Boko Haram Militants Attack Kayamula Village Near Maiduguri

According to Sahara Reporters
Islamist militant group, Boko Haram has intensified their
attacks in Borno state less than 24 hours after President
Goodluck Jonathan paid an unscheduled visit to the
state. Villagers invade told SaharaReporters that the
militants killed several villagers and burnt down many
homes as well as shops. The attack that was initially
resisted by vigilantes known as “Civilian Joint Task
Force” affected Kayamula, a village some 15km to the
Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri.
Kayamula is in Konduga local government area of the
state. Some resident, that fled the scene of the attack,
said they received advance notice that Boko Haram
militants were headed to the village and passed the
information to the army but nothing was done to protect
the village.

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Criticism trail President’s visit to Maiduguri following Boko Haram attack

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan ventured into the
heartland of Boko Haram Islamist militants just days after the
group killed hundreds in the town of Baga close to Lake Chad.
Jonathan spent three hours in Maiduguri, capital of Borno
state, meeting survivors of the deadly January 3 Boko Haram
attack.
At a camp offering shelter to some of the 5,000 people who
fled their homes, Jonathan promised that the displaced would
soon be able “to go back to your houses.”
One displaced person who asked not to be named told DW’s
Hausa language service that Jonathan had come to the camp
to deflect criticism that “with all the killing happening in the
area, he failed to visit us until the end of his tenure.”
Jonathan last visited Maiduguri in March 2013.
Another displaced person told DW that Jonathan had been
greeted with the cry “Sai Buhari” meaning “we are with
Buhari.”
This was a reference to former military ruler Muhammadu
Buhari, Jonathan’s main rival for the presidency in nationwide
elections in Nigeria on February 14.
However, Jonathan’s spokesman Reuben Abati insisted at a
media briefing that “it was not a political visit – the president
did not discuss politics.”
Jonathan visited the Nigerian army’s 7th Division base in
Maiduguri, where disgruntled troops shot at their commanding
officer last May, leading to a court martial at which 12 were
sentenced to death for mutiny. Nigerian troops have
complained that Boko Haram are better equipped with
weapons than they are.
Boko Haram has swathes of northeastern Nigeria under its
control, but Jonathan said in Maiduguri his security chiefs had
promised that “all the areas under the control of Boko Haram
will soon be recaptured.”
Previous efforts by the Nigerian military to contain Boko
Haram have met with little success.
Boko Haram’s occupation of areas of northeasten Nigeria has
raised questions about the credibility of the February 14
elections as voting is unlikely to be possible there.
The Boko Haram insurgency has long since spread beyond
Nigeria’s borders. Chad said this week it will send a large
number of troops to neighboring Cameroon to help it fight
incursions on its territory by the militants.
The move, announced by President Idriss Deby Itno, was
backed unanimously by members of the Chadian parliament
on Friday.
Chad has said it will also send troops to Nigeria itself.
French President Francois Hollande, whose country is still
reeling from a lethal Islamist militant attack on the offices of a
satirical magazine in the French capital Paris, accused Boko
Haram on Friday of “carrying out crimes against humanity” in
Nigeria.
“France must give more help to countries fighting this
scourge,” he told ambassadors.
Similar remarks were made earlier by US Secretary of State
John Kerry who also referred to a “crime against humanity” on
hearing of the destruction of Baga and nearby Doron Baga by
Boko Haram.
Rights group Amnesty International has released satellite
images of the towns before and after the attack which appear
to show “devastation of catastrophic proportions.”
( DEUTSCHE WELLE )

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Aftermath of bank robbery: Anger, anguish in Ikare-Akoko

The sleepy town of Ikare-Akoko in Akoko South West Local
Government Area of Ondo State came under fire on Tuesday,
January 13. It was the day some daredevil armed robbers
invaded the town and shook the headquarters of the Akoko
nation to its foundation.
The sons of the devil mowed down no fewer than 20 residents
of the town, including four police officers.
The community has, since the unfortunate incident, been
thrown into serious mourning and untold grief, as many
families were affected by the unfortunate incident. Those who
did not have their relatives killed in the robbery attack had
friends and associates injured by the armed robbers. Right
now, the entire town still wears a sorrowful look.
The robbers took the people of the town by surprise. It was
learnt that they had arrived the town hours before they
commenced their dastardly operation that reportedly started at
4.00pm and lasted for close to three hours.
During the operation, huge sums of money were carted away
by the armed robbers who stormed a branch of a new
generation bank in the town. From there, they moved to the
police station located along Owo Road where they attacked
the policemen on duty. In the process, they killed four officers
and left three severely injured.
At the end of the operation, it was gathered that the robbers
killed 15 people, including four policemen. Efforts to apprehend
them by both the police and the community’s vigilance group
proved abortive.
Since then, more persons have died as a result of injuries they
sustained during the robbery, it was gathered.
Sources in the town informed the reporter that the armed
robbers, in a well-planned operation, had divided themselves
into two groups, with one group blocking the police station
along Owo Road while the other attacked their targets along
Jubilee Road in the town.
The policemen were killed in their station while trying to
mobilise more men to confront the robbers. But other victims
of the attack, including a former chairman of the National
Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Kenny Gold,
were killed at the scene of the robbery.
Most of the victims, the source said, were killed while trying to
withdraw money from the automated teller machine (ATM)
placed at the entrance of the bank. Another set of victims, it
was learnt, was killed within the bank premises.
The incident, the reporter learnt, was the second within a year.
The last robbery, which occurred in the night, had the door of
a branch of the bank blown with dynamites. All the banks in
the town also closed for days after the incident.
A resident of the town, one Mr. Wale, who volunteered
information, said the armed robbers had stationed a group
with a military vehicle in front of the police station while
another group was ready for action at the bank area along
Jubilee Road in the town.
As one of the groups was attacking the bank with dynamites
and grenades in order to gain access to the banking hall,
Gidado stated that the other group was engaging the
policemen who were on duty to prevent them from mobilizing
their men to the scene of the crime. Both operations, he said,
went on simultaneously in the town as gunshots reverberated
throughout the busy Jubilee Road, where the bank is located,
and its environs.
Since the incident, members of the community have continued
to mourn the brutal killing of the residents who died in the
unfortunate incident. They have also vowed to avenge the
gruesome killing of their loved ones. As a result of the
incident, business and commercial activities have been
paralysed in honour of the victims.
The people of the town, who lamented the invasion of the
community by armed bandits numbering about 10, also called
on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, to
improve the security of the town. They also plan to employ
the services of vigilantes to forestall a recurrence, the reporter
was told.
The traditional ruler of the town, Oba Akadiri Momoh, who
condemned the incident, urged the police to investigate the
robbery that led to the killing of his subjects, just as he urged
the security men to ensure that the perpetrators of the
dastardly act were brought to book.
The monarch, who said he had met with traditional chiefs in
the town on how to ensure adequate security in the
community, confirmed that the death toll had risen to over 20.
According to him, many of the victims of the robbery attack
died after the armed robbers had left the town.
He said since the incident, prominent personalities, including
Senator Bode Olajumoke and representatives of the state
government who conveyed the condolences of the state
Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko to the people, had visited the
town.
Primary and secondary schools in the town were closed for
two days, while all the markets in the town were also shut for
two days as a mark of honour for those who lost their lives in
the incident.
The community, it was gathered, have concluded plans to
employ traditional methods to avenge the evil acts of the
robbers. A resident who pleaded anonymity said traditionalists
in the town had been meeting on measures to dole out
adequate punishment to the yet unknown gunmen.
Meanwhile, the state police command has expressed its
readiness to ensure that the robbers were arrested and
brought to justice, stressing that the town would not be left in
the hands of robbers.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr.
Wole Ogodo said the police were on the trail of the robbers
and would ensure that they did not go scot-free.
He said peace had finally returned to the town, adding that
the police officers would continue to ensure adequate security
in the town to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
He urged the people of the state and the town in particular to
remain calm, noting that the police would ensure that justice
was served.

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3 Prison inmates to graduate at NOUN convocation onSaturday

Three prison inmates serving various jail terms are among the
over 7,000 graduates expected to be awarded degrees at the
4th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of
Nigerian (NOUN) on Saturday.
The three inmates according to the Vice Chancellor of NOUN,
Prof Vincent Tenebe, who briefed the press on the forthcoming
event, said the inmates are serving at Kirikiri and Enugu
Prisons. He recalled that in 2014, NOUN graduated one
inmate.
Prof Tenebe also revealed that NOUN would confer honorary
degrees on Late Dr. Stella Adadavoh and former Inspector
General of Police, MD Yusuf. He said Dr. Adadavoh would
receive Doctor of Science while MD Yusuf would be conferred
with Doctor of Letters.
‘’This year’s convocation, we are graduating three inmates.
Two of the inmates are from Kirikiri Prisons and one from
Enugu Prisons. We will continue to award our certificates to
inmates found worthy in learning and character’’, the VC
stressed.
He said NOUN would continue to seek for amnesty for inmates
who while serving jail terms graduate and that when they
leave the prison, the inmates would contribute their quota to
the development of the country.
The VC disclosed that NOUN has special study centres
nationwide in Prisons, Police, Army and the paramilitary noting
that Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has come stay in the
country because it is one of the avenue for Nigerians to get
tertiary education.
Tenebe appreciated President Goodluck Jonathan for his
interest in NOUN and used the opportunity to call on
government to increase to NOUN and that if funded properly, it
would be able to tackle the numerous challenges confronting
the country.
He noted that the convocation ceremony would tomorrow and
be delivered by Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, Special Adviser to
the President on Political Affairs, with the theme as ‘’Open &
Distance Learning and Democratic Transformation in Nigeria’’
while Prof. Godswill Obioma, Executive Secretary, Nigerian
Educational Research & Development Council (NERDC) would
chair the event.
On the honorary degree awards, Prof Tenebe described Dr.
Adadavoh as a lady who laid her life to safe many Nigerians
from the Ebola dread disease thus NOUN would honour her at
the convocation ceremony with Doctor of Science and the
former police boss, MD Yusuf, with Doctor of Letter for his
performance while in office as the IG.

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Fire razes warehouses in Lagos

Three warehouses were yesterday gutted by fire in Kirikiri area
of Lagos State, destroying goods worth millions of naira.
The fire, which started at about 3p.m. at Johnson Street, Off
Cardoso Road in Kirikiri town, razed the warehouses storing
imported bicycles, motorcycles and vehicle tubes and tyres.
The warehouses belong to Henry and Henry Limited.
When Daily Sun visited the scene of the incident, the
warehouses were still up in flames. The owners of the
warehouses, who only managed to salvage few of the goods
as soon as the fire started, watched helplessly while the
storehouses went down.
Though the warehouses were fenced and isolated, it was
gathered that fire fighters from a nearby petroleum farm
rushed to the scene to douse the inferno. Their efforts were
successful as they prevented the fire from spreading to the
surrounding buildings.
A resident at the quarters, Casmir Ofonagoro told our
correspondent that the fire started with high intensity, which
made it difficult for the workers to salvage the destroyed
items. He attributed the quick spread of the inferno to the
highly inflammable nature of the goods stored in the
warehouses.
“I just left my house not quite long when my wife called me
that there was a fire outbreak in our area. I quickly returned
to personally witness where exactly the fire was burning.
Everything happened so fast that even if the government fire
service men were alerted, they would have arrived here late. I
never knew that these buildings were used as warehouses,” he
said.
As at the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire had
yet to be ascertained. Some of the workers could not speak
with the press as they worked arduously to protect the
salvaged goods from being stolen by some hoodlums among
the crowd who thronged the scene.
In about two hours of the raging fire, some parts of the
buildings had started cracking and collapsing.

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Student leader, Iya Oloja eulogise Glo

… As 18 winners in N120m Overload promo receive cheques
Commendations poured in for Globacom on Wednesday as the
national operator presented N1 million cheques to each of the
18 winners that have so far emerged in the N120 million Glo
Overload promotion.
The cheques were presented to the winners at a ceremony at
Mike Adenuga Towers, headquarters of Globacom in Lagos.
Student union and market women leaders, who attended the
ceremony, along with the promotion winners, praised
Globacom for its positive impact on Nigerians and the
economy.
Famewo Olalekan, a 24-year-old student leader from Yaba
College of Technology, Lagos, who led other student leaders to
the event, declared: “I am really impressed. I used to watch
the promo adverts and prize presentation ceremonies, but I
never really believed until today.”
He urged students and youths generally to connect to the Glo
network as it offers lots of benefits not offered by other
networks.
“Glo keeps improving. As a student, I enjoy their data
packages because they are affordable and have generous
bonus. We all should support Glo as it is an indigenous
network and has contributed a lot to the Nigerian economy,”
Olalekan stated.
The Iyaloja of Oluwole Market in Lagos, Chief Josephine
Onwudiwe, who led a delegation of market women to witness
the event, also gave kudos to Globacom for empowering the
Nigerian populace through unique promotions.
She said the presentation of N1 million cheques to each of the
18 winners would alleviate poverty in their respective homes
and the country as a whole.
“I call on the womenfolk to join the Glo network,” the Iyaloja
said.
Among the first batch of winners of the promotion were
Mustapha Adebayo, Oluwatosin Alade, Kafayat Odusile,
Oderemi Abimbola, Adebisi Adeshina, Toyin Bamidele, Obembe
Olasope and Idase Edafe. Others were Opeyemi Orelaja,
Olatunbosun Osungboye, Toyin Adeshina, Oyinlola Alaka, Rafiu
Kasali, Aiyejimi Rukayat, Gbemisola Ero, Rashidat Sosanya
and Eguche Anthony.
Presenting the cash prize of N1 million to each of the 18 lucky
subscribers in the first phase of the promotion, Globacom’s
Sales Director, Mr. Kenneth Hall, said: “Globacom is all about
sharing happiness, excitement and good cheer among our
people.” He added that the presentation is part of the several
ways the company is empowering the people.
He thanked Globacom subscribers for the support they have
given the company and called on them to keep faith with the
network and avail themselves of the opportunity to enjoy
exciting rewards such as the N1 million cash prizes handed
out to the lucky subscribers.
He also declared that participating in the promotion is simple
as all subscribers need to do is to dial *200# and recharge
with N200 and above.
Two of the winners were, however, unable to attend the prize
presentation.

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Day Lagos shut down for Ambode

On Wednesday, the city of Lagos literally went down on its
knees when members of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
hit town for their governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode.
It was the day they chose to unveil their youthful flagbearer to
the public.
That sunny Wednsday, all roads led to the Sky Power open
playground near Arch Bishop Vining Memorial Anglican Church,
GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Leading the August crowd to the venue was no other person
but the National Leader of the party and former Lagos State
Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He led other party
chieftains like the state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola
(SAN), his deputy, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefolure state
chairman of the party, Chief Henry Oladele Ajomole, his
deputy, Cardinal James Omolaja Odunbaku and other party
leaders like Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, Speaker of Lagos
State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and
former Yaba LCDA Chairman now Lagos Mainland APC House
of Representatives candidate, Abdur-Raheem Olajide Jimoh
(JJ).
The party’s Woman Leader, Chief Kemi Nelson led the women
folks to the arena. Some of them were the First Lady, Dame
Abimbola Fashola, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former Deputy
Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan among others.
When the candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode along with his
running mate, Alhaja Idiat Oluranti Adebule was heralded into
the venue in an open motorcade, the ecstatic crowd welcome
the duo with ovation while the popular Fuji Maestro, Alhaji
Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, (K1 De Ultimate), treated the jubilant
crowd with praises of Ambode and his ancestors.
Welcoming the crowd of party faithful and supports, the state
chairman of the APC, Chief Ajomole expressed gratitude to
God “for making this day possible,” just as he was full of
thanks to all and sundry, “who found time out of their tight
schedule to be here.”
The elated chairman, who said his remarks would be very
brief had this to say, “By the grace of God, we are going to
win. Somebody who has destroyed the economy of the
country does not deserve re-election. When America had
problem, they changed their government. We are having
problems now. So, we are changing the government at the
center as we are putting another round peg into a round hole
in Lagos State for continuity.”
He thereafter invited the National Leader, Asiwaju Tinubu amid
shout of, “Jagaban Borgu,” “Asiwaju of Africa,” “Governor
Emeritus,” and so on.
After the preambles spiced with funny proverbs and rip
cracking quotations that sent the audience into uncontrollable
laughter, Tinubu now told the August gathering “why
Jonathan must go and why Lagosians should vote for Ambode
and other APC candidates across Nigeria.”
To start with, he described the PDP an “an Ebola-infested
party that should be avoided,” urging the people to flee from
its candidates and whatever is associated with it at the
elections.
According to him, it was evident that the APC will win the
general elections, asserting that, Ambode is better than the
PDP candidate in terms of experience about governance.
Tinubu said: “There is no way for the Poverty Development
Party, the Peoples Deception Party in Lagos because Lagos is
not for experimentation.”
He spoke further: “Lagos has faith in a better and rewarding
future. We said Lagos will not spoil ( Eko o ni baje ). PDP is
Ebola. But, we say Lagos is not for experiment. We know
where we are coming from. We know where we are going. We
don’t need experiment in Lagos.”
While stating that the APC government has lived up to
expectation in the last eight years under Fashola, Tinubu, who
described himself as an expert in talent hunt, added that,
“continuity is desirable,” adding that the choice of Fashola as
the 2007 flag bearer has produced fruits of development,
progress and prosperity for Lagosians.”
He then declared: “Today is a great day. I am a proud man. I
am happy. I thank the Almighty God. This crowd makes me to
be proud of Lagosians. In 2007, I handed over to one young
man. I brought him before you. I told you he would perform
better; that he is a SAN with a sound mind. That man is
Babatunde Raji Fashola.
“It has been eight years of performance, unequalled
performance, unbroken promises, sound experience,
construction of good schools and roads, employment for
younger people, youth skill development. Mother and Child
hospitals are getting better. The state has made progress
under the leadership of Fashola.
“I am a proud leader and father. Whatever they may say, who
is the father of this talent? I am the one. Our prayer is that
our children will live and perform better than us. May your
children live and perform better than you.”
Noting that Lagos State also produced Prof. Yemi Oshinbajo
(SAN) as the APC vice presidential candidate, he said the
legal scholar will team up with General Muhammadu Buhari in
the implementation of the commonsense revolution. He said,
since Nigeria is facing grace challenges, it needs special
leaders at the state and federal levels to navigate the ship of
the state.
Tinubue stressed: “I am happy that Osinbajo, a former
member of Lagos State cabinet, is the running mate to Buhari,
who is a straightforward, bold, honest Nigerian. A nation
needs a special leader in its time of trial. Nigeria made a
mistake in electing Jonathan in 2011. Jonathan is a man who
gives excuses. He has admitted that he has failed. No more
repeat. We want Buhari. Jonathan must go.
“Jonathan has spent all the money. He is spendthrift. Now,
revenue is dropping. We need a man of intellect and an expert
in financial engineering. When the Lagos money was seized,
Ambode
Recalling how Ambode became the candidate, he said it was
in response to the yearning of the youths, women and leaders
of Lagos who rooted for him because they wanted a talented,
experienced youth to continue where Fashola would stop.
He thereafter presented Ambode to the public thus: “It is
therefore my joy to present Akinwumi Ambode to you.”
In his his address, Fashola, amid the shout of; “the Actualizer
of our time,” from the audience urged Lagosians to reject the
PDP at the polls, regretting that, “PDP leaders are fond of
peddling falsehood,” just as he said that, “PDP is more terrible
than Ebola.”
Fashola therefore advised Lagosians of 18 years and above to
vote wisely, adding that they could not be disqualified if armed
with their permanent or temporary voter’s cards. The
governor, who berated the President for failing to fight the
infrastructure battle, said that he does not deserve re-
election.
He added: “Jonathan is complaining that Buhari who was in
power in 1985 did not buy guns for the military. But, Nigerians
solders have been part of the ECOMOG in their peace-keeping
mission in West Africa. Does Jonathan want to fight insecurity
with 1985 guns?”
Noting that the next administration will face some challenges,
Fashola said, since the next challenge is financial
management, Ambode is fit for the job.
Admitting that the task of a governor is tedious, Lagos State
Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) urged Lagosians to
endorse the youthful governorship candidate, saying that he is
full of vigour, zest and energy.
He stressed: “It is a tough job, no doubt. I took the job at the
age of 44. Now, I am 52. When I took the job, I could count
the number of grey hairs I had. Now, I can only count the
strands of black I have left. I thank Lagosians for giving me
the job. I thank Lagosians for also taking care of me.
Akinwumi Ambode is younger than me. You need youthfulness
to do this job. That man (the PDP candidate) is already 60.
An old man cannot do the job. If you call him at midnight, he
will not pick your call.”
Exuding confidence and radiating air of joy, the flagbearer,
Akinwunmi Ambode, who was described as the choice of the
youths, waved his broom to the crowd as he promised to run
an accountable government, if elected at the February 28 poll.
The youthful finance expert and accountant of repute cum
politician, who was accompanied by his wife, Bola, reminded:
“I have been an accountant all my life. I will be accountable
to you. We will make life more economically viable. We will
make Lagos safer. We will set up an Employment Trust fund
that will make youths have access to finance for
entrepreneurship.
“I will be like BRF. I will be like Asiwaju. I have learned under
them. They will pray for me. I will perform better than them. I
will not disappoint Lagosians. Our party exists in all local
governments and nooks and crannies. We stand for the
protection of lives and property. We will carry all the people
along, irrespective of their tribes.
“At the centre, we need change. The economy may collapse, if
it is left in the hands of the PDP. Some parts of the North has
been taken over by the Boko Haram. Enough of suffering
under the PDP. We should vote for Buhari and Osinbajo on
February 14 and 28.”
Ome actors, actresses and artistes that thrilled and spoke in
turns at the event included but not limited to, ace fuji
musician, Alhaji Ayinde Wasiu, Buga, Kunle Afod, Iyabo Oko,
Remi Surutu, Doris Simon, Segun Ogungbe, Sikiratu Sindodo,
and the dreaded actor, Ojo Arowosoge popularly called, Fadeyi
Oloro .
While Alhaji Kabiru Ahmed of LASEPA addressed the gathering
in Hausa, Chief Chris Ekwilo also made comments in Igbo.

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Election: Beware of Obasanjo’s antics, Fayose warnsNigerians

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has warned Nigerians to
beware of the activities of former President Olusegun Obasanjo
as the nation prepares for next month’s presidential election.
Fayose also said the North deserved to present a better
candidate than All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential
flag bearer, General Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement by the governor in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, he said
Nigerians should be wary of the former president’s intention
regarding who should be elected president during the election.
Obasanjo, he said, should also be watched over his romance
with APC leaders despite claiming to be a leader of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “Nigerians should be wary of
Obasanjo’s banana peels. He was the one who put forward
Umar Yar ‘Adua as the president knowing the man’s state of
health and the man died in office.
He was the one who said President Goodluck Jonathan was
the best for Nigeria and that without him there would be no
Nigeria.
“The question people should ask former President Obasanjo is
what has gone wrong between now and then? He is against
President Jonahan because the president refused to be
pocketed by him and any Nigerian leader who wants to
succeed will not allow that.”
“Obasanjo is now presenting General Muhammadu Buhari as
the best candidate for Nigeria knowing the man’s age and
that the pressure of office would be too much for him,” he
said.
Fayose insisted that the former president only wanted to
plunge the country into needless crisis, like he allegedly did
during the Yar ‘Adua era.
“In the North, there are so many qualified, brilliant and
credible people who can rule the country well. Why is
Obasanjo
going after an old horse that may collapse midway ? Nigerians
should know the state of health of Buhari. His age and health
cannot stand the rigours of the office. Nigerians deserve to
know
the health status of Buhari.
“The strange love between Obasanjo and Tinubu is like a lion
and a goat living together in the same house. Jonathan should
be
allowed to complete his term and after that the North will be
allowed to present a credible candidate in 2019, not an old
horse
being put forward,” the governor said.
He admonished Nigerians not to trust Obasanjo in his latest
game.
Beware of/mack hd
Election: Beware of Obasanjo’s antics,Fayose warns Nigerians
By WOLE BALOGUN, Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has warned Nigerians to
beware
of the activities of former President
Olusegun Obasanjo as the nation prepares for next month’s
presidential election.
Fayose also said the North deserved to present a better
candidate than All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential
flag bearer, General Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement by the governor in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, he said
Nigerians should be wary of the former president’s intention
regarding who should be elected president during the
election.
Obasanjo, he said, should also be watched over his
romance with APC leaders despite claiming to be a leader of
the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
“Nigerians should be wary of Obasanjo’s banana peels. He
was the one who put forward Umar Yar ‘Adua as the
president
knowing the man’s state of health and the man died in office.
He was the one who said President Goodluck Jonathan was
the best
for Nigeria and that without him there would be no Nigeria.
“The question people should ask former President Obasanjo is
what has gone wrong between now and then? He is against
President
Jonahan because the president refused to be pocketed by him
and any
Nigerian leader who wants to succeed will not allow that.
“Obasanjo is now presenting General Muhammadu Buhari as
the
best candidate for Nigeria knowing the man’s age and that
the
pressure of office would be too much for him,” he said.
Fayose insisted that the former president only wanted to
plunge the country into needless
crisis, like he allegedly did during the Yar ‘Adua era.
“In the North, there are so many qualified, brilliant and
credible people who can rule the country well. Why is
Obasanjo
going after an old horse that may collapse midway ? Nigerians
should know the state of health of Buhari. His age and health
cannot stand the rigours of the office. Nigerians deserve to
know
the health status of Buhari.
“The strange love between Obasanjo and Tinubu is like a lion
and a goat living together in the same house. Jonathan should
be
allowed to complete his term and after that the North will be
allowed to present a credible candidate in 2019, not an old
horse
being put forward,” the governor said.
He admonished Nigerians not to trust Obasanjo in his latest
game.

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Why President Jonathan must be returned –Uduaghan

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has declared
that re-electing President Goodluck Jonathan for another term
in office is non-negotiable for the people of the South-South
geo-political zone.
Governor Uduaghan, addressing a mammoth crowd that turned
out for the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally
at Koko, Warri North Local Government Area maintained that
the President deserved another four years in office because he
has a listening ear to the plight of the Niger Delta region.
“The biggest fish in this 2015 election is President Goodluck
Jonathan, who is re-contesting again as the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is not just a son of this area, it
is significant that we re-elect him because he understands our
problems, when we cry to him, he listens,” he said, adding, “it
is our responsibility to vote for him (President Goodluck
Jonathan), we did it before and we shall do it again.”
Dr. Uduaghan asserted that all the candidates of the PDP in
the February 2015 general elections deserved to be elected
because they are masses-oriented in their thoughts and
actions.
Speaking on the choice of Kingsley Otuaro as running mate to
the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Uduaghan
explained that the decision was a strategic move aimed at
consolidating on the peace in Warri area.
According to him, “we have had our fair share of conflicts in
this area, we have tried to manage the peace and security in
this area, it has not been easy, nobody should take the peace
and security we are enjoying for granted because a lot of
persons contributed to it. We have a lot of youths who are
today living peacefully together.
“To continue with that peaceful process is not going to be
easy but I believe if people in this area continue to be active
in politics, we can continue to maintain that peace and even
take it higher.”
“There is a young man who was involved in ensuring that we
actively and seriously maintain peace in this area. I am saying
this because I can give testimonies of his activities for us in
achieving peace in this area. He was a community leader, he
was involved in most of the activities we carried out for us to
have peace…and today, our governorship candidate, Senator
Ifeanyi Okowa has chosen him to be his running mate and
that is the person of Kingsley Otuaro.”
He added: “For me as an individual, the duo of Dr Okowa and
Otuaro as governor and deputy governor respectively is a
divine blessing for us because even as we are enjoying the
peace, there are also things that can cause insecurity,
fortunately, he ( Otuaro) is an evangelist and he is praying,
and through his experience in achieving peace in this area,
Delta State will continue to enjoy peace.”
“This is because, the truth is that when there is sneezing in
this area, not only Delta State will shake but the whole of
Nigeria will be affected. We are going to ensure and give him
the responsibility to ensure that there is no sneezing in this
area.”
Governor Uduaghan introduced President Jonathan as the PDP
presidential candidate, Senator Okowa as the governorship
candidate in the state, Senator James Manager as the
senatorial candidate for Delta South, Daniel Reyenieju as the
House of Representatives candidate for Warri Federal
Constituency and Michael Diden as the House of Assembly
candidate for Warri North Local Government Constituency.
Senator Okowa, at the occasion thanked Governor Uduaghan
for encouraging him and also commended the people for
believing in him.
He promised to embark on programmes that will better the
lives of the people of the state, noting that the PDP
government has transformed Delta since it assumed power in
1999.
Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Edwin Uzor urged
Deltans to vote massively for PDP candidates, stating that
there was no other political party that had better ideology and
had empowered the people through the delivery of dividends of
democracy to the people like the PDP.

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Lagos PDP wants INEC offices moved from LG secretariats

Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is
demanding the relocation of some of the offices of
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from their
present locations in local government council offices.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Federal Ministry of
Housing by Lagos PDP state Chairman, Olatunji Shelle, he
said relocation of the offices to a neutral ground would
engender confidence in the political parties in the state.
“The premises of the following local government council
offices in Lagos presently serve as INEC offices are: Mushin,
Apapa, Oshodi Isolo, Kosofe, Eti-Osa, Ojo and Agege. The
location of INEC offices entirely in the premises of a political
party does not generate the necessary confidence on the part
of other political parties that are contesting for elective offices
in Lagos State.
“The following premises have been identified and found
suitable for this purpose: Mushin LGA =former NITEL office;
Cappa Oshodi, Oshodi Isolo = former NRC secretariat; Okota,
Apapa = former Federal Printing Press, Malu Road; Kosofe =
former NITEL office, Shagisha; Eti-Osa = former Ministry of
Housing building, Obalende; Ojo = former NRC secretariat,
Okokomaiko and Agege = part of NYSC orientation camp,
Ikeja,” the statement read.

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Port Harcourt refinery targets N182bn earnings

Despite the slide in global crude oil price, the Port Harcourt
Refining Company (PHRC) has concluded plans to rake in
about N182 billion from the sale of petroleum products.
Besides, the company said it also recorded a net profit of
N11.2 billion in December 2014.
Its Managing Director, Dr. Bafred Enjugu, explained that the
revenue target and last month’s profit figure of N11.2 billion
was as a result of the phased rehabilitation programme and
resumption of crude supply to the plants.
Enjugu stated that last month’s financial performance was
N8.2 billion or 250 per cent higher than the N3.2 billion
posted by the company in November.
‘‘The company has also mapped out plans to harness various
business opportunities available to it through plans by its
commercial department to rake in additional N182 billion
annually from sales of deregulated products including Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and other
derivatives,’’ he said.
He stated that the development remained the dividend of the
ongoing phased rehabilitation of the company’s plant facilities
and receipt of crude by marine vessels. The PHRC regretted
that pipeline vandalism on its 54 kilometre crude line from
Shell facility in Bonny had made it near impossible for the
refinery to function until the intervention of President Goodluck
Jonathan through the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, who approved receipt of crude for the
refinery through marine vessels.
As part of the direct intervention of government, he said
Alison-Madueke has also resolved the age-long problem of
epileptic power supply to run the facilities at the refinery.
Under the power supply arrangement, private player in the
electric power sector, Gel Utilities Limited, now provides
electricity to run the refinery from its recently commissioned
generation plants.
With the various measures activated to enhance the
operations of the company, Enjugu said the company has
started making meaningful contribution to the nation’s
petroleum products pool.
Such developments, according to him, would not only bring in
more income for the refinery but will also help solve
constraints, which sometimes led to shut down of its
processing units. Enjugu said the decision of the Federal
Government to supply crude to the refinery by marine
transportation; supply of power by IPP, and approval for a
new strategy of using in-house skills for a phased
rehabilitation have contributed to the recent increase in
production and plant capacity utilisation.
He disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC) resorted to the new strategy of phased rehabilitation
using in-house staff and local capacities when the Original
Refinery Builders (ORB), the JGC of Japan refused to come to
the country for the job, citing security concerns.
The use of in-house personnel in rehabilitation of the refinery,
he pointed out, also falls in line with the Nigerian Content
Development Act for the petroleum sector.

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…As FG urged to diversify export for more revenue

To contain the negative impacts of oil price crash on the
nation’s economy, the Federal Government has been urged to
diversify export to beef up its revenue base.
According to Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje, Senior Consultant/CEO of
RTC Advisory Services Limited, who gave this advice Thursday
in Lagos at the Annual Economic Review of Finance
Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN),these should
form the fulcrum of the Federal Government’s responses to
the oil price crisis.
He explained that the government had done very well in
diversifying the domestic economies into various sectors, but
should also diversify exports and its revenue base with a view
to moving the nation’s major source of revenue from crude oil,
which constitutes about 95 per cent of its foreign earnings.
His words:“First, period of difficulties, as we all found in our
private lives, are not gloomy periods. They are periods of
opportunities, investments, hard work and in making the
necessary investment decisions. In terms of the structure of
domestic production, we have done a good job of
diversification, but the problem is that ,in terms of the
structure of export and government revenue, we have not done
enough. So, exports are still exclusively oil of about 90 per
cent and government’s revenue comes from that sale of oil.
So clearly, two things would happen, we would have to
diversify exports.And domestically, government would have to
diversify its income which means to increase focus on tax. We
have to diversify export; government has to diversify its
revenue by focusing on tax revenue. The issue of God and tax
will have to be the truth and the reality. Until oil price reaches
$100 again, everybody will have to focus on tax.
“From the point of business, there are still sectors that hold
promise for significant growth. Look at the e-commerce
space, look at Konga and Jumia and the growth that is going
on in that sector. Look at real estate, which is now eight per
cent of the economy. Look at entertainment, which is the
fastest growing sector in the Nigerian economy. Look at some
success in manufacturing around food, beverages and tobacco
and cement, which has significant growth rate. Look at
hospitality, hotels, construction, all of which are growing
above 12 per cent. Look at the solid minerals sector which we
had ignored because of oil, which holds significant
opportunities.”
Advising the Federal Government on austerity measures,
Agbaje noted that the outlook may be difficult and
challenging, which may gravitate the government towards
more borrowing, but cautioned that restraint should be
exercised not to return the nation to debt trap of the 1980s.
“Policy has to deliberately and aggressively cushion the poor
against harsh economic policies, otherwise, we will have
social cataclycism”, he said.

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ABUCCIMA elects new president

…Gives award to Dangote, others
From WALTER UAKEGBU, Abuja
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and
Agriculture (ABUCCIMA) has elected Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye, as
its president for a three-year tenure thus marking the end of
Mr. Solomon Nyagba’s tenure who has served for three years.
During the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the chamber in
Abuja last week, Ejinkeonye was elected marking the end of
the three-year tenure of the team led by Nyagba.
According to the Vice President, Public Relations, Jude Igwe,
the new team would be inaugurated next week in Abuja under
the chairmanship of National President, Alhaji Mohammed
Badaru Abuabakar, of NACCIMA.
He stated that during the event, Alhaji Aliko Dangote,
Chairman, Dangote Group, would be given an award as Abuja
Chamber Industrialist of the Year.
Others who would benefit from the award include Sir Emeka
Offor, a renowned international businessman and Chairman of
the Chrome Group as Abuja Chamber Businessman of the
Year.
Mr. Oscar Onyema, the Director General of Nigerian Stock
Exchange (NSE) will be honoured as Abuja Chamber Most
Innovative CEO of the Year, while Mr. Olatunde Ayeni will be
awarded the Abuja Chamber Investor of the Year.
As a prelude to the event, ABUCCIMA held its annual business
roundtable with the theme, “Accessing Governmental and
Institutional Support by Small and Medium Enterprise.”
ABUCCIMA was founded in 1986 by the private sector
operators in Abuja to promote, protect and develop all matters
affecting commerce, industry, mines and agriculture in Abuja
and Nigeria in general.

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FMBN to complete Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Estate soon

Following the 17 million housing deficit in the country, the
Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria
(FMBN), Gimba Ya’u Kumo, has assured that the bank would
vigorously pursue the completion of Goodluck Jonathan
Legacy Estate in Kaba District in the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT) and the completion of ongoing housing estate projects
under the Ministerial Pilot Housing Scheme nationwide.
Speaking when the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, inaugurated the new board
of FMBN in Abuja, yesterday, Kumo, whose appointment was
renewed, promised that the team would recapitalise the bank
and improve the balance sheet structure to modify its
standing as a financial institution, saying the team would also
work proactively to attract offshore funding for affordable
housing.
“Our strategy will involve developing proactive and effective
strategies to attract offshore funding for affordable housing to
Nigerians as well as improving service delivery to National
Housing Fund (NHF) contributors across the country. We also
plan to look at improvement of staff welfare across board to
ensure a well motivated workforce and profitable operations,”
he said.
In a statement, Kumo assured the Federal Government and
other stakeholders in the sector of the bank’s determination to
sustain the cordial relationship it enjoyed in the previous
years.
“I use this opportunity to request that the same support and
cooperation enjoyed by the previous executive management
team be equally extended to the present team. As a returning
member of the team, I have had the privilege of experiencing
the various challenges facing the FMBN as well as the housing
sector in general,” he said.
Earlier, the Minister said the essence of reconstituting the
team of the FMBN was to reinvigorate the bank and effectively
reposition it to meet the present and future challenges and
also gave a fresh mandate to the management to make house
ownership easier for most Nigerians.
Eyakenyi applauded the performance of FMBN in previous
years, saying the bank continues to be one of the performing
organisations in the country.
She urged the team to create room for innovators and
strategic thinkers in the bank to flourish by reconfiguring the
human resources management architecture of the bank.
“I wish to assure you of the cooperation of the Federal
Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and indeed
my personal support in the task ahead,” she said.

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Portuguese scouts to storm Bauchi for Yuguda Boys

Three soccer scouts from a top Portuguese club will any
moment from now arrive the country to monitor players of
Yuguda Boys FC which last year won the Iber Cup youth
tournament in Estoril, Portugal.
Hint to this effect was dropped yesterday by officials of
Serahana Sports management, the outfit that facilitated the
participation of Yuguda Boys in the Portuguese tournament
that attracts youth clubs from different parts of the globe.
Serahana’s spokesman, Godson Ekadi disclosed that the
Portuguese scouts will during the trip to Bauchi further take a
look at the players of Yuguda Boys FC who were penciled
down during the Estoril meet last year.
“When Yuguda Boys did Nigeria proud in Portugal by winning
the youth tournament, a good number of their players were
spotted. The scouts from Portugal are coming to further
assess them and possibly finalize their signing for some top
European clubs. We are happy the Bauchi state governor Dr
Yuguda is interested in seeing the players take their soccer
career to the next level. We are right now putting everything in
place with the Bauchi state government ahead of the coming
of the scouts,” Ekadi said.
He further stated that everything points to Yuguda Boys
making their second consecutive appearance in the
competition later this year.
“Yuguda Boys may be featuring again in the competition this
year. As defending champions it would be nice for them to go
and defend the trophy they won last year,” Ekadi said, even as
he gave kudos to Bauchi state government for investing in the
youths of the state through football.

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Siasia to cap Arsenal’s Iwobi against Tunisia 

Arsenal’s U21 captain and Dream Team VI new call up, Alex
Iwobi, will get his first cap in Nigeria’s colours in next week’s
international friendly match against Tunisia’s Olympic team.
This much was revealed by Coach Samson Siasia after the
youthful winger dazzled at training in Abuja where the nation’s
U23 team has been preparing for the 2016 Olympic Games
and this year’s All Africa Games qualifiers.
Siasia who could not hide his excitement about the quality of
Iwobi said the Arsenal rising star had proved that he has what
it takes to play for Nigeria. The youngster, who had previously
played for England’s youth teams recently dumped England for
Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Siasia had hailed the Nigeria Football Federation
for getting his team active with both the international friendly
against Tunisia and the Super six coming up later this month
in Abuja.
According to him, both events will enable him and his
technical crew assess the players in camp to know those that
can truly represent the country at the All Africa Games and
next year’s Olympic Games in Rio.
“We have been waiting for opportunities like this to help us
separate the boys from the men, and the Tunisia international
friendly and the Super 6 will give us that opportunity,” Siasia
said.
The former Super Eagles’ chief coach further added that he
had been mandated by the NFF to select 21 players for the
Tunisia friendly, while another set of players would be selected
for the Super 6.
The squad for Tunisia is expected to leave on Thursday. The
Dream Team VI will play its first game against Tunisia on
Saturday next week and the 2nd game on the 28th of January
before returning to the country the next day.

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… As Babayaro tasks Dream Team VI coach on teamselection

Former Nigeria defender, Celestine Babayaro, has charged
Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia, to ensure only the best
players are selected, as the team enters the last phase of
preparations for the 2015 All Africa Games.
Babayaro, who was a member of Nigeria’s Dream Team I, that
won Nigeria and Africa’s first football gold at an Olympics,
said Siasia must shun bias, if he is to select the best players
that would represent Nigeria at this level.
“He must select the best players that can represent us at the
level without being bias, and he must shun favoritism.
“It doesn’t matter where a player is coming from, but it
should be about what such player can do,” he said to Brila
FM.
And speaking about February’s All Africa Games qualifier
against Gabon, Babayaro advised Siasia to respect the
Gabonese, but insisted that only the best players must be
selected.
“The Gabonese are very good and he must know that, and
that will be my advice to him. He must know the kind of
players he should invite, but I trust him to do the right thing,”
Babayaro reckoned.
The Dream Team VI is currently training in Abuja, and has a
few friendly games lined up for it before it embarks on the All
Africa Games qualifiers.

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Ihedioha’s PDP flag as rallying point

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka
Ihedioha, was last week Thursday confirmed the authentic
governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
in Imo State. Inside the expansive Tafawa Balewa Square in
Lagos, he was handed over the party’s banner to represent
PDP in the February 28 gubernatorial election in Imo State.
President Goodluck Jonathan presented the banner to
Ihedioha at a thickly attended ceremony.
Amid pomp and ceremony, Ihedioha’s hands were raised by
national chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and
Senator Hope Uzodinma, one of the leaders of the party in the
state. Indeed, the presentation of the flag was received with
loud ovation by leaders and other party members. Ihedioha
waved cheerfully with an overwhelming tinge of gratification, in
acknowledgment of the sustained applause.
That day’s ceremony is symbolic in many respects. The
presentation of the flag has evidently and permanently
obliterated somewhat doubts erroneously surrounding the
candidature of Ihedioha by Senator Ifeanyi Ararauma’s
protégé. Far more significant is the fact that it will eclipse the
hitherto increasing level of propaganda and disinformation
being churned out from Araraume’s camp on the guber
primary election held on December 8, 2014.
Shortly after the primaries, Senator Araraume, who emerged
second in the keenly contested election, polling 336 as against
Ihedioha’s 346, protested the result and started making
claims. The irony was that immediately after the result was
announced by chairman of the Imo PDP Governorship Primary
Election Panel, Hon. Terngu Tsergba, that Ihedioha won the
election, Araraume swiftly moved and hugged him, in apparent
show of victory concession. Not a few Imolites, who watched
this open show of recognition and solidarity, were shocked
when a few hours later, Araraume started singing a different
tone. He rejected the result as announced and claimed that
the process was manipulated to favour Ihedioha. Many
political watchers failed to understand why the governorship
aspirant decided to throw decency to the wind by speaking
from two sides of the mouth.
Araraume’s logic has been that the votes declared invalid by
the election panel were deliberately entered for Ihedioha, which
provided the pivot that resulted in his defeat. He has
baselessly done the arithmetic in several inaccurate ways to
arrive at pre-determined number. On the contrary, the panel
that conducted the primary had on several occasions
countered and floored Araraume’s jaundiced calculations,
thereby making edifying clarifications.
“A total of 1, 064 delegates were accredited for voting. Voting,
sorting, counting and declaration of result were done in the
open. Hon. Ihedioha polled the highest number of votes. The
other contestants and their scores were also announced. Hon.
Ihedioha was accordingly declared winner. For emphasis, this
outcome was arrived at, agreed to and announced to the
anxious crowd at the stadium, with the full consent of agents
of all the aspirants gathered. There was no dissension
whatsoever by the candidates or their agents,” the panel
chairman had stated.
The party elders in the state, in a statement also emphasised
the openness, transparent and fair nature of the election,
calling Araraume to sheath his sword for the overall interest of
the party. The elders had noted that as agreed by the agents
of all the aspirants, three verification processes were
embarked on to ensure that the exercise was transparent. The
first was identification of the delegates at the main entrance
by all the agents of the aspirants. The agents carried out
another check at the entrance, leading to the voting arena.
The delegates were later made to cast their votes on ward-
by-ward basis. According to them, the security operatives
were also on top of their job, ensuring that law and order were
instituted throughout the duration of the process. This reality
provided the delegates the desirable conducive environment to
cast their votes freely and, evidently, wisely. The elders who
observed that at the end of the voting, the sorting of the
ballots was done in the full glare of all agents of the aspirants
and each ballot was shown to all agents for verification with
the votes counted openly and witnessed by virtually all the
people who were present, including the aspirants, their agents,
media personnel, INEC officials and so on, wondered how
Araraume came about his manipulation theory.
In spite of all these weighty clarifications by relevant and
eminent groups and individuals, instead of consolidating on
the victory concession he earlier made to Ihedioha, Senator
Araraume decided to protest the outcome of the election. The
protests have been episodic. First, he used the media to
register his protest. He later went to court where the case was
struck out. Late last month, he took to the streets in Owerri,
with his motley crowd, where he declared himself the party’s
candidate. Party ticket world over is an intra-party affair
determined by the party’s stakeholders. The presentation of
the Imo guber ticket to Ihedioha by the national leader of the
party, President Jonathan, remains a strong statement, which
should put all discordant positions to rest.
As a loyal party leader, Araraume and his group should do well
by respecting the decision and position of the party elders and
stakeholders, as expressed last week Thursday in Lagos. What
is needed now, more than ever before, is to strike conciliation,
build bridges and linkages, thereby forging a cohesive,
formidable and common force towards dislodging Governor
Rochas Okorocha. The PDP’s collective political mission in the
state is unmistakable. It is a clear project aimed at ensuring
that PDP reclaims Imo. To succeed, all PDP stakeholders in
the state must, as a matter of emergency, unify. This is no
time for rancour and whimsical rebellion.

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Obasanjo, you can’t just wish him away!

Bolaji Tunji
Nigeria on My Mind
bolajitunji@gmail.com, 0805 423 8905 SMS ONLY
I have decided to write on former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, believing if I do, it would help me unravel what
really makes Baba Iyabo,as he is at times called, really tick. In
fact, I want to know who he is, without sounding
disrespectful. Why he is what he is and why he gets away
with things others would dare not even try. I have to sound a
note of warning that I am not that confident that the task I
have set myself would hit the bull’s eye.
I do not need to talk about the fact of his having been head of
the Nigerian state twice. First as a military leader in1976 till
1979 when he handed over the reign of governance to Alhaji
Shehu Shagari.
Like a cat with nine lives, he came back from prison where he
had been sentenced for a coup plot believed to have been
orchestrated by the late Gen Sani Abacha military junta, to
again assume the mantle of leadership of the country when
there were serious suspicion and acrimony in the land with the
death of Gen Abacha and the acclaimed winner of the June
12, 1993 elections, Bashorun MKO Abiola who had been
clamped into detention by the junta for claiming his mandate
and proclaiming himself the president of Nigeria.
Need we talk of the fact that the election that ushered him
into the highest office in the land in 1999 did not have the
support of his kinsmen in the southwest. Other parts of the
country voted for him, but not his people. One can go on and
on about Baba Iyabo. There would always be one tale or the
other to tell. Someone once said that if a man achieved what
Obasanjo has achieved in life, then such a person deserves to
be the father of the nation and thus would be at liberty to do
anything. Is that really what makes Baba tick? I do not know
whether this is why Baba courts controversy or why
controversy continues to trail him? And the controversies have
been many. Whether in his public or private lives,
controversies have always been on the look out for Baba or is
it the other way round?
The bombshell by Gbenga, son of the former president that his
father had amorous relationship with his wife sent the whole
nation reeling in shock. It sounded far fetched. But the son
had gone to court to swear to an affidavit that his wife
actually had an amorous relationship with his father in order
to curry favour from Obasanjo who was the country’s
president at the time. And she was adequately compensated,
“for her adulterous acts with several oil contracts with the
NNPC amongst which was the NNPC consultancy training in
supply chain management and project management awarded
to her company, Bowen and Brown,” was how Gbenga puts it.
Next was the turn of his favorite daughter, Iyabo, who was
appointed Commissioner for health in Ogun state by the
Gbenga Daniel administration. Years later, the chummy
relationship between Obasanjo and Daniel broke down and
ever since there had been no love lost between the duo.
Iyabo, in a letter widely publicised by newspapers, had
accused her father of being a liar, manipulator, two-faced
hypocrite, “determined to foist on President Goodluck
Jonathan what no one would contemplate with him as
president”. Among several others, Iyabo accused her father of
cruelty, abandonment of his children and a legendary
reputation of maltreatment of women, and so on and on. When
the letter initially came to the public domain, it sounded
unbelievable and a lot of people initially viewed it with
disbelieve, that a letter of that nature could come from Baba’s
favorite daughter. But Iyabo never came out to refute the
letter. Thus lending authenticity to her claims. Who else would
know a father more than the daughter?
As an author, Obasanjo has equally stirred controversy. First
was the accusation of Brigadier-General Godwin Alabi-Isama
that Obasanjo’s earlier book, My Command was a tapestry of
inaccuracies. It was the same controversy with his latest
book, My Watch. One can go on and on about controversies
that have trailed the former President.
More recently and in the build up to the February election,
Baba has made it clear that President Jonathan would not be
getting his support. A letter by the ex-president in late 2013
to President Jonathan, entitled, ‘ Before it is too late’, gave
indication that it had not been smooth between the duo. It
was this letter that brought out the anger in Iyabo who
accused her father of playing God.
More recently, the ex president had accused the president of
having failed Nigeria. He stopped short of accusing the
president of incompetence for having depleted the foreign
reserve left behind by him and his successor, late President
Umar Yar’Adua and squandering the crude oil savings of $
35billion.“We left what we call excess crude, let’s build it for
rainy day, up to $35 billion; within three years, the $35 billion
disappeared. Whether the money disappeared or it was
shared, the fact remains that $35 billion disappeared from the
foreign reserve I left behind in office. When we left that money,
we thought we were leaving it for the rainy day…” It was that
same week that he attended the wedding of the President’s
daughter. And that is the Obasanjo enigma.He had criticized
the president publicly and had no compulsion in attending the
president’s daughter’s wedding. Since his 18-page letter to
the president, he had not hidden the fact that he would not
want Jonathan to continue, but stand down as the country’s
president.He is said to have always said he would support
any candidate except Jonathan. Although Obasanjo had not
come out to deny ever saying this, his body language and his
consort with the opposition party is indicative of his stance.Is
Obasanjo really playing God? To many people he is indeed
doing so. People are also quick to point out that when
Obasanjo takes on anybody, the person had better be careful.
Recall his quarrel with his deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Atiku
had never hidden his desire to govern the country, but the
quarrel with Obasanjo scuttled that ambition. The tar of
corruption painted the former Vice President has refused to go
away, in spite of the fact that the courts found no evidence to
sustain that claim.
In Ogun State, his home state, the ex president is at
loggerhead with so many people in his party. Apart from
former governor Daniel, he has refused to accept Prince Buruji
Kashamu who he tagged as a wanted criminal in the United
States. And if Obasanjo is playing God, is his position not a
reflection of the feeling of the generality of Nigerians? How
would his stance affect the outcome of next month’s election.
Is it this fear that has gripped President Jonathan, which led
to an emissary of PDP governors to the hilltop mansion of the
former President to beg and more recently, a meeting between
the duo in the presence of two topmost religious leaders in the
country, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Bishop Oyedepo?
Whichever way one views Obasanjo, though many would say it
matters not, it is always better to be in his good books, those
who had been on his less than positive side would say.

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The attack on French newspaper, Charlie Hebdo

The recent terrorist attack on a French satirical weekly, Charlie
Hebdo, in which about 12 people were killed, has been widely
condemned by leaders across the globe. The attack is believed
to have been launched by suspected Islamic militants because
of certain cartoons published in the newspaper, which they
had earlier claimed to be a mockery of the Holy Prophet
Mohammed.
World leaders have risen in solidarity with France over the
unfortunate incident. There is no doubt that in this attack, the
world united against terrorism. Notable figures have strongly
denounced the dastardly attempt at the abridgement of the
right to freedom of expression and the press that the attack
on the weekly represents. We join our voice to the global
outrage over this incident and unequivocally identify with the
French at this difficult period.
We praise the swift and resolute efforts of the French
authorities to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.
The response of the government and security operatives to the
attack is commendable. It is worthy of emulation by the
relevant authorities in Nigeria.
While we lament the loss of so many lives in this incident, we
hail the solidarity of the French people against the attackers
and their identification with the victims. Nigerians should learn
lessons from this.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in Yemen has
claimed responsibility for this attack, saying it was ordered by
the Islamist militant group’s leadership for insulting Prophet
Mohammed.
The attack on the newspaper is an assault on freedom of
speech and the press. It violates the right to free expression
of opinions. For instance, Article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (1948) states that “Everyone has
the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right
includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to
seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any
media and regardless of frontiers.” This provision is in accord
with the provisions of Sections 22 and 39 of Nigeria’s 1999
Constitution (as amended).
We condemn the attack and call for global action against all
forms of terrorism in every part of the world. Any violation of
human rights, wherever it occurs, is a threat to the welfare
and dignity of the entire human family. Therefore, the
protection of the human right to free speech is a worldwide
responsibility which transcends all racial, ideological and
geographical boundaries.
The problem of terrorism should no longer be localized as an
internal problem of each country or zone. The earlier the entire
world rose against the menace, the better. The world must be
eternally vigilant to be able to overcome the increasing global
terrorism. That it happened in France is an indication that it
could happen anywhere in the world.
Terrorism knows no boundary any longer. World leaders must
cooperate to end it because it is no longer a problem of the
developing world alone. It is spreading like wild harmattan fire
and can strike anywhere. Therefore, the entire world must rise
in unison against the hydra-headed monster.
The solidarity of the world with France in this particular
incident is touching. Such solidarity should be extended to
Nigeria and other countries that are fighting one form of
terrorism or the other.
The United Nations (UN) should come out with a global action
plan against terrorism, which is the new threat to global
peace.
It does not really matter anymore where these attacks occur,
what is important is that terrorism is now a global problem
that requires a global effort to overcome. The world must rise
against the growing phenomenon.

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Reducing pneumonia deaths among children

The abject state of health care, particularly primary health
care, in the country has once again been brought to the fore
with the revelation that of the 800,000 under-five children who
die of pneumonia-related ailments globally every year,
177,000 of the deaths occurred in Nigeria. The implication of
this is that Nigeria has about 20.13 per cent of the global
pneumonia mortality figure. Dr Rui Vaz, the Country
Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), while
reeling out these dismal statistics, observed that the most
affected amongst this vulnerable group are children under two
years, especially in developing countries.
The fact that our children still succumb in such large numbers
to this primary, non-communicable disease should be cause
for serious concern. But, the figures as they relate to Nigeria
would hardly surprise anyone who has followed the nation’s
trajectory in policy formulation and sustainable development.
One thing that has been sorely lacking is continuity in the
implementation of government policies, including those in the
health sector. While the frequent change of guards at the
leadership of the health sector has been named as one of the
reasons for this high pneumonia mortality rate, the lack of
clear and visionary planning cannot be wished away.
Ordinarily, health care should be a top priority of every
government, especially the primary health care level. Nigeria
achieved this during the time the late Professor Olikoye
Ransome-Kuti served as Health Minister. But, it was not
sustained.
There are constant policy flip-flops, backed by unprecedented
corruption in the public service, which stymies service delivery.
The rigorous policy planning and faithful implementation of
programmes in an integrated manner are lacking.
Now, for Nigeria to improve her present dismal record in
pneumonia diseases amongst children and general primary
health care, the related issues of education, housing, potable
water, proper feeding and availability of medicines must be
addressed in a holistic and sustainable manner.
Good housing, complete with proper ventilation, will reduce the
risk factors for pneumonia. Time was when “Housing for All”
was a priority of government. Even then, it was never faithfully
implemented. Neither has it ever really been affordable for the
masses.
There is also the challenge of malnutrition. No matter how we
try to hide it, the majority of our citizens are malnourished,
living on less than one dollar a day. Some children do not get
food and proper nutrition? So, they easily succumb to ailments
such as pneumonia and do not receive proper medical
treatment for the condition.
Health centres and adequate medicines are still a luxury in
many of our states. The health care centres are few and far
between, poorly equipped and ill-manned. Many children do
not receive the necessary immunisations. The incessant
strikes in the health sector also compound the problem. On
the whole, what we have is a dismal picture that hardly
surprises anyone.
What we must not do is accept the present depressing state
of health care. Government can, at least, improve on public
information dissemination on pneumonia and, indeed, other
preventable diseases of children. Preventive measures, such
as national vaccination campaigns, should be stepped up. The
challenge is higher in the rural communities where the
presence of government is hardly felt.
Perhaps, this is another reason to rethink our federation and
give impetus to the devolution of powers. The over-
centralisation of power in Abuja has hardly helped Nigerians in
disparate parts of the country. Government, at the local level,
should take full and proper responsibility for primary health
care, without interference from states or the federal
government.
Then, we must address all the related matters. There is need
for good governance and provision of basic amenities. We
cannot run away from this. Poor primary health care is
directly related to our high infant mortality rates. When we
drastically improve this, chances are that our high infant
mortality rates will reduce.

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Boko Haram victims underwhelmed by President’s visit

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan ventured into the
heartland of Boko Haram Islamist militants just days after the
group killed hundreds in the town of Baga close to Lake Chad.
Jonathan spent three hours in Maiduguri, capital of Borno
state, meeting survivors of the deadly January 3 Boko Haram
attack.
At a camp offering shelter to some of the 5,000 people who
fled their homes, Jonathan promised that the displaced would
soon be able “to go back to your houses.”
One displaced person who asked not to be named told DW’s
Hausa language service that Jonathan had come to the camp
to deflect criticism that “with all the killing happening in the
area, he failed to visit us until the end of his tenure.”
Jonathan last visited Maiduguri in March 2013.
Another displaced person told DW that Jonathan had been
greeted with the cry “Sai Buhari” meaning “we are with
Buhari.”
This was a reference to former military ruler Muhammadu
Buhari, Jonathan’s main rival for the presidency in nationwide
elections in Nigeria on February 14.
However, Jonathan’s spokesman Reuben Abati insisted at a
media briefing that “it was not a political visit – the president
did not discuss politics.”
Jonathan visited the Nigerian army’s 7th Division base in
Maiduguri, where disgruntled troops shot at their commanding
officer last May, leading to a court martial at which 12 were
sentenced to death for mutiny. Nigerian troops have
complained that Boko Haram are better equipped with
weapons than they are.
Boko Haram has swathes of northeastern Nigeria under its
control, but Jonathan said in Maiduguri his security chiefs had
promised that “all the areas under the control of Boko Haram
will soon be recaptured.”
Previous efforts by the Nigerian military to contain Boko
Haram have met with little success.
Boko Haram’s occupation of areas of northeasten Nigeria has
raised questions about the credibility of the February 14
elections as voting is unlikely to be possible there.
The Boko Haram insurgency has long since spread beyond
Nigeria’s borders. Chad said this week it will send a large
number of troops to neighboring Cameroon to help it fight
incursions on its territory by the militants.
The move, announced by President Idriss Deby Itno, was
backed unanimously by members of the Chadian parliament
on Friday.
Chad has said it will also send troops to Nigeria itself.
French President Francois Hollande, whose country is still
reeling from a lethal Islamist militant attack on the offices of a
satirical magazine in the French capital Paris, accused Boko
Haram on Friday of “carrying out crimes against humanity” in
Nigeria.
“France must give more help to countries fighting this
scourge,” he told ambassadors.
Similar remarks were made earlier by US Secretary of State
John Kerry who also referred to a “crime against humanity” on
hearing of the destruction of Baga and nearby Doron Baga by
Boko Haram.
Rights group Amnesty International has released satellite
images of the towns before and after the attack which appear
to show “devastation of catastrophic proportions.”

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