German Nobel laureate novelist Gunter Grass dies at 87

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1H1STgo" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://ift.tt/1H1STgo" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Gunter Grass, awarded the Nobel Prize for literature, has died at the age of 87, according to his publishing house.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Grass, whose works include The Tin Drum and Cat and Mouse, died in a hospital in the northern German city of Luebeck, the Steidl publishing house said on Monday.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Grass was lauded by Germans for helping to revive their culture in the aftermath of World War II and helping to give voice and support to democratic discourse in the postwar nation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Yet he provoked the ire of many in 2006 when he revealed in his memoir Skinning the Onion that, as a teenager, he had served in the Waffen-SS, the combat arm of Adolf Hitler’s paramilitary organisation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In 2012, Grass drew sharp criticism at home and was declared persona non grata by Israel after publishing a prose poem, What Must Be Said, in which he criticised what he described as Western hypocrisy over Israel’s undeclared nuclear programme and labelled the country a threat to “already fragile world peace” over its belligerent stance on Iran.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />(Al Jazeera)<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

German Nobel laureate novelist Gunter Grass dies at 87

Gunter Grass, awarded the Nobel Prize for literature, has died at the age of 87, according to his publishing house. Grass, whose works inc...

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Boko Haram has abducted 2,000 girls, women since 2014 – Amnesty International,

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1H1STgf" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://ift.tt/1H1STgf" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>The militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has abducted at least 2,000 women in Nigeria since the start of 2014.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><i>Amnesty International,</i> which stated this in a report on Monday, said the abducted women were forced into sexual slavery and trained to fight.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The report was issued on the first anniversary of the abduction of the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls on April 14, 2014.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The 90-page report is titled, “Our job is to shoot, slaughter and kill’: Boko Haram’s reign of terror.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to the AI, the report was based on nearly 200 witness accounts, including 28 with abducted women and girls, who escaped captivity.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The report which highlighted multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Boko Haram, also threw up new light on the brutal methods used by the sect in the North-East.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It noted that men and boys were regularly conscripted or systematically executed and young women and girls abducted, imprisoned and in some cases raped.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The young women, according to the report, were forcibly married and made to participate in armed attacks, sometimes on their own towns and villages.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The AI’s Secretary General, Salil Shetty , said, “The evidence presented in this shocking report, one year after the horrific abduction of the Chibok girls, underlines the scale and depravity of Boko Haram’s methods.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Men and women, boys and girls, Christians and Muslims, have been killed, abducted and brutalised by Boko Haram during a reign of terror which has affected millions.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Recent military successes might spell the beginning of the end for Boko Haram, but there is a huge amount to be done to protect civilians, resolve the humanitarian crisis and begin the healing process.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The report contains graphic evidence, including new satellite images of the scale of devastation that Boko Haram had left in their wake.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><table cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' class='tr-caption-container' style='float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;'><br /><tbody><br /><tr><br /><td style='text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1CS0p7K" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ift.tt/1CS0p7K" width="326"/> </a> </td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td class='tr-caption' style='text-align: center;'>Some of the abducted Chibok girls</td><br /></tr><br /></tbody><br /></table><br /><br/><br />The abduction of 276 schoolgirls gained global attention with the help of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The AI stated that the missing schoolgirls were only a small proportion of the women, girls, young men and boys abducted by Boko Haram.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It reported that the sect always took the abducted women and girls directly to camps in remote communities or to makeshift transit camps such as the one established in Ngoshe prison.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to the group, from transit camps, Boko Haram would move them to houses in towns and villages and indoctrinate them with their version of Islam in preparation for marriage.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />AI made reference to a 19-year-old girl, whose name was given simply as Aisha, who narrated how she was abducted from a friend’s wedding in September 2014 along with her sister, the bride and the bride’s sister.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to the AI, one week later, Boko Haram forced the bride and the bride’s sister to marry their fighters. They also taught Aisha and the other women and girls how to fight.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It quoted Aisha as saying,“They used to train girls on how to shoot guns. I was among the girls trained to shoot. I was also trained on how to use bombs and how to attack a village.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The training went on for three weeks after we arrived. Then they started sending some of us to operations. I went on one operation to my own village.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Aisha said that during the three months that she was held captive, she was raped repeatedly, sometimes by groups of up to six fighters.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />She also saw more than 50 people killed by Boko Haram, including her sister.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Aisha added, “Some of them refused to convert. Some refused to learn how to kill others. They were buried in a mass grave in the bush. They’ll just pack the dead bodies and dump them in a big hole, but not deep enough. I didn’t see the hole, but we used to smell the dead bodies when they start getting rotten.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Since the start of 2014, Amnesty International documented at least 300 raids and attacks carried out by Boko Haram against civilians.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to the report, Ahmed and Alhaji, aged 20 and 18, were seated with other men, waiting for their throats to be cut after Boko Haram took over Madagali on 14 December 2014.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ahmed told AI that even though his instinct told him to run, he could not.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “They were slaughtering them with knives. Two men were doing the killing…We all sat on the ground and waited our turn.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Alhaji only managed to escape when a Boko Haram executioner’s blade became too dull to slit more throats.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “Before they got to my group, they killed 27 people in front of me. I was counting every one of them because I wanted to know when my turn would come.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said that at least 100 men who refused to join Boko Haram were executed in Madagali on that day.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In Gwoza, Boko Haram killed at least 600 people during an attack on August 6, 2014. Witnesses told AI how anyone trying to escape would be pursued. One of the witnesses said, “The motorcycles went to surrounding areas, each street corner, where they will shoot you. They are only shooting the men.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />‘‘Thousands fled to nearby mountains where Boko Haram fighters hunted them down and forced them out of the caves where they were hiding with tear gas canisters. The women were then abducted. The men were killed.’’<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Satellite imagery commissioned by the AI enabled the organisation to document the scale of devastation wreaked by Boko Haram.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />This includes new before and after images of Bama commissioned for the report. These show that at least 5,900 structures, approximately 70 per cent of the town, were either damaged or destroyed, including the hospital, by retreating Boko Haram fighters as the Nigerian military regained control of the town in March 2015.<br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/><br /><br/><br />Life under Boko Haram</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The report documents the reign of terror for those under Boko Haram rule.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Soon after taking control of a town, Boko Haram would assemble the population and announce new rules with restrictions of movement, particularly on women.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Most households became dependent on children to collect food or on visits by Boko Haram members who offered assistance, distributing looted food.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Boko Haram enforced its rules with harsh punishments. Failure to attend daily prayers was punishable by public flogging.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A woman who spent five months under Boko Haram control in Gamborou told Amnesty International how she had seen a woman given 30 lashes for selling children’s clothes and a couple executed publicly for adultery.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A 15-year-old boy from Bama, spared by Boko Haram due to his disability, told Amnesty International that he had witnessed 10 stonings<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Boko Haram has abducted 2,000 girls, women since 2014 – Amnesty International,

The militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has abducted at least 2,000 women in Nigeria since the start of 2014. Amnesty International, whi...

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Hoodlums burn Taraba SSG’s house

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1CS0oRf" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://ift.tt/1CS0oRf" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The family house of the Secretary to Taraba State Government, Timothy Kataps, and that of the member of the State House of Assembly representing Saudana constituency, Mr. Abel Dia, in Mbamga village in Gembu town were on Monday burnt down by some hoodlums protesting election results in the state.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The hoodlums also razed down the home of Kataps’ predecessor, Mr. Emmanuel Njiwa. All of them are from Mambilla.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The circumstances of the incident were still sketchy, but it was learnt that the SSG and the ex-deputy speaker who were in the area at the time reportedly went into hiding to escape being killed.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The youths, it was learnt, were trying to prevent electoral officers to take the results of Mbamgar constituency to the collation centre in Jalingo, the state capital.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />This, it was learnt, snowballed into a crisis which prevented INEC electoral officers to take the results of Sardauna Local Government Area to the INEC headquarters in Jalingo for final declaration of the governorship result.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Joseph Kwaji, who confirmed the incident, said some youths supporting an unnamed political party were responsible for the action.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He was quoted to have said, “Our men have moved there to calm the situation. I am yet to ascertain the level of casualties in the area.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was learnt that the incident led to the rescheduling of the election in the local government.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The council’s Returning Officer, Kyari Muhammed, said the election in Donga was characterised by “irregularities.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Hoodlums burn Taraba SSG’s house

The family house of the Secretary to Taraba State Government, Timothy Kataps, and that of the member of the State House of Assembly repres...

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APC thanks Lagosians for victory

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1CS0oAC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://ift.tt/1CS0oAC" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress said it owed its victory in the Saturday governorship poll to Lagos residents, who voted for its candidate to further entrench the culture of excellence in the state.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The APC on Monday, in statement by its Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said Lagos residents deserved thanks for not succumbing to intimidation from the opposition.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Igbokwe said the alignment between Lagos and the government at the centre would better the lot of the state.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “Lagos APC appreciates Lagosians for their unflinching support, we celebrate their courage and steadfastness, we honour their patriotic disposition to continuity, we value so much their sense of judgement and the power of their strategic political decision at a time like this.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“In the face of harassment, intimidation and brigandage from the powers that be, APC lovers showed infectious and contagious love to the party and its leaders they have known for years now.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“APC lovers in Lagos did not succumb to blatant lies, hate campaigns, politics of the stomach, ethnic and tribal politics and politics of naira, dollar and pound sterling.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“They were not swayed because they understand what is at stake. They did not see these inducements as low hanging fruits to take advantage of. They were smart, courageous and determined to use the power of votes to sustain the intelligent leadership and governance in Lagos.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Igbokwe added, “We appreciate Lagosians for understanding the urgent need at this critical point in the nation’s history to connect Lagos effectively to Abuja. Lagosians saw this great opportunity and grabbed it with both hands and the rest is now history.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We have no doubt in our mind that the synergy between Abuja and Lagos will add great values to the project Nigeria and consequently make our country to remain credit positive in many years to come.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

APC thanks Lagosians for victory

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress said it owed its victory in the Saturday governorship poll to Lagos residents, wh...

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Nigerians in the Diaspora hail Jonathan, Buhari’s victory

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/19WlhDT" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://ift.tt/19WlhDT" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Nigerians in the Diaspora and former leader of the group, Chief Amina Temitope Ajayi have congratulated the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari describing the victory as God’s favour.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ajayi, a.k.a Mama Diaspora, from United States yesterday stated that the peaceful conduct of the election and the emergence of Buhari were as a result of the determination and fervent prayers of all Nigerians including the Diaspora for a violent-free election.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />She said: “It’s never too late for God’s Favour. As we celebrate this victory, we should continue to show appreciation to our dear President Goodluck Jonathan for delivering a peaceful election. We are overwhelmed by the avalanche of commendation and praises being poured on Nigerians and indeed our dear President world-over for accepting defeat and averting bloodshed after election. Its highly Democratic and commendable to have him as the first African President to accept defeat. This should be emulated across Africa. We are very proud of our dear country Nigeria,” she stated.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Nigerians in the Diaspora hail Jonathan, Buhari’s victory

Nigerians in the Diaspora and former leader of the group, Chief Amina Temitope Ajayi have congratulated the President-Elect, General Muham...

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Are the Niger Delta militants posing a threat to the incoming administration of Buhari?

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1xLxaY0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" height="322" src="http://ift.tt/1xLxaY0" width="640"/> </b> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b><br/> </b> <b>One big question: Are the Niger Delta militants posing a threat to the incoming administration of the former Head of State and president- elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari as they did to current and past regimes?</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />This question has become relevant because, barely four days after Buhari was declared winner of the Presidential election, beating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, suspected militants have blown up a major high pressure gas pipeline at Ighwrenene Community in Delta State, warning the President-elect that he may have his hands full in containing the economic sabotage.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The incident allegedly occurred around 2:30 am yesterday.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The economic sabotage was coming about one week after some former leaders of the Niger Delta militants threatened to return to the creeks and resume their war against the Nigerian state in response to General Buhari’s election victory over Jonathan. But Jonathan’s quick congratulatory message to Buhari even before INEC, the electoral body, officially declared him winner doused tension in the land and forced some of them to retract their words. However, yesterday’s incident made the situation hazy.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Also, a group of Urhobo youths under the aegis of Urhobo Gbagbako yesterday claimed responsibility for the March 22, bombings of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, oil pipe lines in Ekiugbo, Ughelli Local Government Area “on a massive scale.” It said that the aim was to give vent to their demand for pipe line surveillance contracts.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Nigeria is almost a one- product economy with oil contributing to about 90 percent of her wealth.<br/><br /><br/><br />Late former President, Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua had to grant amnesty to the Niger Delta militants who fought from the creeks to drive home their demand for derivation and resource control in the country.<br/><br /><br/><br />The Federal Government also approved 13 percent derivation as well as other programmes aimed at cushioning the effects of degradation occasioned by oil exploration for the oil producing states.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />However, as at 10am yesterday when reporters visited Ighwrenene Community, an official of the NPDC accompanied by two mobile policemen were at the scene making frantic calls on how to extinguish the inferno which was ravaging the area.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Another official attached to the Pipeline Surveillance Unit, PSU, in the area who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the affected pipeline was a trunk line which convey the product from Eriemu, Kokori, Afiesere, Uzere, West-End at Kwale, Ogini, Olomoro and Owhe to the Ughelli Quality Control Center, UQCC.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Attempts by fire fighters from the NPDC, SPDC and the Delta State Fire Service departments to extinguish the fire had not been successful even as one of their trucks got stuck along the road to the scene of the explosion making access to the spot almost impossible.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion, Agbarha-Otor, Lt. Col Mathew Oyekola told Saturday Vanguard that 15 suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the incident.<br/><br /><br/><br />Pipeline surveillance contracts: Urhobo youths commence bombings of oil installations<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In a statement yesterday, leader of Urhobo Gbagbako, Priest Omodjuvwu, said the group carried out the latest round of bombing along the Afiesere and Ekiugbo axis of the council area, during which it shut down all the oil fields in Urhobo and Isoko nations.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Omodjuvwu said, “We have earlier warned NPDC and the Federal Government on the pipeline surveillance contract to no avail.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />‘’The contract is going on without the inclusion of the Urhobo, and that is injustice being meted to the Urhobo, which we will resist to the end. We need the pipe line surveillance contract now or the bombings will continue.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We have now commenced bombings of oil and gas installations in Ekiugbo/Ighrenene/Afiesere areas and we will continue in an unprecedented scale, until we get the pipe line surveillance contracts in our area.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He also, added that the group’s quest for oil contracts was immediate, in the absence of which the youths would continue the assault on oil facilities in their domain, without waiting for the expiration of the 14 days ultimatum earlier credited to it.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Federal Government was said to have on March 16, reviewed its new plan to safeguard the waterways and oil pipelines by allegedly directing the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to quit the job for some companies, which had been signed on by the government.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The companies were reportedly owned by some former Niger Delta militants and prominent citizens including Government Tompolo; Mujaheedin Asari-Dokubo, Chief Bipobiri Ajube (aka Gen. Shoot-At-Sight) as well as the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, led by Dr. Frederick Fasehun and Gani Adams.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />About seven companies were said to have been allocated “regions” or operational areas as follows: Egbe Security River One (Bayelsa); Gallery Security (Mosinmi -Ore); Close Body Protection (Edo State); Adex Energy Security(Rivers) ; Donyx Global Concept(Lagos and Ogun); Oil Facilities Surveillance-(Delta) and New Age Global Security (Mosinmi-Ibadan).<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), it was said, would coordinate the jobs.<br/><br /><br/><br />Nigeria has been battling with huge revenue loss due to vandalism of oil and gas pipelines.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Dokubo threatens to resume militancy in response to Buhari’s election victory</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />NIGER Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo had threatened to return to the creeks and resume his war against the Nigerian state in response to General Muhammadu Buhari’s election victory over President Goodluck Jonathan.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On Saturday, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, beat incumbent President Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. This was even as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, sent Buhari a congratulatory message, saying that Nigerians made the right choice.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />However, Mr Dokubo, who earlier promised to unleash violence on the country if President Jonathan was not re-elected, promised to return to the creeks, blaming the Yoruba and Hausa for working against Ndigbo and Niger Deltans.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Are the Niger Delta militants posing a threat to the incoming administration of Buhari?

One big question: Are the Niger Delta militants posing a threat to the incoming administration of the former Head of State and presid...

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Elections to hold in eight Borno LGs – INEC

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1D8UrWk" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://ift.tt/1D8UrWk" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Borno State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Madaki, on Friday said today’s elections would be held in eight of the twenty-seven local government areas of Borno State, considered safe for the exercise.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Addressing a press conference on the preparations made to have a free and fair elections in the troubled state, Madaki said the state was classified by INEC into three-safe, unsafe (high risk) and relatively safe.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He identified 12 high risk local government areas, 10 relatively safe areas and five safe ones.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said elections would be held in the safe local government areas and some of the relatively safe ones including Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere, Magumeri, Bayo, Kwaya-Kusar, Hawul, Shani, Damboa and Gubio.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He revealed that no fewer than 70, 485 displaced victims of Boko Haram insurgents in various Internally Displaced Persons’ camps, who are registered voters in Borno would be allowed to vote.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Madaki also said adequate arrangements had been made to ensure that displaced persons from other local governments are not disenfranchised as provisions would be made at IDP camps for voters.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “There are 70, 485 displaced persons who are registered voters from 16 local governments at IDP camps in Maiduguri. We’ve made adequate arrangement for them to vote. The security agencies will be providing security for them.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He also said a total of 1,763,860 Permanent Voters Cards were received by the commission in Borno out of the expected 1,838,514 for registered voters in the state, adding that 1,417,750 PVCs have been distributed so far.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He regretted that INEC could not make PVCs available for all registered voters in the state.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Over 18, 000 PVCs are still being expected,” he said, adding that it would give some people the opportunity to receive their PVCs from the new delivery after the presidential poll.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He also revealed that 25,125 adhoc staff had been engaged for the elections which will be held in 312 wards and at 3928 polling units.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Madaki said over 300 observers had registered with the national headquarters of the commission.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He also revealed that a total of 5000 card readers, which exceeded the required number, were brought to the state to forestall any problems that might arise with the use of the card readers.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Elections to hold in eight Borno LGs – INEC

The Borno State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Madaki, on Friday said today’s elections would be held in eight of the twenty-...

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Poll: INEC shuts hotels in Makurdi

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1I1VC7H" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://ift.tt/1I1VC7H" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Independent National Electoral Commission has ordered hotels in Makurdi shut for security reasons.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The affected hotels are those sharing the same vicinity with the commission’s state head office in Makurdi.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />INEC’s state Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ochai Louis, who confirmed the closure of the hotels, explained that the move was to forestall any break down of law and order.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said criminal elements could hide in the hotels and launch attacks on the office from there under the guise of lodging as guests.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Louis said, “We called the owners of the hotels to a meeting this morning. They were adequately briefed on the security implications.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“So, all the hotels will be evacuated, except for INEC members of staff.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The commission tightened security around the office on Friday as soldiers arrived to oversee security.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />One armoured tank was stationed right inside the premises of the head office with soldiers milling around the war machine.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Before the soldiers arrived, a combined team of riot policemen and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps was already guarding the building.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Poll: INEC shuts hotels in Makurdi

The Independent National Electoral Commission has ordered hotels in Makurdi shut for security reasons. The affected hotels are those shari...

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Boko Haram militants kidnap over 500 women and children from Damasak, Borno

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1Bkwcyf" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://ift.tt/1Bkwcyf" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b><br/> </b> <b>Boko Haram militants have kidnapped more than 500 women and children from the northern Nigerian town of Damasak that was freed this month by troops from Niger and Chad, Reuters quoted residents as saying on Tuesday.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />There was no immediate official confirmation of the figure, but the Islamist group has previously carried out mass kidnappings. Boko Haram in April 2014 adopted over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“They (insurgents) took 506 young women and children (in Damasak). They killed about 50 of them before leaving. We don’t know if they killed others after leaving, but they took the rest with them,” a trader called Souleymane Ali told Reuters in the town.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Troops of the African joint force last week found the bodies of at least 70 people in an apparent execution site under a bridge leading out of Damasak, where the streets remained strewn with debris and burnt-out cars after the fighting.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ali said his wife and three of his daughters were among those seized.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Two of them were supposed to get married this year. (Boko Haram) said ‘They are slaves so we’re taking them because they belong to us,’” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mohamed Ousmane, another trader, said the militants took his two wives and three of their children.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A 40-year-old resident who gave her name as Fana said fighters had rounded up captives in the main mosque before taking them out of town. She said she saved her two children by hiding them in her house.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Boko Haram militants kidnap over 500 women and children from Damasak, Borno

Boko Haram militants have kidnapped more than 500 women and children from the northern Nigerian town of Damasak that was freed this mo...

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Emulate Mandela, Quit After One Term, Oshiomhole Tells Jonathan

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1BDgt0O" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style='font-family: inherit;'><img border="0" height="270" src="http://ift.tt/1BDgt0O" width="640"/> </span> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span> <span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Governor Adams Oshiomhole has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to emulate the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela by jettisoning his second term ambition to earn the respect of all Nigerians and Africans.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>This, he said, would be in compliance with the jingle ‎played on television stations across the country that Jonathan is doing what the late Nelson Mandela did.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Oshiomhole who spoke on Friday in Benin City during a visit by residents and various associations in Egor Local Government Area to thank him for the construction and dualisation of the Upper Siluko road in the state capital, said President Jonathan should go beyond empty jingles and truly emulate President Mandela who spent only a single term but impacted on the lives of all South Africans.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“Like in the PDP jingle, the PDP says our President is like Nelson Mandela; it was not easy, but he did it. Then they talked of Martin Luther King, it was not easy but he did it, but they didn’t know Martin Luther was never president. Then they made another grammatical error, where they said for Obama it wasn’t easy but he did it. I say it’s a grammatical error because President Obama is not in the past, he is in the present and he is doing it.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“So how many terms did Nelson Mandela do as president? Is there any black man who does not respect Mandela? Dead or alive, Mandela is respected. He is respected in America more than they respect the American president. He is respected in Europe more than they respect any European President,”‎ Oshiomhole said.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>The governor noted that it is not how many years that Jonathan stayed on president that mattered but what he did during the period.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“In Edo State, PDP did 10 years. We in APC have only done 6 years. In those 10 years, PDP did not do your road, they blamed it on Water Goddess (Mammy water), but you have come to thank us for using APC bulldozers to chase away the mammy water and now we are constructing the road.”</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Oshiomhole reminded the people that they have the power to send the President and the PDP packing on 28 March with their Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVC, by voting for General Muhammadu Buhari and other All Progressives Congress candidates, adding, “I urge you to use your PVC on March 28 and April 11th to punish PDP and send them packing.”</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>While calling on the people to shun campaigns which tend to divide the people along religious lines, Oshiomhole said the issue at stake is not whether you are a Christian or you are a Muslim or whether you are from the north or from the south, east or west but about who has the capacity to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of this nation.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“Anyone who collects money to preach hatred to the people will receive the wrath of God. Anybody who does not want Nigeria to conduct peaceful elections or who knows the truth but collects money to lie and deceive the people of God will receive the Judgment of God.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“In Edo State, religion is not a problem. Let them not deceive us at all, this matter is about truth. 16 years ago, N75 was equivalent to $1 but today, it is N230 to one dollar. The hike in the value of the dollar against the naira will have spiral effect on the economy. If the dollar goes up, it affects all other segments of the economy. Prices of other products will go up,” Oshiomhole said.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Earlier in an address, Chairman, Sawmillers Association, Egor Branch, Mr. Lucky Odeh, who spoke on behalf of the residents of Upper Siluko, said they were in Government House to appreciate the Comrade Governor and to salute his courage and determination in enhancing the lives of Upper Siluko residents and its environs.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“The fear of the unknown, the appearance of Mami Water, the goddess of water had prevented previous governments from even attempting to work on the road because no one was willing to die for the people. You took the bull by the horn, approached it with courage and determination and today, the story is better told than imagined,” Odeh said.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Emulate Mandela, Quit After One Term, Oshiomhole Tells Jonathan

Governor Adams Oshiomhole has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to emulate the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela by jetti...

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I’ve buried too many commissioners – Governor Suswam

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/18Jh710" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://ift.tt/18Jh710" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Benue State Governor, Chief Gabriel Suswam, said on Friday that he had buried many commissioners and prayed God not to allow him face such occurrence again.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Suswam spoke at Tse-Chia in Buruku Local Government Area of the state when the body of the late Commissioner for Rural Development and Cooperative, Aondowase Chia, was being buried.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Chia had last Thursday slumped and later died at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, while the governor was on a trip abroad.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Suswam said, “I have buried many commissioners and I am very uncomfortable. I support a claim by one of our traditional rulers that we must all go back to God.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He, however, lamented that people were busy hiring political thugs to foment trouble in the build-up to the general elections, rather than reflecting on the essence of human life.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Most people believe that they will hire political thugs to kill, unfortunately they forget the fact that life is full of emptiness, God alone determine the destiny of every man,” the governor said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

I’ve buried too many commissioners – Governor Suswam

Benue State Governor, Chief Gabriel Suswam, said on Friday that he had buried many commissioners and prayed God not to allow him face such...

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Lekki Robbery: Statement by Gov. Fashola totally irresponsible - Reuben Abati

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/19iDoUE" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://ift.tt/19iDoUE" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Presidency on Friday described as irresponsible and unintelligent a statement by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, that Thursday’s deadly robbery in Lekki area of Lagos was made possible as a result of President Goodluck Jonathan’s presence in the state.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, made the Presidency’s position known in an interview with State House correspondents in Abuja.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Three policemen and a fish seller were said to have been killed on Thursday by a gang of robbers who stormed the First City Monument Bank on Admiralty Way in Lekki, Lagos State.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, said in the video posted online by Saharatvonline, “This afternoon (Thursday), we lost three policemen in a robbery in Lekki and it is the first of its type in a very long time.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“But it was sad to have seen all our security personnel and all our security vehicles deployed to protect one man. All the vehicles we bought for the police were stationed to receive the President in Lagos while the citizens were left vulnerable.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Those policemen have children and tonight, their mothers would be hard put to explain to them why daddy would not be coming home.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But Abati said the Presidency viewed the governor’s statement as “grossly and utterly irresponsible.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said he expected that a man of Fashola’s status should speak more responsibly.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said it did not make any sense that the entire police formation in the state would be deployed to protect the President during his visit that saw him sounding the gong to signal closing of business at the Nigerian Stock Exchange.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Abati said, “The visit of the President to Lagos or any part of the country does not necessitate the depletion of the police force active in that particular state or environment.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The President has a defined team that protects him anywhere he goes.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“And again, President Jonathan does not need the entire police force in Lagos State to protect him in a state where he is loved by the people and where as we have seen, he enjoys overwhelming support in the lead up to the 2015 presidential elections.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We do not only consider Governor Babatunde Fashola’s statement as irresponsible, we also think that it is unintelligent because it flies in the face of facts and it just does not add up.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We hope that Governor Fashola, in an attempt to play politics, will not continue as his party does to play politics with the lives of people.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“People died in that unfortunate incident and President Jonathan commiserate with the affected families.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“But we will find it really cheap and disgusting that the governor of a state will now see that, an occasion of bereavement affecting the number of families, as an opportunity to play very cheap and irresponsible politics.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Nigeria Police have also said that there is nothing improper in deploying as many policemen as possible to protect the country’s President.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Asked whether a larger percentage of policemen in a state are deployed to protect the President whenever he visits any state in the country, Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, explained that the President needed as much security as he could get.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ojukwu said, “There is nothing wrong in adequately protecting the President but that does not mean that the police force will leave every other Nigerian unprotected. That is why we are called ‘Nigerian Police Force.’<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“There is simply no truth in the opinion that all our men were drafted to protect the President.” Meanwhile, the police in Lagos have said investigation is ongoing to track down the robbers.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, explained that men of the force in the state are in mourning, adding that whenever there is a development in the investigation, the public would be informed.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Lekki Robbery: Statement by Gov. Fashola totally irresponsible - Reuben Abati

The Presidency on Friday described as irresponsible and unintelligent a statement by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, that Thursda...

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Ex-militants on rampage over FG pipeline surveillance contract

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/19iD0We" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://ift.tt/19iD0We" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Hundreds of ex-militants from Bayelsa state yesterday staged a violent protest by blocking the Mbiama /Yenagoa road by Tombia junction.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The ex-militants were protesting against the Bayelsa state government for allegedly hijacking a pipeline surveillance contract awarded to them by the Federal government.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The protest paralyzed social and economic activities in the area of the state. Shop owners hastily closed as the angry militants engaged the officers and men from the Bayelsa state Police Command who came to disperse them in violent confrontation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A police truck was destroyed by the ex-militants when police tried to disperse them with teargas to allow for free flow of traffic on the major access road to the Yenagoa, the state capital.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />There was an earlier rumour that one of the ex-militants was shot dead for leading the riotous gang that destroyed the police truck.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />However, the Bayelsa state Police command, Public relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, in a telephone interview confirmed the violent protest but said that situation had been brought under control, noting that, one of it’s trucks was destroyed by ex-militants.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Butswat denied that the police shot and killed any ex-militant before normalcy was returned.<br/><br /><br/><br />It would be recalled that the federal government last week awarded Pipelines Surveillance Contract to very vocal ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta worth millions of dollars.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The federal government under it’d amnesty programme has been giving out contracts for the surveillance of the network of petroleum products that criss-cross the landscape of the Niger Delta.<br/><br /><br/><br />The Nation Newspaper reported that Government Tompolo; Mujaheedin Asari-Dokubo and Chief Bipobiri Ajube (aka Gen. Shoot-At-Sight) are some of the ex-militants to get surveillance contracts.<br/><br /><br/><br />Others are the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) Dr. Frederick Fasehun and OPC National co-ordinator, Otunba Gani Adams.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Ex-militants on rampage over FG pipeline surveillance contract

Hundreds of ex-militants from Bayelsa state yesterday staged a violent protest by blocking the Mbiama /Yenagoa road by Tombia junction. T...

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Jonathan, PDP terribly afraid of election – Amaechi

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/19iCFTA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://ift.tt/19iCFTA" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state has said that President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are afraid of the outcome of the forthcoming general elections.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Amaechi who is also the Director-General, All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation stated this in Port Harcourt during APC’s zonal campaign rally, according to a statement by Ibim Seminatari, Director of Communications of Rivers State APC Campaign Organisation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“You know I used to be in PDP. For the first time, I can see real fear in their eyes, even the president is afraid. You can see that everybody is now gentle because the game is up.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The sad part is that the police are arresting us every day but all these will be over in two weeks. So far, over 30 members of APC have been killed in recent times. No day passes without the killing of one APC member or the other but they will account for all their atrocities in due time.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“They cannot intimidate us forever. Let me tell you that my courage comes from knelling down, praying and asking God for strength. This time in South-South and South-East, we will not write result. We are going to vote and our votes will count and I am proud to be part of APC. You must vote and stay there because members of PDP are magicians,” Seminatari quoted Amaechi as saying.<br/><br /><br/><br />According to her, the Rivers State Governor also described PDP as an atrocious party with unbelievable record of abuse and intimidation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He also condemned the attack on his wife Judith by PDP members who waylaid her at Ahoada West during her campaign there.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Amaechi told the gathering that God has already told Nigerians who will be the next president but that person, definitely is not Jonathan.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Jonathan, PDP terribly afraid of election – Amaechi

Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state has said that President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are afraid o...

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#BringBackOurGirls movement faults silence on Chibok girls’ rescue

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/18eYqSH" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://ift.tt/18eYqSH" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b><br/> </b> <b>The #BringBackOurGirls movement has expressed worries over what it described as a repeat of the “eerie silence” that characterised the earlier operations to secure the release of 219 Chibok girls, who have been in Boko Haram captivity for about 321 days.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The group said there has been no mention of efforts to rescue the schoolgirls in the 14 days of the planned six-week offensive against the violent Islamist sect.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The #BBOG in a statement in Abuja on Sunday on the second week of its ‘countdowntosixweeks’ on military operations against Boko Haram, encouraged the Federal Government to douse the anxieties of the Chibok parents and the general public on the fate of the girls.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Based on the assurances given by our President and the leadership of the military, we have been expecting a concerted effort to rescue our 219 ChibokGirls, who have remained in the custody of the insurgents for over 300 days.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It is thus disheartening that in the 14 days of the operations, there has so far not been any mention of the specific measures targeted at their rescue. We are immensely worried that there seems to be a repeat of the eerie silence that characterised earlier purported rescue operations of the girls,” the statement noted.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The coalition challenged the military to be unwavering in achieving their objective by reclaiming all the territories under Boko Haram occupation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The group called for a robust security arrangement for returning the Internally Displaced Persons so that they could fully resettle into normal life as quickly as possible.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The movement regretted that the military had yet to take steps to respond to its call for third-party independently-verified accounts of the war.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We do not wish that the efforts of our gallant troops be cast in any shadow of doubt by a disbelieving public because of previous disappointments,” he added.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It reiterated the importance of having journalists embedded among the ground troops to independently cover the counter-insurgency effort, noting that such practice was a global standard by militaries prosecuting war in various countries.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The group said the practice had been adopted by the Chadian military, who had allowed independent reportage of its battles against the terrorists.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The #BBOG said it looked forward to the victory of the military and the Multi-National Joint Task Force, expressing confidence that the nation would succeed in bringing back the abducted girls.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

#BringBackOurGirls movement faults silence on Chibok girls’ rescue

The #BringBackOurGirls movement has expressed worries over what it described as a repeat of the “eerie silence” that characterised the...

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Security agents supervised destruction of my posters — El-Rufai

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1N78tKe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://ift.tt/1N78tKe" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, on Sunday alleged that security operatives supervised the destruction of his campaign billboards and posters in Zaria by suspected Peoples Democratic Party thugs.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />El-Rufai, who is a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said in a statement by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, in Kaduna on Sunday that the suspected PDP thugs destroyed all visible campaign materials of the APC and replaced them with those of Governor Mukhtar Yero.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Conscious of their unpopularity, the PDP is now displaying posters of Yero that feature pictures of the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It is seen as an admission that the PDP’s own presidential candidate is not sellable to the electorate, but also a demonstration of the PDP’s affinity for deception.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“In the said posters being paraded in the said axis, Yero is paired with Buhari while Malam El-Rufai is axed with a red ink,” the statement read in part.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It added, “We will continue to play issue-based politics despite all deliberate attempts and mischief to taint our image and popularity before the good people of Kaduna State.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Neither the tons of illicit money they are spending to bribe voters nor can the violent actions designed to intimidate and frighten citizens save the PDP in Kaduna State from the coming electoral humiliation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The people of Kaduna State are clearly tired of an incompetent, wasteful government that has proved incapable of leading, performing or delivering public services.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But Yero, also speaking through his Director-General, Media and Publicity, Malam Ahmed Mayaki in Zaria, said el-Rufai was becoming too desperate for power.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We must not forget that we are only humans. God has already destined all things and it is only God that can give power to whomsoever He wishes. It is unnecessary to fight over power and politics cannot worth a single drop of the blood of any citizen,” the governor added.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Security agents supervised destruction of my posters — El-Rufai

The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, on Sunday alleged that security operatives s...

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Chelsea wins League Cup

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/18eYqCn" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://ift.tt/18eYqCn" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />LONDON (AP) -- Chelsea won the League Cup by defeating Tottenham 2-0 Sunday, and its Premier League title chances improved with Manchester City's loss at Liverpool.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Two deflected shots settled a tight cup final between London rivals at Wembley Stadium. Chelsea captain John Terry scored in the 45th minute with the aid of a ricochet off Eric Dier. Diego Costa's attempted shot spun into the net off Kyle Walker's outstretched leg in the 56th.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The victory gave manager Jose Mourinho to his first title in his second spell at Chelsea.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Chelsea wins League Cup

LONDON (AP) -- Chelsea won the League Cup by defeating Tottenham 2-0 Sunday, and its Premier League title chances improved with Manchester...

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FG’s annual budget is N20 Trillion, not N4.3 Trillion – Reps

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1AN229V" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://ift.tt/1AN229V" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The House of Representatives said on Sunday that the Federal Government’s yearly expenditure was “over N20tn,” contrary to the N4.6tn (2014) or N4.3tn (2015) disclosed to Nigerians as the country’s annual public budget.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Its Public Accounts Committee, which made the disclosure in Abuja, noted that, an ongoing examination of the finances of government and its 601 agencies showed that the N4.3tn given as the total spending budget for this year was a “far cry” from the reality.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Adeola Solomon-Olamilekan, who spoke on the issue, explained that, unknown to Nigerians, the N4.3tn, for example, did not include the expenditure of many “statutory and extra-ministerial departments” of government.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He added that his committee found out that these other agencies not captured in the regular budget, generated and spent their money as it pleased them without seeking the approval of the National Assembly.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The lawmaker put the budget of these other bodies at over N16tn.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Solomon-Olamilekan explained further, “The N4.9tn, N4.6tn or N4.3tn, as the case may be, is the budget that the whole Nigerians are listening to but in the true sense of it, the budget of other statutory and extra-ministerial departments put together is about N16tn.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“So, the total overall budget year in year out is over N20tn, which the executive arm operates, but nobody is asking questions as to the implementation of all these budgets.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Nobody is bringing information on the implementation of all these budgets; and this is one area Nigerians need to start asking questions in order to move this country forward.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Solomon-Olamilekan stated that though the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, made adequate provisions on how these bodies should be held accountable, the law was observed in breach.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He cited the “stifling” of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation as one of the ways to shield government agencies from opening their books to scrutiny.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Solomon-Olamilekan said this was done by starving the office of funds “over the years” to a point where it no longer had the financial power to effectively audit the accounts of the implementation agencies of government and its extra-ministerial departments.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />For instance, he revealed how the government cut the capital budget of the AGF’ office from N1.9bn to a “meagre” N100m in 2015.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The lawmaker said his committee was at a loss on how the AGF’s office would audit the accounts of 601 agencies with N100m and the country’s 144 foreign missions.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The PAC chairman added, “How can we imagine that the capital budget of the office of AGF for the year 2015 was reduced from N1.9bn to N100?<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Can you also imagine an office of the AGF that has 144 foreign missions to audit and as we speak, between 1999 to date, that office has not audited up to 30 of these foreign missions while three quarter of these foreign missions are also revenue generating agencies?<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“So, there is nobody to audit the revenue generated and the expenditure they incur.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The office of the AGF has been short-changed and the budget has been reduced to nothing. As such, the government of the day is having a field day to carry out whatever its wants to do because they know they have an office that is not functioning.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The PAC has also been saddled with the responsibility of retrieving the full report on the audit investigation into the $20bn reportedly ‘missing’ from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation from the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The House had, in plenary on Wednesday last week, given the minister seven days to submit the full report to the lawmakers.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

FG’s annual budget is N20 Trillion, not N4.3 Trillion – Reps

The House of Representatives said on Sunday that the Federal Government’s yearly expenditure was “over N20tn,” contrary to the N4.6tn (201...

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Presidential Election: Jonathan is ready for Buhari - PDP

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1AZSqre" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://ift.tt/1AZSqre" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>The Peoples Democratic Party has said President Goodluck Jonathan is ready to face Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) on March 28 for the presidential election.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />While Jonathan is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Buhari is the candidate of the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The APC had alleged that both Jonathan and his party were planning to scuttle the elections as they were alleged not to be ready.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The opposition party claimed that both the President and the PDP were afraid that they would be defeated during the election.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organsiation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said that it would be foolhardy of anyone to say the President Jonathan was not ready for the elections.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He also debunked the claim that the ruling party and the President were sponsoring some lesser political parties to call for the shift of the elections, especially in the North-East.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Fani-Kayode said, “How can anyone say we are not ready for the elections? President Jonathan is ready to challenge General Buhari anyway because he’s going to defeat him. We were ready for the last election and we are also ready for this one.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We have people coming to this office every day to strategise and we also have our Legacy House for the election. Leaders of the party from the national chairman to other members of the National Working Committee are there”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Fani-Kayode also berated former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the spokesperson for the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who he said, were accusing him of many crimes, including bad health.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “If anybody is to talk about ill health. They should talk about themselves and not about me.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“My name is Femi Fani Kayode, and nobody can kill me before my time. Nobody can cut me short and I harbour no fear of violence and I do not take threats lightly. Neither do I fear for my life.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Because I have never shed blood and I do not believe in violence, the angel of the Lord will strike that person dead before they point a gun at me in Jesus Name.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Meanwhile, the party has expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their renewed solidarity and overwhelming support for President Jonathan.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Presidential Election: Jonathan is ready for Buhari - PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has said President Goodluck Jonathan is ready to face Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) on March 28 for the p...

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Outrage over alleged plot to freeze APC leaders’ accounts

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1AN241K" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://ift.tt/1AN241K" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>There was outrage on Sunday over an alleged plot by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party to freeze the bank accounts of All Progressives Congress leaders.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The APC had on Saturday alleged that the President planned to freeze the accounts of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as part of efforts to cripple the campaigns of its presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Prominent Nigeria, including some Senior Advocates of Nigeria condemned the alleged plot.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The lawyers – Emeka Ngige, Yusuf Ali and Mahmud Magaji – said if the allegation was true, it would send a bad signal to the international community about the nation’s commitment to deepening democracy.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ngige said the action could spell doom for the nation and might actualise the prediction that Nigeria was already on the path of disintegration.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “My view is that such a move is unthinkable but if true is a sure road to the much predicted disintegration of Nigeria.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Any clampdown on the opposition at this time because the ruling party is afraid of defeat in the coming election will spell doom for the country. Whoever is contemplating such actions should have a re-think.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ali said the plot to freeze the accounts of individuals was a matter of law and not a matter that was subject to arbitrariness.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “Luckily, we are all Nigerians; luckily we have our constitution; luckily we all know our rights. There are steps that can be taken before anybody can freeze the accounts of X, Y or Z.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“If anybody has committed any offence for which you want to freeze his account, there are legal steps you must take. You cannot just wake up and say you want to freeze people’s accounts.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“There must be legal reasons and if anybody’s rights are trampled upon, the person knows what to do.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“But if this is true, it will send a wrong signal to the world ahead of the general elections.It will be unfortunate if temporary holders of power decide to ride roughshod on others. They should remember that what goes around comes around.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Magaji, who described the development as unfortunate, said it would portray Nigeria to the outside world as an unserious nation that is not committed to the development of democracy.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “Though I have not read about it (the alleged plot by the Federal Government to freeze the account of opposition leaders), if it is true, it portends a great danger to our democracy. When government acts in such a manner, what is it trying to tell the international community?<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It simply means that that government is reluctant to deepen democracy or that Nigeria is not a serious nation after going through thick and thin to return to democracy. I only hope it is not true. But if it is true, it will be highly unfortunate.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On his part, the Director of Research and Documentation, Citizens Arise Movement of Nigeria, Mr. Ebenezer Oyetakin, said it was evident that the government was doing everything to frustrate and intimidate the opposition.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to him, the campaign of hate, personal attacks, invasions of campaign grounds, postponement of elections using military chiefs and attempt to sack Prof. Jega are all the glaring misbehaviour of the government.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Also, a group, the Muslim Rights Concern, warned the PDP against freezing the bank accounts of the financiers of the APC.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In a statement on Sunday by its Director, MURIC said freezing the bank accounts and grounding their private jets would expose the PDP as intolerant.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The group said, “We cannot envision a free and fair election in an atmosphere of suppression. There can be no true democracy if the opposition cannot enjoy a level playing field, nay, if the opposition is being strangulated.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“If the ruling party cannot sow seeds of nobility in its political path, it should not break the pot of integrity from where others can water a new, purer and safer political culture.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />MURIC urged the Federal Government to consider the serious implications of freezing the accounts of members of the opposition for no justifiable reason.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“This will amount to abuse of power. It is illegal, unconstitutional and therefore unacceptable. It is an invitation to anarchy.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to the group, democracy is a farce when government pursues a policy of exclusiveness.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It added, “No section of the community must be alienated in a democracy. Equal participation, liberty, justice and fair play are the key words in any democracy worth its salt.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Any attempt to turn governance into the right of only one political party will be a declaration of hostilities on the citizens of Nigeria. We therefore warn against freezing the accounts of known financiers of the opposition or tampering with the flights arranged by them.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Outrage over alleged plot to freeze APC leaders’ accounts

There was outrage on Sunday over an alleged plot by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party to freeze the bank acco...

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