I Have A Girlfriend,If I Date Yvonne Nelson, It Won’t Last – John Dumelo

John Dumelo has opened up his relationship with Yvonne Nelson..He told the Nigerian Tribune

The truth is that Yvonne and I have been good friends for a long time. Apart from the fact that we are colleagues who take our jobs seriously, we also look out for ourselves like good friends do. I think by now, you should know that we are very good friends. She has come out to deny the rumour several times, so let’s move to the next questions…

So you think things cannot work between you two like she has said?

As I said, she’s been a fantastic friend over the years and a lot of people think that we should date…like she rightly said I don’t think it will last.

Do you have a girl friend?

Yes, I have one.

Can you mention her name?

I’m dating. I will not tell you who the person is. If I mention name, trouble go come ooo.

At what age do you think you would settle down with her?

I believe there is time for everything and I am very confident that time will come when it will come. So, I can only say that I will settle down when it feels right. I am a man who likes to plan before venturing into anything, right now I am concentrating on my career, at the right time, I will settle down. I guess that’s what everybody wants to say or hear now.

Are you pressured to get married?

I think the pressure to get or not to get married comes with age. All will happen in due season. Sometimes, the thought of getting married scares me. The divorce rate these days are just crazy. What’s wrong? People marry for the wrong reasons?.

Can you ever cheat on your wife?

I am not married yet, so I can’t tell you what married men do behind their wives. All I can I say is that I am still single and I hope to get married one day to a beautiful woman and start a beautiful home together. I am still single; when I am married you can ask me this question.

You are a s*x symbol, somehow. Do you engage in it often?

Hmmm as for this question…I am thinking…

Lagosians, I Will Free You From APC's Bondage — Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he would free the people of Lagos State from the "bondage" of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has ruled the state since the inception of the fourth republic in 1999.

He asked the people not to vote for APC during the rescheduled general elections but to cast their votes for all the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates contesting elections, so as to be free from APC's alleged 16 years of oppression in Lagos.

The President said this yesterday when a group of market women in the state paid him solidarity visit at the State House, Marina, Lagos.

Jonathan promised the market women that a PDP led administration in Lagos State would provide the enabling environment for traders to ply their trades without hindrance, unlike what they are said to be experiencing under the APC led government.

"I urge you all to vote for PDP. Our victory at the polls will free all Lagos traders from oppression. You need to be free; we will remove Lagos from bondage," he said.

He commended the women for supporting his re-election bid and urged them not to be intimidated by the opposition, saying, “I have listened to you; you have been carrying the PDP flag; you have been humiliated but you still marched on.

“Thank you for working hard for PDP. This is the final struggle and the time for us to use all our strength to achieve victory. If we struggle and win Lagos State, everybody will do his business without being harassed or intimidated,” he said.

Earlier, the leader of the visiting team, Hajia Aminat Hussein, had told the president that they had stood behind the PDP since its inception but regretted that the members suffered harassment under the APC led government in the state.

She said that in spite of the attempts by APC “to buy over many of the market women,” the women would mobilise themselves in the state and in other states to ensure victory for the president.

Man Breaks His Spinal Cord While Fighting Over A Woman In Lagos

A young man, Akeem Amoo has broken his spinal cord after he engaged Michael Taiwo in a fight over a woman.

The incident happened at about 7.40 p.m. recently at Omisesan junction, Alagbado area of Lagos State, western Nigeria, where the two men reside.

The 28-year-old Taiwo reportedly lifted Amoo up and hit him on the ground where stones were and he broke one of his legs and spinal cord.

He cannot walk again as doctors certified him unfit after the fight. He is now confined to a bed in an undisclosed hospital in Lagos.
 
P.M.NEWS learnt that Amoo and Taiwo had a disagreement over a woman which resulted in both of them fighting in public.

Following the development, the police arrested Taiwo for allegedly inflicting grievous injury on Amoo.

He was charged to Ojokoro Magistrates’ court where he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail by the presiding Magistrate, Mrs T. Akanni.

However, he was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.

Taiwo, who was full of regrets, said he wants to settle the matter out of court and make peace with Amoo and his family.

The matter was adjourned till 9 March 2015. 

Akwa Ibom Pastor Arrested For Duping Church Member

A pastor in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has been arrested for defrauding a church member under the pretext of procuring a job for his daughter.

The pastor, Victor Udom is now cooling his heels in detention after he was arrested for allegedly defrauding a member of his church, Eyo Akpan, of the sum of N500, 000, with the promise to secure a job for his victim's daughter.

The 40-year-old Udom, who claimed to be a prophet of Eternity Mission Church, was said to have collected an initial sum of N270, 000 from Akpan to secure a job with the Nigerian Immigration Service, for his daughter, Magdalene Akpan.

The state Controller of the service Abdullahi Garba, while parading the pastor, said Magdalene brought an appointment letter which Udom had prepared for her to start work in the command.

He stated that Udom stole the appointment letter of a former immigration officer who had died and altered some information to reflect the currency of the situation, including altering the man’s name to that of Magdalene.

He said:

"Udom promised to give employment to Magdalene. He gave a fake employment letter with a forged signature of one Sylvester Johnson, as an offer of immigration job to Magdalene.

Our officers were able to track him down and he is with us and we intend to send him to Abuja for further investigation.

It may also interest you to know that Udom had collected N270, 000 from 

Magdalene’s father for immigration and N230, 000 for a job in ExxonMobil from the same man. He is a serial fraudster. He has confessed to us."

But Prophet Udom in his confession said somebody in the Immigration Service collected the money with a promise to get a job for the lady.

"When the family started disturbing me and the person that collected the money refused to pick my calls, I prepared the employment letter for Magdalene.

One of my church members gave me that letter for me to pray for him; the person is dead, he was working in NIS."

via

80% Of My Advisers Have Nothing To Say – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that more than 80 percent of the people who gives him advises have nothing to say. He stated this in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, at a special funeral service for eight female politicians and their driver who died in a road accident on February 14.

Jonathan stated this in reaction to Governor Seriake Dickson’s disclosure that he was advised against organising a state burial for the deceased.

Jonathan said, “I was surprised when the governor said some people asked why state burial. I told the governor that more than 80% of people who come to advise you have nothing to say, but just listen to them.

“From my experience as a deputy governor till today, more than 80 per cent (of advisers) have nothing to say, but you listen to everybody and do what is right for our people”.

Describing the day of the accident as a black day which coloured the landscape of Bayelsa with the worst colour, the president said, “We are here today because of the sad event of February 14. Of course, we lost eight of our best.

“To me, it is not just that people have died, not just that Bayelsans have died. But these are people I know too well. These nine caskets contain the remains of people who were dear to me, people that touched me in one way or the other.

“Whenever I remember February 14, which was supposed to be a Valentine’s Day, but a black day that coloured the landscape of Bayelsa State with the worst colour we could ever imagine. My ADC gave me the information and my PA showed me the flaming bus on a handset. I asked myself ‘how could these people be in this flame?’ And I asked God why?”

Jonathan continued: “When I saw that flame and imagined that these women were being burnt and roasted, I just couldn’t imagine. Till today, it gives me migraine. I lack words to console the direct family members.

“The world is a stage where we have all come to play our part and go. I believe they have played their own part. I plead we reason they died in this circumstance probably so that we learn to be a little more careful”.

via

My Parents Knew I Was An Armed Robber ─ Guy Confesses in Lagos

A member of an armed robbery gang, Mutiu Rasheed, who was arrested along with his colleagues by the Lagos State Police Command, has confessed that his parents were very much aware that he was an armed robber.

Rasheed, along with two others; Ahmed Musiliu and Sodiq Dada were apprehended by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on February 5. The three suspects were rounded up by the police in the Isheri Berger area ─ a boundary area between Lagos and Ogun states.

The police said the suspects, who had confessed to the crime, made use of four locally-made guns, two of which had reportedly been recovered. Punch learnt that Musiliu was the first to be arrested by the police before he led detectives to apprehend the others.

During interrogation, the suspects were said to have confessed to have organised robberies during which many vehicles were stolen, including a Toyota Highlander, a Toyota Camry and a Toyota Sienna.

Speaking with PUNCH, 22-year-old Rasheed said his parents, who knew about his robbery operations, had warned him to return the guns in his possession, but he refused.

He said, “I stayed in Ketu with my parents where I worked in an aluminium company before joining the gang. My mother first knew about this when other gang members came to our house to report to her that I had fled with their guns to Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

“She then called me on the phone to return the guns, but I did not listen. I was using the guns to go on operations in the Ijebu Ode area.

“When we went out as a gang, we snatched vehicles which were usually Toyota products. We sold them, but the gang did not give me my correct share. Since the police arrested me, my parents have not come to check on me because they are aware of all my activities.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest. He said, “They have made useful statements and investigations into their activities are ongoing.”

I'm Not Bleaching & So What If I Dont Wear Bra? - Yvonne Nelson

Recently, the Gollywood actress came under fire for not wearing bra to an event that held in Accra Ghana.

According to reports, the actress who aptly denied the first accusation however defended herself for not wearing bra to the event.

Here are excerpts;

How are you doing, Yvonne?
I’m good.

You look fabulous
Thank you.

What’s the secret?
It’s God, I guess.

(Holding her left hand…) So, what’s this pomp and noise about you and bleaching? But you don’t look anywhere near it, Yvonne. Or it’s the camera lights?
(Smiling…) Maybe… (The crowd roared…)

(Pointing to her chest…) But the one with the bras, I have seen it. It’s true.
(Blushing…smiling…no reply)

But why don’t you put on bra?
Because I don’t have big bosom. So, what’s the point?

You don’t have big bosom? So, what’s the point?
Yes.

Ladies, is that a genuine reason to go out bra-less… What is the function of a push up bra? 

We Will Catch Shekau Alive Before March 28 Elections - Jonathan

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has said that he believes that Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, who has killed thousands of Nigerians through the help of his men and suicide bombers, will be apprehended by government forces before Nigeria’s elections starting March 28.

He disclosed this in an interview with Thisday newspaper on Friday in response to a question on what his government is doing about Shekau’s threat to disrupt the elections, ”God willing we will catch Shekau before the elections,” the president said. 

Wife Kills Her Husband Because Of Money In Lagos

What money is causing in many families these days, it's such a shame. Residents of Adefowope Street, off Beach Road, in Lagos are divided over the reasons that could have made a woman to push her husband from the balcony of their apartment in a one-storey building on Valentine’s Day.

The woman, identified as Onyinyechi, in anger pushed her husband, George, from the storey building, an act that led to the husband’s death.

While some residents claimed that Onyinyechi, who is a teacher in a private school in the area, was angry that her husband did not give her a Valentine’s treat on a day when most lovers made out time to celebrate each other, other residents said the couple was quarrelling over money.

 A man, who claimed to be a close friend of the deceased, however, insisted that the cause of the couple’s fight and misunderstanding bordered on plans for Valentine’s Day.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the man said, “George returned home in the evening of Valentine’s Day, a time the wife felt was already too late to go for an outing. She got angry and it resulted in a fight.”

Another source, a close relationship with the family, however, said the cause of the fight was money.

He said, “A family friend had given George money to give to his wife as gift for their newborn baby. George did not only keep the money to himself, he also did not tell his wife about it. Onyinyechi later met the man, who asked her if she got the gift he sent through her husband. She was not only surprised, but furious that George could keep such a thing from her. It was in the process of asking him about it on the evening of Valentine’s Day that the fight started.”

A neighbour, who also spoke to Punch on the condition of anonymity, explained that, “On Saturday, at about 4pm, my daughter rushed inside my apartment where I was sleeping to wake me up that Iyawo (Onyinyechi) and her husband were fighting upstairs.

“As she was still explaining to me, I heard a sound of something falling. I rushed out only to discover that it was my neighbour, George. I started screaming for help and other neighbours rushed in to assist me. We got a tricycle and rushed him to a hospital.

“The wife, however, remained upstairs in her apartment. She didn’t bother to come down to assist us... George was certified dead at the hospital and we couldn’t take him to the mortuary without his family’s consent, so, we brought him back home and called his family members.”

Another neighbour, who identified herself as Mama Ifeoma, who was part of the people that took George to the hospital, said the doctor discovered a cut in his head.

She said the doctor explained that the injury could be as a result of an object that must have been used to hit him on the head.

She said, “The doctor told us that George must have been dead before he was pushed down from the balcony.”

At the moment, Onyinyechi had escaped to her town in Nnewi, Anambra State with her daughter.

My Husband Don't Know How To Handle Me In The Bedroom

This is one issue causing serious problem in many young marriages today. Read her story below:

I don’t enjoy s*x with my hubby because of many reasons which I cannot state here. It’s really frustrating. I have tried to subtly give him clues so I won’t hurt his feelings but he never learns and would release even before I finish removing my pant...

My elder sister bought a rabbit vibrator from the UK for me and it’s out of this world. I am a house wife and I now see myself looking forward to my husband’s leaving in the morning so I can indulge, my problem now is that I can’t seem to get enough. I cum like 2/3 times every day before he comes home from work. My orgasm always knocks me out and I tend to deeply sleep off immediately.  

My kids are home on midterm break and I had to chase them out of my room yesterday so I can indulge. I slept from 11am to almost 3pm and my kids were hungry. I was so ashamed of myself when I woke up and the thing was still in my vagina.

I feel as if my new rabbit is beginning to change me into something else. I rarely have strength to do anything these days and my hubby is beginning to complain though I pretend to be sick to get him off my back.

I hid it inside one old long shoe but I am never comfortable. Whenever hubby goes to the wardrobe my heart jumps into my mouth.

I really am very confused about this thing. It has taken me to heaven yet has stolen my sanity and peace of mind. I have thought about throwing it away but I really don't know if I can cope without it.

Please what do i do?

Obasanjo Exposes Jonathan: You're Afraid Buhari Will Jail You

If you think President Olusegun Obasanjo is not getting briefing from insiders on the dirty details that led to the postponement of the February 14 presidential poll, then you are a joker. He knows about it!

The former President has come out to alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan had a grand plan to scuttle the coming elections for fear that if General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC takes over power, he would send him to jail for the massive corruption allegedly committed by his government.

Obasanjo said this at his Hilltop presidential residence in Ogun State while speaking with journalists. He said he broke his promise not to talk till after election because the elections were postponed.

He spoke just as Nobel laureate and playwright, Prof. Wole Soyinka, warned President Jonathan not to use security agencies to scuttle the current democratic dispensation.

Soyinka’s warning to Jonathan was contained in a letter he sent out to the media on Saturday.

In another letter that was made public on Saturday, ex-chairman of the National Population Commission, Chief Festus Odimegwu, called on Jonathan to ensure that the elections are free and fair.

Obasanjo, who just returned from foreign trips, said, “I believe the President’s fear is particularly motivated by whom he sees as his likely successor, that is, General Muhammadu Buhari. I believe people would have been telling him that Buhari is a hard man; he will fight corruption and he (Jonathan) may end up in jail if not in the grave. I think people would have told him that sort of thing and he is not the only one afraid of Buhari.”

But Obasanjo said Buhari should have learnt his lessons and might not be contemplating sending people to jail as a way of fighting corruption.

“If he has not learnt his lessons, he would be probably the most unlearning human being. Now if he has learnt his lessons, he will know that you do not fight corruption by putting people in jail for 200 years. This was done by my predecessor in office, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. He recovered over $750m from Abacha’s estate without putting anybody in jail and without harming or hurting anybody.

“When I took over, we recovered over $1.25bn from the same Abacha without hurting anybody and without harming anybody. What is rather unfortunate is the fact that our lawyer who is still alive, who was chasing this money all over the world, said to us that there was still well over $1bn to be recovered from the Abacha estate.”

On the allegation that Jonathan had a grand plan to scuttle the coming polls, Obasanjo likened Jonathan to the former president of Cote d’lvoire, Laurent Gbagbo, who shifted election dates until he believed the odds were in his favour.

Obasanjo said, “President Jonathan has a grand plan to ensure that he wins the election by hook or crook and if he loses, he scuttles it and brings chaos and confusion in the whole country.

“It looks to me that the President is trying to play Gbagbo. Gbagbo was the former President of Cote d’Ivoire and Gbagbo made sure he postponed the election in his country until he was sure he would win and then allowed the election to take place. He got an inconclusive election in the first ballot and I believe this is the sort of thing Nigeria may fall into if I am right in what I observed as the grand plan.

“Then in the run-off, Gbagbo lost with 8 per cent behind (Alassane) Quattara and then refused to hand over. All reasonable persuasion and pleading was rebuffed by him and he unleashed horror in that country until nemesis caught up with him. I believe that we may be seeing the repeat of Gbabgo or what I called Gbagbo saga here in Nigeria, I hope not.”

Obasanjo noted that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, must have been boxed to a corner by the powers that be, before announcing the postponement of the elections.

He recounted how world leaders confronted him over political developments in the country, saying, “I was away because I had a number of assignments abroad which took me to Morocco, Munich, Nairobi, London and New Delhi. Exactly a week today, when we were in Munich for what they called the Munich security conferences annual event, everyone in the security community was there.

“I refused to make any categorical statement on this issue because I wanted to come back home and learn what actually transpired and what was going on, and it turned out to be a forced decision on the INEC, because it was alleged that the security chiefs were unable to provide security and as a result, the Chairman of INEC had to postpone the elections, in accordance with the dictates of the so-called security chiefs.

“For me, that was a bad precedent for democracy in Nigeria. It meant it doesn’t matter what preparation or lack of preparation any electoral body could make in Nigeria, the final decision on whether election will take place on the day scheduled for it lies in the domains of the security, it is a sad day for democracy in Nigeria.”

He said he was worried that President Jonathan had said in his recent media chat that he knew nothing about the postponement of the elections.

“I want to believe that this was forced on them (security chiefs). I want to believe that whether it was forced on them or it was their initiative, it was bad, very bad. I hope we will never have a repeat performance of this in this country again.

“It was even made worse when the President in the media chat on the 11th of this month claimed not to have knowledge or not to have authorised it. I get worried, very worried that if the President of Nigeria is not in charge of security, maintenance of law and order and such a decision can be taken behind him, assuming that it is true, then the President must be reigning and not ruling.”

While puncturing a hole in the excuse of the Boko Haram insurgency as a reason for the postponement, Obasanjo said it remained to be seen how the war against Boko Haram which could not be won since 2009, could be won in six weeks.

Obasanjo also appealed to the two leading parties, APC and PDP not to heat up the polity.

Presidency Uncovers PDP Governors Who Are Working For APC

Trust nobody is the name of the game. With the storm over the shift of polls yet to settle, the Presidency has run into a fix over what to do with Four of its governors who are said to be secretly working for the success of the leading opposition, the APC, in the coming Presidential Elections.

The Presidency became convinced that the Four Governors were not sincerely working for President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP after reviewing their activities in relations to the presidential campaigns in their respective states.

A secret investigation carried out by security agents and placed at the disposal of the Presidency has clearly indicated that PDP would lose election in the affected states because of the activities of the governors...

A competent source told Vanguard in Abuja that both Jonathan and his party were upset that the governors were hiding under the party to work for the APC, thereby making it difficult for them to be promptly dealt with in line with the constitution of the party.

The source said that although the action of the Four Governors drawn from the North West and North East of the country had been discussed extensively by the Presidency and the PDP, the party and the president were in a fix on what to do with ‘traitors’ because of the impending elections.

The President is said to be particularly irked by the action of one of the PDP governors from the North East, who did not only give the sum of N25million in support of the opposition candidate campaign but also directed his officials to give maximum logistics support to the Buhari Campaign team during their campaign in the state on February 3 this year.

The same governor, it was learnt, showed what a presidency source described as a ‘lukewarm disposition’ to the Jonathan’s Campaign team by not mobilising enough support for the presidential rally in his state and arriving late to the venue of the campaign.

The governor is said to have unwittingly exposed disloyalty to the President and his party by coming to the venue of the rally six minutes before the arrival of the presidential team, thereby leaving several things undone and ending up embarrassing Jonathan and PDP when they went to campaign in the state.

The governor is reported to have delayed the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Team in the state until the eve of the presidential visit thereby making the team headed by a former Senator from the state, to hit the rocks in his effort to ensure a successful rally in the agricultural state. As a result of the sympathy of a North East governor for the APC, he is said to have displayed a lackadaisical attitude towards the visit of Jonathan to his state last month.

During the visit, the president was said to have been miffed by the near empty stadium that he noticed upon his arrival for the campaign in the state that is close to a desert.

The Presidency, Saturday Vanguard also learnt, was also hurt that none of the governors had shown remorse over their ‘betrayal’ by not speaking out against some of the wrongs openly committed by their agents against the presidential campaign teams in their respective states.

It was gathered that the Presidency was seriously disappointed that none of the affected governors had openly condemned the stoning of its presidential campaign train in their states while some of them turned round to blame some senior officers of the Presidency for the attacks.

The APC, which is aware of the tacit support of the governors, almost went to make a formal announcement that they were set to defect but they were said to have persuaded the party not to do so, promising instead to quietly work and deliver their states to the opposition because of Buhari’s factor.

Asked what the Presidency would be doing to sanction the Four Governors, the source hinted that the there was confusion in Aso Rock on what to do to them given the need for Jonathan to put his house in order and pursue the elections as a united party.

The source said that it would be counter-productive for the Presidency and the PDP to take any disciplinary action against the governors at this stage since the elections were already around the corner.

In fact, the PDP is now looking for ways to pressurize Prof Attahiru Jega of INEC to jettison the use of the Card Readers and Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, which could checkmate rigging.

Obasanjo Warns of Military Coup, Declares Support for Buhari

Former President Obasanji has finally taken his stand after refusing to join the campaign of Goodluck Jonathan for deceiving in 2010 that he would spend only six years in office if Baba Olusegun Obasanjo can support him to get the PDP ticket to complete the tenure of late President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Obasanjo has thus declared his support for the presidential candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari.

Obasanjo, who is a member of the PDP, declared his support for Buhari during an interview with the Financial Times at the launch of his autobiography titled, ‘My Watch’, in Nairobi, Kenya.

Obasanjo said: “The circumstances he (Buhari) will be working under if he wins the elections are different from the one he worked under before, where he was both the executive and the legislature – he knows that. He is smart enough. He is educated enough. He’s experienced enough. Why shouldn’t I support him?”

He said Buhari, who ruled Nigeria between December 1983 and August 1985, was aware of the urgency of the moment to salvage Nigeria and he is confident that Buhari will make Nigerians proud.

Obasanjo said he is sure that Buhari would be able to effectively tackle corruption and insecurity.

The former President said Buhari would restore the morale of the military which, he said, was needed in the fight against terrorism.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan betrayed the armed forces by allowing corruption to undermine their operations.

He said, “It is a question of leadership – political and military. I think you need to ask Jonathan how he let the army go to this extent. Many things went wrong: recruitment went wrong; training went wrong; morale went down; motivation was not there; corruption was deeply ingrained; and welfare was bad.”

Reacting to the postponement of the elections, Obasanjo said, “I sincerely hope that the President is not going for broke and saying ‘look dammit, it’s either I have it or nobody has it’. I hope that we will not have a coup. I hope we can avoid it.”

I Am Putting My Eyes On Security & The Presidency – Obasanjo

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that he is now keeping his eyes on the military and those in the Presidency to see how they are going to contain Boko Haram insurgents in six weeks.

Speaking with Hausa service of the BBC in Germany, the former president rubbished the purported plan to form an Interim Government, which, according to him, violates the Nigerian constitution.

In Obasanjo's words: “When I return from Germany, I will ponder on how the government will tackle the six-year insecurity challenges facing the country in six weeks after which I will decide the next step if I should say something or not.”

Jega Is Not Going Anywhere; He Will Conduct The Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is not going anywhere before the end of his tenure in June and will conduct the elections.

Chief press secretary to INEC chairman, Kayode made the disclosure on Tuesday during a Channels TV show that was monitored in Lagos.

Idowu explained that the civil service rules does not apply to Jega, stressing that he would serve until his tenure elapses on June 30, 2015.

He added that the ballot papers for the presidential election scheduled to hold on March 28 are ready, adding they have been delivered by the printers and kept in the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He also disclosed that thousands of ad hoc staff were being trained for the elections initially billed to take place on 14 and 28 February but shifted to 28 March and 11 April.

He said the postponement would allow INEC perfect its preparations for the polls, adding that there can never be 100% preparations for an election since things continue to change until the last day of the polls.

Atiku tweets on election postponement & its effect on our economy

The former VP shared his fears on twitter...

Obasanjo Speaks: There must be New Government on May 29

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday insisted that a new federal government must emerge from Nigeria's elections ahead of May 29, 2015 in accordance with the country’s constitution.

Answering questions from BBC on the of the general elections, Obasanjo said the constitution lays out how the new government should emerge, "that is all I can go by. I cannot go by any situation or any other thing.”

Ex-President Obasanjo ruled out the possibility of any thing like Interim Government, saying:

“I don’t know that because the constitution does not have provision for that. There is no place in our constitution for an interim government. I will just have to wait and see”.

Asked if he was concerned about the country’s future if the election does not hold, Obasanjo said Nigeria had gone near precipice on many occasions before, and came back. 

“We will continue to have this type of uncertainty. We have had more than half a dozen of them in the past but we have survived them”, he assured.

I Received A Slap for Exposing Stealing – Emir Sanusi Lamido

The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, has revealed that he was slapped for exposing stealing when he discovered that a matron at his school, Saint Ann Primary School, has been stealing from his school box and confronted her.

He said his boldness to confront her earned him a slap from the angry matron.

Emir Sanusi stated this on Sunday in Kano. He recalled his past experiences most especially at his alma mata, Saint Ann School, and disclosed that he was about seven or eight years old when he and his colleagues discovered that their biscuits and other provisions repeatedly kept on missing. He added that he and his colleagues came to the conclusion that the matron who had access to their belongings must be stealing from them.

Sanusi said that he had one day discovered that his box was emptied by unknown person and pledged to confront the school matron.

Emir Sanusi recalled that he led the first demonstration at the age of seven at Saint Ann, School, Kaduna, Kaduna State.

According to him, the school was initially a girls only school until it incorporated boys. The school authority permitted the boys students to use the school dormitory to keep their belongings and a matron was appointed to supervise and took care of the boys’ boxes.

Emir Sanusi described himself as the person who always talks about missing items.

He said that it has been difficult for him or any other person to express the enormity of what Allah has done for him. It would be recalled that since he became emir of Kano, Sanusi had made it clear that the position comes from God.

According to him, it is not because one is clever or connected, that he is favoured with appointment but at the prerogative of the Creator to give to whoever He so wishes.

On the question of his knowledge of the Bible, Sanusi II responded that he was the best in Bible Knowledge and had scored a distinction in Bible Knowledge in his common entrance examination.

Here is Buhari's Reaction Towards The Postponement Of The Election

We Must Remain Calm But Resolute
Following the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the 2015 general elections by six weeks, I wish to appeal for utmost restraint and calm by all Nigerians, especially the teeming supporters of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This postponement, which comes on the heels of the bogey of the National Security Adviser that half of the registered voters were being disenfranchised, was exposed as a crude and fraudulent attempt to subvert the electoral process. The PDP administration has now engineered a postponement using the threat that security will not be guaranteed across the length and breadth of Nigeria because of military engagement in some states in the North East. It is important to note that although INEC acted within its constitutional powers, it is clear that it has been boxed into a situation where it has had to bow to pressure.

Thus, the independence of INEC has been gravely compromised.

As a Nigerian and a presidential candidate in the elections, I share in the disappointment and frustration of this decision. This postponement coming a week to the first election has raised so many questions, many of which shall be asked in the days ahead. However, we must not allow ourselves to be tempted into taking actions that could further endanger the democratic process. 

Our country is going through a difficult time in the hands of terrorists. Any act of violence can only complicate the security challenges in the country and provide further justification to those who would want to exploit every situation to frustrate the democratic process in the face of certain defeat at the polls.

If anything, this postponement should strengthen our resolve and commitment to rescue our country from the current economic and social collapse from this desperate band. Our desire for change must surpass their desperation to hold on to power at all cost. We are clearly dealing with people who feel they can get away with placing their personal interest over those of our nation and its citizens. What is at stake is the very survival of our country. We must not allow this temporary delay to abort this great opportunity. While I share the pains and frustrations of my fellow citizens over this development, my deep faith in the democratic process assures me that this country, with your support, will overcome.

We must remain resolute and rise above all provocations. We must continue to trust in the entire democratic process and in INEC, which has been brought under so much pressure in the last few days. Our trust can only serve to encourage the electoral body to remain steadfast and remain committed to the rule of law. I wish to state strongly that our party will not tolerate any further interference with the electoral process. The rescheduled elections of March 28th and April 11th, 2015 must be sacrosanct.

Nigeria is definitely greater than any of us, and much more important than our individual ambitions. Before us there was Nigeria, and long after we are gone there will still be Nigeria. Let us continue to do our part to make it thegreat country that it should be. We must rescue our dear country. God being on our side, we shall salvage Nigeria together.

God Bless Nigeria! 

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Party, APC.

PDP YET TO PAY ME FOR UMBRELLA LOGO 17 YEARS AFTER – DESIGNER, GBENGA AMOBONYE

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not paid the designer of its logo, an umbrella, which was said to be designed 17 years after it was approved and handed over to the party.

The logo designer, Gbenga Amobonye, a journalist and former Abuja Bureau Chief of the defunct National Concord in an interview with The Vanguard Newspaper, said he designed the logo in 1999 in the wake of new political dispensation in Nigeria, and It was accepted and approved by the party’s hierachy.

” I proposed umbrella to the party in 1998 as its symbol and it was carried with spontaneous applause and commendation. The proposal for the adoption of the umbrella as symbol of the then emerging political party, PDP, was presented on my behalf by one time President of  the Senate, the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, in his capacity as Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the political association, whose responsibility, it was, to consider a name and symbol for the association, in preparation for its registration as a political party with the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC”.

Since the adoption of his logo, the party’s echelon, Amobonye recalled, has been evasive.  He claimed that he has written several letters to the party leadership without any response before he took the option of bringing his plight to the public through the media.

As proof of his efforts to get officials of PDP to respond, he produced the letter purportedly written to draw the attention of the party’s chairman then,  Chief  Barnabas Gemade. .However, in year 2000, according to the letter, Okadigbo introduced him to, Chief Barnabas Gemade, as ‘the man who gave PDP its logo, and said, please do something for him’. Gemade, he recalled, never did even when Amobonye had to officially write him.  His persistent efforts appeared to be paying off when he learnt that the Special Assistant to the then National Secretary, Senator Aniete Okon, signed a letter addressed to some founding fathers of the party on the issue.

It read, “I am directed to forward here  the letter dated 27th June, 2001 from Mr Gboyega Amobonye, Abuja Bureau Chief, National Concord Press of Nigeria Ltd, to our National Chairman claiming he suggested the umbrella symbol at the foundation stage of our great party, for your kind attention and advice. It will be appreciated if you throw more light on this matter to help the National Working Committee, NWC.”. 

In the same vein, Segun Adeniyi, the Thisday Editorial Chairman, on December 15, 2002, published an interview with the late Okadigbo where he said, ” The name PDP was suggested by me at the Muson Centre in Lagos, including the symbol. There was a certain Yoruba guy from Concord Newspaper who wrote me a letter which had this symbol of umbrella, I thought it was interesting. So, I read it out and it was adopted”.

Evidence abounds to show that indeed Amobonye was the brain behind the symbol through the collaborative claims of important party members.

Other evidence to confirm his efforts and proprietary of the logo includes a statement.credited to a one-time PDP Publicity Secretary, Gbenga Olawepo, in an interview with the defunct Monitor Newspaper of September 30,2001, corroborated the claim of the late Okadigbo. Olawepo, while expressing his view on his suspension and eventual expulsion from the party. In an interview, said: ’You, Gbenga Amobonye, even submitted the proposal for our symbol which we adopted at the Muson Centre, Lagos. Was Gemade at the meeting? That was when we were considering the logo and everything, you made a proposal. You know the story of the PDP better. How can any of these people now say they are sacking me from the party?”

Amobonye said he would continue to appeal to the PDP leadership rather than resorting to legal action over the logo issue, hoping that they would have a change of heart.” I  think this option I have been pursuing is far better than the legal option you are asking me about. If you believe in a cause, see it to the end, and that is what I intend to do. I will continue to appeal to them, particularly Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the Chairman and President Goodluck Jonathan, the party leader, to see my little contribution to what the party is today and duly acknowledge it .

“I have written another letter to the President explaining my stand on the issue. I am yet to get a reply. Yes, it is true that this is an intellectual property issue which ordinarily should resort to litigation. But what do I stand to benefit ultimately if I drag the party to court? If my design, which is my sweat, is appreciated by the party and adopted it as its official symbol, and the same party is now the largest on the continent, apart from being the ruling party since about 16 years now, I should be glad that my effort is what everybody is trying to associate with. So, I will continue to appeal to them, particularly through your widely read medium”. 

If INEC Is Compromised Or Bribed Then It Will Be Too Bad – Buhari

The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has said it will be too bad if the Independent National Electoral Commission allows itself to be compromised to shift the general election or allow irregularities in the voting process.

Buhari made the statement in an interview published on Reuters on Friday, saying he was optimistic that he would win the election and that he would approach the courts if there are irregularities in the voting process. He said he would not call his followers into the streets.

Buhari said, “I’m optimistic that I won’t lose. But we signed an undertaking that it will be violence – free. We are attempting to stabilise a multi – party democratic system.

“There will be no delay. But if INEC is compromised then it will be too bad,” Buhari said.

The APC had said that the only reason the pro-Jonathan camp was pushing for a delay of the elections was because it knew that the president would lose if voting should hold as planned.

On the insurgency in the country, the APC candidate said it was a disgrace that neighbouring countries like Chad, Niger and Cameroon had been more successful than Nigeria in the battle against the Boko Haram insurgency.

Buhari told Reuters that, “It’s a big disgrace for Nigeria. It is now Cameroon and Chad fighting the insurgency more than Nigeria. We will build the capacity and Nigeria should be able to secure its territorial integrity.

“Our main objective is to secure the country. We will not tolerate insurgency, sabotage of the economy by blowing up of installations, by stealing crude and so on. All these things will be things of the past.”

He assured that his administration would tackle corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and reopen an investigation into the missing crude revenues of around $20bn, adding that he would tackle the theft of crude tapped from pipelines in the Niger Delta.

THE SECRETS: Presidency Declares War on INEC and Jega

In spite of general clamour by Nigerians, the Presidency has asked INEC to postpone the general election by six weeks based on security threats.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has admitted that his hands are tied because security for the poll is outside his control, hence he has invited all chairmen and secretaries of the registered political parties and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for a meeting today.

The meeting is expected to consider 4 key issues and finally decide if to go ahead with the poll or not.

In fact, indications have emerged that Jega is under pressure from above to extend the election willy-nilly. Also, INEC commissioners were being threatened to either postpone the election or be ready to quit at the expiration of their tenure in June this year.

A dependable source said all but two commissioners are due for reappointment in June.

But INEC was undecided on whether to stand its ground that the polls should hold as scheduled, yield to the six-week extension or opt for a three/four-week postponement.

It was evident on Friday night that the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government will not provide security for INEC and its field officers unless the poll is postponed based on the PDP's wish.

Findings showed that FG’s demand for a six-week extension was contained in the presentation made to the Council of State by Jega on Thursday at its session at the Presidential Villa.

In the 12-page presentation, “Preparations for the 2015 General Elections Progress Report,” made available to The Nation by a member of the Council, Jega confirmed the readiness of INEC for the poll, but said he could not ignore the alarm raised by security agencies.

Jega said: “Yesterday (Wednesday), for example, we received a letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser(NSA), informing us of recent developments in four (4) of the North-East states, stating that safety and security cannot be guaranteed during the proposed election period, adducing reasons why this is so, and strongly advising that INEC considers rescheduling the elections by at least six (6) weeks, within the provisions of the electoral legal framework, and within which time span it hoped to restore sufficient normalcy for elections to hold.

“This is a new development that INEC cannot certainly ignore or take lightly.”

Notwithstanding, Jega insisted that INEC was prepared for the 2015 elections more than it did in 2011.

He added: “From the preceding review of the state of preparedness of INEC, in respect of matters under its control, it is clear that in spite of the discernible challenges, things are not as bad as they have been made to appear in recent media coverage and public discourses. We are doing our best under very difficult circumstances.

“In determining whether or not INEC is adequately prepared to conduct the February 2015 elections as scheduled, we should separate what is under the control of the commission and what is outside its control.

“For the things under the commission’s control, our accomplishments are to such a degree that we can conduct the election, in spite of identifiable challenges.

“Compared with the 2011 general elections, for instance, our systems are definitely more robust now.

“Among others, we have greatly improved register of voters, having removed over four million multiple registrants; voters will use PVCs; and accreditation using card readers will reduce the likelihood of fraud.

“Consequently, although our state of preparedness may not be 100 per cent or perfect, and although a bit more time of additional preparation would enable us improve and perfect the current level of preparedness, we believe that we’re ready for the elections as planned.”

But Jega added a caveat that INEC had to appreciate certain developments (security) beyond its control.

He also said since over 65 per cent of the PVCs had been collected, Nigerians can go to poll.

Looks like the Presidency is already at war with Jega as they no longer have access to him and Jega himself is not ready to meet with anybody working for the Presidency so as to remain neutral.

The Presidency is so angry that Prof Jega is no longer giving them attention, to the extent that Doyin Okupe called Jega "A Liar" on national television. The fight against INEC and Jega is that serious.

If service chiefs can't give Security for Polls, they should resign

One year and one month later, and under his very watch, Boko Haram has become savagely audacious. The embarrassing failure of CDS Alex Badeh and Jonathan’s government has become an excuse to mess with the country’s future, making us look like a land of fools and idiots.
In decent countries Badeh, all the service chiefs and indeed Jonathan, their appointor, would have resigned with their tails between their legs.

They would have publicly apologised for the grief they have brought upon the nation through their incompetence. They would have repented for the shame of Nigeria, once Africa’s giant, now reduced to looking to Chad and Cameroon and Niger Republic for salvation from Boko Haram.

They would have been afraid to retain their positions much less contemplate using their failure to press for the shift of an election date foreknown years ago.

But that, obviously, will be expecting too much.

This Saturday, against common sense and the wise counsel of the National Council of State, Jega may be compelled to announce a shift in election date literally at gunpoint. We know there are many forces at work, including INEC commissioners and insiders who want to sabotage the vote and push Jega over the edge. In their desperation they fail to see that this is about Nigeria.

The service chiefs are expected to tell Jega that they cannot guarantee security if he insists in continuing with the elections on schedule.

We find it shocking beyond words that Jega is being forced to carry the can for the failure of the security chiefs and the Jonathan government as a whole.

If the security chiefs by themselves admit they can no longer secure the country as they have so openly done, then they should resign immediately and pave way for those who can. Announcing a date change to do in six weeks what this government has failed to do in five years does not make sense.

The honourable thing for the service chiefs is to resign now. They must not plunge this country into chaos.