IG Abba Rejects AIG Mbu's Retaliatory Killing Call, Urges Restraint

The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has cautioned
personnel of the force against the use of firearms during the
forthcoming general elections "except in extreme circumstances".

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu,
on Saturday, said Mr. Abba gave the warning when he addressed senior
officers in his office.

Mr. Abba said that the Nigeria Police has "a mandate to save and
protect lives, and not to kill, contrary to recent statements in the
media".

Controversial Assistant Inspector General of Police, Joseph Mbu, had
said the police in his division will kill 20 persons for the death of
a police personnel.

"If one of my men is killed, I shall kill twenty of them but don't
shoot first", Mr. Mbu said. "If they shoot you, shoot back in
self-defence. Anybody who fires you, fire him back in self-defence",
he said.

The remarks have drawn widespread condemnations, with the All
Progressives Congress, APC, lambasting Mr. Mbu as a barbaric and
lawless officer who must be immediately cautioned.

In his statement, the Police Inspector General, said in spite of
provocation, attributes of a police officer as contained in the Police
Regulations, requires him to exercise "tact, patience and tolerance
and control of temper in trying situations".

He also cautioned the personnel against excesses and reminded them of
the dire consequences of abuse of human rights as contained in the
recently released Human Rights Practice Manual of the force.

Mr. Abba restated his avowed commitment to observance of the rule of
law and the respect of the fundamental rights of citizens by all
police officers.

"The rule of law is the underpinning tenet of democracy which will
guide police officers in the discharge of their roles in the
forthcoming national elections", he said.

He restated the preparedness of the force to provide the requisite
security before, during and after the elections.
--(NAN)

How Printing Error Scuttled NLC Election

The National Executive Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress will
meet next Wednesday to review the botched election of the congress and
fix a new date for the poll.

The NLC General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said in a statement
made available to journalists in Abuja that a printing error spotted
in few ballot papers by way of duplication of names scuttled the
election.

The statement came on the heels of an allegation by the president of
Medical and Health Workers Union and one of the presidential
candidates in the election, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, that there were plans to
scuttle the election even before it commenced.

He insisted that the credentials committee which produced the ballot
papers should be held liable for the incident, saying his team is
ready for the election whenever a date is fixed.

The General Secretary said: "The voting process, the last item on the
agenda, commenced peacefully and in an orderly manner on Wednesday,
February 11, and lasted through the night. However, on the morning of
Thursday, at exactly 8:45am, a printing error was spotted in a few
ballot papers by way of duplication of names. This error affected four
candidates, two each from opposing camps.

"As regrettable as this error by the Credential Committee is, its
degree was insignificant and could have been resolved amicably by way
of vote invalidation. However, this was not to be as some delegates
who held the view that the entire process might have been corrupted,
reacted sharply. This led to the suspension of the exercise.

"The National Administrative Council of the Congress swiftly met a few
hours later and resolved to convene a meeting of the National
Executive Council on Wednesday, February 18, for the purpose of fixing
a new date for the election".
--infonaija

Boko Haram Drop Leaflets Warning Gombe Residents Against Voting Next Month

Boko Haram invaded the restive northeastern Nigerian city of Gombe on
Saturday and warned residents against voting in next month's elections
as the Islamists defied regional force aiming to pursue them.

Residents said the attackers later left the city and stormed another
area some 40 kilometres (25 miles) away, where they burned homes.

The violence prompted the state governor to impose an around-the-clock curfew.

Witnesses said the extremists stormed the city at around 9:00 am (0800
GMT) and advanced without any resistance from the security forces. It
was unclear if there were casualties.

A Nigerian fighter jet encircled the city but did not appear to attack
the insurgents, said witness Kabiru Na-Gwandu, adding that he had
received a call from friends outside of Gombe warning him the gunmen
were on their way.

"I evacuated my house along with my family before they arrived in the
city and I'm happy that I did because from information I'm receiving
they have taken over the military barracks," he said.

The Boko Haram fighters called on residents to boycott elections which
had originally been planned to take place on Saturday before they were
postponed until March 28.

"Whoever professes Islam should distance himself from polling stations
because we are going to attack polling booths," read the Boko Haram
leaflets.

Residents said the gunmen in military uniforms who invaded the city in
around 30 vans and on several motorcycles later withdrew from the city
unchallenged.

"They moved out of the city on their own free will and are now in
Dakin-Kowa town," resident Bello Jatau said, referring to an area
around 40 kilometres away.

He said fleeing residents of Dadin-Kowa were taking refuge on hilltops
from where they could see Boko Haram gunmen burning their homes.

Soldiers were said to be patrolling the streets of Gombe and firing
indiscriminately following the withdrawal of the insurgents.

"It is flying bullets everywhere. Soldiers are just firing anyhow. A
bullet pieced the wall into my kitchen but luckily we were sheltering
in the bedroom," said a journalist in the city.

Gombe has been repeatedly hit by suicide attacks and other bombings
blamed on the Islamists in the six-year insurgency in Nigeria's
northeast.

Two weeks ago, two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a
stadium, just minutes after President Goodluck Jonathan had left the
venue where he had given a campaign speech. Many people were injured.

Locals said prior to Saturday's invasion, the militants had camped at
Hani village, 36 kilometres from Gombe, where they preached to locals
and informed them they were on their way to take over the governor's
office in the city.

"They came around 6:00 am (0500 GMT) and took over the military
checkpoint that was curiously abandoned by soldiers on Thursday,"
resident Mustapha Baba told AFP.

- Ongoing offensive -

He said the insurgents had fled from the Galda forest in neighbouring
Yobe state following an offensive on their camps by Nigerian troops.

The Nigerian military last week launched a ground and aerial offensive
on Boko Haram camps in the Galda forest, from where the Islamists are
believed to be planning attacks in the area.

In the past few weeks, the group has stepped up its offensive both
within Nigeria and against border towns of neighbouring countries,
forcing the postponement of the general election.

On Friday, Boko Haram fighters attacked Chad for the first time,
targeting a village on the shores of Lake Chad.

The attack marked a new escalation in the group's bloody six-year
campaign to establish a hardline Islamic caliphate in northeast
Nigeria, which borders Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The conflict has
killed some 13,000 people since 2009.

Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger this month launched an unprecedented
joint effort to crush the extremists.
--Vanguard

Imo Guber: Hope Uzodinma Dismisses Reports Of Political Patronage With Okorocha

The member representing Imo West Senatorial Zone in Imo State,
Senator Hope Uzodinma has denied having any meeting with Governor
Rochas Okorocha for him (Okorocha) to support him win the senatorial
election and get his (Uzodinma's) endorsement for the gubernatorial
election.

Rumours and reports in some local tabloids in Owerri, the state
capital, had it that arrangements may have been concluded and possibly
sealed by supporters of Governor Okorocha to vote massively for
Senator Uzodinma against the All Progressives Congress. APC, flag
bearer for Orlu Senatorial zone, Senator Osita Izunaso during the
National Assembly elections next month.

This, it was learnt, followed a meeting convened by Senator Uzodinma,
where he was said to have pledged to support the governor extend his
stay at Douglas House beyond 2015.

Part of the agreement, as was gathered, included that all supporters
of Uzodinma would vote for Okorocha as a payback should Okororcha use
his position to garner enough massive support that would see the
senator returning to the red chambers.

But speaking with journalists in Owerri at the residence of his Royal
Highness, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Uzodinma, who was in the company of
Chief Chuma Nnaji, deputy governorship candidate of the PDP, said he
had never had any meeting with the governor over any political
patronage and would never solicit for such from him in future.

The senator disclosed that Imo State was on a threshold of making
another history of removing the incumbent governor because "Rochas has
disappointed his generation and the greater number of the people of
the state, who had expected him to act as the messiah he had claimed".

Rather, he said "Rochas turned Imo State as a personal estate, telling
the poor masses to keep enduring the poverty he had brought to the
state while only his family members enjoying the good things of life".

Uzodinma disclosed that Okorocha is the only in Nigeria who the people
earnestly want to remove by all means because he has failed the state
in many areas, depleting the education, health and local government as
well as town union systems in the state.
--247ureports

Oba Of Benin, Traditional Council Refute Death Rumour

The Oba of Benin, Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa, has
dismissed rumours of his death as a rehashed tale that has been told
countless times.

The speculation on the revered monarch's demise had gone viral on the
Internet on Friday morning.

The rumour was given credence when it was pointed out that the Oba did
not personally receive President Goodluck Jonathan, during his
February 4 presidential rally in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Before Mr. Jonathan's re-election campaign rally in Benin, the report
also claimed that the Oba was not available to receive the
presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major
General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), because he had already passed away
about two days before the January 29, 2015 campaign rally date of the
APC.

But the Benin Traditional Council on Friday evening described the
reports as mere speculation, which had been on for over six months and
lacked no substance.

The Secretary to the council, Mr. Frank Irabor, explained that it was
the responsibility of the council to issue a formal statement, if such
a development did arise.

He said, "They have been peddling that rumour for more than a year
now, because the Oba has not been coming out.

"If there is anything like that, there is usually a statement from the
palace or from the Benin Traditional Council".

Although Mr. Irabor did not specify whether or not the Oba was hale
and hearty, he explained that inability of President Jonathan to see
the monarch, when he visited the palace, did not give credence to his
rumoured demise.

"The fact that he has not been coming out, even when the President
came last week, does not mean that there is anything like that.

"I don't bother about rumours. I believe in getting information from
the authentic source. For more than six months, they have been
carrying the rumour", he added.
--infonaija

APC Plans To Attack Its Leaders --Fani-Kayode

PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation,
PDPPCO raised alarm Friday on the alleged plot by the All
Progressives Congress (APC) to simulate attacks on some of its own
leaders with a view to accusing the PDP of being responsible for the
attacks.

In a statement by Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential
Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode, said, "it has been
brought to our attention that a section of the leadership of the All
Progressive Congress (APC) has now perfected plans to simulate violent
attacks on members of their own party and then point fingers at
supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP for such attacks
in order to portray us as being violent.

"As diabolical as this plan appears to be, it should come as no
surprise to the Nigerian people given the antecedents of the APC. It
is their stock-in-trade and their hallmark to engage in cheap
propaganda and blackmail and to indulge in the most hideous form of
violence. The recent torching of some of the branded buses of our
party by the APC in Jos did not come to us as a surprise.

"Again the attacks on the convoy of our candidate, President Goodluck
Jonathan, whilst he was campaigning in Katsina, Bauchi, Taraba,
Adamawa and Kaduna States were all carried out by members of the APC
and the supporters and disciples of General Muhammadu Buhari.

"As an example of their sheer deceit and chicanery, there is a video
of the burning of our campaign buses all over social media. This video
footage showed a group of hoodlums offering songs of praise to General
Muhammadu Buhari and chanting war songs whilst they indulged in a
gruesome and unrestrained orgy of violence. Yet the APC still
attempted to deceive Nigerians by claiming that the burning of the
buses was carried out by members of the PDP in Plateau State.

"The fact of the matter is that our party was not embroiled in any
violent intra-party fracas in Plateau state. Furthermore our party
leaders and members in Plateau State have demonstrated the highest
level of decorum and civility even in the face of sponsored violence
in the state.
--Vanguard

EFCC Arrests Nyako's Son For Alleged Corruption

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have
arrested Abdul-Aziz Nyako, the son of impeached Governor of Adamawa
State, Murtala Nyako.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said
in an electronic mail on Friday that Abdul-Aziz was picked up by EFCC
operatives in Gombe.

Uwujaren said that the former Governor's son was immediately flown to
Abuja 'where he is currently being grilled by a crack team of
detectives who had been working on the Adamawa investigation for
several months.'

The EFCC had declared Nyako and his son wanted for money
laundering-related offences two weeks ago.

Uwujaren said that Abdul-Aziz was being grilled in relation with how
N15bn belonging to the Adamawa State Government was laundered through
five accounts of companies belonging to him.

The said companies under investigation are Blue Opal Nigeria limited,
Crust Energy Nigeria Limited, Blue Ribbon Multilinks Limited, Tower
Assets Management Limited and Blue Ribbon Bureau De Change.

The EFCC Spokesman said that the money was moved into the accounts of
the companies domiciled in a new generation account with the help of
the manager who is also an in-law to Nyako.

It was stated that the Accounts Officer was quizzed and released on bail.

He said that one of Abdul-Aziz companies, the Blue Opal, is believed
to own several investments and an estate in Abuja while his father's
accounts Office own "several properties and investments scattered
around Abuja, Yola and Kano."
--PUNCH

Supreme Court Judgement: I Remain The Eze Imo --Ohiri

The traditional ruler of Orodo commu-nity in Mbaitoli local council of
Imo State, Eze Agunwa Ohiri has in-sisted that he remains the
au-thentic chairman of the state council of traditional rulers in
spite of the recent Supreme Court judgement, saying that Eze Cletus
Ilomunanya has ceased to be a traditional rul-er when the state
government disposed him last year.

This was just as the mon-arch reiterated that Eze Cletus Ilomunanya
can no longer func-tion as a traditional ruler in the state.

"The leadership of the Imo state council of traditional rul-ers (Eze
Imo) has not changed in spite of the recent Supreme court ruling
because Mr. Cle-tus Ilomunanya is no longer a traditional ruler having
been deposed as the Obi of Obingwu by the state government and
an-other monarch installed in his stead who has been attending
meetings of the traditional rul-ers of Orlu and Imo state", he stated.

He stressed that Ilomunanya "cannot attend such meetings because he is
no longer a tra-ditional ruler and the Supreme Court in its ruling did
not say that he is still the traditional rul-er of his community. Even
if he were still to be a traditional ruler his five year tenure
elapsed by last month January 28, 2015".

He insisted that the prereq-uisite of being a member of the Imo state
council of traditional rulers is that you must be an Eze recognized by
the state govern-ment.

"Imo state government has withdrawn his certIficate of recognition and
staff of office since last year July so Cletus Ilomunanya is only
parading himself as Eze in Abuja because the only constitutional
authority that can recognize anybody as a traditional ruler is the
state gov-ernment and not the presidency or the National Assembly and
he risked being sent to jail for parading himself as the tradi-tional
ruler".
--TheSun

PVCs: INEC Officials Swindle Prospective Voters In Imo

Hope of the people of Imo State to elect their preferred candidates in
the rescheduled 2015 general elections may have been dashed. This
followed the reports around the state that officials of the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,are charging
prospective voters between N2,000 and N3,000 issuance of their
Permanent Voter's Cards (PVCs). Since the postponement of the election
by the commission as a result of the insecurity and inadequate
distribution of the PVCs, there has been an upsurge in the number of
people seeking to collect their PVCs in various local government
headquarters, wards and polling units across the state.

This came as most employers in the state demanded the cards as a
prerequisite for payment of January and February salaries to their
employees. While the exercise was successful in some local government
areas and wards in the state, it did not see of the state and in many
other areas, it is complaints of extortion or between the sum of N200
and N3000. Some of the affected areas visited byThe UNION included
many polling booths in Owerri Municipal; Mbaitoli Local Government
Headquarters, Nworieubi; Obazu Mbieri and Obakuru Mbieri as well as
Emeabiam in Owerri West Local Government Area. While no prospective
voter has received the cards in the three wards in Atta in Njaba LGA,
in Owerri North LGA, only three wards--Amakohia, Akwakuma and
Awaka/Ihitte Ogada-- out of the 12 wards have got their PVCs.

As at the time of filing this report, while the people of Umunam Atta
were only told by INEC officials in Njaba LGA to report on Monday
February 16 at the community centre to get their cards, there seems to
be no solution for those of Owerri North LGA. This has since generated
public outcry. This is despite the concerns raised by the state
Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr. Gabriel Ada, that the people
were yet to collect the less than 60 percent PVCs available for the
state. Ada had said at a press conference last month that "the
statistics of the card distribution in the state is still below 60 per
cent and this does not augur well for a full participatory democracy
which we anticipate. This is totally unacceptable to the Commission".
He had stated further that, "given this, the Commission has
recommended that we go back to the field for another ten days to
distribute these PVCs to their rightful owners, but at the
Registration Area (Ward) level.
This is in bid to ensure that every Nigerian is given an opportunity
to exercise his/her franchise." When The UNION visited Holy Ghost
College and Uzii Primary School, Owerri, it was observed that the INEC
officials were charging people N200 before they were issued their
PVCs.

One of the prospective voters who paid to collect her card, Mariana
Ibeh, told The UNION that she "felt embarrassed when the guy there
told us to pay N200 each before we could collect our PVCs. The reason
is that I didn't even come with any money apart from the one I was to
use to jump keke. But a nice guy there just helped me out with the
money." Investigations by The UNION reveal that it is the same story
at Uzii Primary School, Ikenegbu Girls Secondary School among other
polling units in the municipal council where they told the people to
pay N200 or they should go to the INEC headquarters. Similarly, at
Nwaorieubi the Mbaitoli Local Government headqurters where hundreds of
people trooped out from various communities to get their cards, there
was an ugly skirmish between the INEC officials and some of the
prospective voters over the high amount of money charged them to
collect their PVCs by the officials. According to an eyewitness, who
simply identified himself as Desmond, "we came here at Nwaorieubi, and
noticed that the condition to collect the PVCs is that you will pay
N500 and those with the money were told to queue on line. We were
patiently standing on the line waiting for our time to collect the
card".

Trouble however started when a young man who claimed to have come from
Port Harcourt told them to help him with his PVC, the officials were
said to have told him to drop something higher. "Instantly, the guy
gave them N3,000 and they abandoned those of us who were in the line
to attend to the guy and gave him his own PVC instantly. This led to a
friction and a boy switching off their generator causing them to
abandon their work that day. This is too bad for our people here
because many poor people don't even want to come near to the area
because they see any reason they should pay for a card they don't
derive benefit from". Also, in Obazu Mbieri and Obakuru Mbieri wards
in Mbaitoli LGA as well as Emeabiam in Owerri West LGA, prospective
voters were made to part with the sum of N200 and N1000 respectively,
though secretly.

Read more here:
t.co/hpRAklCJkn

--VOFNImo

Tragedy: Assemblies Of God Pastor, 2 Others Beheaded By Angry Youths

An Assemblies of God Church pastor and two other members who were
earlier declared missing by Cross river state police command, have
been found dead with no heads.

The pastor and 2 others who accompanied him on a pastoral visit were
reportedly beheaded by fuming youths in Ediba.

Confirming the incident, the state police commissioner, Henry Fadairo
disclosed that the pastor and the 2 other members of the Assemblies of
God church in Mkpani area of Yakurr LGA, Cross River were slaughtered
brutally and beheaded.

Police PRO, Hogan Bassey, also confirmed the incident, saying it was
under investigation.
--infonaija

Super Eagles To Play Bolivia On March 26th After Brazil Backed Out

The Nigeria Football Association NFA on Friday in Abuja said the
national senior male football team would now take on their Bolivian
counterparts on March 26 in Uyo.

In a statement by NFA's Assistant Director of Communications, Ademola
Olajire, the NFA said the Super Eagles would no longer be meeting
Brazil on that date as earlier touted.

"NFA and its FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon, have confirmed that the
Super Eagles will tackle Bolivia in a Grade A international friendly
in Uyo on Thursday, March 26.

"We have had to work at a pace to seal agreement for this match, after
the Brazilian Football Federation opted out at the last hour.

"However, we believe that the Bolivia team will give the Super Eagles
a good match,'' it said.

The statement said the NFA would continue to work on getting a second
match for the Eagles for March 29 away from home.

The Bolivia game, which will hold at the Akwa Ibom Stadium, will be
the first for the Super Eagles this year.

It will help the team in looking ahead to the qualifiers for the 2017
Africa Cup of Nations and 2018 FIFA World Cup later in the year.
--(NAN)

Oba Of Benin Dies At 92

The Great Oba of Benin has reportedly passed away.

His Royal Majesty Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa, the
monarch of Benin Kingdom died at 92 years.

According to authoritative sources within and outside Edo State, the
well-regarded king transited to the great beyond about two weeks ago.

His death is still being kept secret because by Benin tradition, the
death of an Oba could only be officially announced 30 days after his
transition.
--GistReel

Group Describes Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State As A Serial Women Abuser

Imo Citizens, under the umbrella of Diaspora Imo Citizens Coalition,
(DICC) have become concerned and horrified by the persistent gross
disrespect and unchecked violence meted to Imo State women by Governor
Rocha Okorocha. These untoward behavior by Mr. Okorocha are typical
manifestations of an insecure abuser. These characteristics include
feeling of lack of control, inadequacy, entitlement, manipulativeness,
contradictions and serial battering. What's unique about Rochas'
condition, and which makes him a disgraceful coward, is that he mostly
directs his aggression at women, when confronted with his lies and
roguish predispositions. He finds brutalizing women a convenient
outlet to compensate for his shallow intellectual capacity and
subnormal testosterone levels. It is too bad for Mr Okorocha, that
this is the 21stcentury; our women are educated to be the best they
can be and to contribute equally to societal development. That Rochas
would rather have our women be seen not heard, barefoot and pregnant,
speak volumes to his hollowness and failure as an administrator.
Suffice it to say that this primordial chauvinistic behavior of Mr.
Okorocha must be condemned and declared totally out of bounds. This
violence against our women by Rochas has to stop. Now! Just within a
short time frame, he described Senator Chris Anyanwu as "a prostitute,
who slaps her husband...", puts out a press release using similar gutter
and lack-of-family-values language in abusing our erudite Professor
and globally respected former Supervising Foreign Affairs Minister and
now Minister of State for Education, Her Excellency Viola Onwuliri. He
called her "Otuashi 1"- meaning the utmost liar, while his aids
accused her of killing her husband, Professor Celestine Onwuliri, who
died over 2 years ago, in a Plane Crash. The darkest moment of
Okorocha's violence against women was when he unleashed his thugs to
physically beat up widows on peaceful demonstration at the Government
House in Owerri. Dozens of whom sustained various degrees of bodily
injuries, some hospitalized and a few stripped naked. These are acts
of a demented bottom barrel scraper and hooligan that do not represent
our values.

Violence against women and girls is a grave violation of human rights.
Its impact ranges from immediate to long-term multiple physical,
sexual and mental consequences for women and girls, including death.
It negatively affects women's general well-being and prevents women
from fully participating in society. Violence not only has negative
consequences for women but also their families, the community and the
country at large. It has tremendous costs, from greater health care
and legal expenses and losses in productivity, impacting national
budgets and overall development. It therefore, must be forcefully
stamped out wherever it rears its ugly head.

It is against this background that we strongly condemn in its entirety
this violence against women perpetrated by Gov. Rochas Okorocha on Imo
State women and indeed all women.

We furthermore, on behalf of our over 50,000 members across the globe
unanimously pass a vote of no confidence on Governor Okorocha and his
ignoble administration, for this despicable unacceptable behavior, and
urge that he be voted out of office in the upcoming elections!.

We will also, in the coming days, be filing a petition with the United
States government and the United Nations Human Rights Commission, to
put Governor Okorocha on a NoFly-List designated for terrorists, human
rights violators and abusers to ensure he never steps into the United
States or any Western countries again.

Additionally, we will be filing, in the coming weeks law suits in
various jurisdictions through which major airlines fly into the US and
other Western countries, so as to intercept and bring Rochas to
justice should he attempt a visit

Aware that Okorocha is an evil low-lifer who would use anyone for his
nefarious activities, we wish to hereby warn everyone, be they members
of his executives, traditional rulers, media aids, praise singers
etc.to desist from being used by Mr. Okorocha, for his sinister
motives or risk being targeted for sanctions as well.

We did not choose this fight; Rochas brought it to our women like the
coward he is; now he has to deal with the consequences. May God
continue to protect our Women and Girls from predators like Rochas
Okorocha!

Long Live Our Women and Girls

Long Live Imo State
--247ureport

Dariye's Father Rescued As Police Nab 4 Kidnappers

Operatives of the Special Task Force have rescued Pa Dariye Defwan,
the father of former governor of Plateau state, Chief Joshua Dariye.

The police confirmed his release on Friday in Jos.

According to the police spokesperson in Plateau State, Abuh Emmanuel,
four persons were arrested in connection with the abduction.

The former Plateau state governor's father was kidnapped last Saturday
night at his village in Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area of
Plateau state. Police had said the victim was abducted by nine
suspects.

Mr. Abuh said Mr. Dariye's dad has been reunited with his family.
"Police has formally handed over the man to his son, Sen. Joshua
Dariye, here in Jos," he said. "As I speak with you he is at the
Dariye residence in Jos."

Asked if ransom was paid before the freedom of Mr. Dariye's father,
the police officer said he was not aware of one.

"I believe his release was due to frantic efforts by the police and
concerned members of the public," he said.

The abductors allegedly demanded a ransom of $10 million through a
letter to the family.
--DailyTimes

Two New Bill Cosby Accusers Come Forward

The number of women accusing Bill Cosby of drugging their drinks and
sexual misconduct continues to grow.

At a news conference Thursday in Los Angeles, former models Linda
Brown and Lise-Lotte Lublin joined the parade of alleged victims.

Linds Brown spoke of meeting Cosby in Canada in 1969 when she was
21-years-old. The now 66-year-old said she was in a Wonderbra
commercial that same year and recounted how her agent introduced her
to the comedian while he was in Toronto for a performance. After
joining Cosby for dinner, she said she got in his limousine so he
could give her a ride home. But she claims Cosby insisted that he
first take her to his hotel room to give her a gift.

As she waited in the suite, she says;

"He then went into the other room, got me a soft drink and then he
said he needed to make his call. I took a sip and blacked out," she
said. "When I awakened I was naked in the bed beside him. I had no
idea how my clothes came off or how and why I was in his bed."

"I was shocked and had no clue as to how I got there or why Mr. Cosby
was beside me under the covers naked. I couldn't move or speak. I
couldn't move or speak. I felt paralyzed. He flipped me over and
sexually assaulted me. I felt like a rag doll and like a real life
blow-up doll for him."

Also, the other alleged victim, Lise-Lotte Lublin, who is now 48 said
she met Cosby in 1989 through her modeling agency when she was 23. By
their third meeting, she claims she visited his suite at the Hilton
Hotel in Las Vegas, for what she described as an audition. She claims
Cosby first asked her to perform an improvisation so that he could
evaluate her acting skills;

"As I attempted to do what he asked, he fixed a shot of alcohol and
told me to drink it. He said it would relax me," Lublin recalled.

"I told him I did not drink, but he insisted, so I drank it. I trusted
him because of who he was, and how well he was respected around the
world."

"I drank the second drink. Within minutes I became dizzy and
disoriented... He began stroking my hair back from my forehead, in a
petting motion."

Lublin says she then started to lose consciousness and was apparently
carried to another room in the suite.

"I had flashes of unfamiliar areas of the hotel suite. I saw several
doors that I believed led to bedrooms in the suite. I remember the
color of the walls and I can recall a flood light that was on in a
small cubby area. My next memory was waking up at home, and for me, it
felt like several days had passed."

She made no mention of whether or not any alleged sexual activity took
place. But she insists she is a victim.

"I am furious and I have decided to fight for my rights and the rights
of every man, woman and child who have been victims of a sexual crime.
I have contacted every senator and assemblyperson from the state of
Nevada and I will continue to rally every victim of sexual assault,
every rape crisis center and every supporter who believes in the right
to have an offender tried in a court of law," she said.

More than 30 women have come forward with allegations against Cosby.
Some say he drugged and sexually assaulted them, others say he tried
to force himself on them.

Meanwhile ,Cosby's lawyer, Marty Singer in a previously released a
statement said:

"The new, never-before-heard claims from women who have come forward
in the past two weeks with unsubstantiated, fantastical stories about
things they say occurred 30, 40, or even 50 years ago have escalated
far past the point of absurdity."
--DailyTimes

"Chibok Schoolgirls Are Alive" --Abducted Women Who Escaped From Sambisa

The Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped last year by Boko Haram are alive, a
woman believed to have seen them has said.

The 24 schoolgirls, who she said she was held with for three days last
November, were physically well, she said, and were being coerced to
cook for their captors, who numbered in their thousands. The girls
were reportedly very tearful and homesick but had not been harmed.

"They were very emotional," said Monica Sunday, a 20-year-old
Christian woman who had been kidnapped by the jihadist group after her
village, Kiva, in the far north east of Nigeria, had been twice
attacked and then burned to the ground.

She spoke to Jonathan Miller of Channel 4 news, a United Kingdom
broadcasting organisation, in a dusty informal camp for displaced
people near the capital, Abuja, where she had recently arrived.

"None of the girls really talked very much," she said. "They just
cried and prayed and lamented for their parents. I comforted them and
told them to have faith in God and that He would open a way for them
so that their nightmare would be over."

Monica, who was herself deeply traumatised by her own experience and
lost her small baby, Abraham John, as she fled through the bush while
making her escape, said the Chibok girls had remained true to their
Christian faith. They wore simple head-coverings - not full hijabs -
she said, but none was practising Islam.

Split up and dispersed

The Boko Haram insurgents have a brutal reputation for raping the
women they abduct, but Monica insisted that the Chibok girls had not
been sexually abused and that none of them was pregnant.

"The girls I was with were all in their mid-teens, some a bit younger,
some older," she said. "None of them was sick." She did not know where
any of the other girls, among the 219 still missing, were held. She
also said that none had been forced into marriage. Monica knew about
the kidnap of the Chibok girls before she herself was abducted.

"They divided them up. Some were taken to Gwoza [a town near Nigeria's
border with Cameroon, near to where Monica herself had been abducted].
Not all of them are held in one place."

This is in line with earlier reports that the girls had been split up
into smaller groups and dispersed across the region.

Monica says that the "room" in which she was held with the Chibok
girls was a shanty-style lean-to, its roof just polythene sheeting.

After three days, she says she was moved to another part of the camp
where she was held with more than 40 other women from across northern
Nigeria, who, like her, had all been kidnapped.

"Among them was one particular woman who they beat until she was
bleeding all over her body because she refused to convert to Islam,"
she said. "She eventually succumbed," she said, her head bowed. Monica
said she had refused repeated attempts to force her to convert.

"They were really angry with me and shouted and screamed at me and
called me 'arney'" - an abusive term for "infidel" in the Hausa
language. But she said that she had not been physically hurt by her
captors. Her experience at their hands in the Sambisa camp, having
been marched for two months through the bush, has left Monica
shattered. "Every time I hear their name," she said, "I shake with
fear."

She said that the Boko Haram commander in the Sambisa camp was called
Ibrahim Shekau, who she described as "assistant" to Abubakar Shekau,
the apparently deranged leader of the group. It is not known whether
the two are related.

Impenetrable terrain

The camp, she said, was huge, and sprawled through almost impenetrably
thick forest terrain. She said there were at least 1,000 women held
captive there and thousands of rebel soldiers. "Most of the soldiers
are out in the bush all the time, hunting others," as she put it. They
had guns and uniforms and many military vehicles, and there were
access roads.

Monica added that these roads allowed Boko Haram to bring tankers,
carrying drinking water, into the camp. She said there was enough
food, mostly looted from nearby villages by the rebels. "They even
have grinding machines," she said. "We had rice and we had corn. No
meat, but sometimes there was fish."

Read more at TheNation:
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/met-24-chibok-schoolgirls/

Genevieve, Psquare, Don Jazzy, Others Make Most Influential Igbo Personalities' List

TOP Nigeria's entertainers including Genevieve Nnaji, P-square and Don
Jazzy have exclusively made the list of Most Influential Igbo
Personalities, otherwise known as MIIP among other wave making
celebrities of Igbo extraction who are in the showbiz industry.

The MIIIP book, in its 2014-2018 editions released early this year
which encompasses Nigeria's leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and
other public figures listed Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji, music
stars, P-square, Don Jazzy and Phyno on its entertainer's category.

It includes the likes of Nkem Owoh, KCee, Flavour, Jim Iyke, Okey
Bakassi, Naeto C, D'Prince, Patience Ozokwor, Charles Awurum, John
Okafor, Stephanie Okereke-Idahosa, Rita Dominic, Chinedu Ikedieze,
Osita Iheme, Saint Obi, Frank Edwards, J Martins, Basketmouth, Uche
Ogbuagu, Ugo Stevenson, Amayo Uzo Philips, Crystal Jane Cosmas (CJ
Mama), Andy Ike alongside others standing side-by-side in the book.

Explaining how they made it to the book, showbiz critic and publisher
of Day-Light online newspaper, Azuh Amatus described them as prominent
contributors of what the showbiz industry has become since its
kick-off. "The Igbo region is currently referred to as the
entertainment capital of Nigeria. However, the success recorded in the
Nigerian entertainment industry today was highly contributed by Igbo
citizens; the industry wouldn't have been complete without their
immense contributions, giant strides and commitment. This is one of
the reasons this book should be commended.

"In all spheres of human endeavours, they have touched the nation and
those of them in the entertainment industry should be lauded and
appreciated, therefore I strongly believe that this book represents
what they have done and will continue to do for Igbo tribe and Nigeria
in general," he noted.
--Vanguard

See What Tinubu Put On His Fence To Mock Nigerian Military

Few days ago, APC accused FG of sending military men to patrol the
Lagos home of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Even though the report had been
refuted by the army, maxgist.com reports that this picture was sent to
them - allegedly put their by Tinubu's supporters. Below is the
accompanying message:

"This is the message we found on the fence of the APC National Leader,
Bola Tinubu's house this morning. The two banners hung in the fence of
the main house and the next building to his house. The message was
loud and clear to the military who have been patrolling Tinubu's house
and the stretch of Bourdillon Road since last Sunday. The message on
the banners meant for the military- "This is not Sambisa Forest. Wrong
Posting."Sambisa Forest is the forest under the control of Boko Haram
for years and is yet to be penetrated by the Nigerian military. It is
suspected that APC stalwarts and Tinubu supporters must have put up
the message over night.

"Last night about 11pm, a lorry load of soldiers drove back and forth
on Bourdillon Road and round the Falomo Roundabout for about an hour
before finally driving off.

Poll Delay Saves Valentine's Day

"No Elections Till March! So Let's Drink and Dine, This Valentine,"
screams a bright red flier decorated with hearts from an upmarket
restaurant in Nigeria's financial capital, Lagos.

Residents in Africa's most populous city had thought they would be
deprived of one of their favourite festivals this year because of
movement restrictions imposed for general elections.

But Valentine's Day is now back with a vengeance after the
presidential and parliamentary vote initially scheduled for this
Saturday was pushed back to March 28 because of security concerns.

Tannaz Bahnam, who runs the "Lost In Lagos" restaurant and listings
website, said it's hard to underestimate the importance in Nigeria of
the annual festival celebrating love and affection.

"It's massive! Bigger than Christmas and New Year's! People buy cakes
and balloons and wear red. It's as cheesy as it can get," she told
AFP.

- Campaigning to Cupid -

Television presenter Tabia Princewill, who came back to Nigeria after
studying abroad, said she has seen the phenomenon grow in size in the
last five years.

Its popularity has gone hand-in-hand with the development of shopping
centres and fast-food outlets, as well as the opening of a large
number of trendy restaurants and bars.

"People go to the theatre, to the cinema, to restaurants on
Valentine's Day... Offering gifts to girlfriends on the day has become a
custom," she said.

"I was surprised when I first came here to see that it was so
respected here," added Bahnam, who comes from Iran.

"But then I realised that it was quite logical because actually love
is quite important and central in Nigerian culture."

In this election year, however, the romantic messages that normally
fill the airwaves on radio stations have been dropped for political
adverts and songs in praise of election candidates.

On the walls of the megacity, home to some 20 million people,
thousands of political posters are stuck one on top of the other,
leaving no space for sugar-sweet adverts declaring undying love.

But since the country's electoral commission announced the
controversial date change of polling, focus has shifted from
campaigning to Cupid -- which is just as well, said Bahnam.

"Restaurants were freaking out (at the initial polling date)... because
they make so much money that night. Normally restaurants are fully
booked days in advance," she added.

- Voter card to Valentine's card -

Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced
that the election would be delayed last Saturday because of fears that
the military would not be able to provide security.

The country's national security adviser said redeploying troops
currently fighting Boko Haram alongside regional forces in northeast
Nigeria was not feasible.

The delay is seen as giving INEC more time to distribute permanent
voter cards to the 68.8 million registered voters.

One spoof letter circulated online last week said INEC chairman
Attahiru Jega had resigned in protest at the election date.

"I will not stand and watch while Valentine is ruined for everyone,"
the joke letter said.

Since last Saturday, restaurateurs have been going all out to book
tables, with a publicity drive of seductive menus and romantic decor.

"Now that the elections are postponed, our chef needs a couple of days
in order to prepare something nice," said Samson Oyedele, who works in
the restaurant at the Federal Palace, a luxury hotel overlooking the
Atlantic Ocean and Lagos docks.

"It's a special day. People are willing to pay a lot... so we have to
offer something nice. It's always busy here for Valentines. It's a
whole day of non-stop activity.

"We are going to decorate the restaurant with glitter. It's going to
look very nice, I tell you."

- Champagne and teddy bears -

In all the trendy restaurants in Lagos, one thing is certain: the
champagne will be flowing.

Bistrot 7, on Victoria Island popular with expats and richer
Nigerians, said they were nearly fully booked for a four-course
candlelit meal accompanied by a soothing romantic orchestra.

Its Valentine's Day special costs 45,000 naira ($225, 200 euros) per
couple, champagne included. A 100,000-naira menu comes with a bottle
of Dom Perignon.

Lagos' upper classes won't be the only ones drinking to love on
Saturday evening.

Fast-food chain Tantalizer, whose outlets are found in more working
class areas, are offering their yearly special of a teddy bear and box
of chocolates to customers.

Last year it offered a special menu with wine and ice cream for a more
modest 4,000 naira.
--Vanguard

Ebonyi Assembly Declares Seats Of Four Members Vacant For Defecting To LP

The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has declared the seats of four of
its members vacant for defecting to another political party.

The Speaker of the House, Chukwuma Nwazunku, while reading the
resolutions, said the affected members violated section 109; sub
section 1G of the 1999 Constitution as amended by defecting to another
political party without stipulated party guidelines.

The affected members are - Chief Eni Uduma-Chima (PDP-Afikpo South
West), Mr. Sam Nwali (PDP-Ikwo North) Mrs. Helen-Nwaobashi
(PDP--Abakaliki South) and Mrs. Mabel Aleke (PDP--Ohaukwu South).

"They defected to another party without adhering to the laid down
rules stipulated by the Peoples Democratic Party under which platform
they were elected as members of the House.

"Their action brings the integrity of the House into disrepute, as the
declaration of vacancy to their seats takes effect from February 11.

"We therefore inform the state's Commissioner of Police, State
Security Service, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and
other relevant agencies, on the matter for appropriate actions to be
taken".
--infonaija

Kanye West Vows To Boycott Grammys, Until They 'Fix' Voting System

Days after storming the Grammy stage to ruin Beck's acceptance speech
after he won Album of the Year, Kanye went on the Ryan Seacrest radio
show to explain his action. But instead of apologizing, Kanye promised
to boycott the Grammys until they start to respect creativity..

"You know, I felt like just the whole Grammys, right when that
happened, everybody was looking at me and then people started
screaming, "Kanye! Kanye! Go do it!'". Ok, that didn't really happen,
these were voices in my head. So the voices in my head told me go and
then I just walked up like halfway up the stage.'

You know, what I really wanted to do is just joke around about what
had happened before, but I just really didn't want to take away from
Beck's moment or the time he's having to talk because you know the
Grammys, they play music really quick no matter who you are and
everything. So I just walked back down because you know, it was kind
of a joke like the Grammys themselves.'

First of all Beck is one of the nicest guys and one of the most
respected musicians in the game. So, there's nothing that I will want
to do as a fellow musician to disrespect him in any way.'

'It's almost like a chiropractor. You know, you just get a little
crook out like, "Wow, this crook has been there!" It's just a little
jolt of truth, right? And then you know, everyone feels better after
the fact, or everyone is way more famous after the fact, or everyone
sells way more albums after the fact, and then Kanye just goes on
being an a**hole to everyone.'
--Ryan Seacrest radio

IGP Abba Redeploys 33 Commissioners Of Police

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba has ordered the
immediate redeployment of 33 Commissioners of Police (CPs) to Commands
and Formations across the country.

A statement Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, acting
Commissioner of Police (CP) Emmanuel Ojukwu, gave the names of the CPs
to include: Danladi Y Mshelbwala from Explosive Ordinance Disposal
Unit (EOD) to Kebbi State.

Others are: Ibrahim K. Idris from Police Mobile Force (PMF) to Kano
State; Shuaibu L. Gambo from Sokoto State to Counter Terrorism Unit,
FHQ; Musa Katsina Mohammed from NIPSS to Oyo State and Usman Tilli
Abubakar from NIPSS Jos to Jigawa State.

They also include: Olufemi David Ogunbayode from NIPSS Jos to Zamfara
State; Waheed Olayikan Salau from Airport Command to NIPSS Kuru, Jos;
Dorothy A. Gimba from NIPSS Jos to Airport Command and Foluso A.
Adebanjo from Edo State to NIPSS Kuru, Jos.

Also redeployed are: Agboola Oshodi-Glover from ICT, FHQ, Abuja to
NIPSS Kuru, Jos; A.K. Shodipo from Oyo State to Special Fraud Unit,
FHQ, Idris Faruk Umar from Jigawa State to CP Intelligence and Usman
Yakubu from Nassarawa State to NIPSS, Kuru, Jos.

The list includes Mohammed Sani Usman from Dept of Planning &
Statistic, FHQ ABJ to Nassarawa State; Ibrahim Adamu from Abia State
to NIPSS Kuru, Jos; Salisu Fagge Abdullahi from Special Protection
Unit (SPU) FHQ ABJ to Sokoto State and Lawal Shehu from Bauchi State
to CP Dept of Finance & Admin, FHQ.

Nyats Nyehsu Jatau from CP Railway Lagos to Taraba State; Tijjani Baba
from Zamfara State to CP Special Protection Unit, FHQ; Mohammed K.
Mohammed from Deputy Commandant Police Staff College, Jos to Bauchi
State and Paul E. Okafor from Kogi State to Bayelsa State.
--infonaija

Eniola Badmus Turns Ghost On Comedy Movie Set In Owerri

Talented and Hilarious Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus AKA 'Gbogbo
Big Girls' shares new movie set photo. In the movie, she played the
role of a ghost.

She joked about eating carrot, soft drinks and party rice in the yet
to be released movie, we can't just wait for the release of the movie.
--NG Trends

Why Many People Are Vying For Governorship In Imo --Capt. Ihenacho

The country's former Minister of Interior and governorship candidate
for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho
has said that one of the ways to solve the high rate of unemployment
in Imo State is for the state government to create value and have a
good industrialization policy which will attract industries to the
state.

The former minister made this remark while addressing the people of
Avuvu ward at Central School Avuvu in Ikeduru Local Government Area of
Imo State.

The former minister who took his campaign to the place among other
things, said that since 1999, Imo state had had leaders who only go to
Abuja, collect money from the Federation Account and appropriate.

'Many people are vying to become governor of Imo State because there
is no task before a governor here. Assuming our so called leaders are
faced with the situation faced by leaders in some countries in South
East Asia where there is no federal money to share; where a leader
will task his brain to make his people survive, will they present
themselves for leadership? Therefore, collecting money from Abuja and
sharing in the state is not a true test of governance. Worst of it is
the immunity clause in our law that prevents these leaders from being
prosecuted for embezzlement of public funds while in office. I want it
abolished.

He however, opined that the state needed a conducive environment for
industries to flourish stating that the labour for the industries
would invariably provide employment for our unemployed youths.

Speaking further, the Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Shipping Line
and Integrated Oil and Gas Limited said that the present government in
Imo State had done a lot of things but what it has done has not added
value to the development of the state and better life for its
inhabitants.

'....Good and visionary governance should have a practical, verifiable
and workable programme that will be able to link to development. For
example, if a roundabout, free education or building is provided by
government, people should understand how and when those things can
create jobs or add value to the state...'.

On the 2015 general election, Capt. Ihenacho said that the 2011
election in Imo State was only a demonstration that people's voices
must count in the election of leaders. However, he said that the 2015
version would be a different ball game wherein people would improve on
what happened in 2011 by refining democracy further to produce honest,
visionary and experienced leaders who would have the solution to the
problems confronting the state.

Therefore the Emekuku Owerri-born international mariner advised the
people to use the opportunity of the extension of the election dates
to collect their Permanent Voters' Card.

WHO IS CAPTAIN EMMA IHENACHO?

The part to greatness begins with a realization that one can do it.
This is akin to the experience of the former Minister of Interior,
Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho, who is currently a governorship candidate
under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Imo
State. Recently, the business mogul expanded his business frontiers by
acquiring six new aircrafts for leasU to an oil company in Nigeria.
For sure, his resume teems with lofty heights.. Recalling his past
attainments with nostalgia, Captain Ihenacho, not very long ago, told
journalists in Owerri his dogged life that saw him competing to be the
best everywhere he has found himself. Below is the excerpt.

How was your growing up?

My growing up was like that of any young person who grew up in Nigeria
in the early 1960s. I was born in Apapa, Lagos 62 years ago and I grew
up there. I have been living in proximity to the sea and ocean for a
long time and it wasn't a surprise that I ended up having a career at
sea.

When I left secondary school, I got the first job as a clerk in the
Flour Mills, Apapa. In those days, it was so easy to get a job unlike
what young people are now experiencing. I recall that I got a job as a
clerk the first day I went to Flour Mills and in the afternoon of the
same day, I decided to go down to Lagos to see what was available on
that side. I went to Customs head office and got another job the same
day as Customs Officer. Eventually, I had to drop the option of
working in Flour Mill to work as a Customs Officer. That was how easy
it was for young people getting jobs then.

Read more at TNVNigerianVoice:
t.co/bdu8Pzbe9X

Borno APC Chairman, Lawmakers Scale Fence For Refusing To Pay Hired Thugs

Borno State chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Ali Bukar
Dalori and some members of the state House of Assembly, who were
meeting at one of the government's lodge in Maiduguri, were, Tuesday,
forced to scale the perimeter fences for dear life, following a clash
between the police attached to the former and hoodlums claiming to be
members of the vigilante group, popularly called Civilian JTF.

-Photo: A sign near a checkpoint of a vigilante group reads Civilian
J.T.F or Civilian Joint Task Force in Maiduguri,.

Young men and women have in recent weeks formed vigilante groups,
hunting down Boko Haram Islamists who have sneaked back into the city
following a military offensive on their camps on the Nigerian border
with Niger, Chad and Cameroon with remarkable success.

Although Vanguard gathered that the incident did not involved any
registered member of the Civilian JTF, the political thugs claimed to
be members of the group.

The clash, according to investigation, erupted when police attached to
the APC Chairman attempted to stop some youths, who claimed that the
APC Chairman assigned them to carry out certain assignment against
PDP, part of which was to remove all PDP billboards, flags in
Maiduguri.

The youths said after accomplishing their mission, they ended up
disappointed as they were denied payment.
'They're impatient'
Sources closed to the APC Chairman said: "The hired thugs are
impatient. When they came demanding to see the Chairman, they were
told that he is in a meeting. But they were not ready to wait.

"They told the police that they are in a hurry and that it would take
nothing for the Chairman to come out and settle them before he goes
back to continue with his meeting. But you know, the instruction was
given the police and they need to carry it out."

A Civilian JTF, Mallam Labor Yahaya, confirmed the clash, but said
members of his group were not involved in the fracas.

He said: "The thugs, who also carried Dane guns, started the shooting.
The police shot one of the rampaging youths in the leg and one of the
thugs also shot the policeman in his leg."
--Vanguard

Dangote Lost Almost Half Of His Fortune Over The Past 6months

According to Bloomberg Billionaires, Nigeria's richest man, Aliko
Dangote lost almost half of his $21billion in 6 months. Is this true?
And how did it happen?
--BBG Billionaires

I Have Not Endorsed Any Candidate --Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says contrary to reports, he has
not yet endorsed any presidential candidate.
Obasanjo had said during an interview with the Financial Times at a
book launch on Monday that he would support the presidential candidate
of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

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

The said endorsement was well received by the APC but condemned by
leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party such as a former Minister of
State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro; Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele
Fayose and the National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu'Azu.

However, Obasanjo said he supported Buhari but had not yet endorsed him.

He said, "I will not go into argument about that. I did not unendorse
him or endorse him as such. A question was asked and I said I will
determine, based on the track record of those candidates who are
contesting and who ask me for support, and when I do that, based on my
own assessment, I will support the candidate that I believe has the
best track record. And I am still in the process of that."
--PUNCH

Imo Govt Petitions Presidency, NSA, Others Over Soldiers' Invasion

ImoState government has petitioned the Presidency, Army headquarters,
National Security Adviser, NSA, and human rights groups over
deployment of soldiers to Government House, Owerri.

The government, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to Governor
Rochas Okorocha on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, alleged that the
soldiers were deployed on the order of a minister.

The statement read: "Government decided to petition these quarters
knowing that soldiers would not come with armoured vehicles to
Government House, Owerri, without somebody ordering them to do so and
without the person having reason for doing so.

"The government's worry becomes more pronounced when it is recalled
that there was no problem of any kind in any part of the state on or
before that day.

"There was no riot, crisis or clash. Then why did the army come? These
are questions we would like the authorities we have petitioned to
unveil.

"The army is a sacred institution that could only be called out when a
situation in a given place has overwhelmed other security agencies
like the police, Department State Services, DSS; the Civil Defence and
so on.

"There was no ugly situation in any part of the state last Tuesday,
not to talk about any situation the police, DSS, et al, could not
handle.

"We are calling for investigation because the government had been told
that some people from a neighbouring state were hired by a junior
minister to come and set Government House ablaze and the soldiers were
brought in to give protection to the hired elements, with the soldiers
ignorant of why they were deployed there."
--Vanguard

Imo Farmers Back Ihedioha For Governorship

Photo: Peoples Democratic Party candidate Imo State and Deputy
speaker House of Reps Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha inspecting harvested
vegetable leaves of high yield 'Water-leave' during the Imo State
Farmers Association annual cropping week event and the adoption of Rt
Hon Emeka Ihedioha as the incoming Governor of Imo State held at St.
Michaels Anglican Church Egbu, Imo State yesterday 11th Feb. 2015.

The Deputy Speaker House of Representatives and Imo State Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate, Chief Emeka Ihedioha
has been endorsed by Imo farmers as their sole candidate for 2015
Governorship election in Imo State.

The group under the aegis of Imo Farmers Association made this known
at the closing ceremony of their Annual Prayer Session to mark the
beginning of this year's farming season and exhibition of various farm
products held at the All Saints Cathedral field, Egbu, Owerri Imo
State to mark

The President General of the Association, Okenze D.N. Keke in his
speech, enumerated the Deputy Speaker's support for farmers in Imo
State which according to him, have impacted their business very
positively.

According to him, 'Chief Emeka Ihedioha is a farmer and his manifesto
as it affects agriculture accommodates all we need to contribute to
the development of Imo state. With him as Governor, farmers believe
that a bumper harvest and food sufficiency will be assured.

"He has tried for us by providing fertilizers and other forms of
assistance. We will also appreciate more support such as more
fertilizer supply and soft loans to enable us increase our yield and
boast food production.''

He decried the neglect farmers in Imo State have suffered since the
administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha which according to him has
affected food production and the economy of the state negatively.

Reacting, the PDP Governorship hopeful thanked the farmers for the
confidence reposed in his candidature and his Party. While commending
the initiative, he promised to carry them along in his government when
he becomes governor. He said his government will prioritize
agriculture as the next investment destination in Nigeria.

The Deputy Speaker who later inspected displayed farm produce urged
them to continue to support the Transformation Agenda and re-election
of President Goodluck Jonathan and assured them that the government
under his watch shall create enabling environment for agriculture to
thrive by constructing access roads that will guarantee easy
transportation of farm produce to the cities.

Peoples Democratic Party candidate Imo State and Deputy speaker

''My administration shall also help the farmers by granting access to
soft loans to enable them increase their yield. We shall provide a
silo to store your grains and link you up to the Federal Ministry of
Agriculture for a direct partnership that will boost Agro-economy in
our state," he said.

He urged the farmers to Register their association and ensure the
documentation of each farmer according to their respective area of
farming. The Deputy Speaker promised to make Agriculture attractive
and a major source of income and revenue to the state. Prayers were
offered for a peaceful election and consecration of farm seedlings for
a bountiful harvest.
--247ureports

NLC Election Ends In Stalemate In Abuja

The Nigeria Labour Congress election, which began smoothly in the
early hours ofThursdayin Abuja, the nation's capital, has been
stalemated.

The whole process of the election has been suspended following some
alleged irregularities that were uncovered.

The leadership of the NLC and the delegates are currently locked in a
meeting with a view to seeing how the election crisis could be
resolved.

The meeting is holding at the Labour House in the Central area of Abuja.

Two candidates are vying for the Presidency of the NLC, after the
President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association
stepped down.

The two candidates left in the race are Comrades Ayuba Waba and Ejiro Joseph.

Waba is the outgoing National Treasurer of the NLC as well as
President of the Health Workers Union of Nigeria, while Joseph is of
the Textile Union.

The PENGASSAN president had earlier withdrawn from the race for Waba,
shortly before the commencement of voting.

However, problem, it was gathered, began to brew when some
irregularities were noticed by some delegates who are sympathetic to
the aspiration of Joseph.

These irregularities, it was leant, later led to the election being stalemated.

The emergency meeting of the NLC leadership and the delegates is
ongoing as at the time of this report.

Full Text Of President Jonathan 8th Presidential Media Chat

Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan, tonight hosted his eight
presidential media chat since May 2011. The challenges confronting
Nigeria - insecurity, the economy, corruption, dearth of
infrastructure - were largely discussed. Here's all he said, compiled
by me with additional information from PremiumTimes.

On postponed elections:

The president sought the understanding of the international community
over the postponed elections. He said the kind of scenarios where
elections are postponed for the sake of perpetuating power is not the
case in Nigeria.

Boko Haram:

The president was asked why he thinks the war against Boko Haram can
be won in six weeks even though the war had raged for six years. The
president said he has just acquired new weapons, and gotten support of
neigbhouring countries to fight Boko Haram. He mentioned that Chad
waited for African Union approval, which they recently got too. He
also mentioned that the issue of security is beyond Boko Haram. The
president said it runs into dangerous signals of youth restiveness. In
the next four weeks Nigerians will see the difference in the security
intervention in the North, he said.

The president is asked where he bought arms for the coming onslaught
on Boko Haram. He said they managed to get from other sources other
than America.

Do you have confidence in Jega to conduct the 2015 elections?

The president said he wished Jega was seated by his side to answer the question.

I wish Jega were here, I could have asked him to answer whether I
have confidence in him Yes those who called for his sack may be close
to me, but they express their own opinion. More than 80 per cent of
those who sponsor messages on our behalf we don't even know them.
People use the reschedule of election to misinform Nigerians.

I have never thought about removing INEC Chairman, though I have the
constitutional power to do so.''

GEJ blamed his supporters for rumours about Jega's resignation."I
have not told anybody that I will remove Jega," he said. He explained
that if there are obvious reasons to remove Jega, he would rely
on"constitutional" provisions that gives him powers to sack whoever he
appoints.

Attacks:

''The level of misinformation, especially from young people is high.
Attempting to attack the president is treasonable offence.The
president is protected by soldiers, not just the police. People get
carried away and make some provocative statements.

Those who pelted my convoy during my campaigns in the Northern part
of the country were ignorant. If INEC conducts the election poorly, it
will be on my head."

Hate speeches and political violence by both opposition and ruling
party members.

The president explained that"some people" get carried away by the
political play and exude these violence. He blamed aides and
associates of key political actors for the hate speeches and political
violence. He did not categorically condemn the hate speeches or war
threats or politically-motivated violence.

"We will make sure things are done so that nobody goes to war," the
president said when he pressed for categorical stance on the war
threats by ex-militants should he lose the elections. He argues
journalists have responsibility to ensure the unity of the country.

On why he frequents churches for campaign but never visited mosques:

GEJ responded by saying he does not receive invitations from Muslims
like from the churches.

If election would hold should the military fails to eliminate Boko
Haram in six weeks:

The presidents said the new dates are sacrosanct and a new president
would be sworn in by May 29. He argued that the goal is not to totally
eliminate Boko Haram but to make adequate security arrangement for the
election.

Missing Chibok girls:

Questioning moves to the issue of the president's perceived weak
support especially as it relates to the missing Chibok girls."Just
give us some times," he said, responding to questions seeking the
state of the girls at the moment. The president is optimistic the
girls would be rescued with the new military collaboration with
neighbouring countries."I believe the story would be different in a
few weeks," the president said."We would recover them alive."

I believe the story of Chibok Girls will get better in the next few
weeks, but don't quote me. We are working with our neighbours, we will
comb the whole of that place Partying after abduction? It's
unfortunate that people play politics with the issue of Chibok girls.
It's not like that elsewhere. In other countries, political boundaries
collapse in the face of terror attacks, not so in Nigeria.

Read full text here:
http://www.forumspotz.net/full-text-president-jonathan-8th-presidential-media-chat-today/

t.co/AESoSziuG0

NLC Conference: Delegates Throw Chairs At One Another Over Housing Scam

NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar
The conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday, went
into a rowdy session over issues pertaining to the N2.6 billion failed
housing project of the union expected to be developed in partnership
with private property developer, Kriston Lally.

Delegates threw chairs at one another as disagreement deepened on the
failure of the NLC leadership to reveal all in the financial report
submitted to the conference in session.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had earlier,
reportedly invited the outgoing president, Abdulwahed Omar, over the
botched deal, a development confirmed by Omar himself, as he tried to
calm angry delegates.

"This morning, even the EFCC invited me to ask where is the man
(Kriston-Lally Managing Director). Anytime the security agencies get
this money, they will use their instruments to authorize refund to
this account. It is under investigation by the Directorate of State
Security Service, the EFCC and the office of the National Security
Adviser," Omar said.

A delegate from the National Union of Electricity (NUEE) had during
the meeting queried why the scam was not mentioned in the financial
report presented to the Congress in Session. But the outgoing
Treasurer, Wabba Ayuba, who is also contesting the presidency said,
"It is a separate account and not about the income and expenditure of
the NLC. The issue is in public domain. About N2.6 billion is still
saved in Access Bank. The other account is being investigated."

However, his explanation was not good enough for some delegates,
including the president of NUPENG, Igwe Achese who is also the Trustee
in the out-going executive and a signatory to NLC accounts.

Achese insisted that since NLC is a signatory to the Kriston-Lally
Account, "we have a responsibility. What I am saying is that even if
the money is safe, the total money is not safe. Some portion of it is
still intact about N2.5 billion, but the total sum of the money is not
N2.5 billion. Nigerian workers must be prudent, Nigerian workers must
have integrity."

Supporters of Ayuba, however, shouted him down and his own supporters
countered. This led to the throwing of chairs and other objects, that
made delegates, including international guests, to scamper to safety.
Omar on his part, called in the police to restore order.

The financial report was later adopted after a vote that Omar claimed
was won by the ayes.

The violent display by delegates signals the first time in the 37
years history of the NLC that such physical engagement would happen.
--InformationNigeria

Ogun Ex-Commissioner Accused Of Impersonation At CAN Debate

There was a mild drama at debate/interactive forum organised by Ogun
State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria for the
governorship candidates of political parties in the state as a former
state Commissioner of Information, Mr. Sina Kawonise, was accused of
impersonation.

The public debate was held on Wednesday at the African Church Solution
Camp Ground, Sam Ewang Estate, Abeokuta.

It was attended by the governorship candidates of six political
parties: Senator Akin Odunsi (Social Democratic Party), Gboyega Isiaka
(Peoples Democratic Party), Pastor Benjamin Onafadeji (National
Conscience Party), Prof. Femi Bamgbose (All Progressives Grand
Alliance) and Reverend Olufolabi Adebayo (KOWA Party), while Kawonise
appeared for the Labour Party instead of the party's governorship
candidate, Abolaji Sunmola, who was absent.

The ex-commissioner sat on the high table, reserved for the candidates.

He had participated in three sessions of the debate talking about why
he wanted to be the governor, how he would ensure religious harmony
and whether or not he would return the mission schools to their
owners.

The scenario changed as he dramatically disappeared when the Chairman
and the Director-General of the Labour Party, Olabode Simeon and
Arabambi Abayomi respectively, arrived at the venue and accused
Kawonise of impersonation.

They stormed the church to protest the invitation of Kawonise as the
governorship candidate of the LP in the state.

It took the organisers of the debate, who initially declined the
request by the LP state chairman and chiefs to ease out Kawonise, to
leave the forum.

The CAN leaders held a short closed-door meeting with the LP leaders,
which ended in a deadlock.

While the meeting between the organisers and the LP leaders was on, an
emissary was sent to quietly ease out Kawonise and he immediately left
the venue of the debate.

The visibly angry LP chiefs later returned to the auditorium and took
their seats, still fuming.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidates all agreed on the return of
mission schools to their owners.

Odunsi, who said he was a product of the CMS Grammar School, Lagos,
stated that the mission schools played important role in inculcating
moral values in the young ones in the past.

He noted that the state erred when it took over the running of the
mission schools from the religious organisations.

The SDP standard bearer assured the people that if elected, his
administration would return the schools to the missionaries.

Bamgbose argued that the government should not only return the schools
but also subsidise their running.

Similarly, Isiaka, who said he was part of the immediate past
administration, which returned the schools to the missionaries before
the current government reversed the process, stated that if elected,
his administration would hand them back to the religious bodies within
the policy that would be fashioned out.

Isiaka added that within the first 100 days in office if elected, he
would convene an education summit to address the various challenges
confronting the education sector in the state.
--PUNCH

Brave Female Cop Hailed After Disarming 2 Robbers In Lagos

A female police officer, Mercy John, has been hailed after she
reportedly disarmed two armed robbers who tried to rob her of her
belongings.

The officer attached to Provost Office State Police Command
Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos, , was accosted by the robbers at about
6p.m. on Tuesday, 10, February around Egbeda Shasha area of Lagos
State, and ordered to lie down.

According to a statement by DSP Ken Nwosu, the Lagos State Police
PublicRelationsOfficer, the suspected armed robbers were on a
motorcycle when the incident happened.

Nwosu said
"Mercy John and one other person were accosted by two armed robbers on
motor bike and ordered to lie down. The NCO (Non Commissioned Officer)
refused to comply and also turned down the order to hand over
herhandbag.

"However, her companion, out of fear, complied. One of the men who
accosted them brought out a locally made pistol , the NCO immediately
on sighting thefirearm, smartly and professionally grabbed the neck of
the gun-wielding hoodlum and hit his head on a nearby wall.

"The firearm fell down and she immediately grabbed it and the hoodlums
sensing imminent danger, fled for their lives."

Nwosu said, while the fleeing robbers are being trailed by the police,
the female officer has since been approved for the commendation of the
Commissioner of Police as well as the IGP's commendation.

"The Commissioner of Police wishes to congratulate the NCO for this
uncommon act of bravery and urges her to keep it up.

"He further enjoins all personnel of the Command to emulate the brave
efforts of the NCO and put in their best in the service to the
nation,"
--PM News