The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has said that President Goodluck Jonathan will deliver Mid-Term Report of his administration on Democracy Day, May 29.

Special Assistant (Media) to the SGF, Sam Nwaobasi, said in a statement on Monday in Abuja that the report, entitled: ``Transformation Mid-Term Report, Taking Stock, Moving Forward’’, would be the main event for this year’s celebration.

The statement said the celebration would be held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, at 10 a.m.

It described as false, a newspaper publication of Monday, May 27, captioned, ``Again, FG cancels Democracy Day Celebrations``.

``This clarification has become necessary in view of the false and totally misleading news story on page two of the paper.’’

According to the statement, activities for the celebration started on Friday with national Juma’at prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja.

It added that interdenominational church service also took place on Sunday at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/may-29-jonathan-deliver-mid-term-report-sgf

Participants at a multi-stakeholders’ conference on the 2015 elections have expressed concern about the implications of the insecurity in the country ahead of the exercise, as the United Nations has pledged to collaborate with the Federal Government to make the polls violence and fraud-free.

The conference gave the participants the opportunity to appraise the Independent National Electoral (INEC) on the management of past elections in the country, especially the 2011 general elections.

The major players in the nation’s electoral system are considering several challenges affecting the conduct of elections in Nigeria. Among the issues identified are poor voter education, constituency delimitation, lack of internal democracy within the political parties as well as the legal framework for the conduct of elections. But nothing appears more worrisome to them than the insecurity in the country.

Those who spoke at the conference expressed worry over the increasing violence in the country, saying it might have viral effects on the elections unless curbed by the government.

As part of the efforts in this direction, the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator, Dr. Daouda Toure, announced that his office was ready to collaborate with the Federal Government to mop up small arms and light weapons ahead of the general elections.

There was the consensus, however, that democratic governance is fundamental to realising critical human development goals, including security of lives and property. This, they said, leaves Nigeria with no option other than to focus on building and nurturing her democracy, especially as the nation marches towards the 2015 general elections.

As part of the efforts in this direction, the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator, Dr. Daouda Toure, announced that his office was ready to collaborate with the Federal Government to mop up small arms and light weapons ahead of the general elections.
http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/05/21/un-vows-to-support-fg-towards-2015-elections/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

sheedy407: Via Pakistan network

huh

The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, has expressed its support for the steps taken by the Nigerian Government to address terrorism and insurgency in the northern part of the country.

Speaker of the parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Monday declared the stand of the regional body at the closing of its 2013 First Ordinary Session.

Ekweremadu said, “We support the Nigerian Government in taking every necessary and legitimate measure to contain terrorism in the country.

“We believe that Nigeria is at the forefront of the fight against terrorism in the sub-region and she must as a matter of fact wage successful war against terrorism in her territory to be able to assist fight terrorism and insurgency in other parts of West Africa.”

He also called for greater security cooperation between the ECOWAS and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, to contain all forms of insurgency and terrorism in their member states.
http://www.punchng.com/news/africa/ecowas-parliament-backs-fg-on-emergency-rule/

The Senate unanimously approved the declaration.
The Senate on Tuesday approved the State of Emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States.
The 100 senators present unanimously approved the president’s declaration at a session of the whole house.
The Senate had earlier gone for closed door session to debate the matter. At the end of the closed door session, the committee of the whole Senate unanimously approved Mr. Jonathan’s declaration; with none of the senators present opposing it.
Only 72 senators were required (two-thirds of the Senate) for the approval.
The House of Representatives is now required to approve the declaration by two-thirds of its members.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/135300-breaking-news-nigerian-senate-approves-state-of-emergency.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=breaking-news-nigerian-senate-approves-state-of-emergency

A lawyer, Kenneth Odidika on Wednesday said that corruption is so widespread in Nigeria that the default mode of the citizens of this country is fraud.

Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Mr Odidika said the declaration of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states following the incessant violent attacks in these areas is a good move by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The lawyer blamed corruption as responsible for the proliferation of illegal weapons especially those in the control of the rebel groups in Northern Nigeria.

He said, “Our default mode as Nigerians is fraud. These arms and ammunitions are not invincible; they don’t come to Nigeria and then materialize. They are brought in through our borders and I can assure you some of the borders are not even the ones we talk about in Yobe and Adamawa. I’m talking about through our ports and we have Customs people there.”

Speaking on the state of emergency declared on three troubled states in the North, Mr Odidika said this is a sign that President Jonathan is not weak and should serve as a warning to other state governments that have not been able to curtail violence in their domain.

He said, “By virtual of what he did yesterday (Tuesday), it is obvious now to those who thought he couldn’t act that this man could actually act and he could bite.

“If what has happened in Kano continuous, chances is that he will take the same action and even more drastic one.”


http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/05/15/default-mode-of-nigerians-is-fraud-lawyer/

Following a renewed attack by Fulani herdsmen in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State Monday, which left about 40 persons feared dead at a funeral ceremony of one of the slain Police officers in the crisis at Alakyo village of Nasarawa State, the herdsmen have said the attack was necessary to rescue their cows taken by the Agatu people.
Information Nigeria reports that eye witness accounts told how the mourners who had just buried the slain police officer whose remains were brought from Nasarawa State at the early hours of the morning and were praying and singing dirges in honour of the slain policeman, were suddenly attacked by the Fulani herdsmen who came in their numbers.


In the ensuing milieu occasioned by the sporadic shooting of guns by the herdsmen, 40 persons were purportedly killed while several others, who escaped, sustained varying degrees of injuries.
However, the secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Rearers Association in Benue State, Mr. Garus Gololo in his reaction, admitted the herdsmen carried out the attack but added that it was in a bid to recover their about 550 cows seized by the Agatu people.
Gololo, who spoke on phone to journalists noted that the herdsmen valued their cows more than anything else and accused the Agatu people of being economical with the truth.

http://www.informationng.com/2013/05/benue-killing-we-value-our-cows-more-than-anything-say-fulani-herdsmen.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Hodel Hans-Rudolf has announced that help will be rendered to the country to battle the issues of insecurity, if requested.
The ambassador disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the capacity building in agricultural education in Nigeria training workshop held at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) in Ilorin.
Hans-Rudolf stated that Switzerland is ready to assist Nigeria in tackling the problem of insecurity as soon as such a request is made.
The emissary commented on the issue of security in the country adding that he has been making observations in the past 8-months of his stay in the country.
He urged the federal government to brace up to nip the crisis in the bud.
He also said that the Nigerian government has relied on its mineral resources, especially crude oil and advised that the ‘over-reliance’ should cease.
He appealed for a shift to agriculture which he believed would create jobs and reduce poverty in the long run.


http://news.naij.com/33399.html

andresia:

See? you are very daft and no be lie!

And you are lovely!

andresia: Laptop #? you are really daft! haba! trying to score cheap political points. Idiota!

LEGISREPORTS NG – The staff at National Assembly (NASS) are currently protesting what they call siphoning of their approved salary increment by the management of NASS.

UPDATE 1

The Speaker of House of Reps, Hon Tambuwal is reported to have addressed the staff, who are said to be gathering in front of the Senate now. The Staff are chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards

Details later


http://legisreportsng.com/breaking-news-nass-staff-stage-protest-over-salary-delays-sitting/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Embarrassed Elrufai Uses Twitter Stooges to Respond to Soludo

Pint sized former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former People's Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, turned Congress for Progressive Chieftain (CPC) who is usually known for his garrulousness in responding to critics has been uncharacteristically silent over the scathing criticism his person and book received from the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Charles Soludo who exposed obvious lies and inaccuracies in the book.

Soludo in his piece 'Nasir el-Rufai’s Book as Intellectual Fraud?' Had provided proof which included Time Lines and factual incidences which showed that some of the assertions in el-Rufai's books could not have been true. Soludo also revealed el-Rufai's desperation and scheming to succeed Obasanjo.



But over 24 hours after Soludo's stunning revelations, el-Rufai has uncharacteristically held his peace and has instead used his stooges on twitter to throw stones at Soludo in an effort to portray him as a member of a certain cabal who operated thugs. See tweets below.
http://www.naijapundit.com/news/embarrassed-elrufai-uses-twitter-stooges-to-respond-to-soludo

I love you Nameo!

hmmn....what can i say?

ok....time to buy ur cars peeps....

May 3, 2013
The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA, have made known their intention to phase out mini-buses from the city centre, and restrict their operations within the Area Councils and Satellite towns.

FCT Secretary of Transport, Jonathan Ivoke made this known yesterday, at a stakeholder’s forum held in Abuja. He further revealed FCTA intention to deliver 300 brand new taxi vehicles out of the 1,000 it had planned to distribute to licensed operators across the nation’s capital city.

Ivoke stated that the government had approved a Mass Transit subsidy for both residents and operators. He said 3rd June, 2013 will be the re-commencement date of the feeder route mini bus services.

Ivoke said “only licensed high capacity buses will provide mass transit services in the federal capital city, while the mini buses will operate at the satellite towns and other Area Councils,” adding that tricycle transit operations can only operate at designated Housing Estates and satellite towns.


http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/05/02/fct-to-begin-full-ban-on-commercial-buses-june-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fct-to-begin-full-ban-on-commercial-buses-june-3
http://oodera.com/2013/05/03/commercial-buses-to-be-banned-fully-in-abuja-on-june-3rd-fcta/

A 22-year-old leader of a notorious seven-member kidnap gang, Joseph Akogun that stormed the Aiyedun quarters, residence of the wife of the former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Taye David-West, on March 23 this year, has opened up on how the gang planned and executed the operation which fetched a whooping N3m for them.

Speaking with Crime Alert during the parade of 64 suspected criminals terrorizing the people of Ondo state by the state police command, Akogun revealed that a family member facilitated the payment of the ransom and collected the lion share.

According to him, “The man gave us details of how we would carry out the operation. He was also the link between us and the family of our victim while we kept her incommunicado inside the Owo forest reserve. It was after our arrest by the Police that we were told that the woman is a wife of the Minister of Petroleum.

Kidnap business

Continuing, the gang leader said, “When the kidnap business came to me, I jumped at it because I saw it as a fast way of making cool money. But when the man that brought the business proposal told me the sharing formula, I was discouraged.

He later increased the percentage that will be given to me as the leader of the gang. That was when I became interested because half bread is better than nothing.

When he started giving me details of how we would carry out the operation, that was when I knew that he is one of the family members of the woman to be kidnapped.


*The suspects
He told me to ask for a ransom of N5million and that I should not agree to anything less than N3million because of our own share. After collecting the money, he gave me N150,000 out of the N3million and others were equally given small-small money.

The suspect further jokingly told Crime Alert that if they knew before that the husband is a former Petroleum Minister, he would not have agreed to the sharing formula. He, however, was quick to add that “things are so hard in Naija. What he gave us was better than just roaming the streets doing nothing.”

The victim was kept in Owo forest reserve for 12 days until a ransom of N3million was paid by her family through the member that masterminded the kidnap.

Crime Alert gathered that after the deal had been sealed and the woman released, members of the gang went about spending their loot. Their jamboree was however short-lived when detectives who had been on their trail for over a week picked up four of them including Akogun at different places in Akure and Owo towns.

The state police Commissioner, Patrick Dukumor gave the identity of those arrested in connection with the kidnap of the former minister’s wife as; Dare Olofinji, Dada Bamidele, Fanibe Olayemi and Joseph Akogun-the gang leader.

The police boss said the suspects have all confessed their involvement in the kidnap saga and will soon be charged to court.

The initiator of the crime is said to be on the run just as the police said they are still on the trail of other members of the gang.

In a similar development, the state police command has also rounded up another suspected kidnappers of a female journalist in the state recently. The kidnappers however, collected a ransom of N1m before releasing the female journalist who was nursing a six-month old girl when she was abducted at about 9pm after returning from work that night.

The kidnappers reportedly asked the house help of the female journalist to carry the baby who was sleeping inside her Toyota Corolla car and disembark from the car after which they took the nursing mother away only to abandon her car in Igbara Oke area of the state. She spent barely a week before she was released because they later discovered that she is a nursing mother and do not want to continue to deprive the baby of breast milk.

The Police Chief said that two of the five-member gang who kidnapped the nursing mother who is also a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA,Akure, Mrs. Olubunmi Oke, on March 21, this year have equally been arrested and would be charged to court.

According to him “detectives traced one of the criminals, Mr. Michael Onaibre, to Benin and arrested him through the blackberry phone he stole from the journalist.

Onaibre then led the security operatives to the house of one Shedrach Etuwe, believed to be the younger brother of the gang leader.

Also paraded included a three-man gang of fraudsters led by a 38-year-old HND graduate who sent a fake bank alert to a car dealer in Akure after collecting a N1.6 million car from him. Akinjide who was later arrested in Lagos said he hacked into the bank’s website using his Laptop. The car was recovered in Ajegunle, Lagos. Another armed robbery suspect paraded was a 22- year-old Oladejo Olalere, a 300 level Accounting students of the University of Ado Ekiti.

The police commissioner said that many of the suspects arrested for car snatching were arrested in Army barracks following a tip off that they drive the snatched cars there and after a week of changing many things on the car, will drive them out to car dealers in other states to re-sell them to unsuspecting buyers. He added that one Honda Accord car marked SQ 147 AAA was stolen from one Adebayo Oluwajemiluyi but was later recovered after it had been re-sprayed and re-registered with a new registration number KS F154 BC.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/kidnap-kingpin-opens-up-on-their-operation/

Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan will today inaugurate the committee to engage members of Islamic sect, Boko Haram, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

This comes as the President, yesterday, appointed a new member, Barrister Aisha Wakil, into the committee .

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said the inauguration would hold at 9:00a.m.

The statement read: “The inauguration by President Goodluck Jonathan of the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North and the Committee on Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons originally scheduled for 10 am today has been brought forward to 9a.m.

“President Jonathan has also approved the inclusion of Barri- ster Aisha Wakil as a member of the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Chall- enges in the North which has been given the task of identifying and constructively engaging key leaders of Boko Haram, and devel- oping a workable framework for amnesty and disarmament of members of the group.

”As earlier announced, the inauguration of both committees will take place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.”

Members of both committees were expected to be seated by 08:30 a.m.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/jonathan-inaugurates-committee-on-boko-haram-today/

confusion247: Fulaniiiiiiiii poweraaaaaaa ....let those fools from IMO continue to complain instead of doing the right thing. The youths in that community are useless. Kill all the cows, and bury every fulani man insight alive and no fulani man will enter that community again.

the fulanis dont forgive...they will come back for their pound of flesh when u least expect.

A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Oyewole Fasawe, on Sunday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo had no killer squad while he was in office.

Fasawe, who stated this in an email to our correspondent, said Obasanjo had no hand in the unresolved murder of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, and a former national chairman of the All Peoples Party, Chief Harry Marshall.

Fasawe was reacting to allegation by one Mr. Richard Odusanya, who claimed to be a former associate of Obasanjo.

In a live interview, with an online news portal, Saharareporters, Odusanya had alleged that the former President lodged the killer squad at a State Security Service headquarters, known as ‘Yellow House.’

He appeared on the programme alongside Mr. Segun Seriki, a PDP member in Ogun State.

In the said interview, Odusanya had alleged that Obasanjo knew about the murder of Marshall.

But in the email, Fasawe said Odusanya was his “errand boy”, who had no knowledge or insight into the working of government during the era of Obasanjo.

Fasawe said Obasanjo had never met Odusanya.

He stated that contrary to the claims by Odusanya and Seriki, Obasanjo had no hand in the unresolved murders of Ige and Marshall.

Fasawe, an associate of Obasanjo, said he was surprised Odusanya could make such an allegation because, according to him, “the former president had never cast his sight on him (Odusanya)”.

Fasawe noted that at no time had Obasanjo met with Odusanya, whom he described as his (Fasawe’s) errand boy until two years ago.

He stated, “President Obasanjo and I have been friends for a long time, while Richard had been my errand boy for some time until about two years ago, when he surreptitiously wanted to sell one of my properties in London.

“Throughout my frequent visits to the Villa when Obasanjo was president, I cannot recall a particular time when I had gone in company with Richard Odusanya.”

Describing Odusanya as an impostor, he said, “All through the years that President Obasanjo was in office, he never met with Richard, let alone talk of exchanging handshake with him. He knew absolutely nothing about the workings and activities of government during those era, other than being my errand boy.

“I want to state categorically that former President Obasanjo never met with this impostor, nor know anything about the person called Richard Odusanya. The so-called Odusanya had been my errand boy for years until about two years ago when I severed relationship with him after his failed bid to put up one of my London properties for sale.”


http://www.punchng.com/news/obasanjo-didnt-order-ige-marshalls-killings-fasawe/

Former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida has stated that the proposed amnesty for the members of the Boko Haram sect was a viable and effective means that would restore peace back to the northern region.

The retired Military General however declined further comments on the amnesty negotiation, but, promised to speak more on it when President Jonathan inaugurates the committee.

Babangida, who hosted newsmen at his residence in Minna, Niger State yesterday said, setting up such a committee “is part of the measures that will ensure peace and stability in the Northern region.”

According to him, “I do not know the terms of reference of the committee, therefore I cannot speak about the plan until the terms of reference are released.’’

“Every Nigerian has a role to play in tackling the security challenges facing us as a nation,” because “the government could not possibly tackle such problem alone.”

“If we all come together, the elite, the media, the ordinary people and the government by taking a common stand just as the people of Azare in Bauchi did to tackle their security challenges, peace will return” he said.



The elder statesman however urged the nation to trace the root of the insurgence.

“The problem did not start in one day, it began on a gradual note before it came to this level, owing to our negligence by the government, the elite and the people; but I cannot blame anyone.”

“Some 20 years ago, we did not have this problem, what was the state of things then? what have we forgotten that we have not done that led to the present challenges, this we have to look at.”

He also asked all Nigerians to put all hands on deck with the President and governments at all levels to tackle the problem of insecurity in the country.




http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/04/12/babangida-declines-to-comment-on-amnesty-for-boko-haram/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=babangida-declines-to-comment-on-amnesty-for-boko-haram

Return Of Illegal Police Roadblocks

It is very sad and indeed very disheartening that the reprieve currently being enjoyed by motorists, following the abolition of all manner of extortions and brutality by men of the Nigerian Police, arising from roadblocks on our roads, is again gradually giving way in the country.

Illegal roadblocks are now a daily occurrence on the Ijebu Ode-Epe road, particularly in the evening, with men of the Mobile Police, on this expressway, extorting motorists.

They are again terrorising and forcibly collecting money from motorists and other road users, including okada men. We detest going back to that ugly pre-Abubakar period.

We, therefore, appeal to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Muhammed D. Abubakar, to urgently arrest this ugly situation before it spreads uncontrollably again in the country.

Ademola Orunbon

Have you also been seeing police road block in your area or travels? Cos they are gradually seeping back.

http://www.punchng.com/opinion/letters/return-of-illegal-roadblocks/