concern-and-action-obasanjo-writes-again/

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has pleaded with ASUU to call off the strike it embarked on 5th November 2018.

In its appeal, MURIC said ASUU leadership should consider the state of the nation and the plight of the students.

In a statement made available to our correspondent, the Muslim group said “the Federal Government (FG) has demonstrated goodwill by offering a part-payment.

“It may be considered a small amount but when viewed against the background of this administration’s commitment to infrastructural development, falling oil prices and the recession Nigeria has just passed through, ASUU needs to exhibit more understanding.

“This regime should not be punished for the sins of all past administrations. In the past ten years for instance, the education sector received a paltry N3.5 trillion out of N55.19 trillion of the annual budgets.

“ASUU is therefore fighting a just cause, but the union must know where to draw the line. He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.


https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/15/ASUU-should-consider-the-students-muric/

As the elections draw nearer, the Independent National Electoral Commission says it will require 18,000 ad-hoc staff for the smooth conduct of the 2019 general elections in Enugu State.

Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in the State disclosed this in Enugu.

Enugu has 260 political wards scattered within its 17 local government areas.

‘‘INEC in Enugu State requires a total of 18,000 ad-hoc staff for the 2019 polls; made up of 16,438 active and 1,562 ad-hoc staff.


https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/15/inec-looking-to-recruit-18000-ad-hoc-staff-in-enugu/

Arsenal’s goalkeeper and Chelsea legend, Peter Cech has revealed that he will be hanging up his gloves by the end of the current campaign.

The 36-year-old has spent g 15 years in the Premier League with Chelsea and current side Arsenal.

He wrote on Twitter: ‘This is my 20th season as a professional player and it has been 20 years since I signed my first professional contract, so it feels like the right time to announce that I will retire at the end of this season.


https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/15/peter-cech-to-retire-by-the-end-of-the-season/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a Bishop and suspected fraudster, Giniko Obi, in Benin City, for allegedly defrauding thousands of people of various sums of money running into millions of naira.

The suspect allegedly collected the money from his victims in the guise of helping them to ‘fight poverty.’

Obi, founder of Beloved Gideon Foundation, based in Agbor, Delta State, with outreaches in Bayelsa, Onitsha, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, and Benin City, however, denied any involvement in fraud claiming that he was only “doing the will of God by trying to help the people fight poverty.”

According to a statement by the acting EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, in Abuja on Monday, Obi said it was his desire and God’s will to see people prosper that led him into operating what appears to be a Ponzi scheme.

https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/15/how-bishop-allegedly-defrauded-members-operates-a-ponzi-scheme/

The absence of Dino Melaye in court on Monday stalled his trial in the ongoing alleged false information case before Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of an Abuja Federal High Court.

Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, is facing two counts bordering on giving false information to the Police.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Mr. Shuaib Labaran, had arraigned Melaye, alleging that the defendant had, sometime in April, 2017, deliberately given false information to the Police.

Labaran alleged that Melaye had deliberately volunteered information that incriminated David Onoja, Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, as the mastermind of an assassination attempt on him.

https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/14/why-dino-melaye-was-absent-from-court-counsel-explains/

A Coalition of Niger Delta agitators yesterday warned it would attack the nation’s oil installations if the Federal Government does not back down on its plan to arraign the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Onnoghen, who is from the region, will appear before over a six-count charge of alleged false declaration of assets.

The threat was contained in a statement by one General John Dukku on behalf of Niger Delta Watchdogs, Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, and others.

“We want to state categorically that if the presidency fails to reverse its harassment against the CJN, we will have no other option but to mobilise all the Niger Delta fighters and commence serious actions that would shake the country and the whole world.”

The statement reads in part: “President Muhammadu Buhari was not disposed to Justice Onnoghen’s appointment to this position, which was why he refused to confirm the appointment after so many months of (Onnoghen) serving in acting capacity. It was during the period of his sickness while in Britain that the acting president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, confirmed the appointment.

https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/14/niger-delta-militants-threaten-attacks-over-onnoghens-trial/

South-South Governors’ Forum, rising from an emergency meeting on Sunday maintained that the impending arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, scheduled for Monday was unconditional and a humiliation to the judiciary and has therefore asked Onnoghen not to appear before the tribunal.

The South-south governors disclosed this in a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting held at the Bayelsa State Governor’s Lodge Sunday in Abuja.

The meeting had in attendance the Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, who is also Chairman of the Forum, Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade; Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa.


https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/14/ignore-cct-trial-south-south-governors-to-onnoghen/

President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused of being desperate over the planned arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) stated this yesterday, noting that the move was suspect at a time the country is going for general elections.

https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/13/buhari-desperate-to-arraign-cjn-atiku/

President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused of being desperate over the planned arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused of being desperate over the planned arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) stated this yesterday, noting that the move was suspect at a time the country is going for general elections.

Atiku said a move against the head of an arm of government (judiciary) few weeks to the election should not be spearheaded by the executive.
https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/13/buhari-desperate-to-arraign-cjn-atiku/

Jamiu the son of Chief Moshood Abiola has urged the Yorubas to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring his father 25 years after the annulment of June 12, 1993, presidential election.

https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/13/our-people-should-vote-buhari-to-honour-my-late-father-abiolas-son/

Arsenal’s legend Ian Wright has criticized Unai Emery’s decision to leave Mesut Ozil out of the squad that traveled to West Ham on Saturday.

The Gunners suffered a 1-0 loss which further dents their chances of a top-four finish. It was revealed that Ozil who was previously injured passed a late fitness test to face the Hammers but coach Unai Emery decided to exclude him from the team that lost to West ham.

Emery, speaking after the 1-0 loss, said, “the players here are better for the match today”.

But Wright says Arsenal missed a spark without their highest earner on the pitch.

“It’s really worrying. I know that Unai Emery has had his problems with big players in dressing rooms before.

“And it seems like, to me, Ozil is the one in this dressing room that he is taking it out on.

“For Ozil not to be in the 18 [man squad], whatever is going on with them, I can’t get my head round that.

“Simply because he should have the opportunity to either play his way into form or get him on there and he’ll play himself out of form so we can see exactly what is happening with Mesut Ozil.

“We cannot afford to have arguably the highest paid player in Arsenal’s history not in the 18.

“After 67 minutes I think, Arsenal didn’t create anything. I don’t think Arsenal are in a position to be leaving Mesut Ozil totally out of the 18. He should be at least involved for me,” Wright explained on Match of the Day.

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The All Progressives Congress APC website has been hacked according to party sources. The party has since pulled down its official website following the activities of hackers on the site on Saturday.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/12/apc-website-hacked/

The former governor of Abia state, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu accused of absconding amidst his ongoing fraud trial has been seen attending a rally of Nigeria’s ruling party Premium Times has reported.

Orji Kalu joined other politicians of the All Progressives Congress in Umuahia to support the candidates of the APC in the state.

https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/12/shock-disbelief-as-orji-kalu-is-seen-at-apc-rally-in-abia/

The Secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF)16, Boss Mustapha said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has already won the upcoming elections and that President Muhammadu Buhari was only waiting for the announcement of results by INEC.
https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/12/buhari-has-won-waiting-for-inec-to-announce-result-sgf/

The Nigeria Police Force said it had obtained a warrant to keep Senator Dino Melaye in their custody for 14 days after they moved him from the police clinic in Abuja to a DSS medical facility.

Recall that the embattled senator was charged for a culpable homicide which led to the police laying siege at his in Abuja residence for close to a week.
Read more @ https://seriousmata.com/2019/01/11/we-have-obtained-a-warrant-to-keep-dino-for-14-days-police/

The way the 2019 elections are going. For sure millions of accounts will be banned by Whatsapp. All the misinformation and spam is already happening on whasapp groups. The administrators also have to be very careful about allowing those postings to be made.