₦airaland Forum

Locals most affected by Boko Haram attacks express disappointment after INEC announcement of six-week postponement.
08 Feb 2015 03:38 GMT | Africa

Residents and officials in Nigeria's northern Borno state have expressed their disappointment after the electoral commission announced it would postpone elections until March 28, six weeks later than planned.
Attahiru Jega, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said late on Saturday that security chiefs advised a postponement as troops would not be available because of operations against the armed group in the north - especially in Borno state.
"If the security of personnel, voters, election observers and election material cannot be guaranteed, the lives of innocent young men and women and the prospect of free, fair and credible elections will be greatly jeopardised," Jega said.
But residents and officials in Borno state told Al Jazeera they believed the elections should have gone ahead as planned on February 14.
"The mood here is that of huge disappointment - people were actually ready for the elections here," said Al Jazeera's Ahmed Idris, reporting from Maiduguri.
"The deputy governor of Borno state ... said they were ready and this is a huge blow to their plans."
Our correspondent added that a lot of people who have been displaced by fighting in the region had already been given their voting cards by election commission officials.
The decision to postpone the vote came following a closed-door meeting in Abuja between INEC, the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), its main contender, the All Progressive Congress (APC), and other opposition parties.
Postponement disputed
Officials in President Goodluck Jonathan's administration have been calling for a postponement amid continuing violence as the country battles Boko Haram.
Nigeria's security services have failed to defeat Boko Haram in five years. Some are asking how will they do it in six weeks, and whether there is another motive behind the delay.
Yvonne Ndege, Al Jazeera correspondent
However, civil rights groups, opposition political parties, and Western countries opposed a later election date.
Protesters had gathered outside the electoral commission headquarters in the capital, Abuja, for days, calling for elections to go ahead as planned.
"Civil society organisations are calling for the resignation of the election chair and Nigeria's security chiefs over the postponement of the election, but that is unlikely to happen," said Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from the city.
"Nigeria's security services have failed to defeat Boko Haram in five years. Some are asking how will they do it in six weeks, and whether there is another motive behind the delay."
The incumbent has been locked in a tight race with former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
APC national chairman John Odigie-Oyegun called the delay "a major setback for Nigerian democracy" and "highly provocative".
But he added: "I strongly appeal to all Nigerians to remain calm and desist from violence and any activity which will compound this unfortunate development."
The decision to postpone the election also drew condemnation from the United States, which said it was "deeply disappointed" by the delay.
In a statement, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned the Nigerian government against using "security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process".
Security boosted
Nigeria and its four neighbouring nations on Saturday pledged to deploy 8,700 troops, police and civilians as part of a regional effort to fight Boko Haram.
"The representatives of Benin, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad have announced contributions totalling 8,700 military personnel, police and civilians," the countries said in a statement after a meeting in Cameroon's capital Yaounde.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/nigeria-postpones-presidential-election-150207221819213.html

naijaking1:
How come WAEC itself doesn't have a copy of Buhar's certificate

You can't ask WAEC for someone's result/certificate only the owner can request for it. Anyone you are seeing is faked/forged by PDP

Certificate saga: Only Buhari can request for result verification – WAEC http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/february-14-explodes-blame-death-attahiru-jega-2/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

More of Nigerians reactions via Twitter

Dbboy:
You meant #MarchBuhari'sRetirement.

Ode... it means march the clueless one and his corrupt cohorts out to either Otueke or Kirikiri maximum prison

People once asked..
"Why would Jonathan and PDP be behind Boko Haram? What do they have to gain?"
Dear People, you now have your answer.

#SaiBuhari
#March4Buhari

modified*

After Announcement #March4Buhari Trends on Twitter

https://twitter.com/hashtag/March4Buhari?src=tren

Soon GEJ will fly to vatican to meet Pope Francis... desperation to the highest level

Soon GEJ will fly to vatican to meet Pope Francis... desperation to the highest level

President Jonathan with Pastor Lazarus Muoka at The Lord's Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry in Lagos today.


https://mobile.twitter.com/abati1990/media/grid

The strategy: get BUHARI disqualified, discredit JEGA, intimidate voters in certain areas, etc, those permutations won't work in Nigeria! - Dele Momodu

Twitter reactions from Nigerians

Senator Musiliu Obanikoro calls for the resignation of Jega via Twitter live on Classic FM 97.3.





https://mobile.twitter.com/MObanikoro/status/564045368204484608?p=v

Hh

okpamson15:
lie, my brother this is not the change that we want, buhari is good man bt he is over crowd by fake, corrupt, thief old PDP who have milk us dry b4. Buhari alone can not over power these people. So tel me where the change wil come from.

if Buhari is surrounded by 100 fake, corrupt, thief old PDPs then Jonathan is surrounded by 10,000 fake, corrupt, thief old and new PDPs. Which one is better? There is no how u will reach the top without passing or surrounding yourself with corrupt men. The most important question to ask is this "is the man at the center corrupt or have the drive to fight corruption?". Buhari might surround himself with corrupt men but don't be surprise when he becomes our president, the game might change for them but Jonathan still surrounds himself with these people and nothing have change for them.

#VoteWisely
#SayNoToCurrurption
#SaiBuhari

#SaiBuhari

okpamson15:
How much did he give you to write the whole of this cook up story. Mr. Ambass.

so anything good about Buhari is paid while anything bad is not paid for? u are dreaming my brother, wake up jare change is coming!!

Without ever knowing or meeting me, Buhari gave me a chance. As I now write, I have never met him one-on-one. We have never spoken to each other. It is an extraordinary experience of an unusual man.
I was sitting on my desk in the Ministry of External Affairs, 40 Marina Lagos in 1984, when I received a letter appointing me Ambassador to the United States of America. My place of origin did not matter. Incidentally, I am from Ibusa, a famous town now in Delta State, then in Bendel State. My religion did not matter either. I had no worthwhile contacts with Dodan Barracks. All I knew, and had always known, was to work hard and to express my views as candidly and as courageously as I could, regardless of the consequences; provided I was convinced they were right.It was never easy or smooth-sailing. Of course, that had its bitter consequences; but at the end, now at 83, looking back, it worked out just right.
Of all the Nigerian leaders, with the possible exception of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Buhari has been the one that has most approximated my dream of what a Nigerian leader should be. Without any attempt at self-advertisement, but simply as a matter of fact, I knew and had worked and interacted with most, if not all of our leaders. I worked with Sir James Robertson, the last colonial Governor-General of Nigeria, after graduating from the University College, Ibadan in 1957. I served as Clerk to the Privy Council and as Assistant Secretary (Administrative Officer) in charge of Security. I worked up to my immediate boss, Mr C. O. Lawson, the then respected Secretary to the Cabinet in the Governor-General’s office. As part of my schedule of duties as officer in charge of security, I had the privilege and honour of being a member of a 3-man-panel, two of them British, which interviewed and recruited the first batch of Nigerian military officers into the Nigerian army in 1958. This batch included Olusegun Obasanjo.
In 1958, I transferred to the Ministry of External Affairs, making a career in the Diplomatic Service which lasted forty-two (42) years, from where I eventually rose as Foreign Minister, having served as Ambassador in Nine (9) countries, a few with concurrent accreditation, including Kenya under Jomo Kenyatta, Botswana under Sir Seretse Khama, Lesotho under King Moshoeshoe I, Spain, The Holy See under three Popes, (John Paul VI, John Paul I and John Paul II), the United States of America, Canada and, lastly, in Israel for six (6) years, a mission I established and rose to be Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps. In between, I was Chief of Protocol of the Federation to Zik and Balewa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Directing Staff in the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, for two years (1988/1989).
I am now a retired pensioner, carefully minding my own business and tending my personal affairs. I do not belong to any political party and have never belonged to any. In the best tradition of the colonial public service of my days, I have remained strictly anonymous and aloof; occasionally, making my views and opinion privately known to the appropriate authorities of the day on any issue I feel strongly about. I seek no office and no financial or material favours. All I am doing is to put on public record my private opinion, views and experience, which may not be available and known to many Nigerians.
Major General Muhammadu Buhari not only gave me the opportunity to serve Nigeria as Ambassador in the United States, he did even more than that. He entrusted to me the care and welfare of his family; still without our knowing or meeting each other. He sent his wife and two children to me in Washington D.C. for medical treatment. He took his chance and dealt with me strictly on a professional basis. His family were with me in Washington D.C. when the General was overthrown in a coup d’état. We did the best we could and sent them back home safely under the trying and traumatic circumstances they found themselves- still, never a word from this unusual person. In 1988 after I returned as Ambassador from Washington D.C., I was assigned as a punitive measure as Directing Staff to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, for two years.
The subject of our research in that year led the Syndicate I headed to visit Buhari’s State of origin. With the approval of government, members of the Syndicate visited Buhari who was then under house arrest in his home town, Daura. This most extra-ordinary man received us with warmth and courtesy. We found him living in a modest, sparsely furnished three or four bed-room bungalow which was his house. He still did not know who I was; nor did I disclose my identity to him. It was unbelievable, even in those days, that a former General in the Nigerian Army and a former Head of State could live in such a modest, Spartan abode. What further struck me was a complete lack of bitterness; unless the Fulani in him concealed and dissembled it!
What do all these tell me about this man, Buhari? Others may have a different opinion of him. I absolutely concede to them the right to hold their views. As far as I am personally concerned, four short phrases summarise my overall impression and opinion of Buhari. An incorruptible man. A patriotic Nigerian devoid of any trace of ethnicism and parochialism. A deeply religious man. Above all, a stern disciplinarian.
We so often talk glibly of the giant strides Asian Tigers have taken to leap from the state of underdevelopment to developed nations. We refer tirelessly to the achievements of men like Lee Kuan Yew. I have, personally, met Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore. I did so in the company of General Yakubu Gowon when he returned from exile from the United Kingdom. Little do we know or appreciate the agonizing hardship, pains and sufferings all Singaporeans, Chinese, Malays, Indians and other ethnic nationalities, had to endure for Singapore to attain its present height as a respected nation. Gold must be smelted in hot burning furnaces before unleashing its shine and purity. Lee Kuan Yew was a benevolent democratic autocrat. He subjected his people to a good dose of rigorous healthy discipline. No country makes that type of progress Singapore made without an unwavering sense of disciplined direction. Moreover, Lee Kuan Yew was an inspirational leader of his people. He governed by example.
It is not just the question of the number of kilometres of roads you build that elevates a nation. It is not a matter of the megawatts of power you generate or the number of buildings you erect for the populace. Not even the refineries you build or the volume of agricultural products produced and exported. These are important. Any leader surrounded by brilliant experts, excellent technocrats and loyal advisers can achieve those basic and essential needs. Leadership calls for much greater attributes than the performance of those feats. A leader must have a strong, solid, moral and disciplined background, the inspirational ability to galvanize his people to higher, lofty and common purpose. These are not ordinary attributes available to every man. They are uncommon gifts and talents dispensed and bestowed only to a few. This makes the difference between one man and the other; one woman and the other. It is not often we have a Ghandi or a Mandela; an Ataturk, or a Winston Churchill, a Charles de Gaulle, or a Konrad Adenauer, who became one of the most respected Chancellors of Federal Republic of Germany at the ripe age of 81, a Margaret Thatcher, or even our own often quoted Obama. Nearer home, with all their imperfections, considering that a prophet is without honour in his own country, we must reckon with Azikiwe, the Sardauna, Awolowo, Aminu Kano and J.S. Tarka, the real and genuine ‘founding fathers’ of our nation.
Buhari, in my view, belongs to the last and passing generation of this group of Nigerian leaders. It was a pity that fate thrust him into leadership limelight at a period in time when military revolution and coups d’ etats were in vogue and held sway. In a democratic setting, as we now have, I believe that the real worth and essence of this man, encapsulated in an exemplary and enigmatic personal life, will blaze through and shine forth. It will soon be clear that those of his followers of questionable and dubious pedigree who think they can latch on to the reputation of this rare Nigerian would be the first to be highly disappointed.
I also believe that what is badly needed at this stage of our national life is a leadership that will turn the country around; and rescue us from the depth of chronic indiscipline, disorder and decadence we have, over the years, gradually descended and slid into. What I believe we need is a strong hand at the helm, with the support of our people, who will instil in us a much needed sense of order and discipline; inspire us into patriotic zeal and sacrifice; bring out the best in each one of us; and encourage in us the love of nation.
The nation’s sense of indiscipline and disorder is evident and all pervasive even in very simple things and matters of the day and moment. A roadside mechanic claims to be an Engineer (Engr) and insists on being so styled. A traditional herbalist insists he must be called and respected as a professional medical Doctor (Dr) and, indeed, hugs the appellation. An ordinary traditional village community leader who flamboyantly styles himself a Chief and clownishly attired in a self-designed robe, is addressed not only as “Your Highness”, but takes offence if he is not properly addressed as “Your Royal Highness”. A number of respected Kabiyesis no longer have regard for their beautiful traditional titles, unless we, their ‘subjects’, address them as “Your Majesty” or worse still, “Your Royal Majesty” The same applies to the ‘Ran kadades’, most of our Emirs and prominent men in authority revel in when interacting with the poor subservient so-called talakawas. May I also observe that the awkward title of ‘His Eminence’ is a misnomer that should be revisited and reconsidered.
Members of our legislative houses feel incomplete and uncomfortable until they are addressed as ‘Honourables’ or ‘Distinguished Senators’. They are no longer plain ‘Mister’ or ‘Madam’.
I believe it is time we became a little more creative and find suitable traditional and local substitutes for these foreign appellations which portray us as caricatures and ridicule us as people and nation in the outside world. What a pride and beauty to have one of the foremost traditional rulers of the land being regaled with the title Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa! Why can we not start emulating and adopting this practice in most of our national institutions? It will give us a sense of pride and self-worth.
Ambitious pseudo-intellectual self-publicists cleverly thrust their mediocrity and opinions on us and flaunt their borrowed, half-baked, ill-digested ideas, concepts, jargons and clichés. Pages of our national newspapers are replete with lavishly self-serving advertisements of obituaries, weddings and birthday celebrations. Why not severely tax those who place these wasteful advertisements to rake in and release funds to charities or other good causes such as sporting and educational development of the country.
Hitherto decent, pretty, confident young ladies on our television sets in order to make themselves more attractive and acceptable, bleach their skin to pale sickening white, with their veins thinly exposed; their bare knuckles and elbows still looking jet black. They should be reassigned to the back room offices, decorated with mirrors, left to rue their new look which has become an eyesore to many viewers. Our television channels have suddenly become a babel and cacophony of crude and embarrassing noise makers, reflecting the values of a sick society, drunk with democratic excesses.
Honorary degrees are sold, bought and conferred on underserving personalities by many of our Universities and these personalities shamelessly parade them at will. A few prominent church leaders have relocated their pulpits from their churches to the seats of secular power while a number of Imams have not been able to teach their adherents the purity of their religion which preaches respect for human lives.
Our youths need impeccable high level connections before gaining employment at any level, decent or menial. Impunity freely reigns in the land more than ever before. The temples of justice are daily being desecrated. The Lady now has her eyes wide open; seductively beckoning and soliciting for favours.
More painful still, is the near-absolute control of our entire being and lives as a people by others. We appear helpless to cast off that yoke and burden even though we claim to be independent; helpless to govern ourselves with any modicum of self-respect and dignity and take our destiny into our hands.
The list is endless. Am I a part of this messy order? Certainly, yes! None of us can pretend not to be part of it, in one way or the other, in differing roles. Only that some exacerbate it more than others. This situation calls for a man who, by personal example, can firmly and fearlessly put an end to these vulgarities and inanities.
This is one side of the coin. There is another side of the coin to our national life for which we can proudly hold our heads very high. This is the side no other single country in the world I know can ever match. The list is not exhaustive and much longer than our shortcomings. We do not, however, necessarily need to dwell on them or spell them out here, as we search for positive measures and values that will enhance and edify our nation.
[b]Buhari represents, in my opinion, the last opportunity we have to get things reasonably right before the baton passes permanently on to the next and coming generation. After him, the generation of the ‘founding fathers’ would have faded away; with their legacies, left behind, hopefully for good. He should be given the chance to restore and consolidate the disappearing values of that ‘golden age’ so sadly disrupted by the military, to which paradoxically and tragically, he and those in that generation, and that before him, were willy-nilly pressed into being a part of.
He carries on his frail, ageing but reliable shoulders a historic responsibility and burden of getting it right. He has a bounden duty to realign the nation towards achieving its manifest destiny. He has no excuses for failure. Otherwise, why should he be seeking power at his age? It makes absolutely no sense. Why not take a comfortable and relaxed back seat like most of us. History will judge him very harshly should he fail.
The immediate challenge before him, I feel convinced, is how to curb the excesses of the teaming mass of followers who, undoubtedly, adore him. The next, is to rein in the display of empty, hollow pompousness and offensive arrogance by a few of his elitist, lazy patronage-seeking associates; who, if victorious, will flock to him without discrimination. I had always instinctively recognised and resented this feeling at first hand, even from a distance.[/b]
I believe it is time for us to begin anew. Let us begin to lead our lives as normal human beings; and not in self-delusion and self-deceit. This is the real transformation needed. This is the revolution we yearn for at this point in time in our national life. I can now start understanding what drove past Chinese leaders into staging the “Cultural Revolution”. Nigeria is ripe; indeed, over ripe for a non-violent revolution which will shake us all up, like a volcanic eruption from our present national stupor. Who will sweep out the quacks and charlatans in our midst? Who will guarantee us enduring values? Who will cleanse the cobwebs from our national home?
All said, let no one forget there is no better country than Nigeria in the whole world. I feel happiest when I am in Nigeria, despite the agonizing frustrations; despite the infuriating hardship; and even when I am being driven daily to the brink of desperation!
Ambassador Olisemeka is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs
http://dailytrust.com.ng/daily/opinion/46199-the-buhari-of-my-personal-experience

Intelligence officials say group is flush with cash and weapons, but only has between 4,000-6,000 "hardcore" fighters.

Boko Haram is flush with cash and weapons after a string of battlefield advances, but the fighting group could face a tougher fight with Nigeria's neighbours, US intelligence officials have said.
In an assessment of the group, whose five-year uprising has included massacres and kidnappings and spread from Nigeria into neighboring states, the officials said they did not believe it posed a major threat to Nigeria's oilfields in the south.
They said the group has about 4,000-6,000 "hardcore" fighters - considerably less than some estimates which have put the group's size at up to 10,000.
The group is "financially secure" from bank robberies, kidnappings and other sources, and is able to go "toe-to-toe" with the Nigerian military after capturing an arsenal of arms, the intelligence officials told reporters.
However, the group could soon face an unprecedented test on the battlefield against more capable forces from Cameroon, Chad and Niger, they added.
The military intervention of neighbouring powers "potentially can be a game changer in a positive way," one intelligence official said.
Schoolgirls still held
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Boko Haram were believed to be still holding about 300 schoolgirls they kidnapped early last year and had dispersed them to multiple locations.
Around 10,000 people were killed in Boko Haram attacks last year. The Sunni Muslim group poses the biggest security threat in Nigeria, Africa's top oil producer and biggest economy.
Concern over the insurgency appears to be and one of the main reasons for what appears to be a surge in political support for opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari in a February 14 election.
Many Nigerians believe Buhari, as a former military ruler, will be able to bolster the army's hapless efforts to counter the insurgency, and that as a Muslim he may even be able to take some of the wind out of Boko Haram's ideological sails.
The officials said the group had been engaging in both small-scale and larger attacks in recent weeks and they expected this mixed pattern of operations to continue during the election period.
The US officials' comments came as Boko Haram suffered heavy losses after launching a major attack into Niger on Friday for the first time.
The clashes involved troops from Niger as well as Chad, which has adopted a leading role in the fight against the group.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/boko-haram-group-small-flush-cash-150207060647100.html

if i hear se Buhari no win this election...... no wonder Jona dey ginja for postponement ooooo

The fear of Buhari is the beginning of election postponement

Sai Buhari

“It’s a big disgrace for Nigeria. It is now Cameroon and Chad fighting the insurgency [size=20pt]more than Nigeria[/size]. We will build the capacity and Nigeria should be able to secure its territorial integrity,” Buhari told Reuters.

Troops from neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon, all much smaller and poorer than Nigeria, have been battling the terrorists who have seized territory in Borno State.
[size=16pt]You TANoids have misinterpreted the message ooo[/size]
[size=16pt]He is not against supports from those countries but that they are performing well than Nigeria. Remember Jonathan borrowed $1billion to fight Bokoharam [/size]

fp mods

(Reuters) - In late 2013, Nigeria's then central bank governor Lamido Sanusi wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan claiming that the state oil company had failed to remit tens of billions of oil revenues it owed the state.

After the letter was leaked to Reuters and a local news site, Jonathan publicly dismissed the claim and replaced Sanusi, saying the banker had mismanaged the central bank's budget. A Senate committee later found Sanusi’s account lacked substance.

Sanusi has since become Emir of Kano, the country's second highest Islamic authority, and has smoothed over relations with the president. He declined to discuss his earlier assertions. Before he was sacked, though, the central banker submitted to Nigeria’s parliament more than 300 pages of documentation in support of his claim. Reuters has reviewed that dossier, which offers one of the most comprehensive studies of waste, mismanagement and what Sanusi called “leakages” of cash in Nigeria’s oil industry. Detailed here, the dossier includes oil contracts, confidential government letters, private presidential correspondence and legal opinions.

Sanusi’s letter and documents do not state whether he thinks the money was stolen or lost through mismanagement. Nor did he make allegations of illegal acts against any specific individuals or entities. Both corruption and bad governance are perennial problems in Africa’s most populous nation, and central issues in elections due on Feb. 14.

Nigeria’s oil industry accounts for around 95 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. If Nigeria continued to leak cash at the rate described in his letter to the president, Sanusi said at the time, the consequences for the economy would be disastrous. Specifically, the failure of state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation “to remit foreign exchange to the Federation Account in a period of rising oil prices has made our management of exchange rates and price stability ... extremely difficult," he wrote. "The central bank of Nigeria is always blamed for high rates of interest,” but “given these leakages, the alternative is a devalued currency ... and financial instability."

That is exactly what has happened. As oil prices have plummeted to around $55 a barrel, half their level at the beginning of 2014, Sanusi’s successor Godwin Emefiele has devalued the naira, Nigeria’s currency, by 8 percent, and raised interest rates for the first time in more than two years.

Nigerian foreign exchange reserves are down around 20 percent on a year ago, while the balance in the country's oil savings account has fallen from $9 billion in December 2012 to $2.5 billion at the start of this year, even though oil prices were buoyant over much of that period. Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told reporters at a press conference in November that a significant portion of that money was distributed to the powerful governors of Nigeria’s 36 states instead of being saved for a rainy day.

Nigerians are rarely shocked by stories of billions going unaccounted for, or ending up with politically powerful individuals. Africa’s largest oil producer has for years consistently ranked towards the bottom of Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.

Sanusi handed his documents to a parliamentary inquiry set up last February to investigate the assertion in his letter that billions of dollars in oil revenue had not reached the central bank. He told the inquiry that state oil group NNPC had made $67 billion worth of oil sales in the previous 19 months. Of that, he said, between $10.8 billion and $20 billion was unaccounted for.

A spokesman for the president declined to comment on the specific contents of Sanusi’s dossier. He referred to a statement made at the time the banker was pushed out. It said the government “remains committed to ensuring integrity and accountability and discipline in every sector of the economy ... And indeed we look forward to a situation whereby Mr. Sanusi will continue to assist the legislature in their investigations.”

Those investigations include a “forensic audit” of the oil industry set up by Okonjo-Iweala. The audit was given to Jonathan on Feb. 2 and he said he would hand it on to Nigeria’s auditor general. NNPC said on Feb. 5 it had received a copy of the audit, before it was made public. The firm said the audit cleared it of wrongdoing, although it found NNPC owed the government $1.48 billion for a separate shortfall.

A spokesman for NNPC rejected Sanusi's allegations and referred Reuters to last August’s Senate inquiry. The inquiry expressed satisfaction that most of the money not remitted was withheld for legitimate reasons. But it urged the NNPC to remit $700 million that the committee said it could not account for.

Diezani Alison-Madueke, the oil minister who oversees NNPC, did not respond to a request for comment. She told the inquiry at the time that the correct sum for money not remitted was $10.8 billion, which was to pay for subsidies.

The NNPC has consistently said it did nothing wrong. The oil company said last year that Sanusi’s allegations came from his "misunderstanding" of how the oil industry works. The central bank is “a banking outfit ... how will they understand petroleum engineering issues?" then managing director Andrew Yakubu asked journalists. "They are not auditors."

Sanusi’s claims were seen by some Nigerians as part of the historic tensions between the country’s mostly Christian south and poorer, mostly Muslim north. Jonathan and oil minister Alison-Madueke are Christians from the oil-producing Niger Delta in the south. Sanusi is a Muslim from the country’s north, as is Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler of Nigeria who is the main presidential candidate running against Jonathan. The two regions have historically taken it in turns to hold the presidency. Since 2009, though, Jonathan has broken with this tradition.

Sanusi has said any notion there were religious or ethnic politics behind his allegations is absurd. He has declined to be interviewed since becoming the Emir of Kano.

But last April, two months after he was sacked but before he took on his new role, Sanusi told Reuters he worried that the sheer quantities of cash going missing were “unsustainable.”

“You are taking what doesn’t belong to you and transferring it to private hands,” he told Reuters. “The state is captive to vested interests.”

NO-BID CONTRACTS

Sanusi’s documents identify three key mechanisms through which Nigeria has allegedly allowed middlemen to channel oil funds away from the central bank. Among the recipients, Sanusi alleges, are government officials and high-flying society figures.

The three mechanisms are: contracts awarded non-competitively to two companies that did not supply services but sub-contracted the work; a kerosene subsidy that doesn’t help the people it is meant to; and a series of complex, opaque "swap deals" that might be short-changing the state.

Sanusi’s concerns around the first of these mechanisms centre on the 2011 sale by Royal Dutch Shell of its interests in five oil fields. The blocks were majority-owned by NNPC. The government, keen to end the domination of the oil industry by foreign oil majors, had been encouraging Shell and others to sell to local firms.

Shell sold its interest in the fields to companies in Poland and Britain. But the new owners did not get the same rights Shell had. To promote local control, the NNPC gave the right to operate the fields to its own subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

Without soliciting bids, the NPDC signed "strategic partnership agreements" worth around $6.6 billion with two other local firms to manage them.

One firm, Seven Energy, signed for three fields; another, Atlantic Energy, for two.

Seven Energy was co-founded in 2004 by Kola Aluko, an oil trader and Christian southerner. Aluko also co-owned Atlantic with another southerner, former oil trader Jide Omokore. Atlantic was incorporated the day before it signed the deals.

Geneva-based Aluko is a high-profile member of Nigeria's elite. He owns a fleet of supercars, including a Ferrari 458 GT2 that he races with Swiss team Kessel Racing. He also owns a $50 million yacht, according to Forbes magazine, and divides his time between a $40 million home in Los Angeles, an $8.6 million duplex on Fifth Avenue in New York, and homes in Abuja and Geneva. A colleague describes him as a "work hard, play harder kind of guy. He’s extravagant. That’s just his style.”

Aluko, whose stake in Seven is now minimal, did not respond to emailed questions.

Omokore has also become rich from oil and gas. Forbes has estimated annual revenue at another of his companies, Energy Resources Group, at $400 million. His jet-setting lifestyle is a regular feature in the local press. Omokore could not be reached for comment.

Reuters has reviewed the contracts the firms signed with NPDC. They give Seven Energy 10 percent of profits in the three oil blocks it operates, while Atlantic gets 30 percent of profits in its two blocks. The contracts also show that, unlike Shell, neither firm pays royalties, profit tax or duties to the state.

Both companies quickly sub-contracted production work to other operators, according to Sanusi's submission to parliament and several market sources. The companies did not disclose terms of these contracts.

Atlantic does not publish accounts, but Seven’s 2013 annual report shows its deal with NPDC helped its revenue more than triple to $345 million.

In May 2013, Nigeria’s parliament threatened to investigate the NPDC contracts because they were not issued through competitive tender. But the NNPC argued no tender was needed because the contracts involved no sale of equity in the oil fields; the probe did not go ahead.

Sanusi did not accuse Seven and Atlantic of any illegalities, but he did question why the NPDC chose those companies. His report said the deals’ only purpose seemed to be “acquiring assets belonging to the federation (state) and transferring the income to private hands."

Asked about this, NNPC referred to the Senate report, which found that no-bid partnership agreements are not new. It also said that "it may be good policy to encourage indigenous players by giving them greater participation," but called for such deals "to be conducted in a transparent and competitive manner."

Seven did not comment. It says on its website its agreement with NPDC pre-dated the Jonathan administration and included an allowance for taxes. The company says it has invested more than $500 million, more than doubled production from its three blocks, and paid $48.8 million in taxes in 2013. Atlantic did not comment.

KEROSENE SUBSIDIES

The second mechanism Sanusi’s report identifies as problematic is a decades-old state subsidy provided to retailers of kerosene, the fuel most Nigerians use for cooking.

Nigeria lacks the refining capacity to make kerosene, so imports it instead. The government then sells the kerosene to retailers at a cheaper price than the import price. This subsidy is meant to make kerosene affordable for the poor. In reality, though, retailers have long hiked prices so consumers pay much more than official levels.

In June 2009, Jonathan’s predecessor, Umaru Yar'Adua, ordered a halt to the scheme on the grounds that it was not working. But the subsidies carried on regardless. The NNPC told parliament last February that it still deducts billions of dollars a year from its earnings to cover it.

In his report, Sanusi called the kerosene subsidy a "racket" that lines the pockets of private kerosene retailers and NNPC staff. The report estimated the cost of the subsidy at $100 million a month. It said kerosene retailers – there are hundreds of them around the country – routinely charged customers much higher prices than the government pays to import the fuel.

Sanusi’s report included an analysis of kerosene prices across Nigeria’s 36 states over two years. It found that the government buys kerosene at 150 naira per litre from importers and then sells it to retailers at just 40 naira per litre. Sanusi’s analysis found consumers pay an average of 170-200 naira per litre, and sometimes as much as 270 naira.

“The margin of 300 percent to 500 percent over purchase price is economic rent, which never got to the man on the street,” Sanusi wrote.

NNPC said in a statement last year that it can't force retailers to sell kerosene at the subsidised price.

SWAP DEALS

The third mechanism Sanusi identified involves other types of refined petroleum products, such as gasoline. Like kerosene, these are also imported. Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil producer but it depends on imports for 80 percent of its fuel needs because its refining capacity is tiny.

To pay for the imported products, Nigeria barters its crude oil. Sanusi’s dossier focuses on these barter exchanges, which are known as "swap deals." The idea is that importers who bring in refined fuel worth a given amount receive an “equivalent value” in crude oil.

How that equivalent value is determined is unclear. Sanusi said he was uncertain how much, if anything, is lost in these deals. But he expressed concern at the sheer value of oil that changes hands and the lack of oversight. His report estimated that between 2010 and 2011, traders involved in swap deals effectively bartered 200,000 barrels of crude a day – worth nearly $20 million at average crude prices over the period - for a loosely determined equivalent value in refined products. It is impossible to tell, he said, if all the refined products were delivered, let alone if the terms were fair.

“It was clear to us that these transactions ... were not properly structured, monitored and audited,” he wrote.

Sanusi wrote in his report that mismanagement and “leakages” of cash in the industry cost Nigeria billions of dollars a year.

Since the price of oil has fallen by around half since the start of 2014, such losses are even more significant. As it approaches elections, Nigeria faces plummeting oil revenues and a lack of buffers to shield the economy. Construction projects are on hold and the government is struggling to pay its sizeable workforce.

Multiple scandals in the oil sector since Jonathan took power have boosted the popularity of his rival, former military leader Muhammadu Buhari. Remembered by some for deposing a civilian government in a 1983 coup and trampling on civil liberties, the sandal-wearing general often promises to "free Nigeria from corruption."

Jonathan, too, says he will “clean up” Nigeria. By using technology and strengthening institutions, “I will solve the problem of corruption in this country,” he told a crowd in Ibadan in January.

(This version of the story drops the word 'wealthy' from section one, paragraph 15, and adds 'mostly' to qualify religious distribution)

(Edited by Sara Ledwith and Simon Robinson)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/06/us-nigeria-election-banker-specialreport-idUSKBN0LA0X820150206?utm_content=bufferea15e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

e Council of State of Nigeria just announced that it has denied the proposal by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to postpone elections.


Council of State from 2011, Obasanjo Not Present
State House Photo
The elections will be held on the dates originally planned by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), on February 14th for presidential and national races and February 28th for state and local races.

Sahara Reporters will provide more details as they become available.
http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/05/elections-will-not-be-postponed-according-council-state

PDP = People Deceiving People

Nigeria: PDP generated 4,000 MW @ $32.4bn in 16yrs | China: Generated 22,500 MW @ $26bn

PDP = People Deceiving People
una go hear come Febuhari14 ...

Jonathan inherited 774 LGA, today he has ceded 30 to
General Shekau of Boko-haram.
Jonathan inherited 23 PDP Governors but he ceded 5 to
opposition APC.
Jonathan inherited 2.4 million barrel quota from OPEC
but he ceded 1 million barrels to smugglers.
Jonathan inherited a Naira value of 155 to dollar but
Naira is now traded at 209.
Jonathan inherited 30% unemployment but he has
doubled it to 55%.
Jonathan inherited positive AAA rating bond but
JPMORGAN has rated our bond negative.
Jonathan inherited a surviving stock market but he
killed the stock market.
Jonathan inherited 10% duty on tokumbo cars but he
increased it to 70%.
Jonathan inherited ‪#‎chibokgirls‬ but he lost them to
Shekau.
Jonathan inherited a rag tag boko Haram. he will
leaving behind a sophisticated and daring Boko Haram
by May 29th 2015.
Jonathan inherited a booming economy but doom is
what he is about to handover.
To worse it off, Jonathan is promoting STEALING
against our moral and societal upbringing.
What then is safe under Jonathan? Absolutely Nothing!
Dear President Jonathan, I can't afford more losses
Change is all we want,
Sai Buhari!!
Vote APC!!!!!!

Nigeria and Mexico approached China for credit facility to rebuild their railway systems (and other infrastructures). They both got the credits.
Look at what each country did with the money.
Are you not being short changed?
Don't you deserve Better?

PDP generated 4,000 MW @ $32.4bn in 16yrs while China Generated 22,500 MW @ $26bn

#SayNoToCorruption
#ThingsMustChange

modified

When Buhari becomes the president, you have a lot to explain to the people you must talk by fire by force.....

Sai Buhari

Buhari is far passionate about Nigeria he contested 3 times due to this passion to fix Nigeria, Jonathan is an accidental president without vision/mission.

This part is very funny, even TANoids will be laffing “Under Jonathan, Nigeria is in safe hands" - IBB

People killed by Boko Haram in Nigeria
2009: 700
2010: 75
2011: 600
2012: 1650
2013: 3000
2014: 7700
Last month 3000+
3.3 million IDPs in Nigeria(highest in Africa). On a global scale, Nigeria is only ranked behind Syria with 6.5 million IDPs and Colombia with 5.7 million IDPs
#ThingsMustChange

Buhari went to the United States Army War College and attended Officer's Cadet School in Aldershot (United Kingdom) in October 1963 and the Defence Services' Staff College, Wellington (India) in 1973. This is the man that will make Nigeria safe

#SaiBuhari

GEJ is a failure to Nigeria...... Always causing chaos and calamity in Nigeria.

He will hear it when Buhari enters...... KIRIKIRI MAXIMUM PRISON STRAIGHTTTTTTTT!

I'll send corrupt Nigerians to Kirikiri – Buhari

So Jonathan that said he knows the sponsors of Boko Haram nko?

Tell jona to mention their names

This tout needs to shut his mouth up... I pity this man when Buhari wins this election....
DSS and rest will not talk except it is from the opposition.

SAY NO TO NEPOTISM!


Sai Buhari!

This is wonderful. I love this man



#SaiBuhari

Hh

Ahead of the general elections, the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party bribed some Christian leaders with N6bn to campaign against the All Progressives Congress and its presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.).

Amaechi explained that the Christian leaders had been circulating documents to convince Nigerians that the APC and Buhari would Islamise Nigeria if allowed to win the forthcoming poll.

Speaking at the Rivers APC governorship rally in Emohua Local Government Area, the state governor maintained that Nigerians were too enlightened for any political party or an individual to change Nigeria to a Muslim country.

Calling on the religious leaders to return the money given to them to the Federal Government, Amaechi, who is the Director-General of Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, urged the pastors to stop commercialising the Christian faith.

The governor added, “Some pastors collected N6bn and they are circulating document and telling you not to vote for an Hausa man; not to vote for a Muslim; that they want to Islamise Nigeria. Tell them to return our N6bn.

“They gave them N6bn; they should return it to the Federal Government coffers. They will tell you that Buhari wants to Islamise Nigeria; tell them we are too educated.

“I am a Catholic, but no Catholic priest has told me that story right now in the Catholic church because I will ask him how? If any pastor tells you that, tell him to return the money.

“Nobody can Islamise Nigeria; they have commercialised Jesus Christ. They should stop commercialising Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Saviour. You know what Jesus Christ did in the temple; he chased them away.

“We shall chase away those pastors who have collected money from PDP to tell us lies. We shall chase them away on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The governor, however, described the elections in the state as a referendum between him and President Goodluck Jonathan, calling on the President to show what he had done for the people of the state.

“I told the President that the election in Rivers State is a referendum between him and me. I told him anywhere I go, I will show what I have done. Let him show what he has done,” Amaechi said.

http://www.punchng.com/news/pdp-paid-pastors-n6bn-to-attack-apc-amaechi/