₦airaland Forum

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/10/Pastor-Chris-and-Anita.jpg

The face-off between the Founder of Believers Love World (aka Christ Embassy) Chris Oyakhilome, and his wife, Anita, has taken a new dimension with Mr. Oyakhilome now removed as a trustee of a United Kingdom’s branch of the church.
With Mr. Oyakhilome’s removal, his wife, Anita, now presides over a seven-man Board of Trustees of the N8.2 billion rich branch.

The six other members of the board are Obi Chiemeka, Ifeoma Onubogu, Nkem Odiakah, Raymond Okocha, Tony Obi and Uche Onubogu, all pastors believed to be loyal to Mrs. Oyakhilome.

Mrs. Oyakhilome has for long headed the U.K branch of the church but her husband, before what appears his sudden removal, had since inception presided over the Board of Trustees of the charity.

The new development suggests that in addition to the matrimonial squabble the couples are having, an intense power struggle and battle for the soul of the U.K. branch of the church might be going on between the estranged lovers and partners as well.

In fact, Mr. Oyakhilome had dropped the first hint that there might be a hierarchical row in the church when he reportedly accused his wife of acting like an equal and wanting to overpower the authorities of the elders she met in the church.

Documents filed by the church’s UK branch to the Charity Commission of England and Wales has now shown that Mr. Oyakhilome is no longer a registered trustee of a branch of his church with total asset worth over N8.2 billion (£31 million).


Until his recent but abrupt removal, Mr. Oyakhilome was consistently listed as a prominent trustee, since 1996, when the branch was established.

Contrary to the church’s practice of stating reasons for removal of trustees in the past, no reason has been given for the removal of Pastor Oyakhilome.

It is unclear whether explanation for the action would be given in the church’s annual report for 2013 which is yet to made public by the charity commission. According to the church’s financial statement, in 2009, five pastors were removed from the church’s board of trustees after they resigned from their positions. That same year two others were appointed.

READ MORE @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/update-christ-embassy-crisis-pastor-chris-removed-as-trustee-of-churchs-u-k-branch/

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/10/Joseph-Mbu.jpg

Joseph Mbu, the AIG Zone 7 has ordered the Detention of AIT senior correspondent Amaechi Anakwe for describing him as 'controversial' on a TV Programme.

Effort are on to secure his release.

There is no right to FREE speech in Nigeria....

More details @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/breaking-joseph-mbu-orders-the-detention-of-ait-senior-correspondent-amaechi-anakwue/

[img]http://ssce./wp-content/uploads/2014/09/ScreenShot003.jpg[/img]
NECO (Nov/Dec and May/June) Past Questions in the following subjects are available:

Mathematics
English Language
Physics
Physics (Alternative to Practical)
Chemistry
Chemistry (Alternative to Practical)
Biology
Economics
Commerce
Agricultural Science
Agricultural Science (Alternative to Practical)
Government
Financial Accounting
Further Mathematics
Geography I
Geography II
Geography Theory
Test of Orals

More subjects available......

Visit http://ssce./neco-past-questions-2/to access the past questions.

https://cdn.pmnewsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Super-Eagles.jpg
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped four places to 37th on the latest FIFA world ranking released on Thursday morning, with Germany maintaining top spot and Algeria remaining Africa’s highest ranked nation.

Nigeria lost ground on the ranking following a poor start to the 2015 Cup of Africa Nations this month, falling to a shock 3-2 loss against Congo in Calabar before playing out a goalless draw with South Africa in Cape Town.

Congo on their part went up 30 places to occupy 48th spot, the highest position ever attained by the southern African nation on the ranking, courtesy of a perfect start in Nations Cup qualifying.

As a result, Nigeria is now the sixth highest ranked African nation as Senegal, Tunisia and Ghana gained 23, 11 and three places respectively to go past Nigeria on the world rankings.

Senegal holds a perfect record after two matches in AFCON 2015 qualifying and was rewarded with a jump from 49th to 36th place in the latest ranking, while Ghana is 33rd and Tunisia 31st.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/super-eagles-drops-4-places-and-congo-climb-30-places-on-new-fifa-ranking/

https://cdn.akamai.thisdaylive.com/0bef99d6-acf5-4e2c-9779-8fa02ba3fcd4/assets/n130313--Danbaba-Suntai.jpg?maxwidth=400&maxheight=540
The recuperating Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, last night paid host to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Since his return, Suntai has been staying at the guest house of Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (rtd) in Abuja.

The low key event was witnessed by Suntai’s wife, Hauwa, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha and Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Gebons Kataps. Sources at the event told THISDAY that the president, led by Danjuma met Suntai in high spirits.

“On sighting Suntai, the president beamed and said: “But you are back now.”
Suntai then thanked the president for his support through out his ordeal. He also asked the president to thank his wife, the first lady, who visited him in the United Kingdom where he went for treatment,” he said.

The source added that the president also expressed his happiness at the recovery of the governor.

He later left with Danjuma to the villa. Suntai’s return has become a subject of controversy.
The president’s visit may be one to have an on-the-spot assessment of the governor. Intense debate over his fitness to resume office has continued to headline discussions within and outside the state.

Read details @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/jonathan-visits-suntai-says-thank-god-you-are-back-now/

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/06/Emab-bomb-blast.jpg3_-479x300.jpg
The Federal College of Education (FCE), Kano has been bombed by suspected members of Boko Haram.

Many students were killed in the attack as the gunmen were shooting even after the bomb blast.

...See More @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/breaking-bomb-blast-in-federal-college-of-education-kano-many-students-killed/

Details later....

Update:
KANO (Reuters) - Gunmen stormed a government teacher training college in northern Nigeria's main city of Kano, firing repeatedly on fleeing students and setting off an explosion on Wednesday, security sources said.

It was unclear what the toll of dead and wounded were from the attack on the Federal College of Education Kano.

(editing by John Stonestreet)

More updates shortly....

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/09/TANs_South_West_rally-526x295.jpg
The People’s Democratic Party National Youth Frontier has given President Goodluck Jonathan a 30-day ultimatum to declare his intention for the 2015 presidency. The group gave the ultimatum in Abuja during a world press conference titled ‘The Ultimate Ultimatum’.

Its coordinator, Usman Okai, said, “Today, we join other well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to appeal to Mr. President to please accede to the clarion call by majority of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to declare his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election within 30 days from this day”.

He said the group wanted Jonathan to seek re-election for “policy consistency, holistic consolidation of the transformation agenda and more youth inclusiveness in governance”....We want him to declare because our patience is running out....

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/2015-pdp-youths-asked-jonathan-to-declare-intention-within-30-days-else/

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/09/Michael-Alogba-Olukoya.jpg
The head of Nigeria’s main teachers union called on Tuesday for a boycott of next week’s re-opening of schools, saying there had not been enough training to protect against the Ebola virus.

Michael Olukoya, president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, said members should boycott next Monday’s planned re-opening because they have not received training and supplies like hand gloves and sanitisers promised by the government.

“The schools are still the same as before the outbreak,” Olukoya said. “Teachers should be trained. They should be provided with the thermometers, gloves and hand sanitisers.”

Education minister Ibrahim Shekarau said earlier this month that schools would resume on September 22 after their re-opening was delayed due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Nigeria.

The re-opening was initially delayed from September 15 to October 13 due to the outbreak, but the date was later moved forward to September 22.

Eight people have died and over 20 have been infected by Ebola in Nigeria. The outbreak started in the commercial capital Lagos in July before spreading to Port Harcourt, the hub of the nation’s oil industry.

The current outbreak has killed 2,461 people, mostly in three West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and the United Nations fears 20,000 people could be infected by the end of the year.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/ebola-nut-ask-teachers-not-to-resume-on-sept-22nd-zamfara-to-re-open-schools-on-october-13th/

The death toll from a collapsed guesthouse at a megachurch in Nigeria’s financial capital Lagos rose to 62 on Tuesday afternoon, a rescue official said while expressing the hope that more survivors would be found.

“We have so far 62 people dead and 133 people have been rescued alive,” southwest coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, told AFP.

In another development, South Africa President Zuma announces 67 #SouthAfricans died in the Lagos building collapse on Friday disputing the 60 dead cited by #Nigerian officials

“Rescue efforts are still continuing but we hope they will come to an end tomorrow (Wednesday). We have reached a critical stage now and more survivors are likely to be brought out of the rubble,” he said.

The guesthouse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos’ Ikotun neighbourhood collapsed on Friday, leaving scores trapped in the debris.

Farinloye earlier said rescuers extracted a woman alive from the building’s rubble Tuesday morning.

She was able to walk away from the collapse with just a broken wrist. The discovery prompted rescuers to slow down their digging in the wreckage of the guesthouse.

The hostel housed Nigerian and foreign followers of the popular preacher and televangelist T.B. Joshua.

His network of churches and a television station have attracted people from around the world to Lagos with promises of receiving miracles and prophecies from the man followers dub “The Prophet”.

Joshua has suggested that a low-flying aircraft was responsible for the disaster and released security camera footage apparently showing a plane flying four times over the hostel before its collapse.

Ikotun is located to the west of Lagos’s international airport.

The preacher has not commented directly on the deaths and initially claimed that only a few people were injured but on Sunday tweeted: “No matter how long a lie is sustained, truth will someday prevail.”

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/synagogue-death-toll-rises-to-62-president-zuma-says-67-south-africans-died/

The Nigerian government has opened talks with South Africa after an aircraft conveying $9.3m cash from Abuja, allegedly for arms purchase, was seized by the South African authorities.
Two Nigerians and an Israeli aboard the airplane were detained and are facing investigations for transporting the huge amount into South Africa.
It emerged on Tuesday that the jet is owned by Ayo Oritsejafor, who heads the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.

Mr. Oritsejafor denied knowledge of the arms deal saying the aircraft was managed by another company, Eagle Air Company, which in turn, had leased the jet to a third party, Green Coast Produce Limited.

The two firms confirmed that claim in separate statements.
Details of the transaction remained vague beyond that the sum was meant for the purchase of arms for an unnamed Nigerian security agency.
In what appeared the first official confirmation of the deal, security personnel were quoted Tuesday as confirming the order and saying it was a normal practice to procure arms with cash.

Also, the Federal Government has released data and documents on the transaction, telling the South African government the transaction was “legitimate”, according to PRNigeria, an agency that regularly disseminates media statements for the military, police and other security agencies in Nigeria.
The report said talks between the two countries were at the governmental level and between the intelligence services of the two nations.
PRNigeria quoted a senior government official that the South African Government only faulted “non-declaration” of the cash by the delegation from Nigeria.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/nigerian-govt-admits-ownership-of-9-3-million-arms-money-seized-by-south-africa/

[img]<a href="http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/09/Dr-Orji-Kalu-360x225.jpg">[/img]
A former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, has expressed regret over the role he played in the emergence of his former chief of staff, Theodore Orji, as his successor

During an interview with Channels Television, Kalu, said he fell out with Orji, who is the current governor of Abia, because he cautioned him (Orji) privately about excesses of his government barely 18 months into his first term.

Kalu said infrastructural developments in the state were grounded in spite of the fact the governor was running the state with multiple loans from banks.

He said, “The time I made that decision (to make Orji governor) it was a right decision. Eighteen months after he became governor, I called him privately and told him ‘look, you can no longer do this job.’ If the governor is an honest, man he will tell you this is true.

“The problem started when they (Abia government) were quarrelling with Oyema Ugochukwu (former Niger Delta Development Commission boss) and co. They brought a paper to me that he borrowed over N11bn. I called his commissioner for finance and he confirmed to me that they borrowed from multiple banks.

“I asked him what they were doing with the money but he didn’t give me any explanation. I reminded him that as commissioner for finance he worked with me for eight years and the only money I borrowed was N2bn and I paid back before I left. I didn’t borrow money to run Abia; the $680m that our state owed during the old regime; joint regime of Imo and Abia, was deducted by President Olusegun Obasanjo.”

The former governor denied attempting to play ‘godfather’ to the incumbent governor saying his only grouse was that Orji was not doing enough for the people.

On the controversy over his membership of the PDP, Kalu insisted he was a member of the party, noting that nobody had the right to bar him from leaving or joining the party.

He said his return to the PDP had nothing to do with contesting for elective position and expressed his support for a second term for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Kalu said, “I am back in my party, must I run for any position? My mission is to be in the party and I’m in the party. I believe in rotational presidency. The Igbo cannot be seeking the presidency now that President Goodluck Jonathan is running. It is not our turn. Jonathan is the President, every President has gone for eight years. It would have been our turn if he didn’t run.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/i-regret-helping-t-a-orji-become-governor-of-abia-state-orji-kalu/

https://www.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Joseph-Mbu-360x225.jpg
An Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Joseph Mbu, has described himself as a lion, who tamed the ‘leopard of Port Harcourt’.

Mbu, who was apparently referring to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of River State where he served as the Commissioner of Police before he was posted to Abuja stated that it was only a lion that could tame a leopard.

Mbu, who was recently promoted AIG, said this while handing over to the new FCT Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, on Monday in Abuja.

He advised his successor to be firm in his dealings with policemen in his command and avoid soiling himself.

“I advise you (CP) to carry the senior officers along in your administration. It is only a lion that can tame a leopard. I tamed the leopard in Port Harcourt; each time he remembers my face, he would remember how I tamed him,” Mbu said, drawing loud laughter from the audience.

He advised Inalegwu to discourage policemen from going for special duties, noting that the obligation of policemen was to the general public and not to provide protection for only the elite.

He also urged the new CP not to deal with his personnel with sentiments, stressing that he would fail if he gives unnecessary concessions to the officers and men working with him.

He stated that the Force needed strong leadership to achieve results, adding that he had put the command on a solid pedestal, noting that under him, the command procured 5,000 special raincoats with the assistance of the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed.

Mbu added that he was able to save N10m from the ‘FCT logistics’ and bought two buses to transport the rank and file to their duty posts.

Mbu, who is now in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, explained that there was no petition against him throughout his tenure as the CP in charge of FCT, because he dealt with the people fairly.

Inalegwu in his response, promised to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor and challenged the officers to relate more with the community.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/i-tamed-leopard-of-port-harcourt-aig-joseph-mbu/

https://www.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dimeji-Bankole-360x270.jpg
The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State has asked a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, to desist from visiting party formations in the state.

The party alleged that such visit was causing disaffection within the party and urged him to put a stop to it.

To express their dissatisfaction, the party’s state secretary, Mr. Semiu Sodipo, wrote a letter to him, stating this position.

The letter dated September 12, 2014, was titled ‘Stoppage of Your Unapproved Tours/Political Campaigns.’

Sodipo also copied the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Prof Rufai Alkali.

The letter read in part, “This is to inform you that the party is being inundated with reports that your tour of some local governments is causing disaffection among party members and thereby creating disharmony and threatening the peace in the rank and file of the party membership.

“Also, it is believed that all your actions are being perpetrated so that you can divide the party before moving to another party since you have yet to obtain the party’s State Expression of Interest Form. For your attention, the party is united, cohesive and have all that it takes to win the 2015 general elections with a landslide.”

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/pdp-accuses-bankole-of-anti-party-activities/

https://thenationonlineng.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Synagogue-Fashola-620x330.jpg

Fashola express shock over attempt by security officers of the church trying to hamper rescue efforts of NAMA officials....See more pictures @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/fashola-joshua-at-collapsed-synagogue-building-site-see-photos/

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/09/Synagogue-Church.jpg
As recorded from T.B. Joshua's Christian station Emmanuel TV, here is the raw security footage of a strange plane flying low over a building at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations four times in the space of an hour shortly before its tragic collapse.

The building is seen collapsing in literally a matter of seconds at approximately 12:44pm.

http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/exclusive-cctv-footage-of-synagogue-collapse-strange-airplane-allegedly-behind-it-watch-video/

See video @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/exclusive-cctv-footage-of-synagogue-collapse-strange-airplane-allegedly-behind-it-watch-video/

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1700147_image_jpeg9f360c5ab7736510df54c882e9dbf188
Head of The Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T B Joshua, has alleged that the collapse of a section of the church complex last Friday may have been caused by an attack on the Church.

According to him, the collapse goes beyond the allegation of structural defects, as have been variously speculated.

Speaking to journalists after a CCTV footage of events leading to the building collapse was shown to journalists at the church premises on Saturday, Prophet Joshua said a plane, which eyewitness saw was a military jet, had earlier began circling around his prayer ground, where he usually retreats to for spiritual upliftment a few distance from the church location as early as 10.00am.

Not paying much attention to it, he said he left the site and headed for the church complex to freshen up, only to be notified that the plane had also stopped circulating and headed towards the location of the church.

Not long after, he said he also got a security report from his officials that a plane was sited hovering over one of the buildings in the complex.

He said the plane circulated four times before the building suddenly collapsed at exactly 12.44 pm.

The video footage actually showed the plane hovering above the five-storey building said to be an accommodation facility, first at 11.30, and then four times within three minutes.

The plane then came back again circled the building again and left. At exactly 12.44 when it looked like it was all over, the building suddenly came down, collapsing all at once.

According to some officials of the church and eye-witnesses, the building collapse looked very much like chemicalised demolition and may yet be a new dimension in the terror onslaught in the country.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/update-collapse-building-prophet-t-b-joshua-alleges-attack-on-church/

...for more visit www.newsnownigeria.com.ng

A 22-year-old man, Tope Kadiri, who was on a visit to his parents at an orthodox church, has been stabbed to death.

The incident happened on Wednesday morning at Aduragbemi Street, Oworonshoki area of Lagos State.

Our correspondent, who visited the street, saw traces of blood in the area where he was reportedly gagged and stabbed to death.

His corpse was said to have been taken to the Oworonsoki Police Station while his friends launched a reprisal on people said to be friends of his alleged killers.

It was gathered that the fight would have escalated but for the intervention of the Oworonshoki Police Division which restored normalcy in the area.

It was gathered that the fight started on Tuesday evening after the deceased had a face-off with a woman in a house sharing fence with the church building.

It was learnt that Kadiri had asked the woman not to throw dirty water from her washing bowl into the church.

When the woman’s daughter resisted, the 22-year-old was said to have pulled down some of their clothes spread on the line, which started the fight.

The woman’s children were said to have risen in defence of their mother, escalating the crisis.

A resident in the area, who pleaded anonymity, said, “The fight was settled amicably by the community leaders and both sides agreed to a truce.

“However, on Wednesday morning, a group of boys living in the woman’s house who were away when the incident happened decided to revisit it. They attacked Kadri and that was how confusion started.

“He was gagged and stabbed in the chest till he died.”

A police source told our correspondent that a man who sold foodstuff around the bus stop was attacked by Kadiri’s friends.

He was said to have been seriously injured and had to be rushed to the hospital.

“They clubbed him and broke his head. He would have died but for police intervention,” he said.

A member of the Orthodox Church, who identified himself as Isaac Adesegha, described the incident as unfortunate.

Adesegha said the church had also been attacked on the night preceding the tragedy.

While taking our correspondent round the church premises, he said, “They came and broke the window frames of the church and vandalised our property. One of the church members was stabbed in the neck, he could have died.

“What was our offence? We asked them to stop throwing water into our compound. We share a low fence with their house and they go beyond their boundary everytime. When they turn on their generators in the night, the fumes enter the residential blocks in the church. We told them to stop, but they refused to listen.

“The boy that died was just on a visit to his parents who were staying in the church.”

It was learnt that the corpse of the late Kadiri had been deposited at the mortuary, while three suspects had already been arrested.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ngozi Braide, when contacted on the development, said she would call our correspondent back. But she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/men-on-revenge-mission-kill-church-visitor/

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/09/Doyin-Okupe-BringBackGoodluck2015.jpg
Doyin Okupe, an aide to President Goodluck Jonathan on public affairs, was one of the masterminds of the controversial #BringBackJonathanIn2015 hashtag which the President disowned Wednesday, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

Mr. Jonathan had earlier today ordered the removal of banners and billboards bearing messages containing the hashtag adapted from the hugely popular #‎BringBackOurGirls‬ campaign.

It is not clear at this time who created the #BringBackJonathanIn2015 hashtag, but Mr. Okupe was one of its earliest users and promoters.

Some Nigerian Twitter users indeed believe it was Mr. Okupe who created and launched the hashtag but PREMIUM TIMES is unable to independently verify that at this time.

Mr. Okupe could not be reached Wednesday to explain why he created or promoted the hashtag and whether he is now contrite after his action was deemed inappropriate even by his boss. He did not answer or return calls.

The hashtag was, however, among four different campaign hashtags the presidential aide aggressively promoted between August 20 and August 22 using his handle @doyinokupe.

On August 22, Mr. Okupe tweeted:

#BringBackJonathanIn2015…4continuity #BringBackJonathanIn2015….4continuity #BringBackJonathanIn2015…4continuity

— Doyin (@doyinokupe) August 22, 2014

Earlier on August 20, the presidential aide had promoted three other hashtags. They are:

#2015:GEJRUNANDWIN #2015:GEJRUNANDWIN #2015:GEJRUNANDWIN

— Doyin (@doyinokupe) August 20, 2014

#2015:RUNJONATHANRUN #2015:RUNJONATHANRUN #2015:RUNJONATHANRUN

— Doyin (@doyinokupe) August 20, 2014

#‎NigeriansSupportGej42015‬ #NigeriansSupportGej42015 #NigeriansSupportGej42015

— Doyin (@doyinokupe) August 20, 2014

But of the four, it was the #BringBackJonathanIn2015 that caught fire on Twitter.

And before long, people believed to be presidential aides and promoters of Mr. Jonathan’s reelection bid began to use it to create campaign banners and billboards for the president.

The banners and billboards, displayed at strategic locations in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, triggered swift reactions in Nigeria and abroad, with critical articles appearing in international media outlets, including the BBC and the Washington Post.

The #BringBackOurGirls Twitter hashtag was coined to help galvanise international support for the release of nearly 300 schoolgirls abducted April 14 in Chibok, Borno State, by extremist sect, Boko Haram.

While more than 200 of the girls remain in captivity, the campaign became a rallying point and is deemed amongst the social media’s most popular campaigns yet.

Washington Post’s columnist, Ishaan Tharoor, described the #‎BringBackJonathan2015‬ hashtag for a government that has failed to rescue the girls nearly five months after, as likely the “most inappropriate hashtag of the year”.

“It’s not clear whether Jonathan has officially endorsed the new hashtag, but its seeming ubiquity suggests that he is not opposed to it,” Mr. Tharoor wrote.

In Nigeria, the anger was more, particularly, on the social media.

When the criticism became unbearable, the president’s office released a statement Wednesday saying Mr. Jonathan found the banners “offensive and repugnant” and had ordered they be immediately removed.

The statement said, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has directed that the #‎Bring‬ Back Jonathan 2015 signs and banners around Abuja which he and many Nigerians find offensive and repugnant be brought down immediately.

“President Jonathan wholly shares the widely expressed view that the signs which were put up without his knowledge or approval are a highly insensitive parody of the #Bring Back Our Girls hash tag.

“While President Jonathan appreciates the enthusiastic show of support for his administration by a broad range of stakeholders, he condemns the #Bring Back Jonathan 2015 signs which appear to make light of the very serious national and global concern for the abducted Chibok girls.

“The President assures all Nigerians and the international community that his administration remains fully engaged with efforts to rescue the abducted girls and that he will not knowingly promote any actions that will fly in the face of the seriousness of their plight and the anguish of their families.”

It is not clear whether President Jonathan has cautioned Mr. Okupe over his action.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/shocking-jonathans-aide-doyin-okupe-championed-controversial-%E2%80%8Ebringbackjonathan2015%E2%80%AC-hashtag/

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/09/BringBackJonathan-postal.jpg
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has directed that the #BringBackJonathan2015 signs and banners around Abuja be removed.

Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a statement this morning, said Jonathan and many Nigerians found the campaign signs offensive and repugnant, directing therefore they should be brought down immediately.

The president's directive came hours after the Washington Post in its editorial, titled, ‘This may be the Most Inappropriate Political Hostage of the Year,’ questioned the slogan’s similarity with that of the Bring BackOurGirls group demanding the rescue of the abducted schoolgirls of Chibok.

"In this context, the new campaign slogan is particularly galling. Jonathan has not brought back the girls, yet his campaign expects Nigeria to bring him back to power. One wonders if it will spawn more rich satire among Nigerians on social media. After all, there’s plenty of precedent,” the editorial read in part.


But Jonathan's spokesman said this morning that the president wholly shared the widely expressed view that the signs which were put up without his knowledge or approval are a highly insensitive parody of the #Bring Back Our Girls hash tag.

According to him, while Jonathan appreciates the enthusiastic show of support for his administration  by a broad range of stakeholders, he condemns the #Bring Back Jonathan 2015 signs which appear to make light of the very serious national and global concern for the abducted Chibok girls.

He said the president assured all Nigerians and the international community that his administration remained fully engaged with efforts to rescue the abducted girls and that he would not knowingly promote any actions that will fly in the face of the seriousness of their plight and the anguish of their families.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/jonathan-orders-removal-of-bringbackgoodluck2015-campaign-sign-posts-in-abuja/

[img]http://1.1.1.1/bmi/newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/09/WAEC-logo.jpg[/img]
The official WAEC result, made available to the media, showed that Anambra State scored 65.92%, Abia State 58.52%, and Edo State scored 57.82% to emerge the best three states.

Nevertheless, eight out of the 36 states in Nigeria recorded scores less than 10%. These states include Adamawa, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi. Others are Gombe, Bauchi and Yobe.

The percentage of the total number of candidates that obtained a minimum of five credits, including English Language and General Mathematics, was 31.21% as against 30.90%, 37.66% and 36.57% for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 WASSCE examinations. This, according to WAEC, implies that the average performance of the candidates in the May/June 2014 WASSCE was lower than that of 2013.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/wassce-2014-adamawa-jigawa-sokoto-zamfara-and-4-others-scored-below-10/

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/09/WAEC-logo.jpg
The education reforms introduced by the administration of former Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi have continued to yield results, as schools in the state emerged the overall best in the 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), a repeat of the feat recorded last year.

The official WAEC result, made available to the media, showed that Anambra State scored 65.92%, Abia State 58.52%, and Edo State scored 57.82% to emerge the best three states.

Nevertheless, eight out of the 36 states in Nigeria recorded scores less than 10%. These states include Adamawa, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi. Others are Gombe, Bauchi and Yobe.

The percentage of the total number of candidates that obtained a minimum of five credits, including English Language and General Mathematics, was 31.21% as against 30.90%, 37.66% and 36.57% for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 WASSCE examinations. This, according to WAEC, implies that the average performance of the candidates in the May/June 2014 WASSCE was lower than that of 2013.

Commenting on the feat by Anambra State, education experts from and outside the state linked it to the courageous return of schools, hitherto thought to be impossible, to the Missionaries in 2010 by the former governor, Mr Peter Obi, who thereafter continued to pay the salaries of tutorial and non-tutorial staff and provided direct funding to the missionaries that enabled them to rehabilitate the schools and provide learning materials and facilities.

The minister of state for education, Barr Nyesom Wike, predicted what is happening in Anambra State when he visited the state under Governor Obi, during the launching of the distribution of 25,000 computers, 450 nos of 50 KVA generators and 500 school buses to schools in the state.”

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/anambra-comes-1st-again-in-wassce-scored-65-92-followed-by-abia-58-52-and-edo-57-82-to-emerge-the-best-three-states/

Boko Haram militants shot and injured the soldier son of Nigerian ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo during clashes, an associate of the former head of state told BBC radio on Tuesday.

Lieutenant-Colonel Adeboye Obasanjo was wounded when troops fought the Islamist fighters in the northeastern state of Adamawa, Mohammed Keffi said on the broadcaster's Hausa-language service.

"I got in touch with... Obasanjo and told him that I received this information... He told me yes, he was aware of the incident," Keffi said in an interview.

"He told me his (son's) team had left Mubi on their way to Michika when they came under fire from Boko Haram. He was shot and injured but he is in a stable condition."

The younger Obasanjo, an army engineer leading a platoon of army troops, was "getting better" after Monday's incident, according to Keffi.

The soldier's father, 77, was elected president in 1999, marking a return to civilian rule after military dictatorship, and held office until 2007. He had previously served as military leader from 1976 to 1979.

Obasanjo has been involved in attempts to end the five-year insurgency. In May, he held exploratory talks to open discussions with the armed Islamic fundamentalists to obtain the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in April.

Nigeria's military has been under increasing pressure to stop Boko Haram advances after the militants took over a number of towns in the northeastern states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa.
Troops attempted to retake the town of Madagali, on Adamawa's northern border with Borno, on Friday but were forced to withdraw to Mubi, the state's commercial hub.

Residents of Michika in Adamawa state on Monday reported seeing air force jets circling overhead, but the planes were unable to bomb militants on the ground because they took cover inside civilian houses.

Michika is 37 kilometres (23 miles) from Mubi by road.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/lieutenant-colonel-adeboye-obasanjo-is-responding-to-treatment-chief-olusegun-obasanjo/

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/07/APC-Vs-PDP.jpg
The crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly continued on Monday as the two factions of 15 All Progressives Congress and nine Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers in the state legislature resumed separate plenaries after a recess that lasted for over a month.

The 14 APC lawmakers, led by the Speaker Uyi Igbe, who resumed sitting at the old legislative chambers in the Government House, adopted a business calendar for the fourth session, second quarter of the fifth Assembly.

The business calendar, which was proposed by the Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu during plenary and adopted by the house, is expected to run for 75 days.

Shaibu said the calendar which began on September 8, is expected to terminate on December 19, 2014.

He said upon implementation, the calendar shall have 17, 23, 20 and 19 days for the months of September, October, November and December.

He said, “If we add the 75 days to the 36 days calendar for the first quarter, it would amount to 111days of legislative activities for the first two quarters.”

Earlier, the Speaker, while welcoming the members back to the assembly, congratulated the chairmen and members of the house committees on Rules, Business and Government House, Transport, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Judiciary and Energy for the commendations received from the House of Representatives for outstanding performance.

Igbe, however, directed that clean copies of the resolution be sent to the governor for his approval.

Meanwhile, at the PDP sitting, held at the Anthony Enahoro Assembly Complex, the “Speaker” of the faction, Festus Ebea, welcomed the legislators to the new quartre and commended them for not shifting position in the interest of democracy and the state.

The “Speaker” urged the members to ensure that legislative duties were executed without fear.

He charged the PDP lawmakers to be prepared to face the challenge ahead and sustain with a view to passing relevant resolution.

The house Leader, Pharm. Emma Okoduwa, representing Esan North-East, later presented the business calendar for the second quartre (fourth session) of the Fifth Assembly.

According to the calendar, the house is expected to sit for 77 – days 17 days in September, 22 days in October, 20 days in November and 18 days in December,while sitting was also adjourned to Tuesday.

Earlier at the weekend, Ebea officially announced his change of membership from the APC at a rally in Ubiaja, the headquarters of Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo state.

It was gathered that the former Deputy Speaker explained that his decision was informed by the fact that the APC had lost direction from the ideals of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, on which he contested and won the state assembly seat in 2011.

He stated that the PDP had demonstrated at the national level that Nigeria could be transformed with credible and people-oriented leadership.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/edo-15-apc-lawmakers-and-9-pdp-lawmakers-resume-separate-plenaries/

A recent report indicates that over 10,000 unemployed youths may have been made by a government agency to pay N50,000 for jobs yet-to-be offered them.

According to the report by Daily Independent, “government agencies have continued to exploit the alarming unemployment situation in the country to defraud hapless Nigerian job seekers.”

Inquiry revealed that the applicants for the FERCSARA, a task force created under SURE-P/FERMA programme, have paid over N50,000 each to secure unavailable jobs, which they are yet to be formally offered since November 2013.

The recruiters have been collecting money from applicants for uniforms, enrolment forms, medicals and data capturing among others, but none has been supplied. The recruiters might have raked in over N1 billion from 10,000 applicants.

It was gathered that applicants are more than 25,000, some of whom got weary after coming for several months. This is as new applicants are recorded almost on daily basis till date.

It was learnt that each applicant was made to pay N32,500 for uniforms that were not supplied, while they collected enrolment letter for N2,200 each. Although the letters were said to have been cancelled by one of the top officers, no refund has been made.



Also, applicants allegedly paid N2,000 each for SURE-P form, although some paid as much as N10,000 out of desperation to get the form, which was being hoarded. There was also another payment of N1,500 each for data capturing, which was reporetedly done three times with additional fees.

The applicants also were made to pay N2,000 each for T-shirts and N1,500 for fez cap. Each applicant also paid N500 for medical fitness and N100 for traffic form.

It was gathered that since November last year, the applicants have been coming to the office in Ojota, Lagos, none of them has been given any stipend, even when they were used for some political rallies in the guise of creating awareness for the organisation.

The applicants, if offered employment, were said would take over control of all federal roads in Lagos from the Lagos state Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).

Indeed, they have already clashed with the agency officials at Toll Gate around Shagisha on several occasions.

Several applicants, said they have not received a kobo as transport allowance since the November recruitment exercise, when they started paying various fees and coming to the office regularly from different parts of the state.

“I am tired of paying. In fact, I have spent the little savings I made from menial jobs I have been doing since graduating from the university four years ago.

“After the stadium rally, I as well as others, realised we are just being used for political strategy ahead 2015 elections.”

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/unemployed-young-nigerians-pay-n50000-each-for-non-existence-sure-p-jobs/

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has blamed Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti for the delay of August workers’ salaries.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, Fayemi lamented that the party in the last two weeks had been feeding the public with unfounded allegations of shady deals levelled against the incumbent administration.

The allegations, he said, ranged from last minutes recruitment of workers, to panic withdrawal of funds among others.

Fayemi challenged the PDP to mention the banks where the alleged illegal movement of funds took place and explain where the 3,000 workers were recruited illegally.

According to him, no party or transition committee would make such malicious allegations against the incumbent administration, especially when such claims are unfounded.

The governor said he had run the affairs of the state in the last four years with utmost regard for public accountability and fiscal responsibility laws, a development that had earned the state accolades from relevant authorities and rating organisations both locally and globally.

“Having built a reputation of service and integrity over the years, nothing- not even a controversial loss in an election – would make us go back on this path of honour. Neither are we going to succumb to cheap and infantile blackmail,” the statement said.

Saying that the allegations of the PDP were not only wicked, reckless and malicious, the statement added that it was a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of the current administration in the state and an anticipatory excuse for lack of performance when the new government gets into office.

Fayemi pointed out that it was the first time that workers salary had been delayed in almost four years of his administration, due to the panic created in financial institutions dealing with the state by the Governor-elect, Dr. Ayo Fayose.

“If Mr. Fayose and his team believe that indeed many of these allegations have any iota of truth in them, one would have expected that a team that espouses a commitment to cooperation and reconciliation would have made an effort to seek further clarification on the many destructive allegations before rushing to the press if this was not a calculated agenda to malign and manipulate public opinion.”

“For a party that is set to form government in a matter of weeks to seek to discredit the incumbent administration, through sheer falsehood and blackmail is simply irresponsible and childish.

“Instead of turning this into a political poker, one would have expected the incoming administration to work closely with the outgoing government by closing ranks in the interest of the State.

“The same goes for the irresponsible accusation of a debt overhang. What the Fayemi administration has done with the state’s borrowings under its watch is public knowledge (in the roads infrastructure, the new Govt House, the new EkitiParapo Pavillion, Lagos Liaison Office, revival of Ire Clay Factory, resuscitation of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, the new College of Agriculture, the markets in the 16 LGAs) and can be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“If the incoming administration discovers anything untoward or manifestly illegal in the application of the bond’s funds, it should feel free to set criminal investigation in motion and unravel the truth. The Fayemi administration has absolutely nothing to be afraid of as a government founded on the core principles of accountability and transparency.”

Fayemi said, the PDP’s lies will not change anything as his tenure would end on October 15 and the incoming government would be inaugurated on the 16th .

“Therefore, we, as a responsible government, owe it a duty to continue to provide purposeful leadership for the people of our dear state.

“Having started well on the path of honour and credibility, we intend to end well by ensuring that all projects and programmes of the administrations are fully actualised in a honest and responsible way that has been the hallmark of our administration.

“Having built a reputation of credibility and excellent service delivery, loads of lies and campaign of calumny by the PDP cannot distract us.

“Our concern is that the PDP by its infantile attitude would cause the incoming administration to start on a faulty note. Because our people, having seen through their lies, would tag the incoming administration as one that lacks integrity and credibility.”

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/pdp-responsible-for-workers-delayed-salaries-fayemi/

Secretary to the Government of Adamawa State, Prof. Liman Tukur, has said insurgents have taken over Gulak town, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of the state.

This is contained in a statement by Tukur and made available to newsmen in Yola on Saturday.

The statement said the insurgents had killed and displaced many people in the town during their attacks.

It said, “It has come to the attention of the Adamawa State Government that insurgents are now in Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area and had killed and displaced scores of people.

“On behalf of the people and government of Adamawa, his Excellency deeply sympathises with the people of Gulak and other surrounding villages and towns whose areas had been overran by insurgents.

“The concomitant effects of the insurgency like displacement of whole villages and towns create multitudes of internally displaced persons whose management and welfare, the government is left to bear.”

It said the state government would do as much as possible to assist the displaced persons.

It said the State Emergency Management Agency in conjunction with the National Emergency Management Agency had been directed to hasten assistance to the displaced persons.

Meanwhile, reports from Michika, headquarters of Michika Council which borders Madagali local government area, said residents of some villages were fleeing to Uba, Mubi and Yola towns for fear of possible attacks.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/boko-haram-now-in-control-gulak-in-adamawa/

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/06/President-Goodluck-Jonathan-360x225.jpg
ALL prominent Nigerians invited Wedneday to the public presentation and launch of a book meant to promote President Goodluck Jonathan’s achievements in office shunned the event which held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, leaving the organizers confused.

President Jonathan, himself who was expected at the launch of the resource book that contains what the author called “proper and effective assessment” of his administration stayed away without sending any representative just as serving governors, ministers, senators, House of Assembly members as well as other prominent Nigerians shunned the occasion.

When the organizers, who had earlier arrived the venue in readiness of the event stayed for several hours without noticing the presence of any of the invitees, they without hesitation left.

The book entitled: “President Goodluck Jonathan: His Speeches and Heroic Deeds”, according to the author, Tana Ejenavwo, documented selected speeches of the president which he noted, were indeed reflective of his deep philosophical thoughts on issues of governance, progress and unity of Nigeria.

“It also provides authentic and verifiable information for sectoral growth assessment, as encapsulated in the Transformation Agenda of the administration,” he added.

The book, according to the chairman of the book launch organizing committee, Ahmed Danjuma Abubakar, unveiled the methodological disposition of President Jonathan in handling national issues in what he called “uncommon civility, instead of belligerent approaches that brutalizes our national psych.”

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/shocking-guests-shun-jonathans-book-launch-in-abuja/

https://newsnownigeria.com.ng/solagab/uploads/2014/09/SE-training-in-Calabar.jpg
The Super eagles of Nigeria will kick off their campaign defending their title of the AFCON champions by hosting Congo, who replaced the suspended Rwanda.

The game is scheduled on Saturday 6 - September 2014 by 2:00 PM GMT at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar aka "The Slaughter House".

#Nigeria XI v #Congo (4-3-3); Ejide; Ambrose, Omeruo, Oboabona, Echiejile; Onazi, Mikel, Azeez; Musa, Oduamadi, Nwofor.

Late comers: Emmanuel Emenike not in #Nigeria's XI vs #Congo. VIP seat for Joel Obi ~ not kitted for the match.

LIVE Text Commentary to commence by 5:00pm (17:00 GMT) .....Join Us @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/orange-afcon-2015-qualifiers-nigeria-vs-congo-see-team-list-kickoff-time/

https://www.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Pastor-Tunde-Bakare-360x225.jpg

In this interview with ADEOLA BALOGUN, NONYE BEN-NWANKWO and ERIC DUMO, Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly speaks on a wide range of issues including his experience as a running mate to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at the 2011 general elections

We heard you praising God for the Osun State governorship election despite the militarisation; don’t you think that the militarisation was responsible for the peaceful election?

I think I chose my words, I didn’t use militarisation; I used the word “federal presence.” I said in spite of the intimidating federal presence, things still went on peacefully. I have heard the word militarisation used, I do not necessarily subscribe to it. The reason being that the police are called peace officers and they were there to keep the peace. The military has been used lately in several elections because of the major environment, the violence going on and all kinds of electoral malpractices. In other places, elections are like picnic with citizens having the opportunity to exercise their rights. But when you are beginning to hear statements like “blood will flow,” “it is going to be fire for fire” and “you will be roasted,” you get scared. You begin to wonder if it is a matter of life and death. But that the Osun State election went peacefully, we thank God.

I also said that a time will come when we’ll stop suspecting ourselves. There are so many things that we cook up when things don’t go our way. We must become mature enough to accept defeat and concede to the winner like Governor Kayode Fayemi did in Ekiti without blood flowing or heads rolling.

Talking about general elections, you were once quoted as saying there might not be elections in 2015, but with what you are seeing now are you still holding on to that statement?

A number of things have taken place since I spoke. I remember it was 2012 that I started saying: take care of 2014 if you want 2015. There are two reasons why I have been saying that we should take care of 2014 and one of them is the conference. The national conference has brought us together to iron out some of our differences. I am not saying the conference is a magic wand that would bring all the solutions to our problems but definitely if there is courage to implement some of the things that we have resolved and are part of that report on the side of the executive and legislature; Nigeria would not be where it used to be. We are not where we ought to be, but we are not where we used to be. We have moved on.

Besides that, part of what makes 2015 a necessity is the 2016 census. Those are two extremely dangerous years. The year you are having general elections followed by census; those things are scary. So, if the foundation is not properly laid in 2014, we are playing with disaster.

Some people saw your participation at the national conference as a signal that you were coming into politics again, is this true?

Maybe you need to dig deeper and find out why I participated. Number one, I didn’t select myself; I didn’t force myself on the government. I represented the South-West geo-political zone. When the elders met, they put my name down. I pleaded with them that I would not even have the time. But they insisted that they wanted me there and you don’t reject your elders if they feel you have something to contribute or they consider that you are relevant.

Two, while I was still battling with who will represent me at the conference, the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, also put forward my name. At that point I decided to give it a chance. But I gave a condition and that condition was that I would not take a penny from the conference; I would not be given any allowance and I wrote a letter to that effect and they replied me. I did this so that if anything went wrong, I would retain my freedom to express myself freely. That does not mean others who took the allowance are bad people. No! We see things from different perspectives. Staying in Abuja is very expensive. I won’t tell you how much I spent but I travelled on each occasion with my research team and about three to four staff and we stayed in a suite which is quite expensive.

Have you joined politics again?

I have never joined politics. I am a nation builder, I am not a politician. I sleep well, I wake up well. I have no ambition; there is no desire to be anything in politics. All I want to see is a nation that works. If you ask me today if I am seeking any elective office, my answer will be no. I was asked to be a running mate to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, I was not looking forward to it at all. But if I am beckoned upon to do something, I will pray about it and if I see that it does not negate what I stand for and believe in, why not? The truth is that if good people don’t participate in politics, then we will continue to endure the rule of idiots.

When you were asked to be a running mate, did you ask God about it or did He tell you to go ahead?

Several times Paul would say in the Bible that “this is I speaking but not the spirit of God even though I have the spirit of God in me.” With every sense of modesty, a man like me would not jump without looking. If you don’t look and you leap, you can leap into disaster that would backfire on you and everything you stand for in the society. When my book is out, it would be clear to all the process it took for me to be a running mate.

I sat in my house, leading a group called Arrow Heads which is already public knowledge after Mallam Nasir El-Rufai wrote about it in his book, ‘Accidental Public Servant.’ We gathered a group of Nigerians we felt could make a change in our clime. People like Oby Ezekwesili, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Donald Duke, Nasir El-Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Fola Adeola, Jimi Lawal, Yinka Odumakin, Jimi Agbaje, Wale Osun and a few others. We said to ourselves that we should form the Arrow Heads to produce a change. And when I was given the privilege of being the chairperson of that group, I told them I would only accept on two conditions. Number one, that I would not join any political party and number two, I would not seek any elective office so that if there is a dispute, I can effectively resolve it. Those around me know that I have no desire for a political office but those who don’t know me think I am an opportunist. Gen. Buhari called me on January 15 of that year and said, that he had done his own little prayers and he wanted to ask me to be his running mate. I told him I couldn’t because I lead a group and I had given them my word and that my word is my bond. I also told him that I had no desire for a political office; all I wanted to see was a change and be among those who work behind the scene. So, Gen. Buhari asked me to pray about it that he would get back to me. Within six or seven hours, he called back and I told him that I had not consulted my people. The first person I called among others was my wife and daughter and then spoke to Pastor Adeboye twice on it.

Really?

Yes…you see people don’t know things that happen behind the scene. I spoke to him twice and he said look, don’t be afraid, step in there, whether you win or lose, God is taking you somewhere. I didn’t jump because of that. I spoke to my mother and she said she had a dream about it six months before; I still didn’t jump. I thought it would be unfair not to tell Bola Tinubu because I had been brokering some things between the then Action Congress and the Congress for Progressive Change before the AC became ACN. So, I called Tinubu in the presence of Jimi Agbaje and Yinka Odumakin. I said to him that Gen. Buhari had called to offer this, give me a Christian from your group so that I can present to him. I invited the former governor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo to my house and told him that he would be a better person to handle this. Both of us were in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos at the same time. So, I looked for every way not to take Buhari’s offer and I didn’t fill the form. I took my team and went to the General and asked him why he wanted me to be his running mate. He said three things, “your passion for Nigeria. You have been a Muslim before, you are a Christian now. You have lived in the North, you were born in the South, you understand the geography and I think you can be a positive influence to pull the nation together. Number two, your integrity, number three, supposing I die in office like Yar’Adua, I want someone who would not sell out, who would still continue my vision for this country.” Still, I didn’t fill the form.

I went to El-Rufai’s house, we sat down there and he encouraged me to take it and I said I was not taking it. I told him I needed to clear a particular thing in my heart. Everyone who had been assistant to Gen. Buhari died before him. Tunde Idiagbon is gone, Okadigbo is gone, Ume-Ezeoke is gone, why do I want to go and put my head in a death sentence. I need to know what is responsible for that, so I can’t just jump, I will need to pray through. I told Gen. Buhari the same thing I am saying now.

The day before the final submission of names, former President Olusegun Obasanjo told El-Rufai that he was ready to support Buhari if he could drop me and replace me with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as his running mate. El-Rufai ran to me, that this was what Obasanjo said. The three of us were in the same hotel but in different suites. We went straight to Gen. Buhari and I said to him that breakthrough had come. I told him I had not filled the form and that there were five reasons why he must take Okonjo-Iweala. Number one, she is Delta-Igbo, you would have solved the problem of South-East/South-South. Number two, she’s a woman, you have settled the gender issue. Number three, Christian, balanced ticket. Number four, a former minister of finance and former minister of external affairs, experience which I don’t have. Number five, World Bank top executive, international exposure. Even though I have travelled round the world, I have not worked in any organisation, she is a better candidate. This is the form, I have not filled it. General Buhari looked at me and said did Obasanjo speak to you and I said no that he spoke to El-Rufai and I believe him. And he asked El-Rufai to repeat everything Obasanjo said to him and he did. He said to El-Rufai that well, you have worked with him and I have worked with him too, he would have something up his sleeves which we don’t know. Buhari turned to me and said, Pastor Bakare, I have waited long enough and today is the last day, if you are not going to fill the form, give it to me, I will look for someone until we can get a person like you. At that point, I became overwhelmed and I signed the form and El-Rufai seconded. That was the process; it was not an overnight thing.

Do you have any regrets accepting that offer?

Not at all. If I have the chance, I will do it again. Buhari is an incorruptible leader. He is a man whose word is his bond. He is a reliable person and he loves this country. I don’t flatter people and you know I fought almost all military impostors in this country; there was a time I couldn’t stand any of them. But getting close to him, I realised he loves Christians as much as he loves Muslims.

For those who said why Buhari? I remember Adunni Abimbola Adelakun, she wrote why can’t Bakare run as President? Why do you have to be a running mate? I just laughed when I read that. Don’t forget that Joseph served Pharaoh, Daniel served Nebuchadnezzar, and we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, so you can maintain contact without contamination. Anything that would contribute to the wellbeing of the people of this country, as much as God gives me the grace, I would do it.

You just spoke glowingly about Buhari, is that why you said if that suicide attempt on his life had succeeded it would have caused commotion in the country?

Whichever way you look at it; Gen. Buhari has succeeded in stepping into the shoes of the likes of the founding fathers of this nation. It is like killing Awo in the West in those days. They jailed him but they dare not kill him. Look at the repercussions of what happened when Saudana was killed. It is like shooting Azikiwe. A time comes when people have such a large followership that you have to be careful about them. Gen. Buhari registered a party and went to contest for election after three months and had 12 million votes. I have seen the people following him running towards a moving plane. He is not loved because he has money to pay them, he doesn’t give a dime to anybody. Buhari does not have such money, he does not have a petrol station, and he has no oil well even after being a petroleum minister and former head of state. There was a time he took his children to public schools. Obasanjo investigated him with Haruna Adamu, and didn’t find anything against him.

Why didn’t you move with him Buhari to the All Progressives Congress?

A strategic man takes his time. I moved the motion for the merger of the parties publicly at Eagles Square. I worked tirelessly for that merger to materialise. But when you perceive that your presence, whether you speak or stay quiet, affects some of the people who think you are ambitious, you leave the stage for them. If you ask me if I am in APC, Buhari knows I am in Daura APC, not Ogun State, Oyo or Lagos State so that those functioning can be free to function without fearing that this man might have an ambition and might still want to be a running mate. I have had my fair share.

In 2012 you were quoted as saying that Jonathan was on a mission to ruin Nigeria, two years later do you still feel the same way?

You do not separate a statement and body of facts that led to that statement. President Jonathan himself is a victim of circumstances. Who groomed him for what he is doing? I think he has had to learn on the job. Whether he is learning fast or is taking his time, is for others to comment. I marched on the streets of Abuja, Lagos, led Save Nigeria Group in different campaigns for him to become Acting President and he subsequently became the President of Nigeria. He is alive, if I have taken a dime from him for anything, he can say. Not that they would not want to be a blessing to me but I don’t take. My hands have provided enough for me. I am contented. I have had the privilege of sitting with the President this year about five times and it is always about how to move the nation forward. I remember when the President wanted to see me; I called Gen. Buhari immediately to inform him about the invitation because I don’t double-deal. I am a loyal person and I made the President know that I informed Gen. Buhari before coming for that particular meeting. The things he said to me are not for now; they would come out at the appropriate time. I think Jonathan is honestly doing his best but history would judge whether his best is good enough. The Nigerian issue is complex. It requires a level of capability and dynamism and that is not common among the current politicians.

You have always been critical of America’s involvement in the politics of other nations especially Nigeria, do you also think that the monstrous painting of Ebola is also part of the conspiracy to further distabilise Nigeria?

I don’t think so, Ebola is here and you don’t run away from it. The man who smuggled himself into the plane and came to Nigeria probably didn’t know the magnitude of the problem he was about to cause.

When America got here over Boko Haram, what I saw on the television is what the Americans call show. You don’t ridicule another nation to look good as if you have your acts together. Right on your own soil, in New York, right on your faces with all your technology and the power you claim to have as the police of the world, terrorists humiliated you. The whole nations of the earth rose up to support you and now we are battling with something here and you are making our leaders look useless, and redundant.

Read the concluding part @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/buhari-knows-i-am-in-daura-apc-pastor-tunde-bakare-read-full-interview/

ASSURE Educational Services is conducting an online quiz competition for Secondary School Students in Nigeria.

Participation is FREE!

Prizes will be given to the best score in each subject.

Visit http://holidayquiz./ to participate.

Invite your friends to participate.

Boko Haram militants have staged dare-devil attacks overnight in Maiduguri, the north eastern Nigerian city, prompting military authorities Monday to impose a total ban on movement.

The ban also affected flights: no air traffic is allowed in or out of embattled Borno state.

The extent of the attacks was unknown with communication hampered by the restrictions imposed by the military authorities.

But a military spokesman told the French news agency, AFP, that one of the attacks was staged near the airport. He did not confirm whether the airforce base was hit, as being speculated.

See details @ http://solaogundeko..com/2013/12/24-hour-curfew-imposed-after-boko-haram.html