Saturday 28 February 2015

Group Hopeful Of Chibok Girls’ Rescue

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The Bring Back Our Girls Campaigners have expressed hope that the heightened counter-terrorism offensive by the military against the Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria’s north-east will lead to the rescue of the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped last year in Chibok in Borno State.
Speaking to Channels Television in Abuja on Saturday, the campaigners were however, concerned that “the military seemed not to have enough intelligence about where the girls are”.
They observed that the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh had, not long after the girls were kidnapped, said that the military knew the where the girls were.
The nation has witnessed several bombings and attacks from members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, especially in the north-east.
However, the tide of the attacks appears to be abating, with the increased offensive of the Multi National Task Force.
Several towns and communities have been reclaimed by the military and recently, a group of people kidnapped by the sect, regained their freedom.
The members of the Bring Back Our Girls group have been holding the sit-out session for several months, demanding action for the release of the schoolgirls abducted on April 14 from their school dormitory in the Government Secondary School in Chibok.
A member of the group, Ibrahim Wala is hoping that the renewed military efforts would ensure the safe recovery of the schoolgirls.
They have insisted that the sit-out sessions would end when the the Chibok schoolgirls have been rescued.

The leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, in a video last year, said  the girls had been ‘married off’, but President Goodluck Jonathan had, during a Presidential media Chat on February 11, expressed hopes that with the heightened counter-terrorism war, ‘there are chances that the girls would be rescued’.

Doctors In Rivers State Worried Over Increasing Kidnap Cases

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Doctors in Rivers State in the southern part of Nigeria are worried over what they described as incessant kidnapping in the State targeted at their members.
According to them, six doctors had been kidnapped in the last one month, with one victim killed in the process.
More cases had been recorded recently suggesting that the scourge is increasing.
Doctors in the State took to the streets of Port Harcourt, the State’s capital, on Saturday, this time, not for welfare benefits but to mourn one of their own who died in the hands of kidnappers recently.
According to them, the victim’s case was just one of the several kidnap cases which they said had been targeted at their members.
The protest took them to the Department of State Security and the police headquarters in the State.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Dan Bature, told the protesters that his command was stopping at nothing to rid the State of the scourge of kidnapping.
At a press briefing, the Commissioner of Health, Mr Sampson Parker, wondered why doctors were being targeted.

Many said it was not just the doctors that should be worried about the situation. Residents said they also are in risk and are hopeful that the security agencies would stem the spate of kidnapping.

PDP Asks APC To Explain Links With Jega

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to explain to Nigerians the links between it and the Chairman of the electoral body, Professor Attahiru Jega, which informs and propels its feverish fixation and huge interest in his stay in office.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Saturday said it was more than curious that the APC had continued to fabricate stories and show undue interest on Professor Jega.
Mr Metuh said that such undue interest raise a lot of questions for the opposition and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Undoubtedly, the frenzy, hysteria and spate with which the APC has been inventing stories regarding Prof. Jega’s stay in office even when nothing suggests that such was on the table, raise a lot of issues.
“We ask, is there any underlining issue or arrangement between APC and Prof. Jega which the opposition is hell-bent to protect, informing its anxiety and apprehension towards his stay in office?
“While it is noted that the APC is a party of one week, one lie, we in the PDP look beneath the surfaces to the deeper issues propelling the lies. We therefore challenge the APC to come out clean and tell Nigerians the real reason behind their false alarms and uncontrolled nervousness regarding Prof. Jega ahead of the 2015 general elections.

“Finally, we wish to remind the leadership of the INEC that Nigerians are monitoring its activities and series of unfolding political events ahead of the elections, and will not accept anything less than the conduct of credible, free and fair general elections come March 28 and April 11, 2015,” the party said.

Jonathan in Delta, assures Nigerians of peace, security

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President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that his administration would not compromise the restoration of peace and security in all parts of the country.
Mr. Jonathan, accompanied by the Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and other prominent Nigerians, gave the assurance Friday during a courtesy visit to the Asagba of Asaba, Chike Edozien, at his palace in Asaba, Delta State.

He disclosed that he is seeking re-election because of his commitment towards re-positioning the country positively amongst the comity of nations as well as do more for the country.According to the President, his administration has always done what is best for Nigeria, asserting: “I want to re-assure you that as a party, we will do our best to bring peace and security to the country, and fast-track economic development in all parts of the country.”
The president stated that on assumption of office, he found that of the 36 states of the country, 12 had no Federal University which his administration has corrected within the past four years.
“We have tarred over twenty-five thousand kilometres of the thirty six thousand kilometres (36, 000 km) Federal Roads and we promise to complete the remaining ones and open up more arterial roads when re-elected,” he said.
While disclosing that over 90 per cent of narrow gauge rails have been completed throughout the country, Mr. Jonathan said “the implementation of the Nigerian content law in the oil industry has improved the participation of Nigerians in the industry and the implementation of our cabotage law with Nigerians now owning ships and more Nigerians have been employed in the shipping industry”.

“We are not resting on our oars in concluding the privatisation of the power sector as we believe that to improve the small and medium enterprise sector, power is very important. We believe that by next year, we would have concluded 100 per cent privatization of the power sector, it will take a life of its own with epileptic power supply becoming a thing of the past.”“We also saw the need to establish Maritime University for high-powered man-power development in the Maritime Sector; we are moving the country forward,” he said.
The president thanked the Asagba of Asaba and other royal fathers for their support for his administration assuring that he would not disappoint them.
Earlier, the Governor of Delta State, Mr. Uduaghan said President Jonathan was delivering on his promises to Nigerians, noting that Delta State was a great beneficiary of the restructuring of the power sector by the administration.
He said the president was in Delta State a few weeks ago for the Presidential Campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and as a man who loves Deltans, he was visiting the state again for another official ceremony.
The Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien, who prayed for the president, observed that President Jonathan deserves re-election to enable him in particular, implement the recommendations of the report of the National Conference which “he was bold to constitute”.
“We are delighted with the good work you are doing, we appreciate you and wish you the best,” the Asagba said.

The Struggle for the Soul of Nigeria as Corruption fights back, By Joe Igbokwe

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A friend once told me that the struggle for the soul of Nigeria is not going to be a tea party because corruption will fight back with lethal weapons that can be found anywhere. 
He told me that corruption in Nigeria is a hydra-headed monster that will seek to consume anybody who dares to confront it or stands on its way. He insisted that if you fight corruption in Nigeria with a single gun it will fire back with a million AK-47, 5000 armoured tanks, 50,000 grenades, 5000 rocket launchers etc. in addition to a billion blatant lies.
In the past few months in Nigeria, I have seen what my friend was talking about. I have witnessed the deadly fight myself and I have come to the conclusion that corruption as cancer in Nigeria will require cooperation of Nigerians especially the majority who are poor and the deployment of advanced lethal weapons to address the scourge. 
It is either Nigerians rise up to defeat corruption and join the committee of civilized nations of the world or we surrender to corruption which will eventually sink Nigeria. Nigerians have a choice! 
Now take a look at these cases of how corruption is tearing every effort to reclaim the soul of Nigeria.
Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan came to Lagos and spent five days at the Presidential Lounge at Marina Lagos. While in Lagos, the president doled out billions of naira, millions of dollars and pounds sterling to market leaders, local chiefs, town union leaders, actors, carpenters, bricklayers, drivers, barbers, artisans, government workers etc hoping that those who benefited will in return vote for him in the coming presidential elections. It was a vote-buying trip to Lagos and the bazaar was enough to guarantee votes for him in the next couple of weeks. 
Local scammers, 419ers and persons without means of livelihood besieged the president’s residence to get their own largesse. The money President Jonathan would have used to create jobs, build roads, build hospitals, universities, provide security, etc are ending up in private pockets because a non-performing and a failed president is fighting to be re-elected. 
But the world is watching how this heavy inducement will translate to votes in the next few weeks. 
Femi Fani-Kayode is the Director General of the president’s campaign organization. Fani Kayode has a case in court for money laundering. On Thursday, Femi Fani-Kayode appeared in court to answer charges with security personnel comprising of police, army and SSS personnel provided by the state. A man that is standing trial for corruption is heading the President’s Campaign Organization and the state is providing security to escort FFK to court? Now what can you call this? Corruption is growing wings and is fighting back ferociously.
Governor Ayo Fayose and Senator Obanikoro are two potential electoral fraudsters whose names featured predominantly in the EkitiGate scandal of June 20 and 21, 2014. The audio tape of what went wrong in Ekiti is now in the public domain but Ayo Fayose is still the governor of Ekiti state while Senator Obanikoro’s name has just been forwarded to the senate for confirmation as Minister of our Federal Republic. Now are we fighting corruption or are we corrupting our democracy?
AIG Joseph Mbu was the former Commissioner of Police, Rivers state. This man had a running battle with the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi. He fought and abused the Governor on the pages of newspapers, took wars to the governor’s office and equally exposed the governor to many dangers. He was eventually removed and posted to Abuja when public outcry became too much. 
Now Mbu has been promoted to Assistant Inspector General of Police to preside over Zone 2 comprising Lagos and Ogun states. In Lagos, AIG Mbu has not shown that he has turned a new leaf. He is threatening fire and brimstone, promising to kill 20 people if one policeman is killed. He also said a police constable can arrest a Governor if need be. As I write this, AIG Mbu has not been indicted or called to order by the President or the IG of police. Again what will you call this? Corruption is fiercely fighting back to maintain the status quo.
As the presidential election draws near, the PDP is standing against anything that will make the elections a free and fair process. PDP wants Professor Attahiru Jega, the chairman of INEC removed. PDP does not want Card Reader. PDP does not want PVC to be used in the elections. PDP wants TVC. PDP does not want General Muhammadu Buhari to stand for the election. They want him to be disqualified or physically eliminated as they don’t want anybody to compete with Jonathan. PDP wants the Army to be deployed during the elections but the constitution leaves that job to the police. PDP and its leaders are dividing the country in order to remain in power. They tell a million lies to cover one truth. Corruption is fighting back seriously.
Alhaji Asari Dokubo has become the greatest threat to national unity in Nigeria today. He has threatened fire and brimstone to prominent Nigerians from the North and South West if President Jonathan is not re-elected on March 28. He has called prominent Nigerians names, threatening to kill and even seize their oil wells if Jonathan is not returned to power. Asari Dokubo has not been questioned, arrested or detained. He is as free as air, throwing his massive weight around without remorse, exhuming false confidence and Dutch courage. This notorious school dropout now owns a university, owns oil business and other sundry businesses courtesy of the Ijaw president. This is corruption fighting back and hitting hard.
As we struggle to free Nigeria from the clutches of corruption and impunity, this cancer keeps on hitting back at us. But are we going to give up? No, this country is worth dying for just for the sake of our children and generations yet unborn. We must kill corruption or corruption will kill us. The choice is ours.

Boko Haram kills many in Borno’s Mainok village market

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About a dozen traders were reportedly killed Friday at a market in Mainok village of Kaga local government of Borno state when Boko Haram terrorists attacked. 
Witnesses and security operatives said a large number of Boko Haram terrorists invaded the town Friday afternoon and began shooting sporadically.
Many people were killed in the process while several others were seriously injured. 
The terrorists’  main target, according to PREMIUM TIMES findings, were villagers from Jakana, which is about 16 kilometres away from Mainok and about 50 kilometres from Maiduguri. 
Mainok, located some 65 kilometres west of Maiduguri, has a rural market holding every Friday and usually draws large population of traders from far and near who converge to buy and sell all kinds of farm produce – mostly grains as well as animals like cattle, sheep and goats.
The Boko Haram sect had on September 19 attacked the market in similar manner, killing about 36 traders. 
A trader, Buji  Muhammed, told journalists in Maiduguri he was lucky to have escaped the Friday attack.
“In short I was really lucky that I was not in the centre of the market  when the attack started and Boko Haram were busy shooting into the market. Instantly, many people were killed by gunshots as bullets hit them from all angle. I had to lie down on the floor and began to crawl vastly out of the market until I saw a pickup van driver who was trying to escape with his vehicle; I had to summon courage and stood up to run and jumped into the back of the pickup and that was how I and some other persons who also entered the pickup van  were able to escape,” he said. 
A police officer  in Jakana village, which is just about 16 kilometres away from the attacked market, confirmed to journalists on phone that many traders died during the attack. 
“We saw many traders running into Jakana from Mainok,  some with minor injuries, and they informed us that many people were killed,” said the police officer, who asked not to be named. 
“After they shot severally into the market,  they surrounded the market and began to do selective killing especially of traders that are from Jakana, they said some of the terrorists were heard shouting and instructing their colleagues not to spare people from Jakana. 
He said the Boko Haram terrorists were picking on traders from Jakana “because they had in the past suffered the lost of many of their members in Jakana following their repeated failure to take over the village.
“We the police and soldiers that are stationed here usually get the cooperation of the local people who would quickly feed us with useful information as soon as they hear about any plan to  attack the town,” the police officer said. 
Details of the actual casualty suffered in the market attack as well as the outcome of the military rescue mission to the area were still sketchy at the time of filing this report. 

‘PDP constitutes “War Council” in Kwara for general elections’

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The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has accused the Peoples Democratic Party in the state of institutionalising bloodshed and violence in the state with the constitution of a “War Council” ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
It called on the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to brace up for the task of protecting Kwarans and their properties.
The opposition PDP had recently set up the 21-man Council to prosecute the elections. It is headed by Iyiola Oyedepo, a retired army colonel.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Sulyman Buhari, the ruling APC expressed concerns over the formation of the Council, insisting that election is not war.
The party warned that the PDP should not be taken for granted because of its alleged rich antecedents in thuggery and violence.
“It was the PDP that sponsored multiple attacks on our campaign train at Isapa and Oyun in February, 2015,” the party said.
“It was the PDP that recently coordinated the massive destruction and defacing of APC billboards at Adeta area, Garin-Alimi roundabout, Offa garage area and other areas of Ilorin metropolis. It was the PDP that was indicted for the attack on Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s convoy at Kaiama.
“It was PDP thugs that brutally attacked journalists on Saturday, 29th of November, 2014 for no offence other than the decision of the journalists to give routine coverage to its party congress.
“It is PDP that has been alleged of hiring hired assassins for usage before, during and after elections. In fact, the violent ideology of PDP consumed its members at the congresses the PDP held in Kwara State.”
The party said from all indications, the PDP was an unrepentant promoter of violence and therefore when it decided to constitute a war council to pursue elections, it would amount to institutionalisation of violence and it calls for serious concerns.
It said the Council could not be likened to the regular security committees of political parties because the PDP already had a security committee headed by Ladi Edun.
The APC stated, “Our party does not take politics as a war, our disposition and actions have always been on peaceful, participatory and impactful democracy. However, the PDP has shown beyond doubt that it has nothing but violence to offer the people. Violence can never be an option for our people and the APC has consistently campaigned against violence in Kwara State both in words and deeds.
“While we do not know the tactics and modus operandi with which the PDP intends to pursue its war agenda, we do know that the fundamental elements of war are fighters, weaponry amongst others. It is quite known in Kwara State that the PDP has an army of rampaging armed thugs that could be used to pursue its war agenda.
“On weaponry, perhaps, the PDP has already acquired sophisticated weapons or at the verge of acquisition. Perhaps, the recent largesse doled out to the PDP by the drowning Presidency has been channelled for purchase of weapons in order to torment and maim the people of Kwara State.
The ruling party asked the PDP to explain to Kwarans and the world “why it is pursuing a war agenda when the APC, other political parties, INEC and stakeholders are campaigning for peaceful and credible elections”.
It said the peace pact signed by the its candidate, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and other governorship candidates, including that of the PDP, Simeon Ajibola, appears to mean nothing to the PDP.

Tinubu, Osinbajo in secret pact over presidency – PDP

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The spokesperson of the campaign office of President Goodluck Jonathan, Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused a national leader of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, of plotting to emerge Nigeria’s president through the back door.
Mr. Fani-Kayode, who addressed a press conference Friday in Abuja, said the APC is planning to foist on Nigeria “an evil, ungodly, wicked and ruthless agenda” in the event the APC wins.
He said since the formation of the APC it has been an open secret that Mr. Tinubu is its national leader and also its biggest financier.
“The question that should agitate every Nigerian is why Tinubu has been investing heavily in the APC presidential project to such a point that he has single-handedly produced the joint presidential ticket of General Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
“It should baffle well-meaning Nigerians why Senator Tinubu has decided to draft General Buhari, despite his age, acrimonious background and questionable health status, into the presidential race whilst ensuring that his stooge, Prof. Osinbajo was foisted on the general as vice presidential candidate,” he said.
The reason, he said Mr. Tinubu is doing all that is to seize the presidency of Nigeria by subterfuge.
Mr. Fani-Kayode said the former Senator had wanted to be running mate to Mr. Buhari in spite of a nationwide resentment for Muslim-Muslim ticket in the country.
He said Mr. Tinubu had justified the ticket by saying that competence was the important thing and not the issue of religion.
He said when that agenda could not succeed, the opposition leader, after being given the opportunity to nominate a vice presidential candidate, decided to “prop up his stooge in the person of Prof Osinbajo”.
“Now the real reason Senator Tinubu nominated Osinbajo has been made known to us and we hereby offer a public service to the Nigerian people by drawing national attention to it. Credible pieces of information at our disposal indicate that Tinubu has perfected plans to come to power through the back door.
“Senator Tinubu, according to our information, has compelled Professor Osinbajo to swear to an oath that after six months in office, he would resign as the vice president, in the unlikely event that their party wins.
“The wicked plot, as laid out by them, is to force Professor Osinbajo to resign for Senator Tinubu to be nominated by General Buhari as his replacement,” he said.
The campaign spokesperson said the ultimate objective of this plot is to ensure that Mr. Tinubu becomes President.
The script he said, is that given the “questionable” health of Mr. Buhari, Mr. Tinubu who is desperate to be president, will simply bid his time in the expectation that Mr. Buhari will not be able to go the whole hog.
“How wicked can those that hatched this plan be? How unfair can they be to the North, to General Buhari and to Nigerians? We wish General Buhari long life.
“Senator Tinubu’s dangerous plan is about getting power. This is sad. No thoroughbred Yoruba man or indeed Nigerian wants to get power through the misfortune of another person,” he said.
To buttress his point, Mr. Fani-Kayode said Mr. Tinubu had perfected the same plan prior to the 2011 election when he attempted to force then running mate, Tunde Bakare to resign and pave the way for him to emerge as vice presidential candidate.
He said becoming the vice president is not the destination for Mr. Tinubu but becoming the president!
“The agenda of the cabal within the APC is with the perceived health challenges of General Buhari.
“They have told themselves in hushed tones that he has prostate cancer, acute asthma and that he suffers from dementia,” he said.
Mr. Fani-Kayode said all structures around Mr. Buhari belongs to Mr. Tinubu.
He said all the actors around Mr. Buhari that are driving his campaign behind the scenes are all Tinubu’s men.
“Most of the covert funding for this campaign comes from Tinubu’s friend outside the country and from Tinubu’s himself. So, if he becomes President, Buhari will become virtually incapacitated and he will not be the one running the government.
“Those behind this plan would now be waiting for Buhari to pass on. That is what Tinubu want to do to the North and to Nigeria.
“This is a wicked and ungodly attempt for Tinubu not only against the North and the Hausa/Fulani but against the whole country.
“We are convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that most Nigerians are not with this cabal. This is because no sane or rationale person would wish another evil to actualize his political ambition,” he said.

Group asks politicians to halt spread of hate messages

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A group, The Republican Mind, has said it is worried by the intensity of the dissemination of intemperate messages by political aspirants.
The group also expressed its disappointment at the violence being unleashed on political opponents and their properties.
Speaking at a media chat held at the National Union of Journalist headquarters in Abuja, the National Chairman of the group, Shittu Mohammed, reminded Nigerians of the serious damages that dissemination of hate messages had done to the country.
“We have experienced several religious crises and inter-communal conflicts with attendant loss of lives and properties,” he said.
He said it was therefore unfortunate that some political gladiators have chosen not to check the excesses of their followers.
Mr. Mohammed called on all those involved to stop forthwith the use of abusive, divisive and indecorous words in campaigning for votes in the forthcoming general elections.
He advised all political aspirants to use their party manifesto as the major tool for campaigning. He said they should also mass produce and circulate their manifesto to the public, and focus on issue-based campaign as practiced in other civilized democracies.
Mr. Mohammed further made an appeal to all eligible voters who are yet to collect their PVCs to do so immediately.
“We are also impressed with the increasing rate at which millions of eligible Nigerians that have collected their PVCs, it demonstrates the determination by the public to exercise their civic duties,” he said.
He also called on all political parties, civil society and the media to educate Nigerians on the overall benefits of active participation in the electoral process.
He added that civic education must be encouraged to deepen citizens’ understanding of democratic governance.
The Republican Mind is a civil society group set out to preserve, protect and defend the unity and integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Lagos airport conducts bombing response drill

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The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, will Saturday assess the capacity of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to respond to a bomb attack.
According to a statement signed the coordinating spokesperson of the Aviation agencies‎, Yakubu Datti, on Friday, the assessment will be conducted with Bomb Simulated Exercise 10 am and 11 am.
This, according Mr. Datti, who is also FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, is an essential requirement that has to be fulfilled for certification by the International Civil Aviation Organisation‎.
While appealing to passengers not to panic in the course of the exercise, he added that the drill is intended to assess the Airport’s response procedures should real bomb explosion happen at the Terminal Building.
He said, “FAAN hereby appeals to passengers and the general public not to panic as adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure as safe an environment as possible while the exercise lasts.”
In addition, he assured there would be no disruption to flight operations as a result of the exercise.

Jega cannot resign or go on terminal leave — Falana

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Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, has said that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Atahiru Jega, cannot go on terminal leave or resign as speculated.
Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said this while speaking to journalists during the Nigerians United for Democracy rally held at Ojota, Lagos on Saturday.
He maintained that the INEC chair is not a civil servant and thus cannot go on terminal leave.
“There is no provision…Jega has a 5 year tenure which is renewable under section 155 of the constitution. There is no provision for sabbatical or terminal leave. Jega is not a civil servant to be ordered by the head of service to proceed on leave and in any case, you can’t go on leave when the basic duty for which the constitution has appointed you is been performed so there is no room for resignation or sabbatical leave,” Mr. Falana said.
He maintained that the general elections cannot be further postponed stating that the constitution states that elections must hold 30 days before handing over date.
“Constitutionally, elections cannot be further postponed; if the government does it, it will be asking for anarchy and there is no provision for it in the constitution. The president has repeatedly assured Nigerians that there is no room for interim national government.
“We have also been told that there will be no coup, therefore, we have to operate within the ambit of the law and that is why you cannot go beyond April 11 to conduct election because under the constitution, election must be held not later than 30 days to the handing over date. That means all the elections must be completed before April 29,” he said.
Mr. Falana said the rally was not in support of any political party but to warn the government not to tamper with the new election dates.
“The government has said those dates are sacrosanct, but we are only here to warn them that if there is any attempt to thinker with those dates, we would mobilise Nigerians to throw out all the antics of anti-democratic system”.
He urged the armed forces not to interfere with electoral process stressing that it is not their duty to determine when elections will be held.
“We expect that the government will appreciate that Nigerian people will not allow any further postponement of the election dates. We also want the armed forces to stay clear of democratic process. It’s not their business to determine when to hold election. Just like other Nigerians, they have the fundamental right to vote for a candidate of their choice, but they have no right to tell INEC when to hold election and when not to hold to hold election,” he said.
He reminded the current administration of how past governments who attempted to truncate democratic process were chased out of power.
“Even military dictators could not frustrate democratic process, for that reason, once we mobilise Nigerians, no force can stop us,” he said.
He disagreed with the government’s position on the reason for the shift in election.
“Elections were held in Syria, Iraq and Libya. What will be the excuse for not holding elections in Nigeria? In Yobe, local government elections were held in 2013 and there was no incident. The president was in Maiduguri to campaign, the APC candidate, General Buhari was in Maiduguri to campaign, and there were no incidence, so why should they stop elections in other parts of the country?” he asked.
The NUD rally which kicked off from Maryland to the Gani Fawehimi Park in Ojota saw attendance by other democracy activists including the Nigerian Labour Congress Vice president, Isa Aremu; former NADECO and Afenifere member, Ayo Opadokun; lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, amongst others.

Many Boko Haram terrorists killed, arms recovered as Nigerian troops encounter fleeing insurgents

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Troops on cordon and search along Djimitillo Damaturu road axis on Friday night had an encounter with a group of terrorists after their hideout was discovered by troops, the defence headquarters has said.
The Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, said the fierce fight to dislodge the insurgents from their hideout, near a market, resulted in the capture of machine guns and rifles.
Some of the insurgents were killed, the statement said.
“Some of the terrorists are believed to have died in the fire that gutted the house where they had made their base,” Mr. Olukolade said. “A soldier was killed while another was wounded and is undergoing treatment.”
In Gulak, Adamawa State, the defence spokesperson said troops caught up with some of them who were in the process of blowing up a bridge to deter troops advance.
“The terrorists were not lucky as they died in their encounter with troops,” Mr. Olukolade said.
“The troops are continuing with the cordon and search of the town and environs after overpowering the terrorists.
“A lot of arms have been recovered in the process. Troops are also dismantling the terrorists group’s flags hoisted in the towns.”

Female suicide bombers killed by own explosives in Borno

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Two women apparently on a suicide bombing mission got killed by the bombs they were carrying under their gowns after failing to get a vehicle to take them to Damaturu, Yobe state capital, eyewitnesses said.
The incident, which happened at Ngamdu village, also killed two travellers standing close to the suspected bombers as they waited for a bus to convey them to Damaturu, some 35km away.
Witnesses said the two women who showed up in Ngamdu village both looked strange.
“The women almost convinced one bus driver to convey them to Damaturu but the driver later became suspicious and lied that he was not getting to Damaturu,” one witness said.
The explosions went off minutes after the bus had left.
Ngamdu is about 100km from Maiduguri, Borno state capital and about 35km away from Damaturu.

PDP dissociates self from Ekiti rigging scandal; Fayose, Obanikoro, Omisore others on their own

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The leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has distanced itself from the ongoing controversy over the Ekiti rigging tape in which some senior members of the party were heard planning how to rig the governorship election held in the state on June 16 last year.
In the recording, Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose; a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikore Obanikoro, former Senator Iyiola Omisore and other individuals were heard discussing with a serving Brigadier General of the Nigerian Army, Aliyu Momoh, on how to use the military to rig the election in the state.
Most of the actors involved in the saga admitted there was a meeting, but they all denied that rigging was discussed.
In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the spokesperson of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, said those mentioned in the scandal did not carry out the alleged rigging scheme on behalf of the party.
He said the party does not want to get involved in the controversy triggered by the leaked recording and would  rather prefer that those mentioned in connection with the matter respond individually.
He said the PDP as a party has never requested anyone to rig on its behalf and  will never be engaged in electoral malpractices.
“Any tape whether real or imaginary can be concocted in this digital world; we don’t know what is real and what is not,” Mr Metuh said. “I also believe that the actors in their personal capacity will be able to talk about what really happened.
“As a political party, we have never engaged in planning or getting involved in any conspiracy to rig elections or alter the will of the people,” Mr. Metuh said.
He also said the party  has so far demonstrated maturity in elections held in the last two years. 
Mr. Metuh admitted that he had not listened to the recording but wondered whether the tape was even authentic at all. 
“We had elections in five states in the last two years, PDP won in only one state; how comes its just that one that we won, that a tape is suddenly surfacing to say we planned rigging. 
“Why did we not plan rigging in Edo, Ondo, Anambra and Osun? How comes the only one that we won is the one they want to tarnish? It is a calculated attempt to sway the minds of Nigerians that the PDP is not capable of winning in a free and fair election.
“Our people are even raising the fact that we were rigged out in Osun; but we are not engaged in propaganda, we are not engaged in manufacturing tapes, We won election in Ekiti state because of the love of our party, and the massive support that our gubernatorial candidate, Ayo Fayose, enjoys in the entire state.
The PDP spokesperson said the Ekiti tape saga is just another propaganda by the APC, saying if the APC is sure of the authenticity of the tape, it should approach the law courts to seek redress.
” In this era of campaign, where you have a lot of propaganda, anybody with any concrete evidence can go to either the law enforcement agencies or the law courts to seek redress.
“For us, we are more involved in the campaign than propaganda; our first thought actually is that it is simply just propaganda, it is only the court that can decide if on the matter of Ekiti election, just like the tribunal and court of appeal have decided. If they think there is fresh evidence, they can go to court,” he said

PDP’s delusional lies are tales by moonlight – APC Campaign

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The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has noted with utter disgust the descent to the abyss by the PDP in its desperate bid to retain power.
The APCPCO said in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, that the PDP had become so delusional that it now fabricates outright lies to blackmail and denigrate the APC and its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari and Vice Presidential candidate, Yemi Osinbajo, to divert attention from the mess it has created in every facet of the lives of Nigerians
Mr. Shehu reminded Nigerians how the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), an appointee of the President, used his office to do a counter-affidavit and supporting written address in giving tacit approval to a nocturnal group’s desire at truncating the use of card readers in assuring on the transparency of the general election. An online news blog, Sahara Reporters, made copious public display of the two documents. The AGF, in doing a volte face, denied giving authorization to the staff members of his Office in that ignoble service to the Nigerian state!
“A patriotic Nigerian soldier, Captain Sagir Koli, had done a painstaking and elaborate audio recording of the meeting in which the Presidential order for the rigging of the 22nd June, 2014 Ekiti governorship election in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was handed down. Among the people present at the meeting were: Mr. Ayo Fayose, the greatest beneficiary of the nefarious rigging plot, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro as the Minister of state for Defence; Brigadier-General Aliyu Momoh, the commander of 32nd Artillery Brigade; Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, Minister for Police Affairs; Otunba Iyiola Omisore, PDP governorship candidate for Osun State.
“Meanwhile, Ayo Fayose, Jelili Adesiyan and Musiliu Obanikoro had variously made statements in attesting to the veracity of the nocturnal meeting; President Goodluck Jonathan, pressured to probe the incident, peremptorily foreclosed such investigative check when he said “If someone comes up with a spurious allegation that has no substance and the person disappears, of course, what do you want me to do?”
“Obviously, this President is not mindful of his oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria! The evidence of audio recording with the available technology can be used to ascertain the truth about the plot, regardless of the presence or absence of the source of it. Apparently, the President, caught in the act of ordering an electoral heist, is unwilling to initiate a probe that will indict and incriminate him.
“The Director of Communication for the PDP Presidential Campaign, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said with uncanny impudence that the APC Vice Presidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, was made to agree to an oath to resign six months after and allow Senator Bola Tinubu, in the event that APC wins the Presidential election. Quite evidently, this piece of bunkum was meant to vitiate the integrity of our respected Vice Presidential candidate by the band of dishonourable politicians in the PDP. We state, without any iota of equivocation, that this is untrue and unfounded.
“We have shown these examples of the PDP-led Presidency’s conduct in desperately laying hold at straw despite the rejection of the Nigerian people, ahead of the general elections. The resort to deliberate falsehood and unfounded allegations represent the PDP-led Presidency’s unmistakable beclouding of the campaign issues of the forthcoming election.
“The incompetence and utter cluelessness of the Presidency in tackling the downward spirals of the Nation’s economy, the nauseous corruption assailing the Nigerian polity and the discomforting insecurity of lives and property are issues that the Nigerian citizens consider germane to their existence. These should be the pertinent issues ahead of the elections. Unfortunately, the PDP-led Presidency seeks to change the narrative by resorting to tales by moonlight.
“On our part, we shall continue to insist on these enviable standards of good governance in the Nigerian political space.”

Egyptian court designates Hamas as a terror organization, state media says

Cairo (CNN)An Egyptian court has ruled that Hamas is a terrorist organization, according to an Egyptian state-run media organization.
Hamas, the Islamist group which dominates the Gaza strip, has been at odds with the Egyptian government since the country's former President, Mohammed Morsy, was ousted in a coup in the summer of 2013.
Morsy was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political organization that shares deep ties with Hamas. The government formed after Morsy's ouster designated the Brotherhood as a terrorist group in December 2013; since then, many of its leaders have been charged with supporting terrorism.
Hamas quickly denounced the decision at a news conference.
"It is a shocking and dangerous decision that targets the Palestinian people," Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said at a news conference. "It will directly contaminate the reputation of Egypt."
    CNN has attempted to reach Mousa Abu Marzouk, the Hamas representative in Egypt, for comment.
    For years Egypt has played a major role in peace negotiations between Israel and various Palestinian factions, with Egypt being seen as fairly impartial by both sides. It's possible the new ruling will affect Egypt's position as a mediator between the two sides.
    The United States and European Union have both designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.
    Egypt's Urgent Matters Court based its ruling on Hamas in part on claims the organization had supported insurgents who have staged attacks in the Sinai Peninsula, a region that has been fraught with instability in recent months.
    The armed wing of Hamas, the al Qassam Brigades, was designated a terror group by the same court last month.
    This ruling comes a week after Egypt passed the Terrorist Entities Law, which spells out how to declare a group a terrorist organization, according to Ahmed Ragheb, head of the National Group for Human Rights and Law.
    That new law states that the prosecutor general has to propose declaring a terrorist organization; that decision has to approved by the appeals court, Ragheb said. That means the court that made the decision did not have authority to do so.
    Typically, foreign policy decisions in Egypt are left to the executive branch of government.
    Under the law, authorities can also issue travel bans and freeze the assets of terror designees

    Volcano grows Japanese island

    (CNN)Magma and lava from a Japanese volcano is forming new geography in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.
    An eruption on the tiny volcanic island of Nishinoshima in November 2013 formed a small islet right next to it when molten lava cooled.
    That islet has merged with its neighbor and continues to develop.
    The newly formed island has grown to 2.46 square kilometers (.94 square miles), according to the Japanese coast guard, which sent an observation plane to the area this week.
      And it's expected to get larger.
      The volcano is erupting five to six times a minute, spewing out volcanic rock, the coast guard says.
      The evolving land mass is 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) south of Tokyo.