Jonathan Questions Buhari’s victory in the just concluded 2015 Presidential Elections

President Goodluck Jonathan has, for the first time, questioned the results of the March 28 presidential election, maintaining that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still the dominant party in Nigeria. Jonathan had congratulated Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), before the final result was announced but has now said he only did it for the unity of Nigeria. He said the PDP could not have recorded the low scores recorded for him in some areas, and attributed the loss in Benue and Kogi to infighting.

The president was speaking on Thursday at the submission of the report of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO) at the new banquet hall of the presidential villa. Jonathan said: “PDP is still the dominant party. If you look at the result, the difference is just over two million votes. And if you look at the areas where it is perceived that PDP scored so low, PDP couldn’t have gotten those kinds of scores.” He said now that the elections are over, “I put the country first”. That Nigeria is at peace is worth celebrating, Jonathan said, appearing to confirm reports that some western countries had put ships on standby to evacuate their citizens in preparation for a post-election crisis in Nigeria. He said: “The countries that brought ships, everything around us, waiting to evacuate their citizens are happy because there was nobody to evacuate. The country was so tensed but everything has gone down now and I think that is the most important thing because the conviction is that you must have a country before you can run for an office. “Nigeria is a very complex country and you must manage it with care.


Yes, I did not consult  anybody before I made that phone call but I made that phone call on behalf of all you and on behalf of the PDP.” Jonathan said the PDP remains “the most organized party” and one that is not owned by “anybody”, urging them to put the loss in the 2015 elections behind and bounce back in 2019. “The key thing isn’t whether we lost or won but that Nigeria as a nation must move forward.

Political parties can only thrive when there is peace and stability in the country. If there is military intervention, all the parties will disappear,” he said. ‎”And for PDP whatever happened now is like a slip‎, you don’t need to go to America to know how power goes from the Democrats to the Republicans… it has almost stabilised. It is like once you serve eight years you are ready to hand over to either the Republicans or the Democrats. So theirs is almost an established setting.

But our neighbour Ghana, the present ruling party lost some eight years back and, of course, they came back and won the elections. “So the problem is not whether we lost the elections. That is history now but ‎how do we consolidate our party and move forward? If we are committed and if we work very hard, definitely PDP will bounce back. “PDP is still the dominant party. If you look at the result, the difference is just over two million votes ‎and if you look at the areas where it is perceived that PDP scored so low, PDP couldn’t have gotten those kinds of scores but the elections are over, we put the country first. ‎”It is not as if Jonathan alone made the sacrifice.

It’s all of us. I made the pronouncement but some of us are paying the price. Some people pay more price than I do. I know how some of you are already being persecuted and the kind of situation facing you. The key thing is that we must continue to unite. As a party, we must continue to work hard so that as we go into subsequent elections in 2019, 2023 and so on and so forth, PDP will continue to come up strong. “Even in the interest of the nation, we need PDP.

I still believe though we have lost presidential election, some national assembly elections, governorship elections especially in the north, PDP is still the dominant party. Let us not judge PDP by the results of the presidential election.

“Our duty is to go back and identify areas of challenges ‎so that the party will come up strong and play the role as a very strong party. PDP is still the most organised party, it is still the party that is not owned by anybody, it is still the party that whatever you are you can get to any level with your competences and so on. “I encourage members of our party to remain loyal to the party, not to be so disillusioned ‎because we lost presidential election and decide to go where they think they will fill their stomachs or something. It is not easy. I have been here for five years plus, you hardly satisfy even 50 per cent of those who work for you.

“So those people running and those already cross-carpeting, they will come back on an empty stomach because they (APC) will first touch the primary members of their party, before they get to you, they know you are coming because you are hungry.

Before it will get to you, the food will be gone. “So let us be committed to the party. Yes we will have challenges at the beginning but surely we will get to where we want to be.” Ahmadu Ali‎, former PDP chairman and director-general of the PCO, commended Jonathan for showing “exemplary leadership” and making the PDP proud despite losing. Tony‎ Anenih, chairman of PDP’s board of trustees, said ‎the party that will prepare for the 2019 must be formed now. He said: “We experienced betrayals and conspiracy but ‎let us put all that behind us ‎and work hard to remain a strong and formidable party.”

PDP will bounce back in 2019 - President Jonathan declares

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan declared Thursday in Abuja that if members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) remain committed to the vision of its founding fathers and work very hard, the party will return to power at the Federal level in 2019.

Speaking after receiving the report of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization at the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan said that the party already had all that it will require to win the 2019 elections, but needed to return to the drawing board to  re-strategize for the future.

“Whatever happened was like a slip. You don’t need to travel to America to know how power moves from the Republicans to the Democrats and from the Democrats to the Republicans.

“You can even go to Ghana that is very close to us. The present administration lost some  years back and of course they came back, and won the elections. So the problem is not whether we lost or won elections, which is already history, but how we can reconsolidate our party.

 “If we are committed and we work hard, definitely the PDP will spring back,” President Jonathan told members of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation.

Noting that the outcome of future elections will be determined by the party’s preparedness, President Jonathan urged members of the PDP to be more united and remain loyal to the party.

“We must continue to be united as a party. And continue to work hard so that as we move towards subsequent elections in 2019 and 2023, PDP will come out stronger.

“Let’s not judge PDP by the results of the presidential elections, because in some of the states where we saw the PDP score so low, it was probably due to problems within the PDP.


“The party will come back stronger. PDP is still the most organized party. PDP is still the party that nobody owns. PDP is still the party that whoever you are, you can get to any level that you aspire to through competence. I encourage members of our party to remain faithful and not be disillusioned,’’ the President said.

 In his remarks at the occasion, the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Sen. Ahmadu Ali, commended President Jonathan for putting the nation before his personal ambition.

“Our great party will emerge from this debacle stronger, wiser and prouder. Even in defeat, we are able to impart some valuable lessons to the Nigerian electorate.

“This is the first time in the history of this country that a sitting Government has handed over power peacefully to an opposition party after an election. We are proud of you,’’ he told President Jonathan.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
April 30, 2015

Charlyboy to ride bike from Nigeria to China if Buhari makes N1 equal $1

Charles Oputa (Charlyboy), widely known as AreaFada has disclosed that he will embark on a bike ride from Nigeria to china in solidarity with president-elect General Buhari if he is able to equal the value of naira to dollars.The eccentric Charlyboy made the comments on his facebook page following the growing solidarity by Nigerians who are now trekking and cycling from different parts of the country to congratulate Gen. Buhari and set targets for him. He disclosed that if the President – Elect can make 1niara equivalent of 1dollar, he will ride his bike from Nigeria to China.

Here is his post;

Nigerian Army free more women & children from Boko Haram

Military says at least 160 children and women rescued from the Sambisa Forest, days after 293 others were freed.

The military has launched an assault to eliminate the armed group holed up in the Sambisa Forest. Nigeria's military says it has rescued at least 160 more women and children who had been abducted by Boko Haram and were being held in the Sambisa Forest, considered to be the armed group's last stronghold.
Colonel Sani Usman, an army spokesperson, said in a statement on Thursday that those rescued include around "60 women of various ages and around 100 children".
"They have been evacuated to a safety zone for further processing," Usman said.
At least one woman and one soldier were reportedly killed in the fighting during the rescue. Eight other women and four soldiers were also injured.
Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from Abuja, said that the reports from the army could not be independently verified because of restricted access to the area.
However, she added that the military promised to release more evidence of the rescues, including photographs, later on Thursday.

Six months on, Nigerian girls still missing
All the former hostages - some of whom are said to be traumatised by the experience - were being screened to determine their identities and from where and when they were abducted.
Their release comes a day after the Nigerian military rescued nearly 300 hostages - 200 girls and 93 women - in Boko Haram's forest stronghold.
Usman said that the girls who were seized from the northeastern town of Chibok in April 2014 were not part of the group. The fighters are believed to have taken the schoolgirls in trucks into the Sambisa Forest. Dozens escaped, but 219 remain missing.
Boko Haram has abducted an unknown number of girls, women and young men to be used as sex slaves and fighters. Many have escaped or been released as Boko Haram fighters have fled a multinational offensive that began at the end of January.

A month ago, the Nigerian military began pounding the Sambisa Forest in air raids, an assault they said earlier they had been avoiding for fear of killing the Chibok schoolgirls, or inciting their captors to kill them.
'Tip of the iceberg'
Earlier this month, rights group Amnesty International published a report saying that the armed group has abducted at least 2,000 women and girls since the start of 2014.
Amnesty's Africa director for research and advocacy, Netsanet Belay, said the rescues were a "cause for celebration" but he warned: "This is just the tip of the iceberg.
"There are thousands more women and girls, and men and boys, who have been abducted by Boko Haram," he said in a statement.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Facebook notificationd to change soon snd you may not like the changes

No longer will your Facebook notifications solely be ‘friends’ commenting on your old profile pictures to cause you embarrassment.The social media site is introducing steps to make it more dynamic so it can defeat rival networks.A Facebook spokesperson told Mashable: ‘We are testing an updated notifications tab that adds additional, relevant content about everything that might be helpful to know on a particular day.’Not only will you be told whose birthday it is, but notifications will also allow you to see which friends are nearby and what restaurants in your locality are open for business.

Here is the list of eight sections the your notifications will now include:
Birthdays – Your cousin, your second cousin twice removed and that guy you met in Freshers week.
Life Events – A list of events from your friends that were published today, happened today or happened recently.
Events – The usual suspects: house warming parties, friends’ pub gigs and charity firewalking.
Nearby Places – Restaurants and bars in your area. This will only work if location services is turned on.
Trending Topics – Much like Twitter trends but for Facebook.
News Shared Locally – Viral stories making the rounds in your area.
Today in the Past – Showing status updates and photos from you’re not-too-distant past. Cue cringe.
Nearby Friends – This only works if you have enabled the feature on your mobile.

REDUCE BRIDE PRICE, FORMER ANAMBRA GOVERNOR PLEADS WITH IGBO PARENTS

Former Military governor of old Anambra State, Col. Robert Akonobi (rtd), has pleaded with Igbo parents to reduce the bride price of their daughters so that ‘’our young boys can marry them.”
Speaking at the industrial city of Nnewi, Anambra State during the traditional wedding ceremony of the daughter of a business mogul, Chief Louis Onwugbenu, Onyinye and her husband, Bosah
Chukwuogo, weekend, Col. Akonobi said:

‘’To me, this topic (bride price) has been dealt with in the past by Ndigbo, who came out
with a reduced bride price, to enable our young boys marry our young girls.”

Akonobi also cautioned that men should study their proposed wives closely and longer before engaging into marriage because “once you marry, no one else can put it asunder.”

Nnewi was agog as dignitaries from all works of life trooped to the residence of Chief Onwugbenu for the memorable event. The dignitaries who were from both the military, political and manufacturing circles, including Col Akonobi, Hon. Clement Nwankwu, former member of the House of Representatives; Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Gabros International Limited and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Limited, Chief Gabriel and Innocent Chukwuma respectively, among others.

The issue of high bride price was discussed extensively at the occasion. Hon. Nwankwu, in his own speech, prayed that Chief Onwugbenu and his wife would live long to enjoy the fruits of their children, especially those who married from outside their areas.

Also, speaking, Mrs. Onwugbenu expressed gratitude that her daughter’s hand was given out in marriage and prayed that her in-laws who came all the way from Awka to marry her daughter, would go back home safely. Father of the bride, Onwugbenu, in his own speech, said he had already blessed his daughter and her husband to go and make a good home.

On the bride price controversy in Igbo land, Onwugbenu declared:

“We do not charge money as bride price for someone to marry my daughter. To me, what is important is that my daughter should live in peace with her husband. Let her husband’s family members accept her as part and parcel of their family.”

Fayose moves for peace, withdraws lawsuit against APC lawmakers

Very recently, Ayo Fayose says he is ready for peace in his state, and this latest move may be testament to that… or not.

The Ekiti State Governor has withdrawn the lawsuit to stop the moves by the 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the state House of Assembly to remove him from and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola, from office.

Justice Mohammed struck out the suit filed by Fayose and three others after their counsel, Adeola Adedipe, informed the court that he had filed a notice of discontinuance of the suit on behalf of his clients.

Adedipe appeared in court on Wednesday, April 29 to apply for the discontinuation of the case.

Adedipe told Justice Mohammed, “On behalf of the plaintiffs, we want to inform the noble court that pursuant to Order 2 Rule 2(1) of the rules of this court, we filed a notice of discontinuance on April 24, 2015 and we urge the court to strike out this suit in its entirety.”

Igbinedion convicted of Money Laundering

Michael Igbinedion, the younger brother of Lucky Igbinedion, a former governor of Edo state, was today, 29th of April, convicted by a Federal High Court in Benin in a N25 billion money laundering case instituted against him and five others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Others convicted in the 81-count charge of money laundering are Patrick Eboigbodin, a former Accountant-General and the four companies are Gava Corporation Limited, Romrig Nigeria Limited, PMI Securities Company Limited and PML (Nigeria) Limited.
‎
The offence was committed during the administration of his brother when he was the Governor of Edo State between 1999 and 2007.
The judge however reserved their sentence till Thursday, 30 April.

Anambra State signs a $61M worth M.O.U. with Lynden Intergeated Farms Ltd.

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, on Tuesday signed a N13bn  Memorandum of Understanding with Lynden Integrated Farms Limited for the establishment of a modern poultry production and processing farm in the state.
The event took place at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, near Awka, the state capital.
Obiano,  on the occasion, emphasised that agriculture remained the number one pillar in his economic agenda.
He explained that the proposed poultry farm, which would  be located on seven hectares of land at Igbariam, would generate no fewer than 250 jobs during construction and 200 permanent jobs as well as 2,000 indirect jobs subsequently.
“At the moment, all the day-old chicks sold in the South-East are brought in from Oyo State. We want to change that. We want all the day-old chicks sold in this area to come from Anambra State,” he said.

He further explained that his plan was to approach agriculture in two areas  by creating  a favourable and sustainable environment for commercial agriculture to thrive and to roll out programmes that would upgrade the class of farmers to embrace the use of new implements and improved seedlings.

Obiano added, “We have mapped out specific areas where cassava, rice and maize will best grow and establish cooperatives in those specific areas. We plan to play to our full strength in agriculture.”
The Chairman of Lynden Integrated Farms Limited, Mr. Clem Nwogbo  who signed on behalf of his organization. explained that his company plans to develop a two-phased modern integrated poultry production and processing farm with day-old chicks and then subsequently upgrade its facilities in order to provide high quality meat, eggs from layers and fresh and frozen poultry meat from broilers.
“The first phase of this facility will comprise the setting up of 200,000 broiler houses with 8 pens, 93,000 layer house with 3 pens, 33,000 pullets house with 1 pen, 2000 birds per house slaughter house and a feed mill. We plan to double the production capacity of this farm by extending the broiler and layer houses to accommodate 400,000 broilers, 186,000 layers and 66,000 pullets after 3 years of full operation of the first phase,” Mr. Nwogbo further explained.

According to him, Lynden Integrated Farms Limited has the capacity to position Anambra State as the center of excellence in poultry farming in the South-East and South-South.

Jonathan, Sambo, others to get N3.24bn severance pay

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, non-returning federal lawmakers, ministers and   presidential aides will collect N3.24bn as severance allowances, investigation by The PUNCH has shown.

The severance allowances   are contained in the Remuneration Package   put together by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

According to the package, Jonathan, who will hand over to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 29, is entitled to 300 per cent of his annual basic salary.

The President’s annual basic salary is put at N3, 514,705 and therefore his severance allowance will be N10, 544,115 after May 29.

The severance allowance is without prejudice to his other constitutional entitlements as a former head of government.

Similarly, Vice-President Sambo, who leaves office the same day as Jonathan, is also entitled to 300 per cent of his annual basic salary put at N3, 031,572.50. This means that his severance allowance after May 29 is N9, 094,717.50.

For having held the office of vice-president, Sambo also has some constitutional entitlements and perks.

About 76 senators are not returning to the National Assembly either because they did not stand for election or because they lost their bids to return. They are however entitled to N462,019,200 at the expiration of their tenure on June 5.

Like Jonathan and Sambo, they are entitled to 300 per cent of their annual basic salaries as severance allowances. This amounts to N6, 079,200 per senator.

In the House of Representatives, about 290 members are not returning to the 8th National Assembly to be proclaimed into existence by Buhari on June 5.

Each of the members is entitled to N5, 955,637.50 as severance allowance. This means that the 290 members   will be paid N1, 727,134,875.

The ministers, on the other hand, will be collecting a total of N253, 967,212.5. There are 42 ministers in Jonathan’s cabinet. Thirty one of them are senior ministers and 11 are ministers of state.

Each of the senior ministers is entitled to N6, 079,200 severance allowance while each of the ministers of state   will receive N5, 872,740.

This means that collectively, the senior ministers will get N188, 455,200 at the expiration of their tenure on May 29 while collectively, the ministers of state will be collecting N65, 512,012.5 .

The aides to the President comprising special advisers, senior special assistants and special assistants   will   get   N775, 207,125.

There are 23 of them who work with the president as special advisers. Apart from this number, however, there are several others estimated at 110, who work with the vice-president, the First Lady(Patience Jonathan) and special advisers that are designated either as senior special assistants or special assistants to the President.

This means that there are about 133 aides to the president and each of them is entitled to 300 per cent of their annual basic salary which amounts to N5, 828,625.

The Nigerian democracy has been identified as one of the costliest in the world as a result of a large number of political office holders.

Some experts, for instance, think that a cabinet, made up of 42 ministers, is too large. However, constitutionally, each of the 36 states   is expected to be represented in the Federal Executive Council.

Bicameralism is another source of worry for many observers who believe that Nigeria can do with one chamber of the National Assembly. Some Nigerians have called for part-time legislature as a means of saving cost.

However, the worry of many Nigerians is not what the lawmakers earn monthly but what accrues to them through self-appropriation and   constituency projects.


Two activist   lawyers – Jiti Ogunye and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa – faulted the basis for earmarking such an amount of money for such purposes in the face of the economic challenges the country is grappling with.

While Adegboruwa argued that the political office holders were not entitled to any severance allowance given what they earned as salaries and benefits while in office, Ogunye called for a drastic cut in the allowances.

Adegboruwa said that since the political office holders had   been paid what could sustain them and their families for the rest of their lives, they   were   no longer entitled to severance allowance.

He said, “I believe that given the monumental and outrageous salaries, benefits and allowances that are being paid to the outgoing members of this executive, the legislators especially the House of Representatives, senators and ministers, I believe they should save Nigerians from the luxury of any outrageous allowance.

“This incoming government needs a lot of resources to fulfil its campaign promises. Our incoming government is likely to remain stagnant for now. Nigeria cannot afford the luxury in the name of severance allowance. Our people are suffering. They should have mercy on Nigeria. What they have taken is enough to sustain them and their families for the rest of their lives.”

Ogunye said, “While the RMAFAC could have its own scale, guidelines and parameters for determining those political office holders who qualify for these severance benefits and the quantum each of them and all of them should recieve, we cannot but point out that this amount, in the circumstances of our dire economic situation, is outrageous.

“It is carrying the culture of profligacy and corruption in the conduct of our public affairs too far. At this point of economic recession and dwindling oil revenue, RMFAC ought to be chiefly concerned with revenue mobilisation to cater for the shortfall in the funding of the yet to be passed 2015 Appropriation bill.

“We suggest a drastic cut in the amount. Political office holders do not necessarily serve Nigeria more and better than school teachers, lecturers, judges, health workers et cetra, who take home modest gratituities and pensions after 35 years of service.”

The Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere,   Yinka Odumakin, said, “It is   unjust   and morally reprehensible for these officials, who mostly have fleeced the public till with veracious rapacity to legislate crazy retirement benefits.

“It is nothing but robbing the public for people who lived off the state for four or eight years to want to become permanent liability on the system.

“This is a country where civil servants who served the country for 35 years are queuing to death for pensions that mostly remain unpaid. There are no serious countries in the world where public officials earn what ours take not to talk of the sickening retirement benefits they ask for.”

By EVEREST AMAEFULE, FRIDAY OLOKOR AND ADE ADESOMOJU
Culled from Punch

Rescued girls not Chibok girls - Nigerian Army

Reporting on our yesterday's story about the over 200 women rescued ny the Army, the Nigeria’s army has stated that the rescued 200 girls and 93 women from Boko Haram camps during a military operation are not the school girls abducted from Chibok community more than a year ago by the Boko Haram insurgents.

An army spokesman told AP news agency on Tuesday that the 293 females were not the girls abducted from Chibok a year ago.
Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls from the northeastern town of Chibok, in Borno state, sparking an international outcry.
Army spokesman: 293 females rescued in northeastern Nigeria are not girls abducted from Chibok.

4 Cross-border robbers killed in Ogun State

ABEOKUTA—Men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ogun State have reportedly engaged a gang of cross-border armed robbers in a gun battle at Itoku Market, Abeokuta, leaving four of the bandits dead and two arrested.

The robbers attempted to break into Bureaux de Change shops in the market when the police engaged them in a gun battle.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this at SAR’s Office, Magbon, Abeokuta, yesterday, while parading the two suspects.

He said the incident occurred on Sunday at 9:30pm under the newly constructed flyover bridge in the market, while the bandits, based in Ghana, attempted to loot bureaux de change shops in the market.
According to Adejobi, those arrested, Adamu Bamako and Ibrahim Tanko, are not Nigerians and cannot speak English, but Hausa language.

He said the suspects did not have any fixed address and that the command could not identify their states of origin.
Adejobi said the command would take steps to unravel their origin and take vital information from them.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Val Ntomchukwu, has assured residents of the state of safety of lives and property.

By Daud Olatunji
Vanguard News

Mugabe snobs Zulu King (Photo)

I just stumbled on this picture on the internet and it seem Mugabe refuses to shake hands with the xenophobic Zulu King. What is your take?

Vacancy! Vacancy!! Vacancy!!!

A new hotel is opening soon in Lekki, Lagos.
Interested candidates should fill the application form below. Positions available are:
Duty Manager
Receptionist
Porter
F&B Supervisor
Waiters
Head cook
Cook
Kitchen Steward
Housekeeping Supervisor
House Keepers
Laundry Attendant
Maintenance Man
Accountant
Account Clerk
CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Indonesia executes 4 Nigerians and 4 other drug convicts

Defying international condemnation and rejecting 11th-hour pleas for clemency, the Indonesian government executed eight drug convicts after midnight on Wednesday, including seven foreigners.

But the execution of a ninth convict, scheduled to happen at the same time, was unexpectedly postponed at nearly the last minute, according to the Indonesian attorney general’s office.

The executed prisoners, from Australia, Brazil and Nigeria, along with one Indonesian, were shot by police firing squads at about 12:25 a.m. local time at a site outside the gates of Pasir Putih prison on the island of Nusa Kambangan off the southern coast of Java, according to the attorney general’s office.

The authorities granted the stay of execution to Mary Jane Veloso, 30, a Philippine citizen, after the Philippine government requested her assistance in a human trafficking case involving a woman who surrendered to the Philippine police on Tuesday.

“An alleged perpetrator of human trafficking gave herself up, and Mary Jane’s testimony is needed,” Tony Spontana, a spokesman for the Indonesian attorney general, wrote in a text message shortly after the executions were carried out. “Eight people were executed, but not Mary Jane,” he wrote.

Ms. Veloso’s family maintains that she was duped by a drug syndicate into flying to Indonesia in 2010 with more than five pounds of heroin hidden in a suitcase. President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines had repeatedly appealed for her to be spared. The woman who surrendered to the Philippine police on Tuesday was identified as one of those who recruited Ms. Veloso.

Relatives and friends of the condemned paid them final visits on Tuesday, but were not allowed by the Indonesian authorities to witness the executions.

Shortly after midnight Tuesday, mourners in the port town of Cilacap, which is the access point to the prison island, held a candlelight vigil for the condemned prisoners that was televised.

The mass execution was the second in Indonesia this year. In January, five foreign drug convicts and one Indonesian convicted of murder were shot by firing squads on the island.

On Saturday, the attorney general’s office gave 72 hours’ notice to the latest group of condemned prisoners, their legal teams and their respective embassies that the executions would be carried out.

On Monday, an Australian prisoner, Andrew Chan, married his Indonesian fiancée in a small ceremony at the prison.

A French citizen who was also originally on the list to be executed won a two-week reprieve from the State Administrative Court in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, which will hear his challenge to a clemency rejection by President Joko Widodo.

Shortly after taking office last October, Mr. Joko declared that Indonesia was facing “a national emergency” of drug abuse, and he rejected 64 clemency appeals from death row drug convicts, most of them foreigners. Saying Indonesia had a right to exercise its drug laws, Mr. Joko’s government rejected international pleas to cancel the executions, including one from Ban Ki-moon, secretary general of the United Nations.

The executions have angered some of Indonesia’s largest aid donors, including Australia and the European Union.

Brazil and the Netherlands withdrew their ambassadors after the January executions, and Australia has said it may do the same this time. France has lodged a diplomatic protest and warned that diplomatic relations with Indonesia could be affected.


Advocates for the convicts have also argued that the Indonesian courts that sentenced their clients were corrupt.

Lawyers for the two executed Australian convicts, Mr. Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 34, say the judge who handed down the death penalty to the pair had offered a lighter sentence in exchange for money. The pair, members of the so-called Bali Nine who were arrested in 2005 trying to smuggle 18.5 pounds of heroin out of the Indonesian resort island, admitted their guilt but said they had reformed.

The Indonesian wife of one of the Nigerians executed, Silvester Obiekwe Nwolise, 47, also claimed that the judges at his trial had offered a lighter sentence in return for a bribe.

Another Nigerian who was executed did not have a lawyer when he tried to appeal his death sentence, while the Brazilian convict, Rodrigo Gularte, 42, had had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder since he was a teenager, conditions that his lawyers say should have disqualified him from criminal prosecution under Indonesian law.

Sambisa Forest raided by Nigerian army, over 300 girls rescued

The Nigerian army stormed Sambisa Forest early today in a daring and coordinated operation. Three camps were reportedly raided and destroyed and over 200 girls and 99 women were rescued.

The girls, the army said, are currently being profiled and untill that is concluded, no report can be given as to their identity.

More details to come later.

20 new Magistrates sworn-in in Anambra State

20 Barristers were yestetday April 27, 2015 sworn in as Magistrates in Anambra State by the Anambra State Chief Judge, Justice Umeadi. More details to come later.

List and faces of All Newly Elected Governors in Nigeria 2015 part3

Conpletion of list and faces of newly elected governors 2015.

21. Oyo – Abiola Ajimobi (APC)

Oyo State governor who is under APC, Abiola Ajimobi, won the elections, and will be continuing his tenure as governor.

The APC polled 327,310, Accord- 254,520, LP – 184,111, PDP – 79,019 and SDP- 54,740.
His victory makes him the first Oyo State governor to be re-elected for a second term.

22. Plateau – Rt Hon Simon Lalong (APC)

APC gubernatorial candidate for Plateau State, Simon Lalong, has been declared winner.

Lalong defeated the PDP candidate, Gyang Pwajok, a serving senator representing Plateau north in the National Assembly, with 520,627 votes,Premium Times reports.

23. Rivers – Nyesom Wike (PDP)

PDP candidate, Nyesom Wike won the Rivers State governorship elections. He defeated APC candidate Dakuku Peterside, with a total of 1,029,102 votes. Peterside polled 124,896 votes.

24. Sokoto – Aminu Tambuwal (APC)

Current speaker of the House of Representatives and APC candidate, Aminu Tambuwal, emerged winner of the Sokoto governorship elections.

Tambuwal scored 647,609 votes to beat his major rival and former political benefactor, PDP’S Abdallah Wali, who polled 269,074 votes, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

25. Yobe – Ibrahim Gaidam (APC)

Prof. Abubakar Njodi, the governorship Collation Officer, who announced the results on Sunday in Damaturu said elections were conducted in all the 17 local governments.

Gaidam re-contested election against Waziri, Bukar Abba of Alliance for Democracy and won.

26. Zamfara -Abdulaziz Yari (APC)

In the result declared at about 4.30am on Monday in Gusau, the Returning Officer, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru declared Yari winner with a total vote of 716,964.

His closest rival, who is also his father in-law, Alhaji Mamuda Shinkafi of the Peoples Democratic Party wasn’t that impressive.

List and faces of All Newly Elected Governors in Nigeria 2015 part2

Continuation of list and faces of newly elected governors 2015.

11. Jigawa – Alhaji Badaru Abubakar (APC)

APC governorship candidate, Badaru Abubakar won. NAN reports that Abubakar polled 648, 045, to defeat his closest opponent, Malam Aminu Ringim of PDP who scored 479,447 votes, NAN reports.

12. Kaduna – Nasir El-Rufai (APC)

The Kaduna State Governor and gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ramalan Yero, conceded defeat to his rival, Nasir El-Rufai of the All Progressives Congress.

Mr. El-Rufai led with over 500,000 votes in 16 of the 20 local government areas announced by the state INEC with the results of three local governments yet to be announced.

13. Kano – Dr Abdullahi Ganduje (APC)

Abdullahi Ganduje, the Deputy Governor of the state and APC gubernatorial candidate, emerged winner in the governorship race.

Ganduje scored 1.5 million votes, to defeat Takai of the PDP, who got 509, 726 votes, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

14. Katsina – Aminu Masari (APC)

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, won the governorship election in Katsina State on the APC platform.

“Masari polled 943,085 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate,Musa Nashuni, who scored 476,768 votes in the Saturday election,”Premium Times reports.

15. Kebbi – Atiku Bagudu (APC)

APC also won the governorship seat in Kebbi State, with its candidate, Atiku Bagudu, garnering 477,376 votes, to defeat 16 other candidates, NAN reports.

16. Kwara – Abdulfatah Ahmed (APC)

Kwara State governor Abdulfatah Ahmed won the elections. Ahmed polled 295,832 votes to defeat his closest rival, Senator Simeon Ajibola of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 115,220 votes, according to Premium Times.

17. Lagos – Akinwunmi Ambode (APC)

APC candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode won in Lagos State. Channels reports that “Ambode polled 811,994 votes, with the runner-up and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje, polling 659,788 votes.”

18. Nasarawa -Umaru Al-Makura (APC)

Incumbent Governor Umaru Al-makura of the APC retained his seat, scoring 309,746 votes, to defeat his closet opponent, former Information Minister, Mr Labaran Maku of APGA, who polled 178,983 votes, and three other contestants,News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

19. Niger – Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello (APC)

APC candidate Abubakar Bello won. Bello polled 593,702 votes to defeat Umar Nasko of PDP who got 239,772 votes. He won 23 of the 25 local government areas announced, Punch reports.

20. Ogun State – Ibikunle Amosun (APC)

APC’s Ibikunle Amosun, won the Ogun State elections and will rule the state for a second term. Premium Times reports that “the incumbent secured 306,988 votes to defeat Gboyega Isiaka of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, who had 201,440 votes.

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, candidate, Akin Odunsi, came third with 25,826 votes.”
click here to continue to part3

DOWNLOAD Full Report of PWC Forensic Audit on Missing $20billion Oil Money

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the immediate release of the full audit report of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, accused of diverting $20 billion oil money.
The president gave the directive Monday, a day after the president-elect Muhammadu Buhari, pledged to launch an investigation into the claim made by a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi.

The government immediately released the report following the president’s directive. The presidency criticised the All Progressives Congress, APC, for accusing Mr. Jonathan of indulging in last minute illegal acts ahead of handover of power on May 29.
“President Jonathan is also deeply concerned by the continuing suggestions that his administration still has anything to hide about the unproven allegation that about $20 Billion is unaccounted for by the NNPC during his tenure,” said a statement by presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati.
“To lay the matter to rest, President Jonathan in line with Section 7(2) of the NNPC Act, has directed that the full report of the PWC Forensic Audit of the NNPC accounts be released immediately to the public so that all Nigerians will be properly informed on the matter.”
DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT HERE

List and faces of All Newly Elected Governors in Nigeria 2015 part1

Here are the faces of the governors that won in their respective states during the elections which was held on April 11, 2015, across the country.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) won 19 states while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 7 states out of those for which results have been announced.

The governorship elections were declared inconclusive in Abia, Imo and Taraba states of which a re-run in some pooling units were conducted on April 25, 2015 while elections didn’t hold in Kogi, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Anambra, Ondo, Bayelsa.

Nigeria’s new Governors-elect are:

1. Akwa Ibom – Emmanuel Udom (PDP)

PDP’s Udom Emmanuel won the governorship election in Akwa Ibom. Emmanuel scored 996, 071 votes to defeat opponent, Umana Umana, who got 89, 865 votes.

2. Adamawa – Bindow Jibrilla (APC)

Bindo Jibrilla of APC triumphed over 11 other contestants, amongst them,Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to emerge winner of Adamawa Governorship election.

Declaring the result in the early hours of Monday, the Returning Officer of the election, Geofrey Okogbaa, said Jibrilla scored 362, 329 votes out of the 684, 050 total valid votes cast, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

3. Bauchi – Barrister Mohammed Abubakar (APC)

APC gubernatorial candidate in Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar won.

Abubakar polled 654,934 votes, to defeat nine other contestants, including PDP candidate, Mohammed Jatau who secured 282,650 votes.

4. Benue – Samuel Ortom (APC)

Former Minister of State for Trade and Industries, Samuel Ortom of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has won the Benue governorship election. Ortom polled 422,932 votes to beat seven other contestants.

The results showed that Ortoms’ closest rival in the contest, Terhemen Tarzoor of the PDP scored 313,878, NAN report.

5. Borno – Kashim Shettima (APC)

The returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Borno State, Professor Yaganami Karta, has declared Governor Kashim Shettima as the winner of the gubernatorial election in the state.

Declaring the results at the INEC headquarters in Maiduguri, Professor Karta said that the APC candidate satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest votes of 649,913 out of 690,182.

6. Cross River – Prof. Ben Ayade (PDP)

The Peoples Democratic Party Candidate, Senator Benedict Ayade, has been declared winner of the governorship election in Cross River State with 342,016 votes.

His two opponents, Mr Odey Ochicha of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had 53,983 votes, while Mr Fidelis Ugbo of the Labour Party scored a total of 36,918 votes.

7.Delta – Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP)

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday declared Ifeanyi Okowa, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Delta state.

The Returning Officer for the election, Bio Nyananyo, announced in Asaba, the Delta state capital, that Mr. Okowa polled 724,680 votes to beat his closest rival, Great Ogboru of the Labour Party, who got 130,028 votes.

8.Ebonyi -Engr Dave Umahi (PDP)

Ebonyi State deputy governor and PDP candidate, Dave Umahi won the Ebonyi elections. Leadership states that “Umahi polled a total of 289, 867 votes to emerged winner after defeating his closest rival, the Labour party candidate, Sir Edward Nkwegu who pulled a total of 124, 817 votes.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Juluis Ucha got a total of 27, 583 votes.”

9. Enugu – Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (PDP)

The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) was on Sunday declared the winner of the gubernatorial elections held in Enugu State in April 11, 2015.

According to results collated and announced by INEC from the 17 local government areas in the state, Hon. Ugwuanyi won in all the councils.

Candidate of the PDP, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi scored 482,277 to defeat the candidate of APC , Okey Ezea, who scored 43,837.

10. Gombe – Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP)

The PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State has won the election despite losing the Presidential election .

Dankwambo scored 285,369 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Inuwa Yahya of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who scored 205,132 votes.
click here to continue to part2

Ondo gets new Deputy Governor

Ondo state Commissioner for Agriculture, Lasisi Oluboyo has emerged as the newly appointed Deputy Governor in Ondo state following the early Monday morning impeachment of Ali Olanusi by the state House of Assembly.

At a resumed hearing this morning in Akure, the state House of Assembly announced that the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko has sent Mr. Oluboyo’s name to them for ratification.

Ondo Deputy Governor impeached

Members of the  Ondo state House of Assembly this morning concluded the impeachment of the state's Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi over purported allegations of gross misconduct.

During an early morning sitting on Monday, the Majority Leader of house of assembly, ‎Ifedayo Akinsoyinu moved the motion for the impeachment of the deputy governor and the motion was swiftly seconded by the Deputy Majority leader of the Assembly, Oyebo Aladatan.

The House claimed Olanusi violated section 188 (9) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution  .

The House had earlier received the report of the 7-man panel set up by the state Chief Judge, Olasehinde Kumuyi.

The panel head by Retired Chief Magistrate, Olatunde Stanley Adeniyan found Alhaji Olanusi culpable of the seven offences levelled against him.

22 members of the Assembly unanimously supported the impeachment and subsequent removal of the Deputy Governor for alleged gross misconduct.
Speaking shortly after the impeachment, the Speaker of the Assembly ordered that all properties in the care of the Deputy Governor be handed over to the Permanent Secretary at the office of the Deputy Governor.

It would be recalled that Alhaji Olanusi decamped to the All Progressives Congress party during the recently concluded general elections in Nigeria

7 people feared dead as pedestrian bridge collapses in Kano

No fewer than seven people were killed in Kano on Sunday when a pedestrian bridge at Dorayi quarters, Kano, collapsed, the state Police Command said.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Majiya said the incident happened around 4.45pm when the bridge, which was still under construction, caved in and collapsed on a car, which was passing underneath it.

“The workers at the site had warned motorists not to pass because they were working on the bridge but the driver of the taxi allegedly ignored the warning.

“So, the moment he moved; before he passed, the bridge caved in and collapsed on the vehicle, which led to the death of seven persons,” he said.

According to him, the vehicle has since been evacuated from the scene while the corpses have been deposited at a hospital morgue.

Majiya said the police had also commenced investigation into the cause of the incident.

Opinion: What the PDP must do

The office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has never, in the history of this country, faced such denigration as seen between 2011-2015. The total disrespect of the highest office in the country was orchestrated by the leaders of the APC, her supporters and sympathisers.

It is worthy to remind us that the holder of that office represents the country irrespective of our opinions of him. The office of the President, the National Flag, the Coat of Arms, the Pledge and the National Anthem are our National Symbols that every Nigerian must pledge to and respect.

Now that General Muhammad Buhari will, by May 29, assume office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, all Nigerians must transfer their allegiance to him, give him every support possible to succeed as his success is that of Nigeria. If there is one thing I want more than anything to happen to Nigeria is to see her grow to assume and play her role as the Giant of Africa. This can only happen if we all work as a team.

As an ardent supporter of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan government, and my belief that he remains the best President Nigeria has had since her independence, not minding my reservations about the just concluded general elections, I call on all supporters of the Jonathan government, all PDP supporters and sympathisers to lend their support and prayers to the incoming administration.

We (Nigerians) must constructively criticise unpopular policies of the Buhari government, we must politely point the Buhari government to the right direction if she derails, we must peacefully mobilise and protest unwanted government inplementations, we must remind President Buhari and the APC government of their bogus promises; to make N1.00 equal to $1.00, to reduce PMS pump price to N40.00, to pay poor Nigerians N5,000.00 monthly, to give free food to poor children etc. We must do all these things but without abusing or disrespecting the office of the president. The PDP must show decorum in her new role as the opposition party and be ready to teach the APC how a good opposition party should position itself.

The PDP must not make the country or any part of the country ungovernable for the APC. The PDP must not call the President clueless no matter how unpopular his government is. The PDP must not fabricate lies against the APC led government in order to sway citizens' sympathy. The PDP must be a party to partner with the APC to ensure that the APC government give Nigerians the leadership they deserve.

I love my country, I love Nigeria.

If Nigeria wakes up; if Nigeria works; if Nigeria grows; if Nigeria stabilises; if Nigeria treats Nigerians as Nigerians and not as Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Ijaw, Tiv, Itshekiri, Idoma etc; if Nigeria addresses political, economic and social inequalities within; they will cease to be a MASSOB, OPC, ACF, MEND, BOKO HARAM et al.

I love my country, I love Nigeria.

I believe my wishes for Nigeria are our wishes. I believe we Nigerians are tired if tribalism. I believe we are tired of politics of ethnicity, politics of religion, politics of class and social status. I believe we are tired of high unemployment rate. I believe we are tired of epileptic electricity. I believe we are tired of inadequate and decayed infrastructure. I believe we are tired of corruption. I believe we are tired of unaccountable public officers. I believe we are tired of greedy lawmakers. I believe we are tired of politicians whose only business is politics.

I love my country, I love Nigeria.

Cece Mezie Muoka