tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391636020853936752024-03-12T19:23:28.083-07:00MUSTAPHA KABIRU'S BLOGFOR THE LATEST UPDATE; EDUCATIONALLY, POLITICALLY & FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-29723712069704532102016-10-07T23:35:00.002-07:002016-10-07T23:35:54.596-07:00I was once suicidal, says Kano student who stepped up, studied Law<h2 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/i-was-once-suicidal-says-kano-student-who-stepped-up-studied-law/165774.html" target="_blank">I was once suicidal, says Kano student who stepped up, studied Law</a></h2>
<div>
<img alt="I was once suicidal, says Kano student who stepped up, studied Law" src="http://images.dailytrust.com.ng/cms/gall_content/2016/10/2016_10$large_PAGE_11_PIC_3.jpg" style="font-family: roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
eleven years, Hauwa Yusuf has been battling with an ailment which makes her
unable to walk, or stand for more than five minutes. It was detected when she
was 14, she said. “I was in SS1 at the former Al-Ansar Girls College now Zara
Nanono Memorial College when my parents observed that I was having problems
with my legs.”<br />
Hauwa was first taken to Dala National Orthopedic Hospital, but her parents
were told that the disease has nothing to do with bones and therefore they were
referred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. She told Daily Trust Saturday that
she underwent series of tests before the disease was finally detected. Hauwa is
suffering from Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD). It is a progressive
sickness because it is increasing, she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #4f81bd; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="msoIns"><ins>Despite her condition, Hauwa managed
to complete her secondary school education and even preceded to Bayero
University Kano (BUK) where she graduated last year with LLB certificate.
“Although the sickness started when I was in secondary school, it didn’t
discourage me from pursuing my education. Despite my condition, I managed to
complete secondary school and went on to BUK, where I read law, thanks to
encouragement of my family, friends and classmates,” she said. </ins></span></span><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="msoIns"><ins><br /></ins></span></span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Hauwa narrated that it was a very difficult
experience, but as fate would have it today she is a graduate. “I faced serious
difficulty and pain attending lectures because I was unable to lift up my legs,
even to climb stairs,” she said. “But because lecturers and classmates were
always willing to help me, I managed to complete my studies last year.”</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Hauwa said she could not stop thanking her
family. “No-one’s ever abandoned me, even for a moment because of my
condition,” she said, smiling and full of life. She added that before her
diagnosis, she suffered from depression. “At a point, I resolved to commit
suicide. At that time, I could not sleep because of my condition. But with the
help of my parents, I’ve made it.”</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Hauwa also told Daily Trust about a kind
benefactor: “When the Chairman of Ibrahim Magnet Foundation indicated interest
to help me, I could not sleep that day. And God in his infinite mercy, after
the MRI and CT scans, showed many things were related my sickness, the
foundation declared that they would shoulder my treatment. I don’t know how to
thank Alhaji Ibrahim Magnet for what he did. All I can say is that may God the
Almighty reward him.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Asked about her future plans, Hauwa told Daily
Trust that she wants to be a politician, precisely a Member of House of Reps,
at the National Assembly.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Her mother, Hajiya Hadiza Yusuf, said the family
has gone through difficulties. “We took her to so many hospitals, but all in
vain. We later switched over to herbal medicine, but nothing changed. Till the
Magnet Foundation came to the rescue, we had lost hope.”</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Hauwa’s mother added that the MRI and CT scan
results have raised the family’s hopes. “And the chairman of the foundation has
told us that they will help even if she is going to be flown abroad for
treatment. He said no matter what it will cost him, he will help her regain her
legs.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="msoIns"><ins>Daily post.</ins></span></span></div>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-69074328513514860052016-10-07T23:04:00.001-07:002016-10-07T23:18:49.816-07:00Tinubu may be suspended for anti-party.<h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 44px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 54px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="http://punchng.com/ondo-gov-poll-apc-investigate-tinubus-anti-party-moves/" target="_blank">Ondo gov poll: Tinubu may be suspended for anti-party</a>.</h2>
<div>
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSH0fdLFmz3nMGuiPVIowpb4yyelPMs8eGBeUR4NjGRUkU-rU6QOLDw4hM" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSH0fdLFmz3nMGuiPVIowpb4yyelPMs8eGBeUR4NjGRUkU-rU6QOLDw4hM" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">It
appears the All Progressives Congress may have initiated moves to investigate
allegations of anti-party activities against the National Leader of the party,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and some of the party members believed to be loyal to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">This is
happening as the party appears to be in a dilemma over how to deal with the
party leader over suspicion that he is backing the Alliance for Democracy in
the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Tinubu
is believed to be supporting Chief Olusola Oke, one of the governorship
aspirants in the party’s primary in Ondo State who had recently defected to the
Alliance for Democracy, along with his supporters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
leadership of the APC, according to impeccable sources who spoke to Saturday
PUNCH, considered the purported support for an opposition party by a leader of
the APC ahead of the coming Ondo governorship election as constituting
anti-party infractions that should not be overlooked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Tinubu’s
godson, Dr. Olusegun Abraham, was edged out in the primary won by Chief Rotimi
Akeredolu (SAN), who is believed to have enjoyed the backing of the party’s
national leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
delegates’ list for the Ondo APC primary was said to have been doctored to
favour Akeredolu and this allegedly infuriated Tinubu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">As
such, Tinubu asked the APC’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to
resign over his alleged role in the primary in which his (Tinubu’s) candidate
had come second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">In the
statement in which the party’s national leader made the allegations, Tinubu
said Odigie-Oyegun had “dealt a heavy blow to the very party he professes to
lead” by derailing from the path of progressives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
post-primary election crisis of the Ondo APC took a different dimension when
Oke defected to AD in a move believed to have been instructed by Tinubu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Party
sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Saturday PUNCH that they had
proofs that Tinubu was backing the AD governorship candidate. They added that
the party leader had released funds for Oke’s campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
Ondo State chapter of the APC confirmed that some members of the party were
under investigation over alleged anti-party activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Abayomi Adesanya, said specifically that
some members loyal to Tinubu had been found to be involved in some activities
against the party in the recent time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Abayomi,
who said expulsion from the party was the penalty for any anti-party activity,
said the national body of the party would investigate and later come out with
an action against any national leader involved in such activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">He
said, “We have yet to confirm if our National Leader is involved in anti-party
activities but we will investigate; we are very sure that some of his boys here
are involved in anti-party activities but when it is time, appropriate action
would be meted to them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">“Anti-party
action is a serious offence in any political party and in our own party, total
expulsion is the penalty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">But a
chieftain of the APC loyal to Tinubu, Mr. Bola Ilori, said APC members
who supported Rotimi Akeredolu’s emergence as the party’s candidate were those
involved in anti-party activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Ilori,
who is a loyalist to Dr. Segun Abraham, alleged that the National Chairman of
the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, was also involved in anti-party activities
by allegedly using veto power to over-rule the recommendation of the Electoral
Appeal Committee and submitted Akeredolu’s name to the Independent National
Electoral Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">He
said, “ Whoever is promoting or supporting Akeredolu to be the candidate of the
APC is involving in anti-party (activities) because the NWC voted five to six
not to submit the name of Akeredolu, and the National Chairman went ahead and
submitted his (Akeredolu) name. So, what they have done is anti-party (action)
itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">“What
they have done is anti-party (action) that has never happened in the history of
the party.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Saturday
PUNCH</span></em><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"> also learnt that the APC national leadership is aware of
Tinubu’s alleged anti-party moves in Ondo State but is very reluctant to
sanction him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">This,
according to party sources, has to do with Tinubu’s influence in the party and
his tight grip on the party structure in the South-West.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Meanwhile,
APC members, who spoke to <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Saturday PUNCH</em>, have
explained that the ruling party’s constitution prescribes sanctions against
anyone found to be engaged in anti-party misdemeanor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
Publicity Secretary of the Kwara State chapter of the APC, Mr. Sulaiman Buhari,
said “A panel will be set up to investigate the matter. After the
investigation, it is the panel that will recommend the punishment but it is stipulated
in the Constitution. The person can be suspended or expelled from the party,
given the (nature of the) offence. The situation also applies to chieftains of
the party.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
Cross River State Chairman of the APC, Mr. John Ochala, simply said, “Suspension,”
when asked the specific sanction the party had reserved for those engaged in
anti-party activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">In
Rivers State, the Publicity Sectary of the APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, said any
political party that is worth its salt must sanction any action by any member
that is detrimental to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The Edo
State chairman of the APC, Anselm Ojezua, said, “It (anti-party activity) can
range from suspension to expulsion, depending on the circumstances of the case.
There are no party chieftains; in the APC, everybody is a member.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Meanwhile,
Oke has said that he defected from the APC to the AD because he failed to get
justice after he challenged the result of the primary of the party held on
September 3. 2016 and the national leadership refused to act on the
recommendation of the appeal committee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party, who spoke
through his media aide, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, said he made a wide consultation
with people across the 18 local government areas of the state before taking the
decision to leave the APC, stressing that it was on the advice of the people
that he took the decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">He also
declared that since he had the support of the people, many members of the APC,
PDP and many other political parties in the state would soon join him in the
AD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">On
whether he had the support of Tinubu, Oke said he had sold his
credentials to Tinubu and national leaders of other political parties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">“Because
of the status and personality of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, we are duty
bound as politicians to sell the dossier and credentials of capacity and
experience to him and all the leaders of political parties and hope that
they would give support to progressive ideas that can develop the people and
lead to the growth of our state when they see these ideas,” Oke added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Repeated
calls to the mobile telephone of the party’s National Chairman, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun were neither picked nor returned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">A
response to a text message sent to him was still being awaited as of the time
of filing this report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Similar
efforts made to get a reaction from Tinubu were equally unsuccessful. Calls to
the mobile telephone number of his spokesman, Mr. Tunde Rahman, were neither
picked nor returned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"> A
response to a text message sent to him was still being awaited as of the time of
filing this report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Copyright
PUNCH. </span></i></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="teads-inread sm-screen" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; height: 402px; margin: 0px 20px 15px 26px; max-width: 630px; overflow: hidden; transition: height 0s;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-21354710524613687602016-10-07T22:46:00.005-07:002016-10-07T22:46:55.255-07:00Ondo crisis: Nobody’s money can buy my conscience, Oyegun tells Tinubu<h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 44px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 54px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<i><a href="http://punchng.com/ondo-crisis-nobodys-money-can-buy-conscience-oyegun-tells-tinubu/" target="_blank">Ondo crisis: Nobody’s money can buy my conscience, Oyegun tells Tinubu</a> </i></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="td-module-meta-info" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 16px; min-height: 17px;">
</div>
<div class="td-module-meta-info" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 16px; min-height: 17px;">
<img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/punchng/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/23110525/National-Chairman-All-Progressives-Congress-Chief-John-Odigie-Oyegun.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Friday responded to allegations levelled against him by the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Odigie-Oyegun, who, in a statement issued in Abuja, said all members of the party must respect its constitution, stated that nobody had the money to buy his conscience.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
The media office of Tinubu, had in a statement issued few weeks ago, accused Odigie-Oyegun of derailing from the party’s ethos and faulted his role in the APC governorship primary in Ondo State, which was won by Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).</div>
<div class="td-g-rec td-g-rec-id-content_inlineright" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; float: right; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7167863529667065" data-ad-slot="4561673892" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 250px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 21px; margin-top: 6px; text-decoration: none; width: 300px;"><ins id="aswift_2_expand" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-table; height: 250px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; visibility: visible; width: 300px;"><ins id="aswift_2_anchor" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; visibility: visible; width: 300px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="250" hspace="0" id="aswift_2" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_2" scrolling="no" style="box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" vspace="0" width="300"></iframe></ins></ins></ins></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
The statement had said, “(Odigie-) Oyegun has dealt a heavy blow to the very party he professes to lead. It is an awful parent who suffocates his own child for the sake of a few naira.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
But the national chairman in his first comprehensive response to Tinubu’s allegations, described the allegations as reckless and baseless, adding that it was an insult on his person and hard-earned reputation.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
He stated, “Nobody has the kind of money that can buy my conscience or make me do injury to an innocent man. In all the primaries conducted under my watch as national chairman, I have strived to ensure a free, fair, transparent and credible process. The 2016 Ondo State APC governorship primary was not an exception. There must be internal democracy in the party and our constitution must be respected by all.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Odigie-Oyegun also responded to an allegation that he overruled the decision of APC’s National Working Committee, which reportedly had majority of its members present voting in favour of cancellation of the result of the primary.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
He said that the minutes of the NWC meetings, which were held from September 19 to September 22, showed that the committee did not vote in favour of cancellation of the primary as claimed by Tinubu.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Odigie-Oyegun said the allegation made by Tinubu’s media office “was a figment of someone’s wild imagination.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
He said, “On Thursday, September 22, 2016, being the final day for submission of candidate by political parties, the NWC discussed the possibility of voting having finished deliberation on the 2016 Ondo State APC Governorship Primary Appeal Committee Report because members in support of cancelling the primary results were still strident in their position.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
“A member of the NWC, however, drew the attention of the meeting to its previous decision in which the report of the primary election committee was adopted while the appeal committee’s was set aside. The implication of this decision, he reasoned, was that a decision to submit the name of the winner of the primary election was already taken unless the NWC would now wish to reconsider its earlier decision.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Odigie-Oyegun said he agreed with the submission of the member and ruled that the previous decision of the NWC be upheld.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
He also faulted an allegation that the names of “over 150 valid delegates were excised to make room for an equal number of impostors.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
He stated that the Ondo State delegates’ list was compiled in strict compliance with the party’s constitution. Odigie-Oyegun said that only qualified delegates were included on the list.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
He further said that none of the aspirants or the appeal committee had submitted to the NWC, names of delegates who were not qualified to be on the list, but were included.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
The national chairman also stated that the NWC had not received names of presumed qualified delegates, who were not included on the list used for the primary.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Odigie-Oyegun recalled that Tinubu’s media office alleged that he used a “prayer interlude”, which he initiated, to “secretly excuse” himself from the NWC meeting.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
According to the allegation, it was during the interlude that he submitted Akeredolu’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Odigie-Oyegun said, “The allegation is high fiction and an insult to the intelligence and sensibility of the respected NWC members present at the meeting. We do not and have never engaged in prayer interludes/sessions outside the usual opening and closing prayers. The prayer being referred to must be the closing prayer for the meeting.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
“The party’s NWC’s decision to reject the 2016 Ondo State APC Governorship Primary Appeal Committee Report was taken on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 in an executive session after careful and exhaustive deliberations. The minutes and rejection were confirmed by the NWC on Thursday, September 22, 2016.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
“The NWC, in its four-point resolution, rejected the appeal committee’s recommendation on the grounds that the report was fundamentally and fatally flawed. The NWC observed that the appeal committee contradicted itself when it admitted in its report, ‘In making the above recommendations, one is not unmindful of the fact that there may have been substantial compliance in the conduct of the exercise,’ but still proceeded to recommend the nullification of the primary election.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
According to him, the NWC, in its four-point resolution, also faulted the failure of the appeal committee to invite the national secretariat as the custodian, to authenticate or otherwise, the source of the disputed delegates’ list.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
He also noted that the appeal committee did not invite the Chairman or members of the Ondo State Governorship Primary Committee to clarify issues relating to the allegation of manipulation of the accreditation process.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Odigie-Oyegun said that the appeal committee relied totally on unsubstantiated evidence in the petitions it received to recommend the nullification of the primary.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
“This is against the principle of natural justice and fair hearing,” he added.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
He further said, “The NWC observed a serious contradiction in the appeal committee’s report in respect of the number of the accredited delegates. Whereas the primary election committee’s report indicated that 2,774 delegates were accredited, the appeal committee’s report erroneously recorded it as those who voted in the election, thereby acting under the false impression that there was over-voting in the exercise. The actual total number of votes cast was 2,754, as clearly recorded in the primary election committee’s report.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
“The issue of fresh primary did not arise as the NWC had already rejected the appeal committee’s report in view of the stated flaws and upheld the election. In any case, any fresh primary was already time barred. By the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, all governorship primaries and issues related ended on September 19, 2016.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
He said that at the meeting, voting on a fresh primary was unnecessary and never took place in view of the NWC’s rejection of the appeal committee’s report.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Odigie-Oyegun stated, “The foregoing are facts backed by the minutes approved by all NWC members that attended the meetings held in respect of 2016 Ondo State APC Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee Report.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
The national chairman added that the NWC was confident that the Chairman of the Ondo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru, conducted a credible and exemplary exercise.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
He said that he was setting the records straight “in view of the misinformation and false reports that have been fed to the media and that have pervaded the public space.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
The national chairman appealed to leaders and members of the party at all levels to explore internal dispute resolution mechanism in addressing their perceived grievances “instead of resorting to the media to vent their spleen.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
“There are enormous challenges in delivering the party’s 2015 election promises to Nigerians. On the immediate horizon is the task of winning the governorship election in Ondo State. We cannot afford to be distracted by the present contentions.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Odigie-Oyegun said that despite the media attention that had been generated by the disagreements in the aftermath of the Ondo State governorship primary, the party had already commenced wide consultations with stakeholders, with a view to resolving the political differences.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
“The APC national leadership remains united and solidly committed to the task of winning the Ondo State governorship election to save the people of the state from the misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he stated.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Attempts to get the spokesman for Tinubu, Mr. Tunde Rahman, did not succeed as he did not pick calls to his mobile telephone nor respond to a text message sent to the phone.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Copyright PUNCH. </strong></em></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-78684918567055508332016-03-06T12:53:00.003-08:002016-03-06T12:53:58.682-08:00Nigeria joins Islamic coalition against terror<h1 class="post-tile entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<br /></h1>
<h2 style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
Nigeria joins Islamic coalition against terror</h2>
<h1 class="post-tile entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<div class="mom-post-meta single-post-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(234, 234, 234); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 7px;">
</div>
</h1>
<div class="mom-post-meta single-post-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(234, 234, 234); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 7px;">
<img alt="Nigeria joins Islamic coalition against terror" src="http://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/buhari-back-1.jpg" /></div>
<div class="mom-post-meta single-post-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(234, 234, 234); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 7px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="mom-post-meta single-post-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(234, 234, 234); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 7px;">
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that Nigeria has joined the Islamic Coalition against terrorism being championed by Saudi Arabia.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Buhari made the disclosure during an interview with Aljareeza, which was broadcast at the weekend.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
When asked whether Nigeria was part of the coalition, Buhari said: “We are part of it because we’ve got terrorists in Nigeria that everybody knows which claim that they are Islamic.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
“So, if there’s an Islamic coalition to fight terrorism, Nigeria will be part of it because we are casualties of Islamic terrorism,” he added.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
On whether Nigeria became a member of the coalition during his meeting with King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia recently, Buhari said “yes.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
</div>
<div class="" rcontent="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="mom-e3lanat-wrap " style="margin-bottom: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<div class="mom-e3lanat " style="margin-bottom: -14px; text-align: center;">
<div class="mom-e3lanat-inner">
<div class="mom-e3lan" data-id="446330" style="margin: auto auto 14px; max-width: 100%;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="entry-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
He said that he could not disclose the details of how such coalition would work for Nigeria when asked during the interview.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
But he said: “Well, that we mentioned under Lake Chad Basin Commission, our regional grouping compromising Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin and we dedicated a certain number of troops to be deployed in our own sub-region and I don’t think we have to tell the press the details of that.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
On whether joining the Islamic coalition will serve Nigerian security interest, he said: “Certainly. I’ve just told you it is the Boko Haram itself that declared loyalty to ISIS.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
“ISIS is basically based in Islamic countries. Now, if there’s a coalition to fight Islamic terrorism, why can’t Nigeria be part of it, while those that are fighting in Nigeria as Boko Haram claim to be Muslims. But the way they are doing it is anti-Islamic, he said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
When his interviewer pointed out that since Nigeria was roughly evenly divided among Christians and Muslims and that some Christians were complaining that he was giving Islamic identity to Nigeria, Buhari wondered why such Christians had not gone to fight Boko Haram in the North or militants sabotaging installations in the South.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
“Why can’t those Christians that complained go and fight terrorism in Nigeria or fight the militancy in the South. It’s Nigeria that matters, not the opinion of some religious bigots,” he stated.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
On whether he was trying to change the religious identity of the country, Buhari noted: “How can I change the religious identity of Nigeria?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
“No religion advocates hurting the innocent and just because the Muslims are the ones that claim to be Boko Haram and they are killing innocent people whether in the church, in the bus or in the market place, then I will just sit and look at them because I too am a Muslim? Islam is against injustice in any form.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
Buhari’s admission of Nigeria’s membership of the Islamic coalition came barely two weeks after an official Presidency statement seemed to suggest that Buhari had turned down the invitation to be part of the coalition.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
A statement issued by the Senior Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu, during the president’s trip to Saudi Arabia had said that Buhari had pledged Nigeria’s support for the coalition even if it would not be part of it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
The statement had said that two leaders who engaged in extensive discussions on regional and global issues also agreed that terrorism posed a common threat to their states and would require close cooperation to prevail over the threats.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
It observed that President Buhari who was making his first pronouncement on the invitation to join the coalition of Islamic states against terror spearheaded by the Saudis congratulated the Kingdom on its formation.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
The statement quoted Buhari thus: “Even if we are not a part of it, we support you. I must thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the recent creation of a coalition to address the menace of international terrorism. Nigeria will support your efforts in keeping peace and stopping the spread of terror in your region. This is in consonance with our own commitment and on-going efforts in seeking to stamp out Boko Haram terrorists from the West African sub-region and Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
source:- http://thenationonlineng.net/493078-2/ </div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="adcode" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-5089981496810613" data-ad-slot="6482008575" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; display: inline-block; height: 90px; max-width: 640px; width: 640px;"><ins id="aswift_6_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 90px; margin: 0px; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 640px;"></ins></ins></div>
</div>
<div class="mom-post-meta single-post-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(234, 234, 234); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 7px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="mom-post-meta single-post-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(234, 234, 234); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 7px;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-26767605369413380032016-03-06T12:32:00.000-08:002016-03-06T12:32:48.002-08:00Minister of State for Labour dies in car crash<h2 style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<a href="http://thenationonlineng.net/minister-of-state-for-labour-ocholi-dies-in-car-crash/" target="_blank">Minister of State for Labour dies in car crash</a></h2>
<div class="mom-post-meta single-post-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(234, 234, 234); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 7px;">
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Hon James Ocholi (SAN) reportedly died on Sunday.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
The news of his death broke on the social media handle of Hon. Hadi Sirika.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
</div>
<div class="" rcontent="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="mom-e3lanat-wrap " style="margin-bottom: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<div class="mom-e3lanat " style="margin-bottom: -14px; text-align: center;">
<div class="mom-e3lanat-inner">
<div class="mom-e3lan" data-id="446330" style="margin: auto auto 14px; max-width: 100%;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="entry-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
Sources say the accident which involved his vehicle, a Prado jeep and another Lexus jeep left his wife and driver in critical conditions.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;">
Ocholi was from Dekina Local Government area of Kogi state.</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-18662578299648055942015-02-12T09:59:00.002-08:002015-02-12T09:59:16.044-08:00<h2 class="entry-title" style="background: none 0px 0px repeat scroll rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 32px; font-weight: normal; margin: 7px 0px; padding: 2px 0px 4px 9px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Leaked Ekiti Tape: I dare Obanikoro to go to court — Falana</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<img alt="Femi Falana" src="http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/banners/600x300xFEMI_FALANA_471560592.jpg.pagespeed.ic.tmJskpfqqz.webp" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Popular lawyer, Femi Falana, has attributed the shift in the dates of the general elections to the leaked tape alleging the rigging of the Ekiti State gubernatorial election last year.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Speaking at the Black History Month and Dr. Beko Ransom Kuti Memorial Program in Lagos, Wednesday, Mr. Falana said some of those implicated in the plot, who were threatening legal action, should think otherwise.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
An audio recording revealing how some Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, chieftains connived with security agencies to rig the Ekiti State election was released by an army officer last week.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
At the meeting, as evidenced by the recording, prominent officials of the PDP were heard discussing strategies for rigging the 2014 Ekiti governorship election, a poll in which the party eventually won by a landslide.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
But some of the actors, including Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Defence Minister, and Ayo Fayose, who defeated the incumbent governor, denied being a party to the plot to rig the election and questioned the authenticity of the recording.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mr. Obanikoro had also threatened a court action against news organizations who had published the conversations in the audio tape.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Despite their denials, the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, who also attended the meeting, confirmed Sunday that the tape was authentic. He however disagreed with the context of the discussion, saying the meeting was never about plans to rig the Ekiti State election.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Speaking Wednesday, Mr. Falana said that none of the participants in the recording had successfully challenged the army officer’s account of the incident.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“I understand that Mr. Obanikoro (whom he described as a ‘thug’) says he will go to court. I can assure you here, I dare him to go to court. He can’t. It’s not possible,” said Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“One of the reasons they postponed the election last week is that disturbing revelation by that Captain. That is what they wanted to do for the entire country. That revelation has sent them back to the drawing table. They now have to re-strategize.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mr. Falana criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for “embarrassing” the country with his repeated trips to the Holy Land, instead of channelling such funds to job creation.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Since he became the President in 2011, Mr. Jonathan has travelled for pilgrimage twice.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“I was reading the papers yesterday, the president said in violation of the peace accord, that governors in the north have not been sending Christians to Jerusalem. In other words, they have been sponsoring Muslims to Mecca,” said Mr. Falana.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Please tell the president that there is no provision in our law for sponsoring anybody to Jerusalem or Mecca.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Section 10 of the Constitution provides that the Nigerian State shall not proclaim any religion as an official religion. Therefore, appropriating billions of Naira every year, wasting money to send people to Jerusalem or Mecca is illegal.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“If you must know, less than seven per cent of Israelis are Christians, so they make jest of us. When you descend on them, that you are there to worship Jesus Christ, they’ll be like ‘are these people Ok?'”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mr. Falana also insisted that the general election must hold and whoever emerges winner should be allowed to govern the country.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“And I’m challenging Edwin Clark and others, all those old men with expired ideas. Femi Okurounmu and others,” he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“We never saw them when we went to the streets of Lagos and Abuja to proclaim Goodluck as acting President. You were in the streets of Lagos, where were these characters? They were nowhere to be found.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“In fact, quote me. Baba Clark called me in one of our protests, ‘Femi, my son. Please keep it up. We from the Niger Delta cannot join this struggle now.’ I said why sir? He said ‘because he’s our son.’ I said what has your son got to do with the quest for justice?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Professor Wole Soyinka, at the age of 71 (he was actually 76 then) led us in the protest. Please tell them this country belongs to all of us.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
On the issue of deployment of soldiers during election periods, Mr. Falana noted that nowhere in the Nigerian Constitution, Electoral Act, or the Armed Forces Act was a provision made for soldiers in election.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“So when they told Jega that they are going to be busy in the north east and they will not be able to secure the election. Please there is no provision for those Service Chiefs to police our election,” said Mr. Falana.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Under Section 76, Section 116, Section 132, and 117, it is the exclusive responsibility of the INEC to fix dates for election. Only INEC. Not the president, not the NSA, not the security chiefs.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Knowing that, they then came in fraudulently by saying that they cannot guarantee your security.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“They have not been able to crush Boko Haram in six years, what magic are you going to perform in six weeks? Please we reject their fraudulent claim.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mr. Falana maintained that it is the duty of the police to maintain law and order in peace time.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Soldiers have no business in town in peace time. Their duty is to defend the territorial integrity of our country, not to police election,” he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“That is the business of the Police. As a matter of fact, even Boys Scouts can police elections in Nigeria. You know why? On the day of election, there is restriction of movement. It is illegal for you to leave your ward for another ward. Only journalists, observers, and election workers can move round.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
“So if everybody is restricted, why do you need soldiers to come and help you? To do what? But I will tell you why they need soldiers. You know why they need soldiers? To rig the election. To manipulate the process.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>source premium-time</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-59517866548475496832015-02-12T09:55:00.000-08:002015-02-12T09:55:03.368-08:00<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
Senator claims GEJ ‘has been begging’ National Assembly for tenure elongation</h2>
<div>
<img alt="goodluck_jonathan" src="http://ynaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/goodluck_jonathan1.jpg" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A Senator of the federal republic, has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan, has been urging the National Assembly for elongation of his tenure, but he has so far met a brick wall.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
He uttered the comment at a social discourse organised by the ARG in Ibadan, in honour of Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti, state.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Senator Babafemi Ojudu, speaking during the event on Wednesday, February 11, expressed apprehension that elections may not hold, in spite of the postponement.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
He said: “President Jonathan has been begging us to allow him do two more years but the Yoruba must cry out and also be strategic in their call for change.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“We are resuming in the next one week and the President might likely bring the proposal for the election to be postponed for the next six months or one year. The constitution supports that once the nation is in war situation the proposal might be passed by just a simple majority,” Ojudu added.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<em style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by Kolapo Olapoju</em></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-60017041668183949002015-02-12T09:40:00.001-08:002015-02-12T09:40:10.973-08:00<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Audio clip: Soldiers ready to testify in court – Fayemi</span></h2>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Kayode-Fayemi. Black" src="http://thenationonlineng.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Kayode-Fayemi.-Black.jpg" /></span></div>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has revealed that some military officers are ready to give evidence in court over the audio clip that caught senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and military chiefs plotting how to rig the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Speaking on a live programme, “APC Change Hour,” on an Akure, Ondo State-based ADABA 88.9 FM monitored in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, Fayemi said the postponement of the 2015 general elections was not about security but about a high-wired plot to rig the polls.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The audio clip was aired on the radio station with the alleged voices of Governor Ayo Fayose, former Minister of State (Defence), Musiliu Obanikoro, Police Affairs Minister, Jelili Adesiyan, Osun State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore and Gen. Aliyu Momoh haggling about rigging plans ahead of the poll.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
He said the postponement was about a “desperate government and a desperate President that is afraid of a loss and using a military that became a willing tool.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The former governor said the PDP-led administration was trying to re-enact the rigging perpetrated in Ekiti with the alleged misuse of the military at the forthcoming general election.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Fayemi stressed that the upper echelon of the military was guilty of treason against the state with its role in the dramatic postponement of the polls, saying the first duty of the government through the armed forces is security of lives and property.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
He deplored a situation in which the military institution has been desecrated with the army generals being harassed and intimidated by politicians desperate to rig elections for their party.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
THE NATION</div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-89800139650866744422015-02-05T10:39:00.001-08:002015-02-05T10:39:13.629-08:00<h2 style="background: url(http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/themes/punch/images/dots-horizontal.gif) 0% 100% repeat-x scroll rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-color: rgb(255, 1, 1); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.17em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 9px 4px;">
Council of State rejects election postponement</h2>
<div>
<img alt="President Goodluck Jonathan" src="http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/President-Goodluck-Jonathan-360x225.jpg" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">The Council of State on Thursday rose from a seven-hour meeting, advising the Independent National Electoral Commission to go ahead and perform its constitutional responsibility of conducting the 2015 elections.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State told State House correspondents that INEC told the council that it was ready for the conduct of the election.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">He said security chiefs also expressed their readiness but raised issues about some local governments currently under the control of the Boko Haram sect.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">The implication, he said, is that elections will not hold in the affected areas.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">But Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State claimed that the council advised INEC to consider all the inputs made during the meeting with a view to taking a decision it will announce to Nigerians later.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">Details later.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #3a579a; font-size: 13px; line-height: 0px;">punch </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-2753543697450810822015-02-02T08:51:00.001-08:002015-02-02T08:51:06.627-08:00<h2 style="border: 0px none; font-family: Oswald, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name" style="background-color: red; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Disqualification: Court orders service of documents on Buhari, INEC</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Buhari" src="http://thenationonlineng.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/buhari.jpg" /></span></div>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the service of court documents on the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, in relation to a suit seeking to among others, restrain him from participating in the February 14 election.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Justice Adeniyi Ademola ordered a substituted service of the court documents on Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission after hearing the plaintiff’s application to that effect.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/14/2015, filed by Max Ozoaka, the plaintiff raised eight questions for the court’s determination and prayed for among others, an order disqualifying Buhari from contesting or participating in the election.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The suit has Buhari and the INEC as defendants.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
It is the plaintiff’s contention that INEC FORM CF 001 which the APC candidate submitted to the electoral body was incomplete because he allegedly failed to accompany the form with all relevant academic credentials.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
He also faulted some information contained in other documents he possessed including Buhari’s voter’s card.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The plaintiff wants the court to restrain INEC from permitting Buhari to participate in the presidential election on February 14 or any other date the 2nd defendant (INEC) may fix.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
<b>the nation</b></div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-81858986765480971972015-01-21T07:36:00.000-08:002015-01-21T07:36:22.038-08:00<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase;">
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1509690_910425898997946_9168243490129634730_n.jpg?oh=867c9df99badb05555a0a450bd1ba361&oe=55637897&__gda__=1432349662_a2c859dd5362a4b0a469164f3aace184" /></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-14505166548147426832015-01-21T07:27:00.000-08:002015-01-21T07:27:14.319-08:00<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">PDP lawyers to party: you can’t stop Buhari in court</span></h2>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<img alt="PDP-APC-@Ng2015Elections" src="http://thenationonlineng.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/PDP-APC-@Ng2015Elections.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
LEGAL experts have advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to launch a legal battle over Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s certificates.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Gen. Buhari is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 14 election.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The PDP’s plan, <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The Nation</em> learnt, is to go to court in a bid to stop Gen. Buhari on the ground that his certificates are not with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The army said yesterday that Gen. Buhari obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961. But, said the army, the original copies of his certificates could not be found in his file.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
It was also learnt that apart from the court, INEC can also determine Gen. Buhari’s fate.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
If in the opinion of INEC Gen. Buhari can contest, no one can stop the APC candidate, lawyers said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The PDP leadership and some Presidency officials sought legal advice on how to get Gen. Buhari disqualified, a source told <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The Nation</em>, pleading not to be named because of what he described as the “sensitivity” of the matter.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
But they were shocked to learn that it was all a wild goose chase.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The legal advice made available to the party indicated that Gen. Buhari cannot be stopped because Section 318 of the 1999 says any candidate can contest for elective office with a minimum of school certificate or its equivalent.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The section also does not say a candidate must pass or fail the school certificate examination or its equivalent, which could be a primary school certificate or the ability to read or write in English.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Also, if a candidate has served in the public sector for up to 10 years, this could be the equivalent of a school certificate.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
A highly-placed source said: “The legal advice sought by PDP has confirmed that even if the party goes to court, it cannot stop Buhari. The party is in a state of confusion because it has to face the electoral battle with APC.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The 1999 Constitution is explicit in its interpretation of Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution by Section 318.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Section 131 states: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of forty (40) years; (c )he is a member of a political party; and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“In Section 318, School certificate or equivalent means (a) a Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, or Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary School Certificate level; or</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“(c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and (i) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) for a minimum of 10 years; and</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“(ii) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totalling up to a minimum of one year, and</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“(iii) the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English Language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“(d) Any other qualification acceptable by INEC.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Another source said the PDP has realized its folly because it did not seek legal opinion before raising false alarms that Gen. Buhari is unqualified to contest.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The source added: “The PDP leaders have realised that all their alarms over Gen. Buhari’s certificate amounted to nothing.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“Out of shame, they have decided to keep their findings under wraps.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Another reliable source in PDP said: “We have been briefed that there is little we can do to stop Gen. Buhari.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
In Abuja, the Army on former Head of State Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s academic records, saying the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate obtained the West African School certificate (WASC) in 1961.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The Army however added that the original copy, Certified True Copy, or statement of Buhari’s WASC result could not be found in his file.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Olajide Laleye who who addressed a press conference at the Army Headquarters said:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“Records available indicate that Major General Muhammadu Buhari applied to join the military as a Form Six student of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina on October 18, 1961.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“His application was duly endorsed by the principal of the school, who also wrote a report on him and recommended him to be suitable for military commission. It is a practice in the Nigerian Army that before candidates are shortlisted for commissioning into the officers’ cadre of the Service, the Selection Board verifies the original copies of credentials that are presented.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“However, there is no available record to show that this process was followed in the 1960s. Nevertheless, the entry made on the NA Form 199A at the point of documentation after commission as an officer indicated that the former Head of State obtained the West African School Certificate in 1961 with credits in relevant subjects.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
He listed the subjects to include: English Language, Geography, History, Health Science, Hausa and English Literature.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“Neither the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major General Buhari’s WASC result is in his personal file.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“I hope this explanation will put to rest the raging controversy surrounding the secondary school credentials of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as it affects the Nigerian Army”.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The Army spokesman said the military holds Gen. Buhari in high esteem and would not be party to any controversy surrounding his eligibility for any political office.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“Suffice to state that Major General Buhari rose steadily to the enviable rank of Major General before becoming the Head of State of our dear country in December 1983.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“The media hype on retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s credentials as well as the numerous requests made by individuals and corporate bodies to the Nigerian Army on this issue have necessitated that we provide the facts as contained in the retired senior officer’s service record,” Gen. Laleye stated.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-82057670419643379542015-01-21T07:13:00.001-08:002015-01-21T07:13:12.869-08:00<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Controversy on my certificate, a PDP mischief – Buhari</span></h2>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Gen. Buhari addressing journalists in Kano, Wednesday. Photo: Kolade Adeyemi" src="http://thenationonlineng.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/BUHARI-777-620x330.jpg" /></span></div>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammad Buhari, Wednesday in Kano made clarifications on his West Africa School Certificate, describing the controversy generated by the matter as sheer mischief orchestrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Buhari, who spoke to reporters at Kano State Government House, explained that he initially presumed that the certificate was with the Nigeria Army, until the military high Command proved otherwise.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
He, however, urged the PDP and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s campaign team to give priority to issues like insecurity, official corruption, poverty and unemployment, instead of mischief and name-calling.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The former head of state also claimed that he sat for WASCE in 1961 with examination number 8200002, adding that he has formerly requested for the certificate from the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, now Government College Katsina, which he attended.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
He promised to present his certificate to the general public in due cause.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Buhari said, “I only will read the statement and I will encourage you and advise you to do what you know best. I consented to address you this morning because of the general concern of my many supporters and well-meaning Nigerians that the issue be addressed. Otherwise, I would have dismissed it for what it is—a sheer mischief, and will not have considered it an issue.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“ I assumed all along, all my records were in the custody of the Military Secretary of the Nigerian Army, a position I have been privileged to occupy myself, much to my surprise, we are now told that although, a record of the result is available, there are no copies of the certificate in my personal file. This is why I formerly requested my old school—the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, which is now known as Government College, Katsina, to make available the school copy of the result of the Cambridge West African School Certificate. This will be made available to the press the moment this is available.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“However, let me say for the record that I attended Provincial Secondary School, Kaduna. I graduated in 1961, with many prominent Nigerians, including Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, former Chief of Staff in the Supreme Headquarters; and Justice Umar Abdullahi, former President of the Court of Appeal. We sat for the University of Cambridge WASCE examination together in 1961, the year we graduated.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“My examination number was 8200002 and I passed the examination in the Second Division, and although the ruling party may want to wish this away, the issue in this campaign may not be my certificate which I obtained 52 years ago. The issues are the scandalous level of unemployment of millions of our people, the state of the insecurity, the pervasive official corruption which has improvised our people and the lack of concern of the government to do anything order than deification of power at all cost.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
<b><u>The Nation.</u></b></div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-77026238682952450022015-01-20T08:19:00.004-08:002015-01-20T08:19:39.546-08:00<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Army speaks on Buhari’s certificate</span></h2>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Buhari" src="http://thenationonlineng.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Buhari1.jpg" /></span></div>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The Nigerian Army on Tuesday responded to the controversy surrounding the educational certificate of the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Gen. Mohammadu Buhari.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. General Olajide Olaleye, at a press conference in Abuja, said neither the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Buhari’s WASC results is in his personal file.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Olaleye, however, said Buhari’s application was duly endorsed by the Principal of Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, who also wrote a report and recommended him as suitable for military commission.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Full text of Olaleye’s statement on the issue reads:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“I will begin with the Major General Muhammadu Buhari certificate controversy. Gentlemen, let me state clearly that the Nigerian Army holds the retired senior officer in very high esteem and respect and would not be a party to any controversy surrounding his eligibility for any political office. Suffice to state that Major General Buhari rose steadily to the enviable rank of Major General before becoming the Head of State of our dear country in December 1983.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“The media hype on retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s credentials as well as the numerous requests made by individuals and corporate bodies to the Nigerian Army on this issue have necessitated that we provide the facts as contained in the retired senior officer’s service record. Records available indicate that Major General M Buhari applied to join the military as a Form Six student of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina on October 18, 1961.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“His application was duly endorsed by the Principal of the school, who also wrote a report on him and recommended him to be suitable for military commission. It is a practice in the NA that before candidates are shortlisted for commissioning into the officers’ cadre of the Service, the Selection Board verifies the original copies of credentials that are presented. However, there is no available record to show that this process was followed in the 1960s.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“Nevertheless, the entry made on the NA Form 199A at the point of documentation after commission as an officer indicated that the former head of state obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961 with credits in relevant subjects: English Language, Geography, History, Health Science, Hausa and a pass in English Literature. However, neither the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s WASC result is in his personal file.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“I hope this explanation will put to rest the raging controversy surrounding the secondary school credentials of Major General Mohammed Buhari as it affects the Nigerian Army.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The Nation.</div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-28894561161620168262015-01-20T08:09:00.002-08:002015-01-20T08:09:43.346-08:00<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Count us out of Fayose’s death-wish advert – PDP</span></h2>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span itemprop="name" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign organisation has distanced itself from the controversial death-wish advertorial authored by the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
In the said advertisement, published in two national newspapers, Fayose had listed a former military head of state, the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed who was assassinated in the failed military coup of February 13, 1976. Murtala hailed from Kano State.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
He also listed the former military dictator, the late Gen. Sani Abacha who died in office on June 8, 1998.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Abacha also hailed from Kano. Fayose had followed it up with the late President Umaru Yar A’dua, who similarly died in office on May 9, 2010, two years after he was elected.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
The Ekiti governor then warned Nigerians against voting for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, predicting that if elected, Buhari too would die in office.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Reacting to the advertisement on Tuesday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said the views expressed in the publication were personal to Fayose.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
According to him, the message in the said advertorial did not in any way reflect the views of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, adding that questions regarding the advertisement should be directed to the Ekiti State Governor.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
Fani-Kayode said: “Governor Ayo Fayose is a distinguished leader of our party. A democratically elected governor and someone we have immense respect and affection for, but he released this advert in his own name.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“That represents his own personal opinion which he is entitled to. What I can tell you on our part as the presidential campaign organisation is that does not represent the opinion of the campaign organisation or indeed that of the President.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“It is his opinion which he is entitled to and he is somebody that we have immense respect for, he is a leading member of the party. I have spoken with him and we respect him, but for anybody to suggest that this is the position of the presidential campaign organisation or President Goodluck Jonathan that will be most unfair.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“If we wanted to say something like that we will say it without any kind of apology but of course we will never say that because we believe in the sanctity of life. Age is not a function of how long you will live. It is important that we recognize the fact that age is not an indication of how long somebody will live.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
“We believe strongly that we must continue to show immense respect for the person of Gen. Buhari in terms of his person and his health, though we believe it is important to always raise questions about facts, you know what these questions are and we will continue to raise them.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">
<b><i><u>The Nation.</u></i></b></div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-85147554918753306532015-01-20T08:08:00.000-08:002015-01-20T08:08:47.522-08:00<h2 class="title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #31312d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Certificate Brouhaha</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although it’s been no less a distraction to the dingy campaigns, the certificate debacle of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari, should be addressed for the record, write Shola Oyeyipo and Ojo M. Maduekwe</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Spare a thought and ponder this: does the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, possess the minimum requirement by law to be Nigeria’s president? More than any other discrediting allegation against Buhari by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in any election year, this particular question has generated the most controversy and indeed, bears both the moral and legal burden.<br />
It began with a statement credited to the National Secretary of the PDP, Professor Wale Oladipo, describing Buhari as a “semi-literate jackboot”. Oladipo, who had compared Jonathan to Buhari as a case of light and darkness, said the February 14 presidential election was “between a cosmopolitan highly focused PhD holder and a semi-literate jackboot”.<br />
Reacting to character, the APC had quickly refuted what it considered an insult to a man it holds in very high esteem. The barrage of claims and counter claims that later strewn the various news media and continue to do so, coupled with the PDP insistence on Buhari proving them wrong, is what has kept this controversy alive.<br />
Until the controversy becomes a legal matter, it may continue to be regarded as a political tool by the PDP to discredit Buhari. Unlike the other allegations of Buhari being a sectional leader and the APC being the political wing of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, this particular certificate controversy does not look like it will fizzle out of public discourse any time soon.<br />
A jittery PDP is clinging to it badly and has succeeded in sustaining the tempo. During some of their campaign rallies, they have continued to put it forward as a campaign subject. The Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, at the recent PDP kick-off campaign in Lagos, said “We will not settle for a president with less than a university degree.”<br />
When President Goodluck Jonathan campaigned in Ekiti, the State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, maintained the argument. “Anybody who wants to be the president of this country must have the necessary qualification… Let General Buhari flaunt his certificate if he has got them,” Fayose said.<span id="more-16836" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
In practically all his campaign rally, Buhari has not come out by himself to refute the PDP allegation. Rather, the defence he’s put up so far are from his aides, associates, party members and supporters. Failing to answer the question if Buhari has the required certificate or not, which allows him by law to aspire to the position of the president, they have argued that since the matter was not an issue in 2003, 2007 and 2011, why did the PDP bring it up now.<br />
His media aide, Mr Rotimi Fashakin, believes it is not only political, but also a plot by the army to ridicule Buhari. “They are just looking for something to hold desperately to be able to prevent Buhari… Before now, General Buhari had contested elections for three occasions. Are you going to say that he didn’t present any certificate for those three times?”<br />
Fashakin maintained that there was “no case” to be submitted since Buhari had risen to be a Major General in the army and also attained the position of a military Head of State. According to Fashakin, Buhari’s rise in the army could not have been possible without his credentials, which he said were “well documented by the Army in those days”.<br />
Emanating from Fashakin’s argument, counter-arguments have been raised, questioning the position of the APC and Buhari. First is what the law says about eligibility to contest the presidency. Described as lacking in substance, many of the arguments made by supporters of the APC, rather than nip the controversy in the bud, have succeeded in creating in people the desire to see if Buhari is indeed one who respects the rule of law.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
There are opinions that if Buhari indeed completed his secondary school education, and did not drop out midway to join the military, a predictable Buhari would have made his certificate public. Failing to do this, and personally answer questions regarding the issue, has aided PDP’s attack on Buhari. His continued silence is being construed as an acceptance of guilt, which has brought his much touted integrity to question.<br />
To answer the question that has been thrown up by the controversy, a precedence would be set for how politicians regard the electoral laws pertaining to qualifications for participating in elections into public office. Nigerians are looking at an issue which could be used to argue the annulment of the February 14 presidential election should Buhari win.<br />
According to a constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), how the controversy is handled “is very crucial to our democratic norms and values.” Many are already projecting that if Buhari wins the election, this will set a bad precedence. According to them, what moral right will his government have in asking others to present certificates before employment as civil servants or screening as ministerial appointees by the National Assembly?<br />
From all indications, Buhari may have failed to complete his secondary school education before joining the army, where he rose to the position of a Major General and then later through a coup, became a military Head of State. His supporters are asking: “What is the need of a certificate to become president?” But the law requires that he must have one to lead Nigeria.<br />
Chapter 6, Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution says a person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of forty years; (c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.<br />
Ozekhome, during an interview said Buhari was not qualified to contest the election. According to him, “I know that Nigerians would be curious about why this matter is just coming up for the first time and after all this man had contested the last three presidential elections”.<br />
The problem, according to Ozekhome, is that past INEC forms simply provided that the candidates state their qualifications without providing proof. “But right now, the rules have changed. Form CF001 says apart from filling your qualifications, you must attach them; you must attach photocopies of your qualifications and to attach means to bind; it means to glue-to.”<br />
Ozekhome, according to a THISDAY report, argued that “Section 131 of the Constitution was very clear that the certificate must have not below school certificate level, or its equivalent, and its equivalent means GCE, WASC, NECO, etc; those are the equivalents”.<br />
To exonerate Buhari of any wrongdoing, some supporters of the APC have sought to compare his swearing to an affidavit as a replacement to having a certificate, to be similar to the action taken by the vice-president of the PDP, Namadi Sambo, who declared in a document that his Bachelors and Masters’ degree certificates were consumed by fire.<br />
But Ozekhome argued that “If you do not have any of these qualifications, what you will do is to apply to WAEC or NECO, and say my certificates are lost, burnt or stolen by armed robbers; I want you to issue me a letter certifying that I have this qualification. That was what happened in the case of the vice-president, Namadi Sambo.”<br />
Sambo, according to reports, filed a document which were received and stamped by INEC “between December 10 and 18 2014 and validated by two letters from the ABU”. Notwithstanding, Sambo is reported as possessing the minimum qualification, which Buhari has failed to provide, but insists in his affidavit to be with the Secretary of the Military Board.<br />
In an interview with a national daily, the Army Public Relations Director, Brig-Gen. Olajide Laleye, was reported as saying, “Every serving and retired Army officer has at least a copy of his certificates and credentials kept in the Nigerian Army while that same serving and retired officer has copies of those same certificates and credentials.” According to Laleye, there is a laid down procedure for requesting for one’s certificates, which was well known to all serving and retired officer.<br />
“If you want anything checked in your file, you simply follow the due process and it would be given to you because the credentials belong to you”. He said the Nigerian Army does not refuse to anybody his credentials if due process is followed. “Not only does the Nigerian Army keep these things, the individual officers, whether serving or retired, have copies”.<br />
On that claim, Ozekhome said Buhari referring INEC to the Military Board for his certificate was like a job interviewee asking his interviewer to go to the last place where he worked and get his certificate.<br />
“It is like, as an applicant, you want a job, you come before your interviewers; your interviewers say, we have looked at the form you filled for this job; we have not seen your certificates; and you say, the last place I worked, they have photocopy of my certificates, go and ask them. That is wrong”.<br />
What is right is that by the 1999 Constitution, Buhari who is highly seen as a man of integrity and whose campaign thrust has been to put an end to official corruption is expected by law and moral certification to provide the required minimum certificate, or in a situation where that is not possible, the moral thing that is required of him would be to own up and save his integrity.<br />
Although that is the moral thing to do, Buhari is not likely to do that because doing so can cost his party the presidential election. The other option is by going ahead with the election, and if he wins, the 2010 Electoral Act as amended, empowers the PDP to seek redress in court.<br />
Section 31 subsection 5 of the Act states that “Any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given by a candidate in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate is false may file a suit at the Federal High Court, High Court of a State or FCT against such person seeking a declaration that the information contained in the affidavit is false”.<br />
The certificate controversy is a tricky one for several reasons. According to the electoral guidelines by INEC, December 30 2014 marked the last day for withdrawal of candidates and replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties. Any decision now is left with the court. Now, due to the proximity of the elections, getting a judgement from the court on the matter appears impossible.<br />
Again, the issue is a tricky one for even the election management body, INEC. The PDP had accused INEC of cover up, preferring instead that Buhari be disqualified from contesting. In response and according to the law, INEC has asked the PDP to take their matter to court; that the law does not empower it to disqualify but accept candidates presented to it by political parties.<br />
Speaking on the options available to the PDP penultimate Sunday, the Commissions Director for Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Wale Uzzi, and its Director for Legal Services, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa, stressed that “In line with Section 31 of the Electoral Act, the commission has no powers to disqualify any candidate whose name has been submitted to INEC.<br />
“This is the power of the law and it is expected that a political party in the calibre of the PDP should know this aspect of the provision of the law. If the PDP feels strongly about this matter, it knows what to do. It should take him to court and that is the only option”.<br />
Left only with the court option, the PDP and APC have continued to relish in claims and counter-claims – both trying to amass support from the voters in a matter that can only be decided by the court. While the PDP is insistent that Buhari cannot contest the election, the APC has asked them to focus on issue-based campaigns and quit arguing about the certificate.<br />
A statement by the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the APC presidential campaign and made available to THISDAY, asked Jonathan to address the country on the Baga killing, and stop being “insensitive” but “account to Nigerians” for the lives lost to the Boko Haram in Baga.<br />
“The issue of certificate of General Buhari is a non-issue as everyone knows that Buhari is a product of Daura Primary School, Katsina, Provisional Secondary School (now Government College, Katsina), and the Nigerian Military Training College. This is in addition to several other courses he attended at home and abroad,” the statement claimed.<br />
The media director of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, on his part, said “The inability of the All Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari, to present even the minimum requirement of just a school leaving certificate questions his moral and other credentials for pursuing the position of the president of Nigeria”.<br />
Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ahmadu Ali, in Ado-Ekiti last week, at a campaign rally organised for Jonathan, told the crowd that Ekiti had more than 60 per cent of all the professors in Nigeria, and so the people, “have no business voting for somebody whose schools’ certificates we have just been informed were not available”.<br />
Former Kogi State Commissioner for Information and founder, The Broom Platform, an online platform for the promotion of Buhari candidacy, Dr. Tom Ohikere, said the PDP cannot question Buhari’s integrity.<br />
“It is an absurdity and aberration for the PDP to claim that General Buhari has no school leaving certificate. It is an insult to our military authority for a political party to politicise that Buhari was admitted into the Army and has risen through all file and ranks without basic qualification and even to have risen to the position of the Head of State.<br />
“The PDP has insulted the nation in the comity of nations. Gen Buhari, having passed through the same school and passed out same time with late General Musa Yar’ Adua, earned a school leaving certificate. If I may ask, when has a well deposed court affidavit become questionable? It behooves the receiving authority to investigate any doubtable claim in an affidavit for authentication.<br />
“I’m sure that has been done by INEC and therefore the reason they are disregarding PDP barking dogs,” he said.<br />
The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also expressed disgust and described the claim that the party’s presidential flag bearer does not possess primary school certificate, as a smear campaign with its attendance consequences on the image of Nigeria and the military in particular.<br />
“It is disgusting. These are clearly people who have no issue to campaign about and who have resorted to smear campaign. But does it make sense to say that a man that rose to the position of a general in the military does not have a primary school certificate? I can assure you that in a short while we will bring the issue to a close.<br />
“They think are bringing down the person of Buhari; but what they are saying is that the Nigeria military is made up of illiterates. They are belittling our Army before the international world. Don’t be surprised in the near future, if a Nigerian general is to lead an international contingent and the people refuse on the grounds that Nigerian generals are illiterates.<br />
“How can they say a man who attended the Nigeria War College does not have primary school certificate? Interestingly, despite their efforts to discredit the man, the general is getting more popular. Was it not one of Nigerian footballers that said ‘if it was just the NEPA bill that the general possesses,’ he would vote for him? You see, it is ridiculous!” he lamented.<br />
Lagos lawyer and human right activist, Mr. Festus Keyamo believes that the ruling PDP is only chasing after the shadow when it is getting the signal that the coming election may not be in its favour, stressing that the argument lacks substance.<br />
“There is nothing in it. They are just blowing the issue out of proportion. Everywhere, you can use any affidavit in lieu of a certificate you cannot lay your hands on, so far you stated the school you attended and it would be the discretion of the commission to accept it or not.<br />
“The PDP appears that they are losing an argument and are resorting to personal attack. I’m coming out with a bombshell. I’m writing a full piece about the qualities of leadership.<br />
“Leadership is not a function or consequence of academic qualification. If it were so, then we should go to the ivory tower and pick the best qualified professor and make him the president. There would be no need for election. But leadership is always a divine gift that is noticeable even at primary school level or infantry level.<br />
“You will notice leadership at that level in some people by the way they mobilise their classmates,” Keyamo said, arguing that the certificate issue be put aside for some more fundamental issues.<br />
Similarly, a Lagos-based constitution lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje, who examined the issue from both legal and political perspectives, said the allegation being cropped up against Buhari is a “non-issue.” While he insisted that having risen to the rank of Major General in the military, he could not be said to be an illiterate, he also contended that what should matter at this point is who is most suitable to get the country out of its economic crisis.<br />
Agbaje also maintained that for as long as it is the PDP that is bringing up the issue, Buhari has no need to bother about it, since the burden of prove lies absolutely with those accusing him of not possessing the certificate.<br />
“To me, that topic is a no-issue. Blame your constitution not Buhari. It is too late to blame Buhari. If there is any defect, it is the constitution that should be blamed. The constitution says ‘school certificate attempt,’ not that you should pass it.<br />
“The man said he attended elementary school and the military school and by the way, the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) is an equivalent of primary school certificate. Are you saying a man who went through the rank to get to the rank of a Major General is not qualified to rule Nigeria? As far as I’m concerned, it is not an issue. The question of who can fix the economy should rather be what we are asking now,” he said.<br />
As far as the law is concerned, he said Buhari has nothing to worry about because “It is those making the allegation that must prove it. Buhari has no work to do in respect of the allegation.”<br />
Also, a Lagos-based paint manufacturer, Mr. Akinusi Isaac, shares Mohammed’s view, when he expressed the position that the campaign against Buhari is simply an attempt to get him off the race because of his popularity and the determination of Nigerians to elect him as a replacement to the incumbent government of President Jonathan.<br />
“It is too late for the PDP to bring up such issue. It would have been easier for them to use such claim to disqualify him if he had not been a past Head of State – in such situation, they could be saying that.<br />
“Now, it is obvious that they are just finding one way or the other to disqualify him because they are afraid of him. But as far as I’m concerned, either he has certificate or not, he is the most matured and experienced leader that Nigeria needs as at now. We could judge from what he had done. They should go and check the records to see the goods he has done to this country in the past.<br />
“Then apart from that, what is the value of an educated leader whose impact is not felt by the people. In fact, some of the so-called educated persons seem to have gone to school to learn how to steal our commonwealth,” he said.<br />
But former House of Representatives member, who represented Kabba/Bunu/Jjumu Federal Constituency, Hon. Duro Meseko, felt the APC presidential candidate could be suspected for not having approached the Army to request for the certificate.<br />
“Of course, there is genuine reason to suspect General Buhari for the fact that he has refused to apply to the Army Council for the release of photocopies of his certificates. It’s gravely suspect that despite the outrage this has generated, the APC candidate has continued to keep an undignifying silence. There must be some cover-up somewhere,” he claimed.<br />
A source in the presidency, who in fact is a member of the presidential campaign committee of President Jonathan, also took a similar stand as Meseko. He suspected that two things must have happened – that it is either that he attended the school but was drafted into the military without completing his education, or that he attended the school but failed woefully and could not present the certificate of failures to Nigerians.<br />
“Let me tell you, some of the likely scenarios that may have played up in the Buhari matter. Being a Northerner myself, even me that I graduated in 1980, work was waiting for me. Then considering the time people like General Buhari attended school, it was a time of low man power in the North.<br />
“Remember that the Nigerian independence was delayed because the North complained of low man power. So it is likely that he didn’t graduate from the school before he was drafted into the Army, or that he didn’t pass and he didn’t want Nigerians to see his failures.<br />
“He is supposed to show proof of attendance and that is the result. If you don’t have the result you couldn’t be claiming to have attended a school. It is either you never attended the school or you are hiding it from the people so that they do not see your F9s,” the source argued.<br />
There is no doubting the fact that the matter has assumed an annoyingly distracting twist, this however does not change the fact that the APC and its candidate must address the matter, particularly on the grounds of morality and integrity if all it appears to be doing is undermine the legal angle to it.<br />
Understandably, some have called this controversy a distraction; others insist that the law must be followed to the letter. It is therefore left to be seen how this would be resolved without scathing the integrity of Buhari, the only credibility the general seems to be taking to the battle.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">THISDAY</strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-59888728776571403502015-01-19T10:16:00.001-08:002015-01-19T10:16:07.772-08:00<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="entry-title">
I’m fit, PDP is desperate, says Buhari</h2>
<h1 class="name post-title entry-title" itemprop="itemReviewed" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name"> </span></h1>
<h1 class="name post-title entry-title" itemprop="itemReviewed" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<br /></h1>
<div class="story-featured-image" style="width: 368px;">
<img alt="Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd)" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Muhammadu-Buhari-360x225.jpg" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption">
Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd)<br /><small><em> | credits: nairaland.com</em></small></div>
</div>
<div style="float: left; padding: 10px 18px 5px 0; width: 370px;">
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7167863529667065" data-ad-slot="6184555097" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: inline-block; height: 140px; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_2_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 140px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_2_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; height: 140px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"></ins></ins></ins>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Presidential candidate of the
All Progressives Congress, Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has
denied media reports that he is terminally ill.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But shortly after he made the denial
in Abuja on Sunday, the Peoples Democratic Party challenged him to
take a brisk walk or jog round a stadium if, indeed, he was hale and
hearty.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some newspapers and on-line publications (<em>The Punch</em>
not inclusive) had in their Sunday editions, published that the former
military ruler was to be flown out of the country for medical attention.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari told journalists that the report
on his state of health was orchestrated by some individuals not only
to gain undue political advantage but to divert public attention from
corruption which had assumed the front burner of national discourse.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “There were reports that I was
to jet out for medical check-up yesterday (Saturday) but here I am. I
was in Nasarawa and Benue states yesterday (Saturday) and tomorrow
(today), I will be in two states.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The day after tomorrow (Tuesday), I will
be in two more states. I sincerely don’t know how they got the
impression that I was sick. I had a cold but it did not stop me
from going through my schedule.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari added that a medical document purportedly confirming his alleged poor state of health was fake.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The APC presidential candidate said, “The Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital said the documents are forged.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“This desperation is beyond my
comprehension. The issue we are letting Nigerians know is that there has
been much corruption in this country in the last 16 years. The
Peoples Democratic Party has literally destroyed this country.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When asked to make a categorical
statement on his health, Buhari jokingly asked the reporter, “How old
are you, 50 years? I can tell you that if we go to the field, you
will not stay as long as I would.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The APC candidate also used the occasion
to debunk allegations that his tenure at the defunct Petroleum Trust
Fund was riddled with corruption.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said that the PTF was investigated
and the report presented to the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, who
recently confirmed it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari said, “That one has been cleared.
There was no fraud in the PTF. Gen. Obasanjo recently answered that
question; he confirmed that there was an investigation and the report
was brought to him and there was nothing on the ground as far as my
management and chairmanship of the PTF were concerned.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The person who did the investigation as President cleared me.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The former military ruler also spoke on
the controversy surrounding his educational qualification, saying he
was surprised that it was coming up now.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “I have contested three times
under the same rules set by INEC (Independent National Electoral
Commission) where there is a basic educational qualification you must
have.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“I was allowed to contest all these
elections because my certificate was in order and there were individuals
that wrote to the United States War College and the college answered
them and they were published in the newspapers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“So, I really don’t understand this
desperation or misinformation that is being passed around. They will do
nobody any good because our minds are being taken away from the serious
issues of corruption and incompetence by the PDP.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commenting on the state of the economy,
the APC candidate said despite repeated denials by the Federal
Government, “the truth remains that Nigeria is broke.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari said, “How many states could pay
their workers’ salaries? In December, many families went hungry during
Christmas because states did not pay the salaries of their workers. So
why should they be talking about an individual’s health instead of
paying salaries.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also, the APC in a statement by the
Directorate of Media and Publicity of its Presidential Campaign
Organisation accused the PDP of circulating a fake medical report on
Buhari’s health.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It said it was ludicrous for the PDP to
throw caution to the wind in its “shameless” effort to the pull wool
over the eyes of Nigerians who are yearning for a change of guard at the
federal level.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The directorate called on Nigerians to
the errors on the letterhead conveying the medical report, which
wrongly identifies the institution as Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital
instead of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The statement partly read, “The attention
of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation has been brought to the
circulation of a fake medical record of Gen, Buhari.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We are able to track the circulation of
the post on a social media platform and we know that the information
emanated from the Facebook handle of one of Governor Ayo Fayose’s aides.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It is noteworthy that the authorities at ABUTH have given a clean bill on Gen. Buhari’s health status.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It is also noteworthy for Nigerians to
understand that the PDP will stop at nothing to cast aspersion on the
person of Gen. Buhari.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We knew that the PDP would become
unbridled at a point in its desperation to avert the defeat coming its
way in the countdown to the February 14 presidential election, but to
anticipate that the PDP would go as dirty as spreading falsehood on an
individual’s state of health could not have been imaginable.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“What is important is that Nigerians know
today that our country is not healthy. They know that the PDP has
driven the country to a near state of comatose.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But the PDP said instead of denying the
report, Buhari should jog round a stadium to prove to Nigerians that
he was healthy enough to rule the country.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The party, at a news conference in
Abuja by the Director of Media and Publicity of its Presidential
Campaign Organisation Femi Fani-Kayode, said the rumour that the former
Head of State was suffering from prostrate cancer was worrisome.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The PCO said that it was incumbent on everyone to pray for Buhari if the rumour was indeed true.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It added, “The rumour that he is
suffering from prostrate cancer is exceptionally worrying and it is
incumbent upon each and everyone of us to pray for him if this rumour is
true.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We are constrained to urge him to prove
to the Nigerian people that he really is as fit as a fiddle, as the
spokesman of his PCO has said, by taking a brisk walk or even jogging
around the perimeter of the stadium before any of his rallies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“If he can do that, it will go a long way to allay the fears of many.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Asked if the PDP was in possession of any
medical report indicating that Buhari was suffering from any terminal
ailment, Fani-Kayode said no.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said that the days of hiding things like a presidential candidate’s health status from the public were long over.</div>
<strong><em>Copyright PUNCH.</em></strong><h1 class="name post-title entry-title" itemprop="itemReviewed" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name"> </span></h1>
<a href="http://thenationonlineng.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Ibrahim-Badamasi-Babangida.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><br />
<h1 class="name post-title entry-title" itemprop="itemReviewed" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<br /></h1>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-6219622606400443732015-01-15T05:56:00.003-08:002015-01-15T05:56:58.812-08:00<h1 class="entry-title" style="background: url(http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/themes/punch/images/dots-horizontal.gif) 0% 100% repeat-x scroll rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-color: rgb(255, 1, 1); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.17em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 9px 4px;">
INEC dismisses staff over PVC theft, absenteetism</h1>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
The Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed two of its officers for alleged burglary and theft of Permanent Voter Cards in its Patani Local Government Area office of Delta state.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
This information was contained in the commission’s bulletin released in Abuja on Thursday.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
<b> </b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
The dismissed officers are: Mr. Collins Omofoma (SGL 09 Officer) and Mr. Onome Avbunudiogba (SGL 07 Officer).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
Also, the Commission said it has terminated the appointment of Mrs Obi Chinwoke Ugochi, an Administrative Officer II (SGL 08) for alleged absence from duty without leave. Mrs Ugochi is of the Commission’s Anambra State office.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
According to two Decision Extracts dated January 8, 2015 and signed by the Director (Commission’s Secretariat), Ishiaku Gali, the dismissal and termination of the three staff followed the commission’s meeting held on Thursday, January 8, 2015.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-29704898444018498102015-01-15T05:55:00.002-08:002015-01-15T05:55:30.219-08:00<h2 style="background: url(http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/themes/punch/images/dots-horizontal.gif) 0% 100% repeat-x scroll rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-color: rgb(255, 1, 1); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.17em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 9px 4px;">
Jonathan, Buhari disagree on 2011 post-poll crisis, sign pact</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; overflow: hidden;">
<div class="story-featured-image" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); float: left; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 15px; min-width: 378px !important; width: 368px;">
<img alt="All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in a warm embrace with his Peoples Democratic Party opponent, President Goodluck Jonathan, at the general elections sensitisation workshop on non-violence in Abuja... on Wednesday." class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Buhari-and-Jonathan-360x225.jpg" style="background-color: whitesmoke; border: none; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding: 4px;" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption" style="clear: both; color: #dd0000; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 5px 10px 0px;">
All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in a warm embrace with his Peoples Democratic Party opponent, President Goodluck Jonathan, at the general elections sensitisation workshop on non-violence in Abuja... on Wednesday.<br /><small style="font-weight: normal;"><em>| credits: NAN</em></small></div>
</div>
<div style="float: left; padding: 10px 18px 5px 0px; width: 370px;">
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7167863529667065" data-ad-slot="6184555097" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: inline-block; height: 140px; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_1_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_1_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="140" hspace="0" id="aswift_1" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_1" scrolling="no" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" vspace="0" width="370"></iframe></ins></ins></ins></div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
President Goodluck Jonathan said on Wednesday that the post- election violence that erupted in some northern states in 2011 was not caused by electoral malpractices.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Many including 10 members of the National Youth Service Corps died in the violence that erupted after the 2011 presidential poll.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
The President, who spoke in Abuja at an election sensitisation workshop on non-violence ahead of the 2015 general elections, said the fear to accept defeat was responsible for the violence.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
A former Head of State and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who also spoke at the event, reiterated the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct credible poll as a panacea to post-election violence this year.</div>
<center class="ebz_native_center ebz_native" style="-webkit-transition: height 1s, margin 1s; height: 182px; margin: auto; overflow: hidden; transition: height 1s, margin 1s; width: auto;">
<div style="color: #888888; font-size: 10px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 10px;">
<br /></div>
</center>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He recounted his experience of having to resort to court to challenge the outcome of the presidential elections in which he was a candidate in 2003, 2007 and 2011.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
But Jonathan disagreed with Buhari on the cause of the post-election violence, insisting that election malpractices were not necessarily the cause of post-election violence.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He, therefore, charged the next National Assembly to look into the nation’s laws with a view to amending them in order to give room to parties with substantial popularity to be part of government formed by the party which polled the highest votes.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He said, “If you look at the 2011 election, we approached it better and I’m quite pleased that a number of civil society activists are here; a lot of observers are here and they did mention that the 2011 election was much better any election conducted by the country . We thank Prof. Attahiru Jega and his team.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“But even then at the end of the election there was violence in some parts of the country. In Kano, properties were destroyed, residential homes were burnt down, and business premises were burnt down. In Bauchi State, 10 young <em>corpers</em> that were involved in the election were slaughtered. Then we asked what led to this level of violence? The violence came when election result was being announced.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“INEC had announced results at every polling unit. The violence didn’t come up in the middle of the election. The results collated had already been announced. But as we are approaching towards the end, it was clear that maybe a candidate was likely to win and violence erupted in Kano and in Bauchi.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“We cannot say there were malpractices to favour the candidate that won because in Kano we got 16 per cent, in Bauchi I got 15 per cent of the votes – those were the least. Even in states where we got 80 per cent or more than 50 per cent, even in opposition states, there was no violence.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“So you see what leads to violence sometimes is not necessarily electoral malpractices but some other causes of violence.”</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
The President, who said a total of about N10bn had been paid to compensate victims of the 2011 post-election violence, again charged INEC to ensure that no eligible Nigerian was disenfranchised in the forthcoming elections.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He said failure to ensure that every Nigeria voted in the forthcoming polls was a recipe for violence.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
The President said, “A number of Nigerians are complaining that they don’t have permanent voter card, what INEC calls the PVC.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“If some people don’t have permanent voter card, the assumption is that, from the beginning, INEC wants to rig election and there is the tendency for those kinds of people to go violent.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“I have been mentioning this to the INEC chairman that you must make sure that every Nigerian votes. If INEC is unable to make sure that every Nigerian votes, that is a recipe for violence.”</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
At the workshop where a former Secretary-General of the United Nation, Kofi Annan, was a special guest of honour and chaired by a former Secretary-General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the presidential candidates in the forthcoming poll signed a five-point accord for peace ahead of the general elections.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Buhari said when Nigeria returned to democracy “16 years ago, we hoped that the developed countries which went through the painful processes of stabilising their system, should learn from them rather than insisting to make the same mistake.”</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He said the speeches by speakers at the event were only anchored on hope as his past experience about elections in the country had been nasty.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He recounted how his party competent agents were able to show how he was programmed to lose 40 per cent and 26 per cent respectively in two northern states in 2011.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He said, “They (the agents) compared the results against the INEC register and they put it in the computer garbage in garbage out. What came out is that the presidential candidate of that party was programmed to lose 40 per cent of its scores and when it was done in another state it was 26 per cent.”</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Recalling that the cases he filed to challenge the outcome of the three presidential elections all ended at the Supreme Court, he said he spent 13 months in court in 2003, 18 months in 2007 and nine months in 2011.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, also gave an undertaking that it would not be partisan in conducting the general elections, adding that all candidates would be given a level playing field.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Anan said that Nigeria faced a critical test in the 2015 elections, apart from the barbaric Boko Haram insurgency and the falling oil price and its impact on the economy.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He stated that the success of the elections was crucial to the future of the nation and Africa, noting that chaotic elections would send a bad signal out at this crucial time.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Anan therefore challenged the stakeholders to ensure fair, free and peaceful elections, stressing that the success of the polls was not the sole responsibility of INEC.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
According to him, political parties, their candidates and supporters all share responsibilities for ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
<strong><em>Copyright PUNCH.</em></strong></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-4196220918379227452015-01-15T05:37:00.002-08:002015-01-15T05:37:24.577-08:00<h2 class="title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #31312d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Disappointing presidential campaigns by Wale Sokunbi</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<img alt="APC-PDP-700x336" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/APC-PDP-700x336.jpg" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The campaigns of the two leading presidential candidates in the coming February 14 polls have taken off in earnest, and what a huge disappointment they have been so far! From the campaigns, it seems both the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (CPC) are neither aware of the great despair of many Nigerians and their desperation for better times in the country, nor have a convincing and properly articulated template on how to move the nation to the next level.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In the main, the two parties and candidates appear irredeemably bound to the outdated campaign tactic of disproportionately focusing on their opponents’ real and cooked up shortcomings, instead of the country’s many problems and exactly how they hope to solve them. They are more interested in attacking their opponents and digging up what they perceive to be the “skeletons” in their cupboards, instead of the matters that are of the greatest importance to Nigerians and the future of the country.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span id="more-16662" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This is why, for instance, the presidential campaign flag off of President Goodluck Jonathan focused more on debunking and deriding Buhari’s campaign promises, than the articulation of his own. The flag off, indeed, was a personal disappointment. The occasion offered the president a good opportunity to sincerely address Nigerians on the severe problems facing the country, his spirited efforts to address them, the challenge from a virulent opposition that had not given him a moment of respite since he got into office and the need for Nigerians to back him up in the best interest of our beloved country and give him the necessary support to do all that he has in mind to do for the country but which he had been severely constrained from doing. He should then have gone ahead to mention some concrete things he had done and intends to do, as well as appeal to the opposition leaders to let the campaigns be focused on real issues in the best interest of beleaguered Nigerians. He should have, in all sobriety, promised Nigerians that he would continue to do his best and retool his strategies to end insecurity and move the nation forward.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Had Jonathan spoken like this, (and I consider this a free advisory for the president and his media team!), he would probably have won the sympathy of many people like me who admit that he has, virtually throughout his tenure, been a victim of distractive attacks from Goliathic opposition leaders, whose debilitating potshots could almost make any weak leader forget his name!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jonathan could have so easily turned the tables against the opposition leaders at his campaign flag off. He could have solemnly urged Nigerians to cooperate with the saintly but allegedly clueless “devil” that they know, rather than the “confam Devil” seeking to replace him in office. But, instead of an appeal for calm, patience and reason from the people, the president chose to ignore his own admonition on issues-based campaigns and lambasted Buhari no end.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I think it would be more expedient for the PDP to clean up its campaign and focus on issues. For example, the matter of Buhari’s military certificates, whatever they are, not being up to the level of an SSCE certificate, after studying in many military institutions across the world, is a no-header! It is, indeed, a disservice to the military in Nigeria and all over the country to say that all the certificates obtained in prestigious military schools all over the world are not the equivalent of Nigeria’s SSCE! Is that not what we used to call <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">infra dignitete</i>! Or, were we not all in this country when a certain top military officer told the nation that a sergeant in the Nigerian military is better than the graduate of any university? The PDP must be careful not draw the ire of the entire Nigerian military on this matter. This is even more so when it is considered that the matter of SSCE could not have been a qualification to join the military several decades ago when Buhari joined the institution.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
But, that is not say that Buhari’s campaign flag off has, itself, been anything to write home about. He has, for instance, told us he would end the Boko Haram insurgency within two months in office. How? Is that to suggest that he knows, or has the ears, of the insurgency leaders, and has not stepped in to help solve the problem because he is not the current president? That would be very bad! It would mean that he is sitting on the fence while thousands of Nigerians are being killed because he does not want to help the president solve the problem, even though he knows what to do to solve it!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Secondly, his reference to jailing anyone found stealing Nigeria’s money may not be the best line for one who has been accused of unjustly jailing many politicians during his regime, (even though the jail sentences were handed out by military tribunals that tried the politicians at the time!) As they say, someone that his opponent’s campaign team is trying to portray as a maximum ruler who does not respect democratic ethos should not be talking of putting anyone in Kirikiri, on the campaign rostrum. In the same vein, any candidate who makes the jailing of the corrupt ruling class the arrowhead of his campaigns already has an array of sworn enemies among the country’s corrupt elite who will ensure that he realises his ambition only “over their dead bodies!”Again, having become a serial candidate, one would have expected a glaringly well thought out and clearly articulated programme of action to solve the nation’s most pressing problems from Buhari!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Some other free advice to both the PDP and APC: Let your campaigns be issues-based and pragmatic. Enough of generalisations from the two leading candidates. I believe any Nigerian can list the nation’s problems and promise to solve them. The cutting edge we expect from the two contenders is a credible and believable programme for resolving the problems. Give the electorate concrete ideas of what you want to do, not wild accusations and dimwitted rhetoric. These will not put food on Nigerians’ tables, or provide jobs for the unemployed graduates. Let the people know your vision for Nigeria and how you intend to take the nation to the Promised Land. Let the choice of a new president be different from that between six and half a dozen. Let us see evidence of careful research and diligent analyses of issues, not competitions on mud-raking and the use of foul language! Let the people see that the contestants clearly understand the nation’s challenges, and have a credible plan to resolve them.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The continuing unconscionable killings by Boko Haram in the North-East of the country should be enough to make any aspirant to the office of president sober and serious about how to tackle the problem. But, it is like the matter is just like another pawn on a chessboard that could be played with for political advantage by presidential candidates! The insecurity in the country is not something that should be toyed with, or glossed over, for any reason. The matter of the management of the economy is another serious issue that is not being properly articulated. Yet, the fall in the price of crude oil and the devaluation of the naira are serious challenges that the nation will be grappling with this year.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Please, an assignment for the two candidates: Read Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution on the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, and tell us how you intend to achieve them. Indeed, all Nigerians should strive to read this particular section of the Constitution. It will go a long way in educating the electorate on the reasons why governments exist, the responsibilities of our leaders and the need to elect persons who can bring them to reality. I wish the two candidates a rewarding campaign season. May the best candidate win.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SUN</strong></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-396962222518128572015-01-15T05:35:00.004-08:002015-01-15T05:35:57.793-08:00<h2 class="title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #31312d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Who is afraid of Buhari? By Yomi Obaditan</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="Muhammadu-Buhari" class="attachment-main-slider wp-post-image no-display appear aligncenter" height="336" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Muhammadu-Buhari-702x336.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Who is afraid of Buhari?" width="702" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“<i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We cannot trample upon the humanity of others without devaluing our own.</i>The Igbo, always practical, put this concretely in their proverb, <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Onye ji onye n’ani ji onwe ya</i>:He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The name of General Muhammadu Buhari has always generated controversies from the day he became military head of state in 1983. The short period he was in charge of the nation was a period noted for drastic change in terms of national discipline, moral re- birth and draconian application of rules.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The National Party of Nigeria ( NPN) was a political party that was powerful and corrupt beyond redemption. At the time the Buhari /Idiagbon came to power, three of the then NPN members were alleged to have embezzled over six billion dollars.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span id="more-16664" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Twenty three years later, the echoes of the Buhari era that cleared up the rubbish that the shameless politicians perpetrated in our land is sending fear into the spine of the “ <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">jegudu-jera</i>” (embezzlers). Buhari has contested presidential election about three times and failed. He even lamented that the 2011 election would be the last election he would be participating in. But the merger of some political parties to form All Progressives Congress (APC) made him to change his mind and gave him courage to give the race for the office of the President a last trial. The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has been enraged by the outcome of the APC presidential primary election that was open, transparent and free from acrimony. Their thought was that the APC’s primary election would mark the end of the party.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
But now that they realised that Buhari’s massive followers from the North and the neglected South-West people under Jonathan will nail the political coffin of the PDP and its candidate, they resorted to shenanigans.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When Buhari became Head of state and government, nobody ever mentioned that a Nigerian Army General has no certificate. Not even the journalists! When he contested three times in diffferent political parties namely All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), all these period, nobody raised any issue about Buhari’s certificate. But now that the ruling party realises that the Buhari is leading a formidable political party like that of the APC against it, it appears to be using blackmail.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Did Buhari have the INEC basic credential for the coming election? Buhari possesses the basic school certificate. In 1956, Buhari attended Katsina Provisional Secondary School (now Government College, Katsina). It was after this school that he joined the Nigerian Army and was trained in many military institutions within and in various military institutions across the globe. Some of the schools he attended include: Mons Officers Cadet School, Aldershot, in the United Kingdom before he was commissioned with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Buhari also attended Army Mechanical Transport Officer’s Course in Bordon, United Kingdom from May 1965 to June of the same year. He was sent to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, in 1973 and Army War College, United States from 1979 to 1980. Can a general who had attended all these institutions be called an illitrate?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The minimum qualification required by the Electoral Act Section 106 (d) is school certificate or its equivalent. That is why wise Nigerians are asking politicians to discuss issues; issues that will move the nation forward, issues that will revive our economy, issues that will provide job for the jobless, issues that will give hope to the hopeless and cause Nigerians irrespective of social status, tribe and tongue to live in any part of Nigeria in harmony. Akin Osuntokun’s reference to the cancellation of Jakande’s transport project in Lagos by Buhari after the army took over power in 1984, is no longer relevant to the present challenge.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Raising such issue against Buhari shows how hypocritical politicians could be while trying to destroy political opponents. Osuntokun spent a large part of his life in Lagos and attended University of Lagos, yet he never advised Chief Olusegun Obasanjo against the withholding of Local government allocation for Lagos. In Osun, when Governor Rauf Aregbesola joyfully approached the president with the free offer of train coaches to the state from the Chinese government. The offer was given to the governor shorly after he came into office. Till date, the president failed to even acknowledge the application. Secondly, the Lagos state government under Raji Fashola was working on the revival of rail transport system.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The government of Lagos approached President Jonathan over the approval, the President bluntly refused to grant the necessary right-of-way approval to the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) for the construction of its redline light rail project from Iddo to Ifo in Ogun State with a capacity to carry one million passengers per day. The investors were turned back by the refusal of the president, making Lagos and the nation to lose one billion dollars in the project</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s advice that the politicians should watch their utterances is mere lip service. The president spent hours in each time during his campaign to castigate Buhari, Obasanjo or any other political opponents. If he is not accusing Buhari of not buying a single gun while in office, he is busy calling Obasanjo a motor park tout and not qualified to be called a statesman. The allegation against Buhari has since been proved to be false. Evidence has been provided that guns, arms and military aircraft were purchased under Buhari’s administration.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The same PDP accused Buhari for being too old at 72 to rule Nigeria, but they have forgotten that in 1983, Chief Obafemi Awolowo contested at the age of 74 while Chief Nnamdi Azikwe contested in 1979 at the age of 75. The former American President Ronald Reagan became president at the age of 70 and served two terms. Here in Africa, Tunisian newly- elected President Beiji Caid Essebsi is 88 years. Our oldest African President in Zimbabwe is 93 before he handed over to his wife. It is not age that matters but wisdom and from human history old age is associated with wisdom.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If age and academic qualification is the magic for good governance, Nigeria would have been one of the best today. This is because for the first time in our history as a nation, we have a doctorate degree holder at the helm of affairs. But the big question is how far has it been of an advantage to the nation? Whatever it is, let’s discuss issues, and live personality out of the debate.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SUN</strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-15335871057108217842015-01-15T05:33:00.002-08:002015-01-15T05:34:09.947-08:00<h2 class="title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #31312d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
President shifts Ondo rally as 46 PDP leaders join APC ….Nation</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<img src="http://i6.cmail2.com/ei/i/28/840/53A/csimport/JONAG.003902.png" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in Ondo State might have fallen apart with yesterday’s defection of 48 ky members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Following the development, President Goodluck’s campaign – slated for today in Akure, the state capital, was cancelled.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko who is the Southwest coordinator of the Jonathan campaign, received a huge jolt by the defections, announced at a news conference in Akure, it was learnt.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Since Mimiko’s return from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP, the party in the state has not knonw peace.<span id="more-16648" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Party leaders have accused the governor of playing politics of exclusion.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Part of the reasons they gave is his choice of Mr. Tokunbo Modupe as the Jonathan campaign coordinator in the state when he (mimiko) is the Southwest coordinator. He was accused of not giving any consideration to the original members of the PDP.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mimiko’s spokesman Mr. Eni Ekinsola, however, said the Presidential Campaign in Akure was rescheduled because of the need for the President to receive visiting former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Mr. Kofi Annan.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The defectors who were mostly former political office holders, old PDP members and former Labour Party(LP) chieftains include, the Chief of Staff to former Governor Olusegun Agagu, Mr. Femi Agagu, former Speakers of the State Assembly, Victor Olabimtan and Taofeek Abdulsalam, a House of Representatives member for Owo/Ose federal constituency, Eniolorunda Omosule, Niran Sule, Akinyemi Akinnigbagbe and Tola Wewe.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Others are Prince Olowokanga, Bukola Tenabe, Boye Adegbemisoye, Olaitan Ayeni, Mrs Tola Owoh, Ife Iji, Felix Okereji, Akinyugha Jones, Kunle Odidi, Abiodun Jerome, Pelemo Samuel, E.O Obagbemi, Ade Obe, Banji Ajaka, Tolu Babaleye, Akin Aibinuomo, Funso Esan, Kole Oluwajana and Feyi Bali.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The rest are: Deolu Ijose, Otunba Itiola, Deji Aiyejoto, Tolu Fadahunsi, Tony Jayeola, Tola Akinseye, Yinka Orokoto, Jide Ipinsagba, F.A Falohun, Kunle Adebayo, Razaq Obe, Rasak Isijola, Falana Tajudeen, Segun Adagunodo, Wale Ogunmola, Prince Kiladejo, Wale Adegbakinro Hon. Olasunkanmi and Tunde Taiwo.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Agagu, who spoke on their behalf, hinged their defection on the fact that Nigeria needs a change and Ondo state needs a new direction.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The former CoS said those in their group were formidable stakeholders.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
He decried the level of tyranny and bad leadership in the state.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Agagu said the defectors included former state party chairman, working committee members, members of National Assembly, Speakers and members of the State Assembly, commissioners and Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries and Senior Civil Servants; Chairmen of Boards, parastatals and local government councils, special assistants, councilors and established grassroots political leaders.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
He added that they had resolved to embrace change which the APC represents and drum support for the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and other candidates of the party.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The former CoS said: “We took this decision after lenghty sessions of consultation with friends,political associates as well as supporters in all the 203 wards of the state. We have also received the confidence of distinguished elder statesmen, non political young amd elderly citizens who are concerned about the future of our dear state and country.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Today is indeed a watershed in the political history of Ondo State. Never before have so many notable people chosen to desert a political party at the same time like this.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
‘’There are several reasons for our decision but most important is the obvious fact that Nigeria needs change and Ondo State, a new direction, we need change which is the burden of good, honest, diligent, prepared, tested and competent leadership.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Change, which is a mission to a destination of greatness where our state and nation ought to be. Change from broken promises, broken infrastruture, broken confidence, broken trust, broken leadership and broken future, all from which our people daily and consistently suffer”.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Receiving the defectors, National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of APC, Chief Pius Akinyelure assured them of level play ground,stressing that there is no founder, no joiner in the party.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Akinyelure charged members to go back to their local governments and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
State APC Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, said the defection of prominent chieftains of PDP has finally collapsed the structure of the party.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The former Secretary to the State Government(SSG)said the party and the entire citizenry would resist any attempt to rig the elections.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
He urged INEC to allow collection of PVC,urging the electoral body to inform the people that “<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kaadi Igbeayo</em>” could not substitute PVC.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dignitaries at the event include Senator Ajayi Boroffice,Chief Tayo Alasoadura, Lebi Morayo, Ifedayo Abegunde, Adedipe Adegboyga, Ade Adetimehin, Tunji Abayomi, Erelu Modupe-Akindele Johnson, Kehinde Adeniran, Abayomi Adesanya, Olu Adegboro, Solagbade Amodeni,Adewale Omojuwa, among others.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NATION</strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-81793022357687883162015-01-15T05:32:00.001-08:002015-01-15T05:32:16.583-08:00<h2 class="title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #31312d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Nigeria needs war general to survive –Tinubu</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<img alt="2039dabd1f8c306cef01d9ee2d78dc52_L" src="http://www.informationng.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2039dabd1f8c306cef01d9ee2d78dc52_L-600x450.jpg" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said yesterday that if Nigeria must survive the challenges facing her, General Muhammadu Buhari must be voted as the next president. <b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Speaking at the campaign rally of the party in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Tinubu made it clear that Nigeria was facing serious problems that required the experience of a war general.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
He said: “When America was in a serious challenge, the people turned to their ex-war general, General Isaac Hoewer. When Great Britain was facing serious challenge, the people brought in their war general, Winston Churchill; when France was in a serious challenge, the people sought for a war general, Charles De Gaulle and he saved the nation.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Nigeria is facing serious challenge now and needs a war general for it to survive the challenge and Buhari is the general.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been ruling the country since 1999 and after 16 years the party could not boast of having done anything successfully for the nation.<span id="more-16670" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The former governor asked the people who thronged the place whether they were satisfied about the state of electricity in the country and the people said no.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #484845; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
He also asked them if they were pleased with the state of security, education employment and roads, among others and the people said no; he then urged them to vote APC en masse in the coming elections, saying only Buhari could save the nation from collapse</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-3421133719099859662015-01-14T03:48:00.002-08:002015-01-14T03:48:36.648-08:00<h2 style="background: url(http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/themes/punch/images/dots-horizontal.gif) 0% 100% repeat-x scroll rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-color: rgb(255, 1, 1); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.17em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 9px 4px;">
Messi admits he could leave Barcelona</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="story-featured-image" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); color: #333333; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 15px; width: 308px;">
<img alt="Lionel Messi" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="233" src="http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Lionel-Messi1.jpg" style="background-color: whitesmoke; border: none; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding: 4px;" width="300" /><div class="featured-image-caption" style="clear: both; color: #dd0000; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 5px 10px 0px;">
Lionel Messi</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Lionel Messi saw arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo beat him to the Ballon d’Or in Zurich and then reignited speculation over his own future by saying, “I don’t know where I’ll be next year.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Barcelona and Argentina superstar Messi appeared to row back on his own comments made 24 hours earlier that rumours that he could leave the Camp Nou for Chelsea or Manchester City were “all lies”, reports<em>AFP</em>.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“I always said that I would finish my career at Barcelona and then at (his home town club in Argentina) Newell’s,” Messi told reporters after Real Madrid’s Portuguese icon Ronaldo lifted the world footballer of the year title for the second year in succession at Monday’s glittering FIFA awards ceremony.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“But I don’t know where I’ll be next year.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“As Cristiano (Ronaldo) said recently, football has many twists and anything can happen,” added the Barca talisman, who himself won the Ballon d’Or four years in a row from 2009.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
After a superb performance in Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Spanish champions Atletico Madrid on Sunday, Messi had angrily dismissed talk that he wanted to leave after clashing with Barca’s manager Luis Enrique and the club’s board.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“I have never demanded anything to ensure that I stay because I never had any intention of leaving,” he told<em>Barca TV</em> after the match.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Messi’s relationship with Enrique had come under scrutiny after the forward was benched for the 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad a week earlier. The rumours grew after Messi missed the first training session after that match, citing a stomach bug.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“I have heard it said that my dad has spoken to Chelsea or Manchester City. It is all lies. I have taken this chance to deny it so that everyone knows the truth,” Messi said Sunday.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
But his latest comments are sure to regenerate interest from a number of cash-rich English Premier League clubs.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Manchester United are reportedly one of the few that could afford the buyout fee from his contract, reportedly set at 250 million euros (195 million pounds, $296 million), without falling foul of UEFA’s financial fair play rules.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
With Messi commanding a reported salary in the region of 20 million euros a year the total cost of acquiring his services on a five-year deal could be a world record-shattering 350 million euros.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839163602085393675.post-67415244961159437632015-01-14T03:47:00.005-08:002015-01-14T03:47:54.132-08:00<h2 style="background: url(http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/themes/punch/images/dots-horizontal.gif) 0% 100% repeat-x scroll rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-color: rgb(255, 1, 1); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.17em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 9px 4px;">
I found nothing after probing Buhari’s PTF – Obasanjo</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="story-featured-image" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); color: #333333; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 15px; min-width: 378px !important; width: 368px;">
<img alt="Former President Olusegun Obasanjo" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Former-President-Olusegun-Obasanjo-360x225.jpg" style="background-color: whitesmoke; border: none; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding: 4px;" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption" style="clear: both; color: #dd0000; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 5px 10px 0px;">
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 10px 18px 5px 0px; width: 370px;">
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7167863529667065" data-ad-slot="6184555097" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: inline-block; height: 140px; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_1_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_1_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="140" hspace="0" id="aswift_1" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_1" scrolling="no" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" vspace="0" width="370"></iframe></ins></ins></ins></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday said his administration probed the accounts of the Petroleum Trust Fund headed by the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and found nothing unpleasant.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Buhari headed the PTF, inaugurated in March 1995, under the regime of the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha. The PTF was established to manage the fund accruable from the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise know as petrol, from N3.25 to N11.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
The PTF was scrapped by Obasanjo on assumption of the Presidency in 1999. The ex-President also set up a committee to investigate the accounts of the PTF following allegations of N25bn fraud in the agency.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Obasanjo’s fresh revelation was made in Ogun State when Buhari and other national leaders of the APC visited the ex-President at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
On the Buhari’s entourage were the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; the party’s former interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; a former governor of Lagos State and a national leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, and the governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, among others.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Obasanjo said when he looked into the report submitted to him on the alleged fraud in the PTF he did not see anything incriminating concerning Buhari.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He said, “When you were going to become the manager of PTF. We talked about it and when you finished and I took over, we looked into it.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“I haven’t said this publicly, I would say it publicly now. When we looked into it, there was really nothing amiss except that that organisation went from road building to mosquito net-buying and all sorts of things.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“And what the investigation discovered is a bit of inconsistency in prices and all that. In one area, mosquito net might have been given for N50; in another, N45. And I then remarked that this is fishy. We should look into it.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“And I called my brother and colleague (Buhari), I said see this and he said ‘look we are managing billions of Naira and I tried to make sure I see everything.But I will not say that what they have said about this is correct or not correct. But I can assure you, I tried to see everything.’</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“I said okay Muhammadu, between me, you and God, was there any personal benefit for you? And you said ‘no.’ I said that is the end of the matter.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“Although there was that investigation, its report was not of any material importance.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Obasanjo asked Buhari and other presidential candidates to address the nagging issues of insecurity, economy and deficit in infrastructure.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He implored the presidential candidates to focus on issues rather than trivialities.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He said, “I hope people will face issues rather than trivialities. On occasions like this, issues are very important. And you have mentioned three areas which are demanding issues in Nigeria today.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“I will just beg all of you who are contesting to add one to it; you mentioned economy, you mentioned corruption, and you mentioned security.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“I will beg of you to add infrastructure. It’s very important. You may take it as part of economy but I will take infrastructure as special and give it special attention.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
While he described a political party as a microcosm of a nation, which would consist of near saints, devils, rapists, and armed robbers, Obasanjo warned that when the party wanted to go into government, it must look for men and women of integrity.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
Speaking earlier, Buhari said he would tackle corruption while the resources would be used to address infrastructural deficit.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He said if elected, his administration would also give priority to security and fix the economy, stressing that Obasanjo had more experience than him and others in governance.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
He said, “It’s a fact that you know more than all we know about the problem that we are in. But what we’ll do is try to convince you to believe us that we are going to do better.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“We have been going around three fundamental issues: security, economy, corruption. This vicious circle is what the APC is determined to break.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“Because without security, there is no way the country can settle down not to talk of living in it. So many people, educated and uneducated, some said up to 60 per cent, will say Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
“We believe that if we are able to stop corruption, a lot of resources will be available to invest in infrastructure, get the factories to reopen, get jobs and get goods and services. So security, economy, in terms of employment, production, manufacturing, goods and services, and then agriculture will again be given impetus to employment.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;">
<strong><em>Copyright PUNCH.</em></strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09960661158228694562noreply@blogger.com0