Ekiti Rigging Saga: Senator Omisore Confesses, "I Was There, All I Said Was Calm Down, Calm Down"

In a one-on-one interview with Nigerian citizen journalist Kayode Ogundamisi at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana, Senator Iyiola Omisore of Osun state has admitted that a tape released by SaharaReporters detailing how some politicians met with a Nigerian army general to plot the rigging of last year's gubernatorial election in Ekiti was real and authentic.

Cornered by the interviewer Mr. Omisore admitted that Governor Ayo Fayose, Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, Musiliu Obanikoro (then minister of state for defense) met with Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh to work out a modality to stop the momentum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election which the APC subsequently lost.

However, Mr. Omisore claimed that all he said on the tape was "Calm Down, All Down", apparently referring to the point at which he intervened when Gov Fayose and others began bullying Brig. General Momoh. Omisore's assertion is, however, untrue according to the 37-minute tape. In another instance during the meeting, Omisore asked the army general why he had not arrested the campaign director of Fayose's opponent, Bimbo Daramola.

Omisore is the latest person amongst the dramatist personae involved in the rigging plot to confess to the authenticity of the tape.

Earlier, the minister for police affairs, Jelili Adesiyan owned to up to the content of the tape and his involvement by declaring that he was at the meeting, also the beneficiary of the rigging Ayodele Fayose, who earlier claimed the tape was made with a voice software recently recanted and confessed to his participation in the plot.

However, Senator Obanikoro, who was recently renominated as the Minister of state for Defense has embarked on a series of attempts to silence SaharaReporters and other journalists reporting the electoral fraud by threatening to sue the journalists in Nigeria and New York state. Obanikoro's nomination awaits confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

Opposition APC party Senators have vowed to oppose his nomination, but observers believe that the corrupt members of the Nigerian Senate would likely confirm his appointment after receiving a bribe.

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-----Reported By Sahara Reporters, New York.
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Just In: EFCC Kicks Against Babalakin’s Acquittal, Ponders Appealing Against Judgement

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has expressed disappointment on the judgement of a Lagos High Court which discharged and acquitted a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wale Babalakin.

The Commission had brought a 27-count charge against Wale Babalakin and three others, amongst which are fraud, conspiracy, and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct.

According to the statement made available on Monday, Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media & Publicity of commission, the commission is not satisfied with the ruling of the Lagos High court and will, in the next couple of days, study the judgement carefully in order to file an appeal.

Here is the statement: "The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to the ruling today [monday] by a Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, Which discharged and acquitted Wale Babalakin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and three others of a 27-count charge of fraud, conspiracy, and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct brought against them by the Commission."

"The EFCC will avail itself of all available options, including the right of appeal, after careful study of the ruling."

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Source: Newsbeat Portal, Abuja.
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Breaking: Boko Haram Members Disguise As Women As Cordon And Search Yields More Weapons

The cordon and search in Baga has revealed some terrorists disguising as women.  The searches are also yielding more discoveries of arms especially bombs hidden in various locations, especially Baga town. 

A statement from the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), signed by Major General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information said, "apart from those captured in the course of fighting, many arrests of terrorists hiding in the town are being made and troops are still busy interrogating the suspects."
 
Meanwhile, in furtherance of the mission to clear terrorists from all their enclaves by the military, the Nigerian Air Force has stepped up its air bombardment of identified targets in Gwoza, Bama and Sambisa forest, preparatory to other phases of the mission, he added.

Olukolade equally noted that "the air strikes have been highly successful as they achieved the aims, hitting vital targets with required precision;"  and explained further that "terrorists are now in disarray as they scamper to escape from the impact of air bombardment of their locations in the forest."
 
"Having successfully liberated Baga where the terrorists have been marauding, the troops' attention has now been focused on consolidation of the security of the area to pave way for return of citizens", he concluded.


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Source: Newsbeat Portal, Abuja
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Ogun Presidential Campaign Body To Challenge Mental State And Physical Health Of Buhari

The Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ogun State, on Monday resolved to challenge the state of mind and physical health of General Muhammadu Buhari in a competent court of law and demand that a thorough medical examination be carried out on him to ascertain if he is capable of Ruling Nigeria.

The body also condemned in strong terms the continuous surreptitious positioning of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on the true state of health of its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

General Muhammadu Buhari is the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress for the upcoming 2015 general elections.

In a statement signed on Monday by Steve Oliyide, the Director, Media and Publicity of the Ogun State Presidential Campaign Organisation (PCO), the body expressed disappointment on the lack of transparency on the APC towards making public the true health state of Buhari.

The statement: "the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ogun State notes with dismay the secrecy with which the real health status of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flag bearer, General Muhammadu Buhari is Shrouded. It is even more worrisome that in spite of the embarrassment the nation recently suffered with the Yar'Adua saga, the APC that is busy hallucinating about taking over power at the center has not found it expedient to come straight on this germane matter."

"First as Nigerians, we feel concerned about the well being of our fellow citizen and more about a man who had served this country in the Army but history as taught us that the Presidential position comes with lots of physical challenge and huge mental demands and as such a proposed occupant of such position must be at least 90% healthy and of a very sound mind."

"We wonder why the opposition party is spending so much time and resources to conceal the true state of health of the former dictator. More so, we find it rather ridiculous and a grand insult to Nigerians, that the opposition party has continued to play "hide and seek" whenever the issue of General Buhari's health comes up."

"We love General Buhari and we will not stands idle to watch some greedy, self-centred and selfish politicians push such man around all in the process of actualizing their egocentric lust for power. We will not also fold our hands and allow these few take the already progressing country into constitutional crisis and needless doctrine of necessity."

"We therefore condemn in strong terms the continuous surreptitious positioning of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on the true state of health of its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari."

"In light of these and in conformity with section 137 of the  Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), we hereby wish to make public of our resolve to challenge the state of mind and physical health of General Buhari in a competent court of law and demand that a thorough medical examination be carried out on him to ascertain if he is capable of holding the highest office in the land in line with the provisions of the constitution."

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Source: Newsbeat Portal, Abuja
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Just In: Shonekan Commissions Bandirawo City, Says Kwankwaso Has Done Well

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Press Release
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Former Head of Nigerian Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan on Monday commissioned Bandirawo City, one of the three new mega cities built by the government of Kano state, under Gov. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso.

In the first phase, the Bandirawo city, mainly a high density settlement near Tumfafi, along Kano – Dambatta road, entails 441 housing units of 4, 3 and 2 bedroom bungalows. It also has commercial plots for shopping malls, filling station, hotels, etc. There is also provision for schools, recreational areas and a range of other locational advantages.

The city, alongside the two other cities, namely Kwankwasiyya and Amana, was conceptualized by the Kwankwaso administration as part of efforts to address the housing deficit in the state and the country at large. Nigeria's housing deficit is about N17 million, due to a very high urban growth rate, according to a recent World Bank report.

In this regard, the three mega cities would not only provide shelter to low, medium and high income earners, open for the government the vast and untapped investment potential of the country's real estate sector as well as upgrade Kano to the status of a competitive modern city.
Speaking shortly before commissioning the Bandirawo city, Chief Ernest Shonekan commended Gov. Kwankwaso for initiating the project said in these days when financial resource are scarce, governments must make sure that all commissioned projects are used carefully.

"If commissioned projects are well used, government will be encouraged to do more for the people", he stated, adding that it is also imperative for governments to work with the private sector in the area of infrastructure projects.

Chief Shonekan enjoined citizens of Kano and other Nigerians to cooperate with government so that development can happen fast and people can reap the dividends of democracy.
In his speech, the state governor, Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso said the Bandirawo City, built on 191 hectares, is one of the landmark projects of his government and one of three new mega cities established in Kano to improve housing, which is a basic human need and a key factor for economic development.

"All the three cities were constructed at the combined cost of about N45 billion, with the aim of not only decongesting the old Kano city but also to providing better shelter for our citizens in line with global best practices", the governor stated.

According to him, all the new cities were constructed solely by the state government through the state Housing Corporation in conjunction with the state Investment and Property Company, without any local or foreign loans.

Gov. Kwankwaso stated that the houses would be sold to all Nigerians without discrimination and appealed to investors to complement government's efforts by making meaningful investments in the real estate sector of the state.

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Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, fnge, mni

Director of Press and Public Relations
to the Executive Governor of Kano state.
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Obanikoro Backs Down, Sends Warning Letter To SaharaReporters Instead

After failing for more than a week to carry out his threat of filing a lawsuit against SaharaReporters in New York, and against The Punch and Premium Times in Nigeria, Nigeria's former Minister of State for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro, seemed to have chickened out by having a New York-based law firm send a mere warning letter to SaharaReporters.

A former senator, Mr. Obanikoro had been threatening legal action against SaharaReporters since the website first released, on February 5th, an audio recording in which he and other PDP officials are heard plotting to illegally manipulate the 2014 Ekiti State governorship election. The ex-Defense minister and his co-conspirators, including now Governor Ayo Fayose, are heard in turns berating Brigadier General A.A. Momoh and promising him promotions and other inducements for helping the PDP in its scheme to handicap APC members during the elections.
In the recording released by SaharaReporters, Mr. Obanikoro is heard stating that he was on "special assignment" from President Goodluck Jonathan to make sure the election was carried by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement he gave to The Breaking Times, a Nigeria news site linked to Mr. Obanikoro, Mr. Obanikoro falsely claimed that his lawyers had served SaharaReporters with court papers last week, and that SaharaReporters had 42 days to prepare its defense.

Instead, a New York law firm emailed a warning letter to SaharaReporters on February 19th asking SaharaReporters to "cease and desist from making false and disparaging statements about Sen. Obanikoro on the Internet." Under US rules of legal proceedings, such a letter does not amount to a lawsuit itself.

Since SaharaReporters first released the audio recording, a third party consultancy firm, Guardian Consulting, has authenticated Mr. Obanikoro as the voice offering a bribe to Brigadier General A.A. Momoh. In addition to the secret recording, a sworn affidavit was signed by a whistleblower present during the meeting where Mr. Obanikoro illegally bribed the army officer and plotted to rig the Ekiti State elections in 2014.

The warning letter sent to SaharaReporters also substantiates that Mr. Obanikoro was present during the meeting where plans were made to illegally manipulate the Ekiti State elections even though claims the conversations were vague and only relates to how the conspirators would ensure security .

Mr. Obanikoro's warning letter comes just as he awaits Senate confirmation of his nomination by President Jonathan to a ministerial post. Analysts and observers, however, argue that Senator Obanikoro is trying to give a false impression of legal action against SaharaReporters in order to ease through his confirmation hearings.

The law offices of Tacopina and Seigel sent the warning letter on behalf of Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro. For days, Mr. Obanikoro and websites/social media outlets associated with him had made bones about Mr. Tacopina's law firm as a firm that famously represented American baseball sensation Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez in a case which he lost.

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Source: Sahara Reporters, New York
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Police Order Full Investigation into Death of Professor Falaki as Some Suspect arrested

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba CFR, NPOM, NPM, mni, on Monday ordered the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge Zone 1, Kano, AIG Tambari Muhammed to conduct an in-depth forensic investigation on the death of Prof Ahmed Falaki.

Until his death, Prof. Ahmed Falaki was a Professor of Agriculture in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kano.

In a statement made available to the press by Ag. CP Emmanuel C. S. OJUKWU, the psc
Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, IGP Suleiman Abba "viewed with great concern the death of Prof Falaki" and as such the investigation was necessary towards "unravelling the circumstances surrounding the attack and death of the renowned Professor of Agriculture, he said."

Moreover, "the IGP wishes to assure the deceased's immediate family and the general public that the Police will do all it takes to ensure ends of justice, while perpetrators of the unfortunate incident will not go unpunished."

Meanwhile, "some arrests have made in connection with the incident, and the late professor's vehicle recovered in Bauchi State."

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Source: Newsbeat Portal, Abuja
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Just In: FG Commences Capacity Building Programme For All Workers On GL-06 to GL-17

In a bid to compliment the recent restriction on civil servants to engage in foreign training and International travels, the Federal Government said it would commence a general capacity building programme for all officers on GL 06-GL 17 in the Federal Civil Service in March 2015.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi disclosed this in Abuja at a meeting with all the Permanent Secretaries, Directors of Human Resources Management, Finance and Accounts and Heads of Procurement.

According to the statement released on Monday by Mohammed Manga, the Assistant Director (Media Relations) for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Kifasi said that "one of his greatest visions in office is to build an effective, efficient and virile workforce through capacity building that is able to deliver better services to Nigerians in line with the Transformation Agenda of Government."

"Work is well underway to conclude the design of a Structured Mandatory Training Programme on general capacity building and that of leadership development", he added.

The general capacity building programme according to him will focus on equipping the civil servants with the knowledge, skills and attitude required to operate a modern civil service, and is further expected to develop their capacity to operate at higher levels of responsibility before they assume enhanced positions in the service and that the programme is for all officers on GL 06 –GL 17. While the leadership development programme he said, is for selected officers on GL 08-GL17 to develop their capacity for leadership at various levels of the service, and the criteria for selection would include leadership potential, innovation, high performance and exemplary conduct.

Mr. Kifasi stated further that government has assembled a team of management development institutes from ASCON, PSIN and CMD to develop a framework for the scheme and assured that government was still very committed to staff welfare, especially in the area of housing. And following the recent flag-off of the National Workers' Housing Estate last December by Mr. President, "a circular containing a list of private housing developers' willing to partner the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board in developing quality, affordable houses to federal public servants has been issued", he said.

On issues pertaining to vacancy declaration and promotion exercises in the Federal Civil Service, the Head of Service advised that all the MDAs should henceforth follow due process as is contained in the Public Service Rules.

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Newsbeat Portal, Abuja

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Just In: President Jonathan Has No Plan To Rig March Polls, Says Dr Abubakar Sulaiman

The Honourable Minister/Deputy National Chairman, National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman has declared that President Goodluck Jonathan has no plan to rig next month's general elections, even as he described the president as a leader with large heart.

The minister made the disclosure during a reception in his honour and other past deans, organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Abuja, held at the university auditorium at its mini campus, Gwagwalada.

In a statement made available to the press by the Head of Information, Salisu B. Haiba, the minister said, "This administration is working and the evidence is there. I will continue to do more for the university and I can do better, and if you truly like me, vote to return Goodluck Jonathan.

"One thing we should all know is that Jonathan does not have the plan to rig himself back. If he had or has that plan, he would not have appointed Jega (INEC),  an activist as the INEC chairman. Even on my appointment, Mr. President demonstrated a large heart.

"I was an active unionist during my days as a university lecturer, I led a protest against the then sitting VC, which we carried up to the government level, yet Mr. President  decided, devoid of any sentiment, to appoint me a minister. It takes one with a large heart to do that."

Reeling out the catalogue of  Jonathan's achievements, the minister stated that under President Goodluck Jonathan, 14 Federal Universities were built across the geo-political spread of the country and this is a great height achieved in educational development ever witnessed in the Nigeria

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Mike Adikwu, commended the minister for putting the university first in the course of discharging his duties as a minister, adding that "Dr Sulaiman, has lived up to his billings as an academic in the federal executive council and has also made the university proud as his constituent."

Adikwu expressed appreciation for the foreign training opportunity given to the university by the NPC under Sulaiman's  leadership,  and expressed confidence that the minister will do more to get the university attain greater height

In his goodwill message, Professor Samuel Asala, Provost, College of Health Sciences, of the university, recalled the historic role in the completion of the College of Health Sciences' building in the university permanent site.

Also speaking, Professor Sarah Anyawu of Economics Department also commended the minister's effort for the numerous economic policy plans initiated by the NPC for the growth and development of Nigeria

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Emir of Mubi Urges IDPs To Return Home, As NEMA Continues To Assess Affected Communities

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Press Release
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Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Isa Ahmadu, has appreciated the Federal Government for the restoration of security in his domain and called on his subjects that were displaced by the insurgency to return home. This is even as NEMA continues to assess damaged communities including Mubi.

Speaking in his palace when he received a Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Youths Development, Mr Boni Haruna, the Emir advised his people to be vigilant and law abiding and assist the government towards the maintenance of security in the area.

He urged returning residents to give all the necessary cooperation to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) assessment team as they go round to conduct assessment.

He thanked the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan  for his concern about the condition of the displaced people and his assurances of support  to assist them return to normal life.

The Youths Development Minister said his visit with the NEMA team was to assess the return of peace in the area and to convey the assurances of President Goodluck Jonathan to support the returnees through the National Emergency  Management Agency (NEMA) to settle back in their homes.

The Minister said the commander of the Army Battalion based in Mubi had assured that the soldiers have cleared the town and made it safe  for law abiding citizens to return to their homes.

Leader of NEMA assessment team, Musa Zakari, said the Director General of the Agency, Muhammad Sani Sidi has directed them to carry out the assessment for immediate deployment of necessary support for the returnees to start  rebuilding their lives.

The assessment team met with a returnee, Mr Bitrus Yohana and his family of ten, who came back after several months of displacement. Mr. Yohanna appreciated the Federal Government and the military for the restoration of security in the area. He as well as other formerly displaced persons now back and trading in Mubi Market, called on other displaced persons still taking refuge elsewhere to return home.

The team has visited Hong, Maiha, Uba, Mubi and Gombi local government areas.

The Minister and NEMA officials also visited Mubi market where business activities have picked up and other places that included the Adamawa State University and State General Hospital.

It would be called that Mubi was at one time renamed by  Boko Haram.

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Sani Datti
Snr. Information Officer

PR Nigeria
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