Presidency finally Reacts to Asari and Tompolo’s threat of war

How did we get to the a level in Nigeria where ex-militants will sit right inside a government house to issue out threats to Nigerians? I think we are sinking too deep into this mess and must be checked.

The Federal Government officially reacted to the war threat by ex- Niger Delta militants, on Thursday, saying it was reprehensible.

The condemnation came barely a day after General Theophilus Danjuma called for their arrest and seven days after the ex-militants made the threat at the Government House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The ex-militants – Mujahiden Dokubo-Asari, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), Victor Ebikabowei (aka Boyloaf) and others – had at the end of a meeting attended by Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, said, "For every Goliath, God created a David. For every Pharaoh, there is a Moses. We are going to war. Every one of you should go and fortify yourself."

But as the Federal Government, through the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, cautioned against inflammatory remarks, unrepentant Tompoli, said Danjuma was the one that should be arrested by the security.

The minister, at a news conference in Abuja, said, "It is reprehensible for people to threaten this country with mayhem should their candidate lose the election . The President, Dr. Jonathan, has not left anybody in doubt as to his preparedness to conduct a free, fair, credible and transparent election.

"Mr. President has said that in the unlikely event of his losing the election, in the course of this exercise, that he was straight man enough, he was democratic enough to concede defeat.

"So, if Mr. President himself, who is the main contestant, who is the President of this country, who is the leader of the PDP(Peoples Democratic Party) has come out to say that he was going to ensure free and fair elections where the choice of Nigerians would be respected, I do not see where statements from supporters of either Mr. President or any political party for that matter should derail the course of this democratic movement."

Lagos Big Boy Opens Up: I Can’t Impregnate My Woman

I have been living with my girlfriend for seven years but prior to that, I was diagnosed as having azospermia. That was before we had a family introduction. Though aware that I have not got a medical solution to this problem, she fell ill and was diagnosed to be pregnant! Now, she is frantically denying any foul play and claims it to be a miracle. I also believe in God's power but I can't remember the last time I went to church. I don't even pray fervently.

If it's still a miracle, why is my recent test (which I went for after she was confirmed pregnant) showing that I still have the same problem? 

What do I do? - Mr A.M. from Lagos

Below is the response he got:
"This is puzzling and you have to unravel everything before you think of accepting the pregnancy or even marrying her. I also believe in miracles but I think this is the time to have a heart-to heart talk with your girlfriend. 
Another option is to wait to conduct a DNA test when the child is born."
- Guys, trust no girl with issue of pregnancy, especially if you are very comfortable and she knows it!

Buhari was never stoned in Lagos - APC

Press release from APC regarding the alleged stoning of Buhari at his Lagos rally today...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied the concocted story by former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro that the party's presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was pelted with stone during the party's rally in Lagos, saying a lie has never worn a bolder face.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Gen. Buhari and other top leaders of
the APC rode in a open bus from the Palace of the Oba of Lagos to the Teslim Balogun Stadium venue of the rally, to great cheers from Lagosians who lined
the route. ''Not once was he pelted with stone during the almost two-hour ride. It is obvious that those who were paid by Mr. Obanikoro to stone the General
failed to deliver. We therefore urge him to seek a refund of whatever money he paid to his hired hands to pelt Gen. Buhari with stones,'' it said. APC said Obanikoro's statement on an imaginary
attack on Gen. Buhari in Lagos must be his own way of saying 'thank you' to his masters for nominating him as Minister on Friday, as his reward for ceding
the gubernatorial ticket he claimed to have won to Jimi Agbaje.
The party thanked the good people of Lagos for turning out in unprecedented numbers to welcome Gen. Buhari to Lagos, saying the Centre of Excellence
has never witnessed such a huge and cheery crowd.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Lagos, Jan. 30th 2015

Looks like President Jonathan doesn't trust Ribadu again

Nuhu Ribadu is laughing out loud, but Mr President is keeping a funny straight face. Is everything ok?

SEE the Large Crowd APC Pulled for Buhari Today in Lagos

Sincerely, it is only a quick change of campaign strategy that can save Goodluck Jonathan from the raging storm that Muhammadu Buhari and the APC now represents in the political landscape.

Tens of thousands of supporters of the APC took Lagos by storm as they defied the early morning shower on Friday to give a rousing welcome and support to General Buhari and his running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The carnival-like scene was enacted as the party's presidential campaign train hit Lagos, one of the major strongholds of APC.
Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, venue of the rally, witnessed an unprecedented crowd of party faithful from all walks of life.

Members of the party across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas, political office holders, candidates in the forthcoming February elections among others stormed the venue of the rally.

The Hausa community in Lagos came in their thousands displaying old and new portraits of Buhari. Also in attendance were different groups of pysically challenged people such as the deaf, blind and others. The party supporters took over the football pitch in the rain to dance to music from the loud speakers. The old, young and the disabled were not left out in the dancing game. Some waved their brooms shouting 'Sai Buhari, Change Jonathan'.

The crowd at the stadium is very intimidating.

Buhari, The Answer To Our Prayers

The government of Goodluck Jonathan is the most vivid example we have of the virus of lost standard. Under his watch, the country has gone to the dogs. Government officials are massively squandering our patrimony and looting the treasury with impunity.  It is so hard to work up any optimism because the president is simply not interested in fighting corruption. In this precious country of ours, Corruption is not only internalized but externalized.

People steal and keep outside thereby destroying our country and enriching those of other nations. This is a dispiriting take on the Nigerian situation because if this satanic corruption continues, Nigeria is doomed to speedy disappearance. We have had a long run of ill-luck in leadership that we cannot take this anymore.

Hence, the choice of General Muhammadu Buhari by the All Progressive Congress (APC) is historic, courageous and potentially transformative.  This man is about the most honest Nigerian of all time. He is a man who hates greed and corruption with a passion. 

Our prayer that God should help us to fight this evil called corruption has been answered. We are set to see the restoration of honour and integrity to the Aso Rock. No fair minded person will ever accuse Buhari of being involved in corruption or dubiously enriching himself.  This choice by APC is not just a nice decision but a turning point. He is just what we need because he has a reputation for thoughtfulness and rectitude.  Those who are undermining the reputation of this slow-talking, yet irrepressibly exuberant man are those who find moral piety and integrity offensive.

In one of his articles, Adeyemi Omotunde painted a pretty accurate fix on how General Buhari values moral rectitude and frugality. Quoting him will do justice to the point I have been laboring to bring to the fore. "Some months ago, an former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, decided to investigate why Muhammadu Buhari could not afford APC nomination form because he read online the question a lady asked. He went to the Ministry of Finance where he discovered that all former presidents and heads of state actually get N23million monthly. Melaye said 'I read online the question a lady asked. The question is how can Buhari who earns over N300million monthly annually claim that he cannot afford to pay N27million for APC presidential nomination form? I became interested and decided to investigate. I went to the Ministry of Finance where I discovered that it's true that all former presidents and heads of state actually get N23million monthly. 

"But I found out that General Buhari actually wrote the Minister of Finance to reject the N23million monthly pay. He said in his letter that he will only accept 10 percent of that amount which is N2.3million and that is what he has been taking. This is just as clear as the air.' This is a man that says in his speech at the APC convention in Lagos that he has no foreign account and he owns no company profiting from government contracts." 

  This man of moral masculinity is what this country needs at the moment. Buhari is a mixture of great calm and boundless energy; he is all about compassion, tolerance and inclusiveness. His religious values will shape the way he will function as a president. Buhari's faith has been so central to his life that even his political foes know to respect it. His constant attack on corruption grows out of his religious scruples. 

On the issue of religion, some people have been judging him harshly. As a military head of state, he refused to register Nigeria as a member of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). If he couldn't do it as a military leader how in the world will he do it as a democratic president? To Buhari, religion is a private matter and he respects the fact that the constitution of Nigeria recognizes freedom of worship. To tell it like it is, those who are throwing up religious sentiments are simply mischievous.

But his faith in his God is something commendable. It tells people that there is something in life more important to him than politics—a message Nigerian politicians need to get. Again his choice of Yemi Osinbajo as a running mate is one that speaks of religious tolerance than tactics. This is the most spiritually minded pair that Nigerian political history has ever thrown up. Osinbajo is so friendly; intellectually and spiritually inclined that he will make a perfect Vice President. He has the ability to be aggressive without being nasty. 

Buhari and Osinbajo are unabashed about flaunting their faith. They have a purpose: to provide insulation against corrosive everydayness, to build fences against invasions by the profane and to create a space for the sacred.  Their service to Nigeria will be sacramental in quality.

By Ikechukwu Orji
Orji is a Media Consultant and Journalist
08023624097 | Ikechukwuorji@yahoo.com.

Amaechi replies Jonathan: You Deserve That Empty Stadium

Governor Rotimi Amaechi is not wasting time, he has fired back through the APC in his state:
Wednesday's re-election campaign rally in Port Harcourt by President Goodluck Jonathan has been described as a waste of time and an embarrassment. Reacting to the rally, the ruling party in the State, the APC, said the poor attendance only served to confirm the unpopularity of President Jonathan and his PDP in the State, while Jonathan merely ended up confirming APC's claim that the President has done nothing to deserve the votes of Rivers people in the February 14 presidential election.

"To say that President Jonathan and his PDP wasted their time in coming to Rivers State to campaign is to state the obvious. The half-empty stadium despite the renting of supporters from Bayelsa, Delta, Abia and Akwa Ibom states speaks volumes about Jonathan's unpopularity among our people,"
Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said.

Ikanya in a statement in Port Harcourt said the party was happy that Jonathan during the failed rally personally confirmed that he has done nothing for Rivers State and her people as evidenced by his monumental neglect of the State. He quoted Jonathan as saying: "I should be congratulated and commended for not developing Rivers and Bayelsa states to avoid being accused of being biased in allocating developments to the two States but if we are re-elected we will now concentrate development in these two states." 

According to Ikanya, "By this statement, we need no further proof that it was a deliberate act by the President Jonathan administration not only to under-develop Rivers State but also to ensure that the State was stagnated by allocating our oil wells to Bayelsa, Abia and other neighbouring states."

Rivers APC told the President to stop dreaming of re-election as it will never happen. The party said: "We want to assure you, Mr. President, that you will never be re-elected because you have failed woefully and do not deserve any re-election. After all that Rivers State and her people did for you, you could be so mean not to site one single project in Rivers State. We have no reason for whatsoever to recommend you to any section of this country for re-election.

"It is a pity that out of all the states President Jonathan has visited, it is only in Rivers that he could not name a single development project he initiated, not to talk of executing, apart from posting the tyrannical Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu and supporting every imaginable act of impunity in the State, including the plot by five State Assembly members to impeach the Speaker in a House of 25 members. We can now better understand Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who has at various fora challenged President Jonathan to mention one single development project he has brought to Rivers State."

Rivers APC vowed to intensify campaigns to ensure that both President Jonathan and the state PDP gubernatorial candidate, Chief Nyesome Wike, do not get up to 10 percent of votes to be cast in Rivers during the February polls. "We will like to assure the entire world that if PDP scores up to 20 percent in these elections we will concede victory to the party," Ikanya said.

He congratulated Rivers people for staying at home and allowing Mr. President to address a half empty stadium, thereby telling him and PDP in unmistakable terms that Rivers State is fully and squarely an APC State.

If Mr. President and his managers knew that Chief Wike does not exist in Rivers State politically except in the minds of some expired and hungry politicians looking for food to fill their stomach and that he does not have what it takes to mobilize enough people to fill a 50,000 seater stadium in the capacity of the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium they would have accepted the Liberation Stadium as counseled by Governor Amaechi to see if they could have used the 15,000 supporters hired from some neighbouring States to fill the stadium than embarrassing the President by making him to address an empty stadium in a Presidential rally.

APC should let Buhari seek medicare abroad - Ayo Fayose

This Governor Ayo Fayose is so relentless...lol. Here's a press statement I just received. Read below...
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has pleaded with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC, especially former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu to be human enough to allow the party's presidential candidate, Major General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) embark on his planned medical trip abroad.
The governor said Buhari was being prevented from traveling abroad for medical treatment, despite his ill-health so as to avoid controversies.
Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka quoted Governor Fayose as saying at a campaign rally in Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government that "Buhari is a car with a damaged engine but being packaged by Tinubu and his cabal whose only interest is the wealth of Nigeria."

He said; "In all the campaign rallies held by the APC,  Buhari never spoke for more than six minutes.
"Buhari will just utter some words that he had rehearsed and any attempt to bring in new words always result to confusion in his brain due to senility. That was the reason he called his running mate Osunbade instead of Osinbajo and also referred to Imo State as Ibo State.

"This is clear evidence of ill-health, old and and senility.  Those packaging Buhari to achieve their personal ambition of gaining unhindered access to the wealth of Nigeria  should fear God and allow this old man to take care of his health," the governor said.
Speaking further, Fayose, who insisted that "Buhari is old and sick said; "they had programmed Buhari to travel to the U.S on 26th of this month, but they opted out when the secret trip was reported in the media. 

"As a cover-up,  the APC cabal sold a story to the press that Buhari was invited to attend a programme in the US by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, (CSIS).
"Interestingly, the CSIS programme was billed for January 26, the same day Buhari was said to have planned his medical trip to the United States of America. 

"However, the programme was cancelled, leaving Buhari with no excuse to travel and instead of them to allow the man to travel as he had planned, the APC cabal, who are obviously more interested in the presidency than Buhari's welfare are urging him on.

Jonathan visits Warri billionaire Ayiri Emami at home

I don't know if Ayiri has some influence on the militants who are threatening to burn down the country if Nigerians do not vote and elect President Jonathan on February 14, but this visit is significant!

AIT shuts Online Poll where Jonathan was defeated by Buhari

There is serious heat in the campaigns leading to February 14 presidential election. It is only a serious and very deliberate game changer that can stop the APC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

As you read this, African Independent Television (AIT) has suddenly stopped an online poll where Buhari was resoundingly beating President Goodluck Jonathan.

Buhari's lead in the poll was despite a sponsored documentary against him that was being repeatedly shown on AIT stations across Nigeria, and online.

Sources who spoke to hot9jagists on the development say President Jonathan has a very limited time to change his campaign strategy, especially online, before it becomes too late.

Earlier on Tuesday, a screenshot of the poll was published and at that time it showed that Buhari well ahead of Jonathan and all other presidential candidate by over 75%.

As the day wore on, the poll saw Buhari's lead rise to 79%. The poll was then swiftly taken down, and AIT replaced the page with a claim that the page was "under maintenance."

AIT did not say whether the poll page would return after the so called 'maintenance', but some users had noted earlier that the Television Station was allowing multiple voting for President Jonathan.

AIT suddenly went into 'maintenance'. Political campaign is a practical process. PDP needs to learn!

I'm an illiterate but I will cast My Vote for APC – Musican 9ice

The level of support APC is enjoying across the land is quite unprecedented for an opposition party.

High-profile defections ahead of Election causing panic in PDP

Just weeks to the 2015 presidential election, the political atmosphere is charged again as high-profile political figures across the country have been moving from one political party to another.

The defection is not limited to the ruling PDP and the leading opposition APC but they are the major losers and gainers, respectively. Last Monday, the APC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari received Niger State deputy governor, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto, alongside members of national and state assemblies, and aides to Governor Babangida Aliyu who left the PDP for the APC.

The deputy governor had said he defected to APC alongside 200 others, most of whom were serving aides of Governor Aliyu because of PDP's shoddy handling of their petition on the gubernatorial primary election in the state.

Already, the Niger State deputy governor, Mr Ibeto, said on Wednesday that he had assumed leadership of his new party, being the highest political office holder in the state. 

He spoke during the inauguration of the state's APC gubernatorial candidate, Mr Abubakar Sani Bello's campaign committee in Minna.

Reacting to the defection last Wednesday, Governor Aliyu denied reports that he begged the former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, to convince his deputy and others who recently defected to the APC, to return to the PDP.

Also, penultimate Saturday, prominent PDP chieftains in Plateau State also defected to the APC when the APC and Buhari visited the state for campaign.

The defectors, who were led by a former Minister of Science and Technology, Pauline Tallen, were officially received into the APC during the mass rally held at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos.

Former Minister Tallen, who was also a former Plateau State deputy governor and governorship candidate in the state in 2011, was received together with other PDP chieftains that included Mr Sambo Wampuk, a former director general of the ITF and a former House of Reps member, Leonard Dilkon.

Also last week, about 435 PDP members in Makarfi LGA of Kaduna State left the party for the APC during a campaign rally for the APC's governorship candidate, Malam Nasir el-Rufa'i, in Makarfi, the hometown of a former governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi.

El-Rufai's campaign spokesman Samuel Aruwan cited poor internal party politics in the PDP as one of the reasons given by the defectors, adding that they also promised to work for the success of the APC.

A former DG of NEMA, Alhaji Salihu Makarfi, and a former information commissioner, Saidu Adamu, who had earlier defected to the APC from the PDP also took part in the rally.

President Jonathan was said to have suspended his Akure rally about two weeks ago, following the defection of some aggrieved PDP leaders to the APC in Ondo State.

Among those who defected were Mr Femi Agagu, a former Chief of Staff to late Governor Segun Agagu, two former Speakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly, five former Commissioners in the state, eight former LGA chairmen as well as scores of ex-Councillors.

On Wednesday, January 14, 2015, the ranks of the PDP in the House of Reps further depleted as eight more members defected from the party. Four of the defectors joined the rival APC. 

The same day, the PDP lost nine senators to the APC and other political parties because of the outcome of last month's primary elections across the country, thereby depleting the membership strength of the party in the Senate.

Consequently, President Jonathan was said to have met with the PDP leaders last Sunday behind closed doors at his Campaign Office, Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja, to address the gale of defections. But will his intervention help save the situation before the elections? Hopefully!

Governor Yuguda’s revelations on the attack on Jonathan shock The Presidency

Revelations by Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda on the stoning of President Goodluck Jonathan in the state during a campaign rally by the PDP was said to have shocked the Presidency and the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja.

Yuguda, a PDP governor, in an interview with the BBC Hausa service, said that the stoning and the attack on the President were carried out by members of Jonathan's own party, the PDP.

Before now, the Presidency and the PDP had accused the opposition All Progressives Congress of being the mastermind of the attack.
In spite of Governor Yuguda's revelation, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Alkali, and the Presidential Campaign Office, have insisted that the attack was carried out by APC.

But Yuguda, a member of the National Executive Committee of the PDP, insisted those who organised the youths that threw stones and pelted Jonathan with sachet water, were members of PDP from Abuja.

The governor said, "I am sure and let the world know that the people who did this thing were PDP members and those politicians in Abuja were the ones behind it; they were not APC members.

"They found these youths on the road and gave them brooms and satchets of water and they instructed them that when the President was passing they should raise the brooms and throw the satchets of water at him.

"They did that so that the President would think that Isa Yuguda is against him. They have been telling him in Abuja that we are not supporting him. They did that to show the President that Isa Yuguda is nothing in Bauchi, to show that despite being an indigene of Bauchi, Isa Yuguda could not be respected with his guests in Bauchi."

Jonathan invites Top Pastors to a Serious Meeting in Abuja

The February 14 presidential election date is drawing closer by the day and President Goodluck Jonathan can no longer afford to leave anything to chances. He is up against a very strong opposition, hence the support of friends and associates must be sought and assurances obtained before the D-day!

Sources say President Jonathan is already taking steps in this direction with an invite to top Christian leaders in the country to a meeting on Monday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.

Jonathan is expected to ask for their support as a sincere politician ahead of the election.

President Jonathan has Done Well for Economy – Reno Omokri

The Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri, has urged the opposition, All Progressives Congress, APC, not to be harbinger of negative stories about the country.

He noted that it is regrettable that while the APC is always the first to propagate negative and sad stories about Nigeria, the party is always reluctant to admit and celebrate good news about the country.
"President Jonathan remains committed to his pact with Nigerians. For him, it is not about him or PDP; it is not about religion or ethnicity but what is best for Nigeria. He recognises our challenges, he does not shy away from them which was why he came up with the transformation agenda which is a practical step on how to address the challenges and make the country attain her full potentials and fulfil the dreams of our heroes past and forefathers".

Omokri was reacting to the recent rating of Nigeria as the third fastest-growing economy by international Cable News Network, CNN.

He added that it is regrettable that the opposition will not celebrate the positive outlook but would have rushed to the media with press releases if it was the other way round.

Muhammadu Buhari was making his Presidential Declaration he said and I quote "the economy is down". With this rating by the experts it is now clear that the economy is up. Perhaps Gen. Buhari was referring to his time as military Head of State when the economy was truly down and Nigeria could not meet its international financial obligations".

Continuing further, Omokri said "This present rating is not a fluke. Do not forget that the UNCTAD said that Nigeria has the 4th highest rate of return in the world, that the International Food Policy Research Institute said that hunger in Nigeria is reducing, that the World Bank said that poverty in Nigeria is down by 2%, that Transparency International said that corruption in Nigeria had reduced. The APC are sad and quiet because of these strides and because CNN says Nigeria is the worlds 3rd fastest growing economy. They would have been happy and loud If we were least growing. It is saddening that APC play politics with everything. They will either labour to discredit this fact or cast aspersion on the integrity of the organisation. It is sad that APC do not want to hear anything good about Nigeria"

Omokri said the rating is a testament of the prudent economy policies of the government and the tenacity of Nigerians.

"I am without doubt that Nigerians are happy with the rating outlook, which will spur the government to do more. It is a plus to Nigeria and a confidence boost to Nigerians that notwithstanding the economy challenges and the drop in the global price of oil, the country is still on the path of prosperity and economy development. The president has always maintained that there are challenges but this administration is more than determined to tackle them and transform the country for a prosperous future," he said.

You may wish to know that CNN Money, a business analysis programme, on Friday listed Nigeria as one of the fastest growing economies for 2015. According to the report, in 2014, Nigeria's Economy grew by 7.1 per cent.

It said that in 2015 the economy was expected to grow by another 7 per cent.

"By our estimate, the fastest growing economies in 2015 will be China, Qatar and Nigeria.

(Ekiti agog for Buhari) Pictures from APC Presidential Rally in Ekiti today.

The wind is seriously blowing, I wonder what is going through their minds at the moment.

Naira hits N208 to a dollar...First time since God created heaven n Earth

The Naira on Friday depreciated against the dollar as it traded at N208 from the N191.50 it sold for on Monday, Jan. 19. The rate has made the naira to lose N16.50 within five days.

The CBN's website, however, put the Naira against the dollar at N167.50, while the Pound sold for N253.20 and the Euro stood at N193.89S
The development has resulted into speculation in the market and caused ripple effects on other currencies.
A some Bureau De Change and Black Market operators in Lagos, said that they could not give rates to the Pound Sterling and the Euro. Dealers who preferred anonymity said that there was scarcity of dollars in circulation.
They said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had stopped selling forex to the Bureaux De Change, since last year. The dealers added that the recent review of trading positions for the forex trading positions of banks to 72 hours, also contributed to speculation in the system. The effect, they added, was that the naira could depreciate further by next week. The CBN in November 2014 devalued the Naira to N168 to the dollar.(NAN).

Exposed: $1bn excess crude money missing as FAAC meeting ends in confusion

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting for November ended in confusion in Abuja as representatives of Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory accused the federal government of not accounting for about $1billion (N168bn) of excess crude oil money.

The Chairman of State Commissioners of Finance, Timothy Odaah, told reporters after the meeting which ended Tuesday night, that no state knew how the $1 billion difference reported in the Excess Crude Account balance, between October and November, came about.

Prior to the October FAAC meeting, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had told reporters that the balance of the Excess Crude Account stood at $4.11billion.

At the event, the minster also revealed that the country's external reserves rose from $36.6b in June to $39.48b as at October 16. The balance in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) stood at $1.55 billion.

But, at the end of the FAAC meeting on Tuesday, the Minister of state for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, told reporters that the current savings in the ECA had a balance of about $3.1 billion, raising questions about the $1billion difference.

The FAAC meeting is a monthly gathering of state finance commissioners and the federal finance ministry and the Accountant General of the federation, where federal oil receipts are shared between the federal and state authorities.

With falling oil price, the 36 states have turned more attention on the Excess Crude Account, which has depleted from more than $40 billion in 2007 to about $4 billion in 2014.

Though Mr. Odaah said the discrepancy has been noted for discussion at the next FAAC meeting, his disclosure called to question how transparent the management of the excess crude revenues is.

Mr. Odaah had said on October that owing to the dwindling revenue allocation to the states from the federation accounts as a result of falling oil prices, the states had sent a request to President Goodluck Jonathan that $2 billion be shared.

But in the latest meeting, he said no one can tell how the balance suddenly dropped from $4.1b to $3.1b.

Presidency, Nigeria Military finally set to flush out Boko Haram

Irked by the increasing manouvres of the terrorists laying claim to Nigeria's territories, the Nigerian military has finalized plans to conduct a "once and for all comprehensive operations" towards the elimination of Boko Haram terrorists in the parts of North East to the boarders of neighbouring countries. International media and satellite images suggest that areas presently under Boko Haram occupation could already be as large as Belgium.

Competent sources disclosed to PRNigeria in Abuja that political authorities which now feels so disturbed by the activities of the terrorists especially after viewing the latest video release from the terror group which claimed that it already has enough weapons to take on Nigeria and its neighbours, have endorsed the military plan and expressed full support for it.

According to the source, the determined onslaught has also
received the assurance of cooperation and support of Cameroun, Niger and Chad, which have now realised the danger posed by continuing to allow terrorists free movement across the borders.

The source disclosed that, "Nigerian military is reviewing strategy in the combat against terrorists to accommodate joint and combined operations with neighbouring military organisations. Massive deployment of air and amphibious assets are expected to feature in the operation. Preparatory to this mission, the Defence Headquarters has changed the General Officer Commanding the 7 Division which is the leading formation in the counter-terrorism campaign.

"The deployment for the mission is expected to facilitate the elimination of safe havens and escape routes of terrorists in or out of Nigeria. The arrangement has enlisted the support of the military forces of neighbouring countries towards ensuring that the plan to effectively block the terrorists for elimination while they are being pounded in the ongoing counter terrorism campaign is effectively attained," the source elaborated.

PRNigeria can reliably report that the operation will commence very soon and is expected to terminate well before the February 14 elections so that Nigerians living in every part of the country can vote in their towns and villages.

However, it is expected that innocent citizens living in the areas where the terrorists presently operate are expected to have temporarily vacated any area infested by terrorists for safe towns away from the theatre of operations.

When contacted for confirmation of this story, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, declined to give details. In a terse response, he simply declared that the military would not relent in its efforts to restore peace to every part of the country as quickly as possible but that details of such efforts would not be disclosed now.

He however admitted that all the countries bordering Nigeria are willing to compliment the efforts in Nigeria as terrorism has remained a menace or threat to all in the region.

Revealed: the Odds of the Presidential Election favours Buhari

The one picture you would hate to see in your dreams is that of the very opponent of the team you are supporting, clutching a massive trophy and jubilating all over the place! Not just once had one experienced a 'nightmarish' dream of this nature and not just once had 'Joseph the Octopus' proved to be revealing exactly what was about to happen.

Of course, it should not be interpreted as if one does not want Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to be the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but what the hell was he doing in my dream smiling so broadly as he acknowledged shouts of 'congratulations' from a horde of adoring supporters? The man can hardly manage a smile in real life and neither is he the candidate one would ordinarily be rooting for.

However, a warning would seem to have come from the unknown:
'Do not bet your house against Buhari becoming (the next) president unless you are equally prepared to be homeless!"

The above extracts are from an article I wrote (title retained) in the run-up to the 2011 presidential election, having dreamt that Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari won the election. Of course, he did not but, who knows, it could have been a distant event that one had foreseen!

In trying to rationalise the circumstances that could have made it a dream-come-true for Buhari, I examined the controversy that surrounded the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan over the zoning philosophy of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party. That controversy, more or less, pitted the northern leadership against him. I also examined the possibility that the then so-called progressive parties might actually co-operate among themselves in order to counterbalance the influence and power of the PDP. An attempt made in that direction did not succeed.

Quite a lot has changed since 2011 and the aforementioned factors, more than ever before, will have implications for the direction of the Presidency come February 14.

Firstly, the once splinter progressive parties have coalesced into the All Progressives Congress, thanks to the centralising influence of the institution of the Presidency. The February presidential election will be fought in what is a two-party competition between the PDP and the APC. Buhari could be the beneficiary of this new development, as he now competes for the Presidency under the platform of a political party which, unlike his defunct Congress for Political Change, enjoys nationwide support.

Secondly, the February elections will reveal the extent to which the intra-party crisis in the PDP – a crisis which led to the defection of five of its governors to the rival APC – has resulted into the loss or gain of popular support in the various constituencies. I have attempted to explain the causes of the crisis in the PDP by three factors: "One, a frosty relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; two, an allegation of arbitrariness on the part of the immediate past PDP national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; and three, the perceived ambition of President Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015 in contradiction of a supposed agreement that he would not be doing so." (see my book, Party Coalitions in Nigeria (2014), pp. 129-130).

Cleavage, be it of ethnicity or religion, is the worst of political problems. You hardly can resolve the problem of cleavage by preaching to people to forget about those things they hold very dear to their hearts. There are not a few in the North who feel the South had dominated the Presidency for the greater part of the current Republic; they will grab the opportunity provided by the candidacy of Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring that the pendulum of political power swings back to their region.

Finally, Buhari faces an incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, who may be having problems with economic and security issues. Allegations of escalating official corruption and Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East may have overshadowed the modest achievements of Jonathan. Of course, diverse sentiments will compete and contend in the 2015 election, but there are not a few who would want to reward or punish him on their perception of his stewardship during the past four years. Buhari, himself a former leader, has his own "baggages" but he enjoys the perception of being one disciplined individual who passionately resents corruption. Corruption has been that most deadly virus afflicting the Nigerian state.

There is hardly any doubt that the days ahead will be quite interesting. What we must continue to do is to educate our people about the ramifications of democracy as a game where the minority must have its say while the majority has its way. Why, for instance, would you want to throw the nation into chaos just because someone has lost an election, even when another member of your ethnic or religious constituency could be a beneficiary in the near future? Why would you want the stigma of "intolerant democrats" stamped permanently on you and your people? Our nation must unite behind whoever wins the February presidential election.

BY ANTHONY AKINOLA
Dr. Akinola, a scholar and political analyst, is based in Oxford, United Kingdom.

Jonathan meets Emir Sanusi; says I Need Your Royal Blessing

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday payed homage to the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, in his palace in a bid to get the traditional ruler's blessing for his 2015 re-election bid.

The relationship between the two became strained last year when the President suspended Sanusi as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Jonathan had suspended Sanusi as the apex bank's boss over what was described as financial recklessness and thereafter directed the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria to further investigate him.

Shortly after his suspension, however, Sanusi became the Emir of Kano following the death of the former occupant of the stool, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

There were unconfirmed media reports then that the Presidency made secret moves to ensure that Sanusi did not emerge as the Emir of Kano.

During the Wednesday visit, Jonathan congratulated Sanusi on his installation and condoled with him and the people of the emirate on Bayero's demise.

He told the traditional ruler that he was in his palace to formally introduce himself, Vice President Namadi Sambo and other PDP candidates in the election.

"I am here to seek your royal blessing and to reassure the people of Kano that the PDP is totally committed to developing the country," he told the monarch.

In his response, Sanusi thanked Jonathan for the visit and expressed the hope that his campaign in the state would be hitch-free.

He stressed the need for all office seekers to go about their campaigns without violence.

"Democracy is all about giving people the chance to make their choice and so, there is no need for violence," the Emir stressed.

Father Mbaka versus Patience Jonathan: N5m in offering bag? By Josef Omorotionmwan

Clearly, the Mbaka episode is multi-dimensional and it is getting messier by the day. It has reached a point where President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife cannot remain mute for too long, lest they will continue to be misunderstood. The theatricals are still unfolding.

Act I: Scene I – Dame Patience Jonathan visits the Catholic Adoration Centre in Enugu, a church headed by Revd Father Ejike Mbaka. Madam is pleasantly received and Father Mbaka eulogises her husband to the high heavens. So impressed was Dame that she dropped N5 million in the offering bag. And this was marvelous in the sight of Mbaka.

Scene II: Madam returns to Abuja. Father Mbaka makes several unsuccessful attempts to see her.

Act II: Scene I – A short while later, Father Mbaka lampoons the Jonathan administration for abysmal performance. In a New Year message titled:

"From Good luck to Bad luck", Mbaka openly canvassed the rejection of President Jonathan at the 2015 presidential election, thus asking Nigerians to vote for a leader who can tackle the many challenges facing Nigeria. He lashed out at men of God who hobnob with the powers-that-be.

Mbaka went ruthlessly personal: "The Jonathan administration has failed… When Goodluck met Yar'Adua, he got bad luck and died. When Goodluck met our oil, it poured away and met bad luck. When Goodluck met our Naira, it met bad luck… Look at you brilliant youth, nobody has any plans for you… 2015 cannot be the same. We announce change… Boko Haram has virtually crippled the Northeastern part of the country…

"Many are saying that it is Buhari that said he would make our country ungovernable. Even though Buhari never said such a thing, but if you are the President, will you not arrest such a person? Are you waiting for your own church to be bombed before you speak out? … If my father will be leader and my siblings will all die, let a stranger be my leader and let my family live…."

Questions: Where did things go wrong? When is a housewife who goes about throwing money around worth investigating? From the much we know, the office of First Lady is totally alien to our Constitution. Where did this housewife get all the money she is throwing around? When are we going to have an Internal/Inland Revenue Service that will be alive to its responsibilities? In the United States of America, for instance, if you are unable to account for your source wealth, Uncle Sam would pursue you far into the bottomless pit.

Which offering bag would contain N5 million, even in our highest denomination of N1000 notes? Is it possible, albeit most unlikely, that the
What would have transpired for the Reverend to exploded, and resolved to take his pound of flesh!

Only a good investigation would unraveled the truth here but given the pluralistic nature of our society, even the investigators are, ab initio, handicapped: if they push too hard, they are seen as supporting the opposition; and if they do not push hard enough, they are seen as working for the "oga at the top".

Meanwhile, Father Mbaka has come under severe criticism from many quarters. He is accused of washing the dirty linens in public. Our counsel is to prevent the linen from dirt for, once the linen gets dirty, it can be washed anywhere – even on the pulpit!

Again, the Mbaka sermon provides a most damning verdict on the Jonathan administration, particularly coming from the most unexpected quarters – the Southeast, where Jonathan's second-term bid had become a foregone conclusion.

The Mbaka sermon has a lot of parallels in history. Right from biblical times, courage has been the stuff of which leaders are made. When Queen Esther saved an entire generation of people, asserting unequivocally, "If I perish I perish", she demonstrated rare courage. When the Archbishop Olubunmi Okogie, as he then was, remained in the vanguard of critics of our military rulers, he demonstrated uncommon courage.

There is something that cannot be taken away from Father Mbaka – he has shown that the easiest way of perpetuating evil is for good men to do nothing. For too long, men of God have remained docile in the face of injustice in this country, oblivious of the fact that it is only when society is at peace that the church can be at peace. For instance, how many people can go to church in the troubled regions of the world?

There is no escaping the inevitable conclusion that the church in Nigeria today has become hopelessly compromised, commercialized and polarized.

But let no one be deceived into believing that religious leaders have no business in politics and governance. One major problem in this country has been the failure of the church to live up to expectation as the conscience of the people and the representatives of God on earth. We believe that many of the ills that have plagued this country would have been averted had our religious leaders been courageous enough to speak out as appropriate.

The situation here calls for a lot of restraint. Whatever the motivation mix and despite Mbaka's apparent duplicity, there are aspects of his message that cannot be totally ignored. There comes a time when we must ignore the messenger and still accept his message.

Buhari Was Our Classmate In 1961– Abdullahi, Coomassie By Our Correspondents

Two prominent Nigerians the presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Gen
Muhammadu Buhari, mentioned as his classmates in secondary school –former president of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Umaru Abdullahi and former inspector- general of police, Alhaji Ibrahim Cooomassie – last night spoke on the personality of Buhari. In an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP in Abuja, Umaru Abdullahi and Coomassie told LEADERSHIP that they and about five prominent Nigerians attended the
same school. Coomasie said Buhari was the head boy and loved to play football during their days in school.

Coomasie mentioned the former PCA
Justice Abdullahi; Gen Shehu Musa
Yar'Adua; the late Grand Khadi Halilu,
and a Second Republic senator Abdul
Ali as some of their classmates.
Coomassie said: "While we were in
school, Buhari was the head boy. He
loves playing football. We were all
close friends in school. After we finished secondary school, General Buhari decided to join the military, I joined the police and Justice Abdullahi decided to go to the university."

"I, the late Shehu Yar'Adua, the late
Halilu, a Grand Khadi in Katsina,
Senator Abdul Ali, a Senator in the
2nd Republic and several other
attended the same school" On his part, Justice Abdullahi described Buhari as a brilliant student when they were in school, saying he was Buhari's classmate from primary to secondary school, saying: "I, Buhari and some others had the best results during our final examinations in secondary school
back then. He was a very brilliant
student in school, no doubt; we
attended the same school from
primary to secondary school."

HOW CAN JONATHAN WHO DID NOT FINISH HIS PHD ASK ABOUT BUHARI'S CERTIFICATE? -OBASANJO

Former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has predicted that the candidate of All Progressives
Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari will be the next Nigerian President which is why those who
are afraid of him are creating so many obstacles on his way, Saying "a
general is always a general.
Obasanjo, who was reacting to the controversies generated over the school certificate of General Buhari said: "I see Buhari as the next President and
Jonathan is aware of that, and that is the reason they are hitting him everywhere to put confusion in his
camp. But a General is always a General… "
The former President said the truth of the matter is that Jonathan is aware that Buhari is qualified to
contest for President election but that "some hawks with Jonathan do not want him to contest because they believed that he will win and come for them.
"The issue (of Buhari's certificate) came up in 2007, and we investigated and found out that his WASC is with
the military and that was why he was allowed to contest in 2007. Buhari cannot listen to anyone about his certificates because as a General of Nigeria Army, he will speak when he chooses, not by Femi Fani Kayode and Okupe asking him. Fayose and other corrupt people including Kashamu do
not want Buhari because of his anti-corruption slogan. "Even Jonathan did not finish his PhD course but when
it was presented we stated that, it does not matter but many people do not know because it was PDP thing."

Much Ado About Buhari's Result Afterall, Buhari Nepa bill maybe more qualify than another man's Ph.D. By Icon Kadri Olawale

The topic of whether Buhari is academically qualified has earned much attention both in the news and in the presidency that one maybe forced
to think had this same attention being given to the Chibok girl issue, the girls might be out by now. Afterall, Buhari Nepa bill maybe more qualify than
another man's Ph.D. When a kingdom is broken like the biblical mene mene tekel urphasin there is nothing anybody can do to hold it together. It is simply spoilt beyond repair. The change must surely come.

Buhari's secondary school releases his Statement of Result and the Cambridge result sheet for his class.

Muhammadu Buhari's secondary school releases his Statement of Result and the Cambridge result sheet for his class. The Cambridge sheet also shows
Yar'Adua's result.

Government College, formerly Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, which Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, graduated from in 1961, has released Mr. Buhari's secondary school certificate examination results.

The results, obtained exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday, confirm Mr. Buhari's claim that he undertook the University of Cambridge West African School Certificate Examinations and obtained five credits in English Language, Geography, Hausa Language, History, and Health Science.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained the computer printout from Cambridge University as well as a statement of result, signed by the current principal of Katsina College, dated January 21, 2015.

The results show that Mr. Buhari, a former military head of state, failed in Mathematics and Woodwork, and had a pass in Literature in English.
The examination centre number was 8280 while Mr. Buhari's candidate number was 002.

The statement of results is printed on the letter head paper of the Katsina State Ministry of Education, and it shows that the examination took place in 1961.

The Cambridge print out also shows the result of 17 other candidates at the centre, including Shehu Yar'adua, a former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.

Controversy over Mr. Buhari's result escalated Tuesday after the Nigerian Army, which had earlier admitted to having a copies of his certificate, reversed itself saying it could not even attest to the details listed in his records.

The spokesperson of the Army, Olajide Laleye, said "Neither the original copy, certified true copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major-.Gen. Mohammadu Buhari's WASC result is in his personal file."

He said while it is the 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 as presented, "There is no available record to show that this process was followed in the 1960s."

The military's comments came after the retired general had said that his lost copies of results were with the Army, an explanation he gave ahead of elections February 14.

Jonathan’s convoy stoned by angry thugs in Katsina State

Suspected political thugs on Tuesday attacked the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina State during the continuation of his re-election campaign. This could be related to Governor Ayo Fayose's death-wish advert in the newspapers against Muhammadu Buhari who is from the state.

Trouble started when Jonathan, accompanied by VP Namadi Sambo; PDP Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu; and Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina among others, decided to pay a courtesy visit on the late President Umar Yar'Adua's mother, Hajiya Dada.

As Jonathan and members of his entourage made their ways into the Yar'Adua Quarters, the brooms-wielding youths who were chanting "Sai Buhari" surged forward.

Security agents had a hectic time dispersing the crowd.

The youths regrouped and again moved to attack the President's convoy as he was ready to leave the Yar'Adua's residence.

Security agents had to fire tear gas canisters to disperse the youths to allow vehicles in the convoy of the President to speed off.

As the presidential delegation made their way towards the Katsina Airport, the youths hurled stones at the convoy. No case of injury was however reported.

While addressing a rally earlier at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in the state capital, Jonathan had attributed his Presidency to the late President who he said chose him as his Vice in 2007.

"But for you, I would not have been here today. It was your own son that brought me as his deputy. Anything that you want from me, we will do it without you asking for it," he said.

The President listed some of the achievements of his administration to include the establishment of a federal university and the establishment of Almajiri schools among others in the state.

See Wizkid o...lol (photo)

Hopefully that's from a music video...lol
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I will address my certificate issue today by 9am - Buhari

Gen Buhari will address all controversies surrounding his academic certificates at a press conference today, January 21st by 9am in Kano. The APC presidential candidate made this known through the Director of the APC's Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
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Buhari pulling much crowd, PDP want to assassinate him -APC

The level of support Buhari is enjoying is mind-boggling, hence his opponents are in panic mood trying to do anything and everything to stop him. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested the cover wrap-around advertisement in two national dailies placed by the Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, titled "Nigerians Be Warned!"

The party therefore alleged that the on-going campaigns on Buhari's health, using forged medical reports, and now suggestions of death are reeking of plots to eliminate him before or after he wins the February 14 presidential election.
"The insinuation that the leader of Nigeria's opposition should or may die ahead of the February 14 presidential polls is not only morbid and fatalistic, but drips of desperation and represents the pinnacle of political paranoia on the part of the incumbent government which has run out of favour with the populace after nearly six years of lackluster performance. 
"This is the height of desperate tactics by the PDP, which is capable of degenerating into unnecessary bloodshed and destruction. They are choosing death for us. This is not politics. We are therefore, asking our supporters to
stay calm and be law-abiding."

In separate statements by the director, media and publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organization, Malam Garaba Shehu, while reacting to the advertisement in which Nigerians were asked to choose between life and death, grouping Buhari among former Nigerian leaders who were either killed or died of natural causes while in office, said it was the height of desperation by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Consequently, the campaign organisation has called for an international inquiry into the plot to kill Buhari due to the danger it poses to Nigeria's unity and democracy and by extension the stability of the West African sub-region.

The APC Campaign therefore advised President Jonathan and the PDP leadership to take charge of their campaigns for re-election before their surrogates plunge the nation into "confusion and anarchy".
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See The Ground Shacking Crowd Buhari Pulled In Kano - some thought its a crusade. Lolz!

With the obvious massive support General Muhammadu Buhari is enjoying across the country, no wonder PDP and President want to drag the Army into politics by force and use them to discredit all the courses Buhari attended both home and abroad.

...the crowd that received Buhari is so massive that some thought its a crusade. Lolz!
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The BIG Difference between Jonathan and Buhari

Written by Barrister Festus Keyamo
"Do not forget that I am from the Niger-Delta region and all my close friends and associates are the main supporters and aides of Mr. President. Two or three Governors who are either my former classmates or colleagues are the main backers of Mr. President. It is so easy, so convenient and so seemingly logical for me to get into that political mix and forget about the good of my country for personal gains.

The disgusting message we hear all over the streets of that region every day at this time - promoted by the hirelings of the President – is that Goodluck Jonathan is "our son", so we have no choice but to support him. In fact, I see some of my "brothers" from the Niger Delta region these days strutting all over the place, denigrating people from other regions. It is typical of what the Yorubas call "omo oju ori ola ri" (a person whose eyes have not seen wealth before).

But the question I ask those who tell me such nonsense and behave in such a manner is that:
after the next four years, what is next for us? Is our entire future and that of our children dependent on a South-South President for the next four years?

Kindly note that in getting down from the fence and speaking up at this critical time, I do not mind if you speak up for Goodluck Jonathan. Yes, you have a right to do so as a Nigerian. But, as an elite, your stand must be known so that when the massacres continue because of cluelessness, when the unrestrained stealing of our public resources continue, when darkness continues to befall the nation because of lack of power, it is important we all remember those who betrayed their conscience and the people because of ethnicity and self-aggrandisement and for posterity to record it as such.

We have a President who has no single appetite to fight corruption – yes, none. Imagine a campaign that is dominated by the theme of corruption, yet the President has decided to appoint a person facing trial for money-laundering as his Director of Media and Publicity. If nobody would say it, I will say it because I am the one prosecuting the fellow in court and the case has been adjourned to February 23 and 24 for trial. Part of the lies told is that the fellow has been freed whereas some of the counts in the Charge were just struck out and the court held that he has a case to answer on some other counts. Yet nobody is asking the President these hard questions."

"The clear alternative to this monumental mess is the person of General Muhammadu Buhari. Let us be clear that Buhari does not present the total package Nigerians want at this time. He is human, he is not perfect. But at this point in our history, at this time, at this moment, he presents the only viable option and avenue for the people to vent their frustrations and anger against an inept and clueless Federal Government. He represents the rallying point for the frustrated and teeming masses of our people. He reminds me of MKO Abiola (with some of his imperfections) who became the rallying point in the struggle against military rule.

That is the change we are talking about. It is not a change from imperfection to perfection. It is a change from hopelessness and cluelessness to some hope and to some expectations."

~ Festus Keyamo
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Jonathan campaigns inside Half-Empty stadium in Sokoto

According to SR, President Goodluck Jonathan and his presidential campaign team arrived in Sokoto State as part of his nationwide campaign tour, and were confronted by a half-empty stadium. The event, at the Shehu Kangiwa Square, was scantily-attended, with only a few to cheer him despite the hopes of his campaign he would be warmly-received.
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You Are The Right Man To Lead Nigeria – IBB endorses Buhari

The APC presidential campaign train stopped at the residence of General Ibrahim Babangida during the visit to Minna, Niger State on Monday.

During the visit, General Ibrahim Babangida endorsed Muhammadu Buhari. "He is the right man to move Nigeria forward", he said during his speech. The APC presidential candidate also spent about 15 minutes in General Babangida's room and prayed there.

Reiterating his support, General Babangida also said "We will all support Buhari to be President".
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Stampede at Buhari’s campaign in Jos yesterday kills 2

According to a report on Vanguard two people were trampled to death in a stampede during the APC presidential campaign in Plateau state yesterday January 17th.

The victims were said to be trying to force their way out of the crowded Rwang Pam Township Stadium, venue of the event, when they were trampled on and they gave up the ghost.
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The Figures That Convince Me Jonathan is The Man for 2015 by Adeyemi Johnson

Recently, some APC stalwarts principally the party's chairman claimed that Nigeria has deteriorated under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and that APC offers a better solution, but is that true ? Rather than make subjective claims, it is better to examine the facts by global verifiable standards.

The most acceptable global composite standard for judging progress or development is the HDI Index. Many accept that Nigeria has not moved as fast as it should in this index. It measures three basic dimensions of human development, such as long and healthy life, knowledge and a descent standard of living.

The highest development is measured as
1, and anything below from 0.9 to 0.01 are a continuum from very high to very low respectively. But if we examine the facts from this measurement, in 2013 the Nigerian measurement on this index is 0.504. ln 2010 when Jonathan assumed office the Nigerian measure was 0.492, but in 1985 when Buhari left office Nigeria was second from last at the bottom of the table with our rating at 0.421. So, although Nigeria has not reached the highest ratings such as 0.810 to 0.870, under the Jonathan administration, it has moved up the Index since the time of Buhari.

But to show that this is a factual measure, If we examine some of the key indicators which make up this index such as life expectancy, which measures how long a person will live if all the prevailing conditions at his/her birth remains so throughout the person's life, we also see that, in 2012 the life expectancy of a Nigerian was 52.7, in 2010 it was 51 when the Jonathan administration assumed office. There are some who will say that this is an effort to polish the image of the administration, but these measures are not conducted by Nigeria but by independent organs allied with the United Nations to measure the progress of mankind, and they often speak frankly to developing nations to let us know that where we are presently is far from the ideal and we should keep aspiring to that ideal.

But what is the APC offering? Looking back at the life expectancy of Nigerians in 1985 when Buhari left office, it was 47.18years and by 1999 when the civilians took over from the military that claims to have come to correct the ills of democracy, the life expectancy of Nigerians had actually fallen to 46.71years.

Moreover, it must also be pointed out that, although the national average in terms of HDI measurement is used as the standard for a country, it does not reflects the lived reality of everyone or the reality everywhere in a country. This is especially true for some of the indicators used to measure the HDI such as the standard of living which usually takes account of things like poverty rate and distribution of poverty. If we take the national distribution of poverty, low life expectancy and low literacy rates in Nigeria, it is discovered that the worst indicator measurements can be found in states that were formally ANPP.

The leadership value of ANPP can be directly associated with the leading presidential candidate that APC is offering as an alternative to the Jonathan administration. And the APC is saying publicly that the development that Nigeria is boasting about does not reflect on the people, but in actual fact, it is states under the leadership of the legacy members of APC which is pulling down the national average. The data from states under Buhari's former legacy parties, are pulling down the national average. If we take away the data from these states, we might fare a lot better, what this means therefore is that what has worked better in other states should be emulated by these states, not the other way round.

So ,the question is: What is APC offering Nigerians? Is it progress or regression? Because apart from these quantitative facts, the APC is also offering qualitative expectations. They tell us that Buhari is an upright leader without administrative blemish. But many have pointed to the public records not political statements to verify this claim.

They point to human rights abuses. For example, Tai Solarin spent 17months in jail arrested with an illegal warrant of arrest which had only a photocopy of the signature of the Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters. A Nigerian journalist, Vera Ifudu published that she was informed by the late Chief Olusola Saraki who was then in the Nigerian senate when the matter was probed that, the 2.8Billion United States Dollars which was missing at the NNPC under the Obasanjo regime while Buhari was Minister for Petroleum was traced to Buhari's private account'at the Midlands Bank in the United Kingdom. She was forced to resign because of this story without evidence to refute her story. While late Fela Ransom-Kuti was arrested for possession of Foreign exchange by the Buhari regime, money that was meant for the upkeep of his band on a foreign tour.

He was forced to spend 18months in jail, by a judge who was forced to imprison him by the Buhari regime, whereas on the same matter of illegal foreign exchange, when the Buhari regime was kicked out, his head of security, Lawal Rafindadi was found to have operated several personal foreign accounts, and until he died he was still fighting to unfreeze the accounts seized from him.

Also,Buhari and his deputy, Tunde Idiagbon made a law for Nigerians, that no one, under 18years should go on pilgrimage to the holy land Mecca but Idiagbon himself was found returning from Hajj with his 14year old son, when they were dethroned. Buhari was aware that Idiagbon went on hajj with his under-aged son. So they made one law for themselves and another for Nigerians. Similarly, while Buhari was Chairman of PTF, an audit of the Agency found that over 25 billion Naira was missing though the agency, his relative Ahmad Salihijo, whom he appointed as the soleconsultant in charge of all the transactions of the agency, died when the audit committee was constituted, some say he committed suicide to hide the facts, we will never know. But the audit report found many cases of clear over-invoicing and importation of expired products by the agency.

Therefore, looking at the quantitative progress of HDI indicators since 1985 and qualitative evidence the farce of Buhari's mythical uprightness, it is hard to understand, where the confidence of the APC lies that it is offering Nigeria a better choice for 2015

By Adeyemi Johnson
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
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What happened the first night? My Hubby & I Married as Virgins – Nikki Laoye

It's not easy, but it is possible especially if you can manage to stay away for s*x till you are 21, there is a high tendency you will get married as a virgin. That is the story of gospel singer, Nikki Laoye and her husband. Initially, we thought it was only her that got married as a virgin, but they both did.

Nikki has just revealed that even her husband had not 'met' a woman, prior to their wedding night. She added that their first night together was as interesting as that of any other couple:
"My husband was not surprised that I was a virgin when we got married because he was also a virgin. Even though I was a virgin when I got married, I had equipped myself with information on s*x education. I preach to Christian ladies that they should not think that because they are virgins, they should not find out how to get things done because when they get there, they have work to do... 
It has been fun and an adventure for us because we are finding out things about ourselves."

"I decided to remain a virgin till I got married. I did not just want to be jumping from one man to another. It is often said that once you pop the cherry, you can't stop and I did not want to deal with s*xual issues while I was dealing with my life and education... I told God to help me. 

"I was tempted a lot but I was blessed to have wonderful relationships whereby the men respected my decision and even helped me to keep my promise. My husband also told me that he kept himself for a special woman. The truth is that now that I am having a lot of s*x, I have come to realise that it is very emotional and it should be done with someone you will love to see the next day.".
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN