Nigerians Will Become Lazy Under Buhari Administration BY Avwenagha Edesiri

Opinion: Nigerians Will Become Lazy Under Buhari Administration

I woke up on Easter Sunday morning thinking of what to do considering that the Easter Vigil Mass I had attended on Saturday night was very rich in its mysteries that it never ended until around 11pm, this was a celebration that began around 7pm. Anyway, the Lord has risen, for those who believe in the Christianity religion; Happy Easter.
Why pondering on what to do, as usual, I went online to my favourite forum group (Talkafrica) and was engaging other humans on some of the issues and events that had taken place in the country in the past 10 days. One of such key incidence is the emergence of APC presidential election candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, as the president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While so many people have been sending congratulatory messages to him, it may seem that the historical act portrayed by incumbent president Jonathan may have overshadowed his losing out.
All of a sudden, everywhere is calm, particularly in the south; though I like to ignore the fact that ex-militants may be in to perpetuating evil again having declared that they may return to the creek. We have also heard of possible terrorists action in parts of the north, all these seem to me that they may just been enjoying the few days of action in this present administration because things are definitely going to change in the next administration. This brings me to the topic of this article: the effect of the Buhari administration on Nigerians.
There are loads of information on how Buhari administration will affect Nigerians as a whole, but I will like to look at the effect of all these good life that Nigerians are looking forward to. Just a day after he was declared president-elect, the exchange rate that rose to as high as N230 to $1 fell to N210, the stock market also began to appreciate as well with investors having confidence to put money in the Nigeria Stock Exchange. So many Nigerians are also expectant that the price of fuel will drop to as low as N30 per litre with the price of commodity dropping as well.
But, all these sudden change in the positive well being of Nigerians and general outlook of the country should call for concern. If fuel drops to as low as N30 per litre, it means even the common man can afford 10 litres of fuel for just N300. It means Nigerians will be empowered to put on their generating sets without feeling the economic crunch on their bargaining powers. It also means that the average man that enjoy the once exclusive domains of the well-to-do. Nobody should get me wrong: I am not against rapid development and changes of the living conditions of Nigerians, but I am concerned if Nigerians can really brace up to embrace them.
I foresee a situation where there will be abuse of economic resources at the disposal of the ordinary common man. There is a saying: give a man who has been hungry and see him eat himself to excess and get drunk. Nigerians have always been known to survive even in the most terrible conditions, but how can the lot embrace what they have not been opportune to in their lives?
Imagine the naira rising strong against the dollar to N100 or even N50 as few people have speculated, it mean more purchasing power for the ordinary Nigerians; it equally means that what people cannot easily afford in the past can now be bought. It means the price of goods and services may fall down tremendously. Let us take for instance the price of any gadget being sold for $200, it means one can easily place an order for it online by either paying N10,000 or N20,000 depending on whether it the naira strengthens to either N50 or N100 to the dollar.
Most Nigerians have never experienced this kind of life and it must surely lead to abuse of resources. Then Nigerians may become associated with sicknesses commonly found in western world: boredom, obesity, diabetes, etc.
With the change in fortune of Nigerians, one wonders whether the culture of savings will persist or it will be just about spending and spending.
With Nigerians being able to easily afford any goods, the rate of those purchasing cars will rise up: this will also lead to increase in the rate of traffic on most commercial cities in the country. With the rise in traffic comes the need to expand roads throughout the country.
Another dimension to Buhari administration is that with the increase in living condition of the average person, the rate of Nigeria being identified as a religious nation will dwindle. Look around you, especially those in the southern Nigeria, most of the churches operating today will be closed down. This administration will also enable everyone to know and decipher the real Christians.
By and large, it is good to celebrate and rejoice in the coming of Buhari into the helm of affairs in Nigeria, but let us remind ourselves that the more development stride Nigeria records as nation, the more we alienate the Africanness in us towards a self-individualistic western way of life. Democracy, as a system of government, is alien to Africa and the more we yearn for the true dividend of democracy the more out thinking mentality change.
Finally, which ever side you are on, always remember: we will be faced with fresh sets of worries and anxieties and issues pertaining to poverty, when discussed in few years time, may just be alien to us; Nigerians, as we all know, never remember history and are nonchalant in historical realities of the past.
Avwenagha Edesiri is a Philosopher, Psychologist, and a political consultant to every major political party in Nigeria.
He blogs for newsbeatportal.com
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Ogboru steps down for APC

The governorship candidate of Labour Party in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, on Monday APril 6, 2015 announced his decision to formerly step down and throw his weight behind the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, ahead of the April 11 gubernatorial election.

Ogboru equally urged all his loyal and faithful supporters to rally round Emerhor en masse and ensure that he emerges as the number one citizen of Delta State.

We brought you a report earlier last week of the purported arrangement that was brokered by high ranking members of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU). Key component of the arrangement was that whoever wins the presidency will determine who leads the interest of the Urhobo nation in the election.

Emerhor was to step down for Ogboru should Jonathan wins while Ogboru was to step down for Emerhor should Buhari be victorious. With the APC winning the presidential election, the initiative fell on Ogboru to act upon.

However the move finally paid off at about 3:45pm on Monday as Ogboru announced his decision to step down for Olorogun O'tega in the spirit of Easter.
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EFCC Docks Woman for Contract Scam

A suspected female fraudster, Maimuna Mudi was today arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice R.A Sadiq of Kano State High Court, Kano on one count charge that borders on obtaining money by false pretence.

The accused in 2010 allegedly tricked one Muhammed Hammoud into paying the sum of N1,590,500 ( one million five hundred ninety thousand five hundred Naira) into one of her accounts with a new generation banks on the pretext that she had secured a contract to supply 3000 units of motorcycles to kebbi State Police Command.

After paying the money, Hammoud learned that she had also entered into the same croioked deal with a company known as DE-MARK Nigeria Limited. He consequently demanded for a refund of his money which remained unpaid.

The charge reads: "That you Maimuna Mudi on or about the 1st day of April, 2010 in Kano within the judicial Division of the High Court of Kano dishonestly made Muhammed Hammound to part with the sum of N1,590,500 ( one million five hundred and ninety thousand, five hundred naira) by deceiving him into believing that you had been given a contract for the supply of 3000 motorcycles to the Nigeria Police Force, Kebbi State Command which you knew to false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code".

She pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The case was adjourned to March 19, 2015 for consideration of her bail application, and April 14, 2015 for commencement of trial.

Wilson Uwujaren
Media & Publicity
16th March, 2015
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My Husband And His PDP-Led Government Are Corrupt - Patience Jonathan

The wife of incumbent President, Patience Jonathan, on monday admitted that the PDP-led federal government is desperate to remain in power for another four years in order to avoid an onslaught from Buhari should he win the March 28 presidential elections.

There has been talk of prominent Nigerians going on self exile should General Buhari become the number one citizen of the country due to his intolerance for corrupt practices. But, with the declaration of Patience Jonathan on Monday, it is becoming glaring that those opposed the presidency of Buhari are very much working round the clock against him being elected.

Patience Jonathan said, "If you vote APC, you will go to prison. How can you jail somebody for 300 years? If you vote PDP and Jonathan, it would be better for you."

While admitting that the Jonathan-led government was corrupt, she equally expressed fears over the possibility of President Jonathan being sent to jail; she added, "I'm not ready to carry food to my husband inside prison oh!"

She took a swipe at the opposition APC and questioned their integrity; she noted, "Since my father was born, they have been around changing from one name to another. Very soon they would answer Ebola. The name can't change you; it is only performance that can change you. If you like change it 100 times."

"What did they forget in Aso rock? If you drink APC, you will die. Nigerian women shine your eyes, don't go for analogue, go for digital. PDP is digital, APC is analogue."


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INEC in For More Trouble, As Electorates Vow To Disrupt Polls In The Wards

Having survived the verbal onslaught from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party with regard to last weekend's Mock test of Smart Card Reader Machines, the Independent National Electoral Commission appears to be in for more trouble.

Several electorates have threatened to disrupt polls in the wards should they fail to collect their permanent voters cards and as such be disenfranchised from the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria.

It beats one's imagination that those threatening fire and brimstone are holding INEC officials responsible for their inability to collect their PVCs, this is despite the fact that the commission bowed down to pressures from above to shift elections in the country by six-weeks.

Investigations by Saturday Independent in some local governments in the southern part of Kaduna State showed that most registered voters have, despite several attempts to get their PVCs could not.

A registered voter in Sanga Local Government Area of the state, Joe Janda, in a telephone interview, said: "I have, since the commencement of the PVC collection, went to the venue over 10 times with my temporary voter card (TVC) so that I can get my PVC, but till now I have not gotten it.

"I have two wives and children who are eligible to vote, but it is only one of my daughters that has been able to get her PVC. Those in charge keep telling us that we should come tomorrow, but till now, we have not gotten our cards."

When asked whether he and his wives are the only ones affected, Janda said: "It is not peculiar to me. Many people in our village and other neighbouring villages have not gotten their PVCs too."

In Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the INEC spokesman, Ayodele Folami, said that as at Thursday, the commission had distributed 1,646,109 PVCS out of the available 2,381,102 PVCS (amounting to 69.13 per cent) leaving a balance of 734,993 PVCS to be collected.

The Assistant National Secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Bayo Olateju, told our reporter that it would be foolhardy to expect 100 per cent collection of PVCS before the elections in view of the non-static nature of human beings.

He said: "From my personal experience, two of my children, who registered during the last registration exercise, are no more in the country. So their cards are likely to be among those cards yet to be collected."

The spokesman of INEC in Abia State, Edwin Enabor, said that over 84 per cent of the registered voters in the state have collected their PVCs and the commission was excited about the development.

According to him, the electoral umpire in the state was now more than ready to conduct the elections, adding that with all the preparations, the execrcise would be very free and very fair, such that it would exceed the expectations of many skeptics.

In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, those who spoke with our correspondent said that they had visited the PVCs distribution centres without getting their cards, a clear indication that they would not participate in the forthcoming elections.

An artisan, Johnson Briggs, said: "This is very annoying. INEC keeps telling Nigerians that they are ready for the elections but many people are yet to collect their cards. What are they going to use to vote?

"This election is very important for everybody and I will not be happy if I don't vote just because I don't have a PVC. I think that Prof. Attahiru Jega should allow the use of the temporary voter cards (TVCs) so that those who could not get their PVCs could participate in the elections."

When contacted on phone, the Public Relations Officer of INEC in the state, Tonia Nwobi, said that even after the elections "people will still complain. Such complaints are expected.

"Please help us tell them that PVCs are distributed at wards. They should go there and sort out their cards."

In Owerri, a tricycle operator from Oru East Local Government Area, Onyedinma Obiwuru, warned that unless the PVCs are evenly distributed before the dates for the election, the whole thing would amount to an exercise in futility.

"Everybody is interested in the election but the problem is that till now, some areas have not received the PVCs, which is the only instrument for one to cast his vote. I had expected that by now, all arrangements would have been concluded so that some people will not be disenfranchised."

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Opinion: What Was President Jonathan Thinking? By Sabella Ogbobode Abidde

From the moment President Goodluck Jonathan knew and or decided he was going to contest the 2015 Presidential Election, he should not have picked a fight with Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and a few other persons and powerhouses. Thinking about it now, I am sure that he regrets it. More than anybody else, Governor Amaechi pulled the roof on the President's head and in the process preempted the president's planned victory parade. But really, what was the president and his wife thinking when they picked on a man whose support they needed? Hubris, maybe?

Second, what impelled or compelled the president to enter the race this time around? You look and or listen to him and you get the feeling that he is exhausted, frustrated, uninterested and angry. He was a deputy governor, a governor, a vice president and then acting president before becoming the president in his own right. That should have been enough for him. Or for anyone else in his position. Really, it should have been. After all, 1999-2015 is a long time to shoulder the weight of a people. Damn, what was he thinking? Insatiable greed, perhaps?

Even so, if President Jonathan had done what he was supposed to do, he wouldn't be in the shape and corner he is right now – gasping for oxygen and for electoral survival. But look at him now, he is everywhere begging, begging and begging and in the process have become the nation's laughing stock. He was in Jerusalem. He was in Oyedepo's Winners' Chapel. He was in Adeboye's Redeemed Church. He was in Lazarus' Charismatic Church. He has also consorted with TB Joshua. He has been in so many Churches and other places of religious and spiritual significance many of us have lost count.

In his desperation, he is bowing and kneeling before everybody and everything! And then he shows up at the Ooni palace (in Ile Ife) looking subdued and as if in a trance. What is he looking for? Power? Power at all cost; power no matter what it takes? Some voices in the social media have begun linking him with the Ogboni society. This is sad, so very sad and pitiful!

In the last couple of years, we've seen many sickening and un-presidential pictures. What are we going to see next? Are we going to see pictures of initiations? A president pledging his kidney, pledging his liver, pledging his soul -- just so he could remain in office beyond 2015? There is a limit – there has to be a limit to what a man can and should do in search of power. Does he have loved one? He should be called to order.

One of the saddest and most unfortunate things about President Jonathan is that he doesn't hold anyone or institution responsible for willful transgressions. Clearly, he seems incapable of penalizing anybody. His aides, it seems, have come to realize this fact and so they commit offenses knowing they can and will get away with it.

Take the most recent embarrassing situation for instance: someone or a group of people at the foreign affairs ministry or so made him look small, very small before the Moroccans and the international community. Yet, the President has only promised to "look into it." Oh no! When you embarrass your president (at this level), heads must roll. At the very least, get the foreign affairs minister to cane and can the offenders. There should be accountability: people should be held accountable for their actions and inactions (especially when such egregiousness diminishes the prestige and reputation of the President and or his office).

If you have a basic understanding of politics, one of the things you never want to do is surround yourself with mediocre minds and mediocre intellects. But more than that, you never want to surround yourself with people who are (a) afraid to tell you the truth: (b) afraid to disagree with you; and (c) afraid to walk away if and when their advices are constantly discounted.

But on the other hand, we don't always give our best effort or best advice simply because we don't want to be jobless; don't want to give up the perks and trappings of the office; or because we came into office insincere about our intentions. In essence, we are there, not for the good of the collective or the nation, but for the good of ourselves. This Jonathan should have known.

A leader may be a danger unto himself if he cannot sift the grains from the sands; if he cannot tell the difference between praise-singers and honest critics. He does himself no good if he allows superficial noises to cloud his mind and his sense of self and understanding of people and ideas. This is a problem that's peculiar to many Africa rulers. In Jonathan, it is prominent.

And he rarely acts like a leader. When the presidential election (slated for February 14, 2015) was postponed, he didn't think it necessary to address the nation, to explain why the election had to be postponed. But instead, he kept shifting blame and responsibility to others even though he is the nation's chief executive officer. In essence, he failed to provide leadership. He was silent for a number of days – forgetting that he is the leader of our republic.

There is something comforting about showing leadership, direction, taking responsibility and allaying the people's fear and doubt. In times of moral, political, economic or social crisis, leaders step up to the podium. They take charge. They lead. This singular act engenders and promotes trust and confidence and respect. Jonathan didn't seem to know or understand this singularity. Or, maybe he just didn't care!

One of the many tragedies of the Goodluck Jonathan narrative is that too many of his friends and advisers are/were not sincere. They lied to him. They betrayed him. They used him.
And now, like a broke piece of tumbler, they are about to toss him away. He is being betrayed left, right and center. Another tragedy is this: the vast majority of those who drank from his cup and ate from his palm, shied away from defending him. They shied away from going to bat for him. And many of those who defend him do so because of inducements -- and not because of love, respect or loyalty.

History has shown that electoral outcomes can be unpredictable. Very unpredictable! Two weeks is a long time when it comes to elections. And that's long enough for Jonathan to close the gap and come up with a Hail Mary. But I doubt it. Experts at reading tea leaves tell me that the majority of voters will vote for Change – as opposed to Continuity. I am happy with that.

Sabella Abidde lives in Alabama and can be reached at: Sabidde@ yahoo.com
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I rejected Jonathan’s VP offer – Tinubu

With the March 28 presidential election in Nigeria fast approaching, and the fact that the Nigerian Military has almost cleared out the threats of Boko Haram from hindering the conduct of elections, the political face-off between the APC and the PDP was always going to continue.

With both parties trading blames in recent weeks and some avoiding the actions, the Chieftain of the APC was always going to be involved in one way or another.

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu joined the action last night after claiming that the incumbent president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, tried to woo him to become the number two citizen in a new Interim government.

Tinubu, as reported by The Punch, equally claimed that the "recent attacks on his person were because he rejected the offer by President Goodluck Jonathan to serve as the Vice President in an Interim National Government."

According to a statement from his media office on Thursday, Tinubu also alleged that Jonathan "was looking for ways to take him out either by killing him or getting him arrested based on trumped up charges."

"From what can be gathered through informed sources, the PDP and Jonathan Presidency had recently tried to fracture the APC by offering Tinubu the position of vice President in an interim government if he would agree to part company with the popular Buhari.

"Once Tinubu rebuffed the offer to participate in the interim scheme, the presidency decided to change tactics. It would no longer try to entice Tinubu with sugar but would now move to silence and if necessary neutralise him.

"The APC National leader has caused President Jonathan's team countless headaches this campaign season, his declining the interim government offer is just the latest."

The recent hate documentaries televised against him were all part of the desperate attempt by Jonathan to discredit him, the statement said.


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EFCC Docks Two for N58m Fraud, As Court Fixes May 26 For Trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 9, 2015, arraigned two persons in a Federal High Court for their involvement in a N58 Million fraud.

Justice B.M. Agishir of the Court sitting in Enugu State presided over the case pertaining to Adaobi Ofoma Chuke and Chief Jame Ofoma.

They were both arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining properties by false pretence to the tune of N58million.

One of the charges, according the Media and Publicity of the EFCC, read: "That you Adaobi A. Ofoma Chuke and Chief James Ofoma sometime in March, 2010 at Enugu within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did conspire with each other to commit felony to wit: Obtaining Properties by False Pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act."

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them.

Following application for bail by the defence counsel, E.N. Onyibor, the first accused, Ofoma Chuke, was granted bail on self-recognition in the sum of N1million; the second accused person was granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 with one surety who must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 12 or a businessman.

The matter was adjourned to May 26, 2015 for trial.
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Finally! General Buhari Admits He Went To The UK On A Medical Trip

Former military Head of State and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, February 26, 2015 confirmed that his trip to the UK – which has created considerable controversy – was for medical reasons.

He made the revelation while answering questions during a speaking session at the Chatham House.

Answering a question sent in from a Twitter user who asked him if at 72 he did not feel he was too old to rule, General Buhari replied: "My doctors assure me that I am fit and I am ready to return to Nigeria to continue the onslaught against the PDP."

His assertion negates earlier claims from the APC camp that the retired general was fit as a fiddle, with reports of General Buhari's ill-health fuelled by misleading pictures which were distributed by the spokesman of his campaign organisation, Garba Shehu, who sent the pictures with the aim of fooling Nigerians into thinking General Buhari had conducted an interview in the UK, when in fact the interview was held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

It is widely believed that the former military dictator who is running for president for the fourth time, is ailing, and unconfirmed reports say he is suffering from prostrate cancer

General Buhari's statement at Chatham House has proven that he indeed had gone to the UK to meet with his doctors over his questionable state of health.


THE TRENT
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INEC Urged To Shift Borno State Poll To September, 2015

Twenty-three of the 28 political parties in Borno State on Thursday asked that elections should be postponed in the state till September this year.

They also suggested that an interim government should be put in place to run the affairs of the state on the expiration of the tenure of the present administration on May 29, 2015.

Addressing a press conference under the name, Inter Party Advisory Council, Borno State chapter, in Maiduguri, it's chairman, Comrade Babagana Musa, showed the signatures of 23 party chairmen, some who were at the conference.

He said the decision was taken by all other political parties except five — All Progressives Congress, Kowa Party, All Progressive Grand Alliance, Peoples Democratic Party and Africa Alliance.

He claimed that the decision taken after a careful consideration of the situation in Borno State, which he said showed that election could not be held in the troubled state.

Musa pointed to the non-distribution of the Permanent Voter Card in 175 polling units in the state, which represents approximately 500,000 yet to get their PVCs, as one of the reasons the polls should be shifted in the state.

Another reason, he added, was the alleged personal insecurity of opposition party official in the state; vandalisation of opposition party facilities and the indecent activities of the youth vigilance group.

Musa alleged that the thugs, who he claimed were sponsored by the state government, had been on the prowl against opposition politicians and the need to resettle the Internally Displaced Persons back to their homes.

He said, "Because of the foregoing reasons and others not mention here, we are calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission, being the electoral umpire, to extend the conduct of the 2015 general elections for six months i.e from March 28 to September 26, 2015.


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Press Statement: Court Rejects Document In Support Of Fani-Kayode Money Laundering Case

Justice Rita Ofili- Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has refused to admit as exhibit, a property document tendered by Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, who is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, a defence witness, Mr. Kola Olapoju, the administrator of a property belonging to late Remi Fani-Kayode, father of the defendant, tendered a document, accompanied with receipts of payments made by tenants in the property.

According to the witness, the money allegedly paid into Fani-Kayode's account with Inland Bank, was not from the Ministry of Aviation but the proceeds of rent paid by tenants occupying his late father's house.

EFCC's counsel, Festus Keyamo, objected to the tendering of the document in court, arguing that, both the document and the receipts of payments allegedly made by tenants in the house, were not duly stamped.

Justice Ajumogobia subsequently refused to admit the document as exhibit.

  Meanwhile, the court has ordered the EFCC to produce the international passport of the defendant in court, within seven days. "The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission shall bring the passport of the accused person to court within 7 days," the judge said.

Justice Ajumogobia also ruled that, "And the accused should apply to the court, through the Federal Attorney General of the Federation, and state  the date he is planning to travel, which country he is going and date of returning to the country"

She stressed  that, Fani-Kayode shall not be allowed to stay out of the country for more than 31 days until the conclusion of his criminal trial

The court order followed a motion moved by counsel to Fani- Kayode, I. A. Adedipe (SAN) praying the court to order the  EFCC to release the defendant's international passport , to enable him travel abroad for a national  assignment.

Fani-Kayode was arraigned on an amended 40-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of about N100, 219,500 (One Hundred Million, Two Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, and Five Hundred Naira only), while serving as a Minister of Aviation. 

He was specifically accused of conducting financial transactions exceeding N500,000( Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) which was not done through a financial institution, by accepting cash payments of various sums which was further carried in cash to former Inland Bank, now First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB)) through some of his associates.

It will be recalled that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia on November 17, 2014, while delivering ruling on a no-case submission filed by the former minister, discharged and acquitted him of 38 out of the 40 count charges preferred against him by EFCC.

She, however, ordered him to enter his defence with respect to counts 25 and 26 of the charge containing allegations of money laundering.

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Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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IGP Suleiman Abba Inaugurates Board Of Directors Of Police Health Maintenance Limited

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba CFR, NPOM, NPM, mni, on Wednesday, 25th February, 2015 inaugurated the Board of Directors of Police Health Maintenance Limited.

The board, originally incorporated on the 24th April, 2007 under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as a Health Management Organisation (HMO), is aimed at ensuring that good quality care is provided by Health-care Service Providers to officers and men of the Nigeria Police among others.

In a statement made available by the Force Public Relations Officer, Ag. CP Emmanuel OJUKWU, psc, IGP Suleiman charged members of the board to exhibit sound corporate governance in their affairs.

IGP Suleiman is the Chairman of the Board of Directors, other members of the Board are: DIG Hilary Opara (Vice Chairman), AIG Grace Okudo, CP Murtala Mani, DCP Muazu Abdullahi, DCP Esther Dimka, CSP Isyaku Mohammed, ASP Suleiman Idris Aliyu(Legal Adviser/Company Secretary) and Dr. Eneh Donald.

In a related development, IGP Suleiman used the avenue of the inauguration to restate his commitment towards improving the welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.

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Newsbeat Portal, Abuja.
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[Must Read] Buhari’s Speech at Chatham House – Nigeria’s Transition

Permit me to start by thanking Chatham House for the invitation to talk about this important topic at this crucial time. When speaking about Nigeria overseas, I normally prefer to be my country's public relations and marketing officer, extolling her virtues and hoping to attract investments and tourists. But as we all know, Nigeria is now battling with many challenges, and if I refer to them, I do so only to impress on our friends in the United Kingdom that we are quite aware of our shortcomings and are doing our best to address them.

The 2015 general election in Nigeria is generating a lot of interests within and outside the country. This is understandable. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and largest economy, is at a defining moment, a moment that has great implications beyond the democratic project and beyond the borders of my dear country.

So let me say upfront that the global interest in Nigeria's landmark election is not misplaced at all and indeed should be commended; for this is an election that has serious import for the world. I urge the international community to continue to focus on Nigeria at this very critical moment. Given increasing global linkages, it is in our collective interests that the postponed elections should hold on the rescheduled dates; that they should be free and fair; that their outcomes should be respected by all parties; and that any form of extension, under whichever guise, is unconstitutional and will not be tolerated.

As you all know, I had been a military head of state in Nigeria for twenty months. We intervened because we were unhappy with the state of affairs in our country. We wanted to arrest the drift. Driven by patriotism, influenced by the prevalence and popularity of such drastic measures all over Africa and elsewhere, we fought our way to power. But the global triumph of democracy has shown that another and a preferable path to change is possible. It is an important lesson I have carried with me since, and a lesson that is not lost on the African continent.

In the last two decades, democracy has grown strong roots in Africa. Elections, once so rare, are now so commonplace. As at the time I was a military head of state between 1983 and 1985, only four African countries held regular multi-party elections. But the number of electoral democracies in Africa, according to Freedom House, jumped to 10 in 1992/1993 then to 18 in 1994/1995 and to 24 in 2005/2006. According to the New York Times, 42 of the 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa conducted multi-party elections between 1990 and 2002.

The newspaper also reported that between 2000 and 2002, ruling parties in four African countries (Senegal, Mauritius, Ghana and Mali) peacefully handed over power to victorious opposition parties. In addition, the proportion of African countries categorized as not free by Freedom House declined from 59% in 1983 to 35% in 2003. Without doubt, Africa has been part of the current global wave of democratisation.

But the growth of democracy on the continent has been uneven. According to Freedom House, the number of electoral democracies in Africa slipped from 24 in 2007/2008 to 19 in 2011/2012; while the percentage of countries categorised as 'not free' assuming for the sake of argument that we accept their definition of "free" increased from 35% in 2003 to 41% in 2013. Also, there have been some reversals at different times in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cote D'Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania and Togo. We can choose to look at the glass of democracy in Africa as either half full or half empty.

While you can't have representative democracy without elections, it is equally important to look at the quality of the elections and to remember that mere elections do not democracy make. It is globally agreed that democracy is not an event, but a journey. And that the destination of that journey is democratic consolidation – that state where democracy has become so rooted and so routine and widely accepted by all actors.

With this important destination in mind, it is clear that though many African countries now hold regular elections, very few of them have consolidated the practice of democracy. It is important to also state at this point that just as with elections, a consolidated democracy cannot be an end by itself. I will argue that it is not enough to hold a series of elections or even to peacefully alternate power among parties.

Now, let me quickly turn to Nigeria. As you all know, Nigeria's fourth republic is in its 16th year and this general election will be the fifth in a row. This is a major sign of progress for us, given that our first republic lasted five years and three months, the second republic ended after four years and two months and the third republic was a still-birth. However, longevity is not the only reason why everyone is so interested in this election.

The major difference this time around is that for the very first time since transition to civil rule in 1999, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing its stiffest opposition so far from our party the All Progressives Congress (APC). We once had about 50 political parties, but with no real competition. Now Nigeria is transitioning from a dominant party system to a competitive electoral polity, which is a major marker on the road to democratic consolidation. As you know, peaceful alternation of power through competitive elections have happened in Ghana, Senegal, Malawi and Mauritius in recent times. The prospects of democratic consolidation in Africa will be further brightened when that eventually happens in Nigeria.

But there are other reasons why Nigerians and the whole world are intensely focussed on this year's elections, chief of which is that the elections are holding in the shadow of huge security, economic and social uncertainties in Africa's most populous country and largest economy. On insecurity, there is a genuine cause for worry, both within and outside Nigeria. Apart from the civil war era, at no other time in our history has Nigeria been this insecure.

Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory the size of Belgium. What has been consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle against insurgency. I, as a retired general and a former head of state, have always known about our soldiers: they are capable, well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty in the service of our country.

You all can bear witness to the gallant role of our military in Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur and in many other peacekeeping operations in several parts of the world. But in the matter of this insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem. The government has also failed in any effort towards a multi-dimensional response to this problem leading to a situation in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours to come to our rescue.

Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service, we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunitions to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to choke Boko Haram's financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas. We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester, and I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.

On the economy, the fall in prices of oil has brought our economic and social stress into full relief. After the rebasing exercise in April 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa as Africa's largest economy. Our GDP is now valued at $510 billion and our economy rated 26th in the world. Also on the bright side, inflation has been kept at single digit for a while and our economy has grown at an average of 7% for about a decade.

But it is more of paper growth, a growth that, on account of mismanagement, profligacy and corruption, has not translated to human development or shared prosperity. A development economist once said three questions should be asked about a country's development: one, what is happening to poverty? Two, what is happening to unemployment? And three, what is happening to inequality?

The answers to these questions in Nigeria show that the current administration has created two economies in one country, a sorry tale of two nations: one economy for a few who have so much in their tiny island of prosperity; and the other economy for the many who have so little in their vast ocean of misery.

In the face of dwindling revenues, a good place to start the repositioning of Nigeria's economy is to swiftly tackle two ills that have ballooned under the present administration: waste and corruption. And in doing this, I will, if elected, lead the way, with the force of personal example.

On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand. Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be appointed into my administration. First and foremost, we will plug the holes in the budgetary process. Revenue producing entities such as NNPC and Customs and Excise will have one set of books only. Their revenues will be publicly disclosed and regularly audited. The institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference.

But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt. I'm running for President to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity.

In reforming the economy, we will use savings that arise from blocking these leakages and the proceeds recovered from corruption to fund our party's social investments programmes in education, health, and safety nets such as free school meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed youth and pensions for the elderly.

As a progressive party, we must reform our political economy to unleash the pent-up ingenuity and productivity of the Nigerian people thus freeing them from the curse of poverty. We will run a private sector-led economy but maintain an active role for government through strong regulatory oversight and deliberate interventions and incentives to diversify the base of our economy, strengthen productive sectors, improve the productive capacities of our people and create jobs for our teeming youths.

In short, we will run a functional economy driven by a worldview that sees growth not as an end by itself, but as a tool to create a society that works for all, rich and poor alike. On March 28, Nigeria has a decision to make. To vote for the continuity of failure or to elect progressive change. I believe the people will choose wisely.

In sum, I think that given its strategic importance, Nigeria can trigger a wave of democratic consolidation in Africa. But as a starting point we need to get this critical election right by ensuring that they go ahead, and depriving those who want to scuttle it the benefit of derailing our fledgling democracy. That way, we will all see democracy and democratic consolidation as tools for solving pressing problems in a sustainable way, not as ends in themselves.

Permit me to close this discussion on a personal note. I have heard and read references to me as a former dictator in many respected British newspapers including the well regarded Economist. Let me say without sounding defensive that dictatorship goes with military rule, though some might be less dictatorial than others. I take responsibility for whatever happened under my watch.

I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. So before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time.

You may ask: why is he doing this? This is a question I ask myself all the time too. And here is my humble answer: because the work of making Nigeria great is not yet done, because I still believe that change is possible, this time through the ballot, and most importantly, because I still have the capacity and the passion to dream and work for a Nigeria that will be respected again in the comity of nations and that all Nigerians will be proud of.

I thank you for listening.

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The above was given by General Muhammadu Buhari on the 26th of February, 2015
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Attorney General Adoke Withdraws Anti-PVC Affidavits, Claims They Were Filed Without His Knowledge

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has claimed ignorance of his own affidavit to scuttle the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in Nigeria's elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a press statement on Wednesday in response to the SaharaReporters' story, Mr. Adoke stated that the two affidavits which were filed by his own staff in the Ministry of Justice without his permission, but that he was accepting responsibility for the incident.
In the story, which we published yesterday, we reported that in one of two affidavits aimed at positioning President Goodluck Jonathan to win next month's election, Mr. Adoke argued that if the election was conducted using the cards, the "constitutional right of the many eligible voters would be taken away from them," and that the election "is likely to be unsuccessful if rigid use of the Permanent Voters' Card is carried out."
We also reported that in a second affidavit, Mr. Adoke also argued that "the use of card readers and/or any other machine at the general elections must encourage eligible voters to vote without being deprived in any way."
On Wednesday, Mr. Adoke denied knowledge of the affidavits.
"While, the deponent, (Lawrence Illop) and Messrs Taiwo Abidogun and N.S. Odusola who signed the Written Address in Support of the Counter Affidavit are staff of the Federal Ministry of Justice, I wish to state that the Officers did not avail me the opportunity of perusing or vetting the Affidavit and Written Address before they were filed," he claimed.
He stated that in the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Attorney General is normally availed copies of all court processes prepared in reply to suits against the Office and his opinion first obtained especially in sensitive suits such as the one in question before such processes are filed, but not in the current case.
He further stated that although the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission are co-defendants in the suit [No. FHC/ABJ/06/15] instituted by the Society For Advancement & Protection of Public Rights seeking the interpretation of sections 77 (2) and 112 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as well as section 9(5) of the Electoral Act, "I wish to categorically state that I was not aware of the contents of the Counter Affidavit deposed to by Lawrence Illop and did not authorize it."
Blaming the officers responsible for not adhering to procedure, Mr. Adoke said he had directed the processes to be withdrawn to enable an appropriate response to be filed to the originating summons.
He announced that a query is to be issued to the officers concerned.

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Sahara Reporters, New York.
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Femi Aribisala: Postponement Of Elections By Six Weeks Is The Final Nail In The Coffin Of APC

I have news for APC stalwarts. You don't win an election in Nigeria by being the champion of social media. You don't win by renting crowds to fill up your rallies. You don't win by putting up your billboards everywhere while tearing down those of your opponents. You don't win by master-minding in the media a false sense of the inevitability of your victory. When you do all this successfully, you simply end up deceiving yourself.

You win elections by mounting an effective ground-game at the grassroots level; designed to bring out the people on Election Day to vote for you. Instead, APC strategy was to stampede the electorate into victory. The design was to proclaim victory even before the election, laying grounds for protests and acrimony in event of defeat.

Attempted coup d'état

The APC blueprint is see-through. Present a new refurbished, suit-wearing and church-visiting Buhari to the electorate chanting a mantra of "change." Give him a Teflon-coated Redeemed pastor as vice-presidential running-mate. Shield him from public scrutiny and debates to hide his weaknesses and absent-mindedness. Gloss over his objectionable past and pedigree. Mount an aggressive image-laundering social media campaign.

So doing, before the PDP and the public would be up to your game, the election would be over. Nigerians would wake up on February 15th to discover to our cost that we had been hoodwinked into handing over power to Buhari and the Tinubu cabal.

The APC mechanism for perfecting this plan entailed bullying the PDP into defeat. In the North, PDP supporters were threatened and harassed. Some quickly packed their bag and baggage and left town. Even Goodluck Jonathan's convoy was stoned by APC "democrats." In Gombe, a suicide bomber paid a courtesy call on the president's campaign rally.

But the killer-punch was to be the disenfranchisement of literally millions of PDP voters. With the complicity of Jega's INEC, APC strongholds were supplied with PVCs: while PDP strongholds were denied them. Ghost-voters came out of the woodwork by their hundreds of thousands in unlikely places like the war-torn North-east to collect their PVCs. However, in peaceful higher-population places like Lagos and Kano, non-indigenes were denied their PVCs, suspected of being likely PDP supporters.

It is telling that, in all the ensuing brouhaha over 23 million people not yet receiving their PVCs seven days to D-Day, APC remained resolute that the election should go ahead nevertheless. This indicates that it knew the missing PVCs belonged disproportionately to PDP supporters.

The denouement

However, the entire strategy of the APC met its Waterloo with the postponement of the election. With the postponement, the Buhari election-train came to a screeching halt. Some have argued that the postponement was a military coup by Jonathan and the PDP. However, a more truthful assessment is that the postponement scuttled the APC plan to win the election by subterfuge.

APC blundered because it refused to entertain the possibility that the election could actually be postponed. As a result, it did not plan for that eventuality. In this gaffe, it was carried away by its own hyperbole. APC big-guns shouted themselves hoarse warning all and sundry that the election must not be postponed, or else. Worse still, they believed their own rhetoric.

APC is used to making threatening noises. It is all stuff and bluster. If it loses, the dogs and the baboons would be soaked in blood. If it loses it would form a parallel government. If the election is postponed, Nigerians would not stand for it. Therefore, it expended all its political and financial capital on a 14th February election. When it finally dawned on it that the election might be postponed, Buhari made an unusual visit to the Council of State to mount a pathetic eleventh-hour resistance.

But alas, the APC was completely outplayed. INEC succumbed to the inevitable and the election was postponed, and for six weeks no less. As a result, the APC stampede came to an end. The orchestrated Buhari momentum came to a screeching halt. Since then, APC pundits have been in shock; scratching their heads because, in all their impetuosity, they had no Plan B.

The APC was banking on the element of surprise. That is now gone with the postponement. It was hoping to win the election by disenfranchising PDP voters. That is no longer possible. It is now confronted with fighting an election it always knew it cannot win because it does not have the appropriate structure on the ground at the grassroots level.

PDP fight back

Sixteen years in power had made the PDP over-confident. It seemed to have been caught unawares by the scripted APC nomination of Buhari and the gimmickry of choosing a Redeemed pastor as his running-mate. As a result, an election that should have been a cake-walk for it suddenly turned into a tight race. Part of this was self-inflicted. PDP had a bad set of primaries; creating considerable dissension within its ranks. Moreover, the PDP was bested in the public relations department; allowing the APC to define the narrative of the election on social media.

Had the election gone on as scheduled on 14th February, it would have been close but Jonathan would still have won. But with six weeks delay, the election will not even be close. Even though it was ebbing discernibly, APC had momentum for the 14th February election. By 28th March, that momentum would have dissipated and disappeared. Even now, the momentum is no longer there. Buhari is in London on a dubious visit. APC has run out of breath.

Make no mistake about it; the six week postponement of the election has effectively crippled the APC. It is no wonder then that the party has been grumbling non-stop. In the meantime, PDP has been able to get a full measure of the APC. Putting all its eggs in the 14th February date, which it insisted cannot and must not be changed; the APC played all its cards. It put all its eggs in one basket. However, PDP held some in reserve, banking on the postponement of the election.

APC's confusion

What happens now? APC is confused. It is stretched for funds. It has lost its mojo, scrambling in panic mode to raise additional 50 billion naira from donors. Speaking to APC stakeholders at the party secretariat in Lagos, Bola Tinubu said: "We have to re-strategise; all of you should go back to your various constituencies starting from tomorrow." This is a belated acknowledgment that the party now likely to win the election is the one best able to mount an aggressive and effective nationwide grassroots campaign.

In that department, the APC is clearly second-best. The party best positioned to mount an effective ground-game and mobilize votes at the grassroots level is the PDP. It has been around for 16 years. PDP local government councillors account for nearly 70 per cent of all councillors in Nigeria, comprising 6,521 members, making it a truly grassroots-based political party. The APC, on the other hand, does not have the nationwide political structure to win the coming election. To date, it is a newspaper and television political party. It has yet to build a formidable grassroots support. It is a JJC party, a little over a year old.

With all the noise about Buhari, it should not be forgotten that the man chronically lacks skills at building political party structures. In the APC presidential primaries, Northern delegates did not even vote for him; preferring instead Kwankwaso and Atiku. He was elected primarily on the strength of ACN votes. PDP strength on the ground everywhere in Nigeria explains why Jonathan was able to win 37% of the vote even in Buhari's home-state of Katsina in the 2011 election.

While APC was busy stoking up the press to create its air of inevitable victory, PDP was busy mobilizing its local government councillors. Its Presidential Campaign Organisation brought all its elected and appointed councillors from all over Nigeria to Abuja to mobilize them to secure victory for the party at the grassroots level. In what was captioned "Operation Deliver Your Ward," Professor Jerry Fans re-fashioned them as political foot-soldiers and grassroots mobilisers for the PDP, split into six groups according to their geopolitical zones.

Resurgent PDP

Since the postponement, Jonathan is no longer the issue. It is once again Buhari; the coup-plotting former dictator and alleged ethnic and religious jingoist. Thanks to the postponement, Nigerians can no longer be panicked into voting for Buhari. We now have enough time to appreciate that he is old, and completely bereft of ideas as to what to do when in power. It is not enough to shout "change, change." The question is: change to what? To this question, Buhari provides a deafening silence.

In the meantime, the true message of Jonathan's considerable achievements in office is now resonating. With the commissioning of new power-plants, we are now generating 5,500 megawatts of electricity: a new Nigerian record. We now know from PricewaterhouseCoopers that the allegation that $20 billion is missing from NNPC accounts is one big fat APC lie. The army is now fully-equipped for battle. For the first time in a long time, the Nigerian air force has come into the fray. The Boko Haram is being bombed to smithereens up North. There is even talk of capturing Abubakar Shekau alive.

Within the next six weeks, all that is left is for the PDP to put its house in order and APC will be toast. Since Buhari has whipped up himself and his supporters into an unrealistic psychological frenzy in this election cycle, it is certain he will end up at the tribunal, when it finally dawns on him that, in spite of all the bluster, he has lost again. The fate awaiting Buhari brings to mind that of Mitt Romney who was so deceived into believing he would be elected America's next president in 2012, he had only a victory speech on election night when he was roundly defeated.

When the history of the 2015 presidential election is finally written, it will be recalled that the postponement of the election for six weeks was the final nail in the coffin of the APC.

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Opinions expressed above are solely those of the author, Femi Aribisala.
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PDP Challenges APC To Admit To Nigerians That Their Manifesto Is False And Unrealistic

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday described as lies and unrealistic, the various electoral promises made to Nigerians by the All Progressives Congress (APC) while seeking votes for its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The ruling party accused the APC of deceiving Nigerians repeatedly in a bid to get votes, saying the APC has formed the habit of "one day, one lie."

Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of the party, at a press conference held at the party's National Secretariat, said the PDP has performed exceptionally well with its present programmes for the nation, and that the APC can never match what the PDP has done for the nation.

Speaking on the promises being made to Nigerians by the APC, Metuh insisted that the offer of monthly stipend to unemployed youths by the APC in relation to its cost on the finances of the nation was unrealistic and unrealisable.

"The APC in one of its phantom promises said it would pay a stipend of N5,000 each to 25 million poor Nigerians monthly.

"This gives a total of N125 billion each month and N1.5 trillion every year.

"What is baffling is that the APC knows full well that this is not only unrealistic but also impracticable in a nation with an estimated budget of N4.69 trillion comprising recurrent and capital expenditures yet they continue to dish it out to unsuspecting citizens in a clear bid to mislead.

"Also, the deceitful tendency of the APC came to light in its promise to create 740,000 direct jobs in each of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT within one year while on the other hand promising to create one million jobs for Igbo youths also within the same period. We ask, which do we believe?

"The APC has also promised to provide free education, daily free meals for millions of Nigerian school children, free tertiary education, free health care and free houses to Nigerians.

"The opposition knows too well that this is unrealistic yet they prefer to brandish falsehood.

"The APC should explain to Nigerians how they would fulfill their promises with the prevailing 40 per cent drop in national income and dwindling oil price in the international market.

"These promises are therefore either bogus or part of their plot to subject the citizens to a harsh tax regime ostensibly to finance Bourdilon Drive and other personal interests, the real reason they desperately seek power.

"We therefore challenge the APC to come forward and admit before Nigerians that these promises are false and merely deceitful, if not, they should be bold enough to tell Nigerians that they are planning to skyrocket our personal income and company taxes if they ever get to power," he stated.

Metuh insisted that the PDP government is workers' and investors' friendly as the tax regime under its leadership is good for an average Nigerian while warning that the APC would impose terrible tax regime on the people to achieve a minute of its numerous promises, even if it would give it a try at all.

"Under the PDP-led administration, company tax is a maximum of 30 per cent of the profit whereas personal income tax hovers from 1 per cent for minimum wage earners to a maximum of 19 per cent for Nigerians earning up to N100 million.

"Can Nigerians afford a tax regime of 45 per cent company tax and 32 per cent personal income tax?

"Whilst we note the multiple tax regimes in APC states like Lagos State, we believe that Nigerians are not ready to bear the brunt of APC's harsh tax policy.

"If on the other hand APC decides to deny the planned imposition of a harsh tax regime, then they must accept they are guilty of fake campaign promises and deceitful manifesto," he stated.

Listing what he considered as the various lies told to Nigerians by the party, Metuh said
"Nigerians are still shocked at the discovery of the latest international fraud where the APC rehashed an old interview by its Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, as a fresh one, all in a bid to cover up a mismanaged international trip.

"This is coming on the heels of another shocking discovery that the APC's claim that its Presidential candidate visited Chibok turned out to be a hoax meant to deceive Nigerians, as he never did," he further stated.

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Reported By Rotimi Akinwumi,
For Daily Independent Newspaper
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The Best Defence For The Naira Is To Make Nigeria An Export-Based Economy —GTI

Economic analysts have stressed the need to grow nation's capacity for exports to prop up the value of the naira, which has remained under pressure since last year.

Analysts at GTI Securities Limited, in a report entitled 'CBN's tactical devaluation of the naira, what next?' said, "The best defence for the naira is to make Nigeria an export-based economy, so that the severe pressure on the local currency as a result of crude oil price volatility can be averted."

In a move to calm the foreign exchange market, the Central Bank of Nigeria had last week closed the Retail and Wholesale Dutch Auction systems. It said the action had become necessary following the sharp disparity between the official exchange rate and interbank rate of the naira, adding that all demand for forex should be channelled to the interbank market.

"By and large, we view the CBN's decision a bold and positive move and expect to see the naira exchange rate fluctuate to its market determined exchange rate level."

The CBN had, at the close of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting of November 25, 2014, devalued the naira and moved the exchange rate from N155/$ to N168/$1 and equally raised the asymmetric band from +/-3 per cent to +/-5 per cent.

The GTI report stated, "At this point, the plausible trading region of the naira to the US dollar in the interbank market was at a lower limit of N160 and upper limit of N176. Unfortunately, the naira closed at N176.20 that day, 20 kobo above the upper limit.

"It appeared that the CBN had kept faith in the belief that the rapid fall in the oil prices which has remained the sole driver of mounting pressure in the forex would likely halt in no distance time.

According to the analysts, this assertion confirmed the unanimous decision by the MPC to maintain universal status-quo in the January's meeting.

They observed that despite the fact that the naira was already high at N189.14 to a US dollar at the interbank market, the CBN's decision to leave the regime unchanged elicited a lot of comments.

They stated, "In our view, this decision of the CBN to scrap the rDAS/wDAS foreign exchange window is a technical way of re-pricing (devaluing) the naira against the US dollar.

"The CBN's particular interest here is to reduce the unavoidable depletion in the external reserves account as a result of continuing uncompetitive trading position of the naira to the US dollar. Note that the external reserves accounts closed on February 13 at $33.66bn, 5.24 per cent lower than end-December 2014 figure of $34.47bn."

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Reported by Femi Asu, for Punch Newspaper
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Fierce Battle: Femi Fani-Kayode Denies Renting Crowd To Boo Buhari In London

Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has denied allegation that he has rented a crowd to boo the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rted) during his presentation at the Chatham House, London, on Thursday.

He took to micro-blogging site-Twitter to deny the allegation, stating that "My attention has been drawn to a story that I am renting a crowd to embarrass Gen. Buhari at Chatham House later today. It is a lie," via his handle, @realFFK.

Since his appointment by president Goodluck Jonathan, the former APC stalwart has engaged the party and its presidential candidate, Gen. Buhari in a fierce campaign battle.

It will be recalled that the APC alleged on Wednesday that their sources in London disclosed that Fani-Kayode is organizing a paid protest against Gen. Buhari on Thursday when he appears for his Chatham House engagement.

Gen. Buhari also threatened, Wednesday, to back out of the Abuja Peace Accord over what he termed 'repeated thrown tantrums' over his academic qualifications by Fani-Kayode.

Buhari will address Chatham House by 11:00am.

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Reported by Abiodun Alade (@biodunpen) for Vanguard Newspaper
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Attempted Jail Break In Calabar Prison Foiled By Men Of The Nigerian Prisons Service

An attempted jail break in Calabar prison, Cross River State, has been foiled by officers and men of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) with the support of the Army and Police Force.

The Controller General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ekpendu, mni stated that but for the gallantry of the armed men on duty, the mass escape bid would have resulted in a monumental security disaster as over 500 out of the 638 awaiting trial prisoners at the time of the incident, are charged for capital offences such as armed robbery, murder, kidnapping etc.

He further stated that while the Prisons Service is devoted to humane treatment and correction of the inmates, his administration is committed to putting a stop to the wave jail breaks in the country, hence such attempts would never be tolerated.

Recounting the entire event has happened, DCP Enobore O. Francis, Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Prisons Service, National Headquarters, Abuja, said: "trouble started when on the 20th of February, 2015 at about 1100hrs, two cells housing some awaiting trial prisoners where opened, as a normal routine, for the inmates to take their bath. About four of them walked up to an escort staff to complain that they were tired of staying in the prison awaiting justice and wanted to be taken to court."

"The staff on duty appealed to them to exercise patience for courts to resume seating as they were currently on strike but this fell on deaf ears. Other prisoners soon joined in the agitation to be taken to court and in a spontaneous reaction, pounced on the staff, advanced through the Chief Warders office, destroying all the adjoining doors before gaining access to the gate lodge. They eventually broke into the armoury situated in the gate lodge and collected three riffles, went to the yard and started firing sporadically."

"Warning shots fired by armed men on guard duty outside the perimeter fence did not deter them. The prisoners rather went to the rear of the perimeter fence and fired several shots at the wall to weaken the blocks. Thereafter they used a concrete slab to hit open the weakened wall, making large hole through which they jumped out still firing at anything in sight."

"They were however engaged in a gun battle with the Armed Squad personnel assisted by the Army and Policemen and at the end, 8 of the prisoners died, 17 were injured, 4 staff were also injured with one of them having serious wounds. Others were arrested and returned to the yard. No prisoner escaped and all the riffles were recovered. The situation is now fully under control and normalcy has since returned to the yard."

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Newsbeat Portal, Abuja / PR Nigeria
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EFCC Arraigns One for N6m Online Banking Scam

The Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 arraigned one Akpere Ovine Desmond before Justice Abubakar Shitu of the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State on a 2-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.

The petitioner had alleged that on May 29, 2012, he received a phone call from one Mr. Taiwo Ogunsanyo who claimed to be a staff of First Bank Nigeria Plc.

According to him, Taiwo claimed the bank was updating customers' security information and requested for his token number, phone number and corporate identity number.

He sent all the details as requested and, to his surprise, he received a debit alert of the withdrawal of the sum of Six Million Naira (N6, 000,000.00) from his company, First Ambition investment Limited's account with First Bank.

A trail of the funds, led investigators to an account (number 2060211484) at the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) belonging to one Frank Asemota, from where the money was transferred to different accounts and consequently withdrawn at various ATM terminals.

Akpere Ovine Desmond whose account was flagged was arrested in Access Bank, Benin, Edo State with 44 ATM cards.

Investigation further revealed that the accused person conspired with others to launder the six million naira (N6, 000,000.00) proceed of the scam.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Adebayo Soares asked for a date for trial but the defence counsel, D.O Afure presented an application for bail of the accused before the court.

Justice Abubakar granted the accused bail in the sum of three million naira( N3,000,000.00) and two sureties in like sum, who must be resident within the Jurisdiction court.

Additionally, one of the sureties must have a landed property with Certificate of Occupancy in Delta State.

The matter was adjourned till April 29, 2015 for trial.

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Courtesy: EFCC / PR Nigeria
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EFCC Press Release: CPC Partners EFCC to Protect Consumers Against Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Consumer Protection Council, CPC to bring fraudulent mortgage, and other scammers of consumers to book.

Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, and the Director General of the CPC, Mrs. Dupe Atoki signed the MoU, which was witnessed by the Director, Legal and Prosecution, EFCC, Mr. Chile Okoroma and the Director, Legal Services, CPC, Emmanuel Ataguba.

Lamorde said, "It is very important that the EFCC partners with the CPC particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, investigation, prosecution and engaging in campaigns to educate consumers."

He urged the CPC to cooperate with the EFCC in investigating and prosecuting financial crimes and consumer abuse.

He also commended the efforts of the Director General of CPC, adding that her dedication to her work got her awarded US citizenship by the State of Georgia.

Atoki noted that the MoU between the two agencies will "ensure that consumers and victims will receive appropriate redresses, restitution and compensation in a competent court of law."

Atoki stressed the need for joint investigation and enforcement cooperation between the two agencies of government, particularly on matters affecting consumers' economic and financial well-being.

"The collaboration is aimed at protecting consumers and combating scams using a three-pronged approach: Complaint data analysis to establish patterns, trends and hotspots; consumer education and sensitization campaigns across the country, and case investigations, prosecution and redress," she said.

She further disclosed that the two agencies signed a tripartite MoU with the United States, Federal Trade Commission, which was aimed at enforcing the law in cross-border cases.

She thanked the Commission for accepting to partner with the Council in strengthening consumer protection and consumer education.

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Wilson Uwujaren / PR Nigeria
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EFCC Arraigns Six In Court For Crude Oil Theft

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday February 25, 2015 arraigned six persons in a Federal High Court for Crude Oil Theft.

They are Abu Sunday Smith, Albert Azasu, Lawal Abdul Akinola, Simeon Inatemi John, Sunday Essien, John Fregene.

The six men were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Shitu of the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State on a 2-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum Product.

In a statement made available to the press by Wilson Uwujaren, the Head, Media & Publicity of the commission, the men were alleged to siphoned crude oil from an abandoned oil well at Sokobolo community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Except of the statement reads: "The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today February 25, 2015 arraigned Abu Sunday Smith, Albert Azasu, Lawal Abdul Akinola, Simeon Inatemi John, Sunday Essien, John Fregene, and a vessel, MT RAGINA before Justice Abubakar Shitu of the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State on a 2-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum Product."

"The vessel and its crew members were arrested sometime in December, 2014 by officers of the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, at Forcados loaded with 300 metric tons of substance suspected to be crude oil. They are alleged to have been involved in siphoning crude oil from an abandoned oil well at Sokobolo community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State."

"They pleaded not guilty to charges.
Justice Abubakar adjourned the matter till March 4, for hearing of bail application, and April 29, 2015 for trial. He ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody."

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Newsbeat Portal, Abuja.
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Breaking: Nigeria Lawmakers Fail To Confirm Obanikoro’s Ministerial Nomination

The Nigerian Senate failed to conduct the ministerial confirmation hearing for Senator Musiliu Obanikoro scheduled to take place on
Wednesday.

The ministerial confirmation hearing was not listed in the Order paper of the senate, this led to it being rescheduled for another date that is yet to be made available.

According to our sources, the postponement was to enable the Senators debate the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper preparatory to the passage of year 2015 budget today.

Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, including six other ministerial nominees, was reportedly scheduled to be screened by the senate.

It would be recalled that Obanikoro's nomination, by President Jonathan, had been under scrutiny from the opposition APC following the alleged role he played towards the rigging of Ekiti State governorship election that led to the emergence of Fayose as governor.


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Newsbeat Portal, Abuja.
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Breaking: Senate reschedules Ministerial Screening, Passes MTEF

The Senate today rescheduled the Ministerial screening listed in its Notice paper yesterday. The item was not listed in the Order paper.

Reason given for the postponement was to enable the Senators debate the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper preparatory to the passage of year 2015 budget today.

Meanwhile the Senate today at plenary passed the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

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Charles Akpan / PR Nigeria
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Account for U$800m, N50bn Cabotage Fund, APC Campaign Tells FG, Nigerian Maritime Authority

The APC Presidential Campaign Organization (APCPCO) has challenged the federal government and the Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA) to tell Nigerians what happened to the $800 million and N50 billion of the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) which the agency was in control of until recently when the "Fund" became unaccounted for.

Mallam Garba Shehu, Director, Media and Publicity of the APCPCO said that Nigerians deserve to know what happened to the money, and that the agency should make public the list containing names of beneficiaries and amounts from the "Fund" if any.

He explained that the "Fund" was money derived as 2% surcharge for all Contracts under the Cabotage regime which came into force in 2004 by virtue of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act (Cabotage) 2003.

The Cabotage Act, which was closely modelled after the United States of America's Jones Act 1938, was to help develop the capacity and participation of indigenous ship owners in coastal inland trade which was largely dominated by foreigners.

Up till today, that objective has not been achieved as seen in the depleted Indigenous Ship Owners Registry, the mass unemployed Nigerian Seafarers, and the prevalence of foreign interest in the Nigerian coastal waters,
Malam Shehu said that instead, the Cabotage regime breeds corruption, ranging from request of inducement and gratification from foreign ship owners through their agents for waivers processing by NIMASA and approval of the Federal Ministry of Transport by some top staff of the agency to the disappearance of the CVFF Fund meant to be accessed by the Nigerian ship owners.

He noted that the website of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA) shows that 90% of its 78 registered ship owners are on the brink of extinction as they are submerged in debts without the necessary CVFF to access.

He stressed that time is of the essence in publishing the list following fears that the money may have been diverted for other purposes such as the campaign of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, and the submission of a request from the Director General of the agency to proceed on a six-months leave of absence from the agency.

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SaharaReporters, New York
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