Why I'm Absent At Buhari's Campaigns --Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has explained why he has not been
attending the campaigns of the All Progressives Congress presidential
candidate, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari.

Atiku, in an interview with BBC Hausa, in the early hours of Friday,
said he had not been invited to the APC presidential campaign rallies.

He said he would not attend the campaign if not invited. The former
vice president was an aspirant in the presidential primaries in which
Buhari emerged the winner.

He said, "There are minor irregularities in connection with the system
being followed by the campaign team of General Buhari but we are
trying to correct it. They need to check the strategy they are
adopting.

Atiku said he had informed the director of the Buhari Campaign
Organisation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, about the issue. "I told him that if
he did not invite me, I will not go," he added.

Meanwhile, the former VP also denied reports that he was planning to
return to the Peoples Democratic Party.
--PUNCH

Final Onslaught: Boko Haram Killing 'Wives' To Prevent Marraige To 'Unbelievers'

Boko Haram insurgents in the town of Bama, Borno State, have
slaughtered their wives as Nigerian soldiers continue to rout them in
the North East. Some of them later moved to Gwoza, another Borno town,
where they vowed to defend the capital of their so-called Islamic
Caliphate with the last drop of their blood, theAgency France Presse
(AFP)reports.

Witnesses who recounted the massacres said that the insurgents feared
they would be killed by advancing soldiers or separated from their
wives when they flee the town.

"Consequently, they killed their wives so that the women would not get
remarried to unbelievers if their husbands die in the fierce battles
with Nigerian soldiers," said a witness who had just arrived in
Maiduguri from Bama, a major battlefront in the continuing military
operations to dislodge the insurgents from Yobe, Adamawa and Borno.

According to the report, the insurgents told their ill-fated wives:
"We will not spare anyone of you because if unbelievers marry you,
when we get to heaven, there is no way we can meet again. So we are
doing this so that we can meet in heaven."

The terrorists said they would not allow their wives to be married to
'infidels', the report said.

Nigeria's military, along with forces from neighbouring Cameroon, Chad
and Niger, have claimed huge victories over the insurgents in recent
weeks but defenceless civilians still face serious threats.

Boko Haram fighters have received word of a military assault on Bama,
formerly an Islamist stronghold in Borno State.

The insurgents had decided to flee to the nearby town of Gwoza before
the troops' arrival but they first decided to kill their wives so that
nobody would remarry them.

Boko Haram forcibly married scores of women in Bama after seizing it
in September. Nigeria's military announced the recapture of the town
on Monday.

Witnesses who were taken under military protection this week to
Borno's capital, Maiduguri, 73 kilometres (45 miles) away, said the
killing of women began 10 days before Bama was liberated.

The Islamists said if they kill their wives, "they would remain pious
until both of them meet again in heaven, where they would re-unite,"
said Salma Mahmud, another witness.

"He informed them of the situation and the consequence of the takeover
of the town by the advancing troops. He warned them that when soldiers
killed them, they would take their wives back to the society where
they would be forced to marry and live with infidels. The commander
said it would be better for them to kill their wives and send them to
heaven," the mother-of-seven said.

A number of women were shot dead in front of the commander's house,
the report said.

Nigeria's national security spokesman, Mike Omeri, told AFP he would
try to verify the reports while the military could not immediately be
reached for comment.

Boko Haram regroups, return to liberated towns

Diehard members of Boko Haram in Borno State have allegedly been
regrouping in the last few days even as they have returned to the
border town of Gamboru-Ngala where they have killed at least 11
persons, security sources said.

A soldier, who confirmed this to newsmen in Maiduguri but pleaded for
anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to press, said the
gunmen attacked Gamboru town in the evening of Wednesday.

"We heard some Boko Haram returned to Gamboru and attacked the place",
said the soldier. "The insurgents, according to the information,
killed about 11 people who just returned from Fotokol, a neighbouring
Cameroonian town about three kilometres away", the source added.

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Damaturu, the Yobe State
capital, assured the people of the North East that the federal
government was committed to completely wiping out the Boko Haram sect
from both the zone and the entire country.

The president, who was in the state for the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) presidential campaign rally, stated that the country was yet to
be completely rid of the insurgents because some of them live among
the people.

Speaking earlier when the PDP campaign train paid a courtesy visit to
the emir of Damaturu, Alhaji Shehu Hashemu II, Jonathan condoled with
the people of Yobe and families that lost relations to the insurgency.
--Agency Report

I'm Not Desperate To Remain In Office --Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan explained on Friday why he has remained
unperturbed in spite of the negative things said or written against
him, saying "I'm not desperate to remain in office as president."

He counseled politicians vying and scrambling for elective positions
both at the federal and state level not to be desperate if they have
the things needed for the contest, which are readiness and
willingness.

The president who stated this at a public launch of a book written by
Rev. Fr. Charles Imokhai, titled 'The People's Choice: The story of
President Goodluck Jonathan' at the old Banquet Hall of the
Presidential Villa, Abuja also said most accounts of the story of his
that had been published are not accurately correct.

More than N177 million was donated by both individual and corporate
donors at the launch of the book which chronicles the life of the
President in four-part, including his educational background, family
life and political career.

Noting that he was not desperate to remain in office, Jonathan said,
"My second message is to all of us, especially those of us who are
politicians, that for all of us who want to serve, we should be ready
to serve but we should not be desperate to serve our people.

"Sometimes, people ask me that Mr. President, from what we read and
what we see, we see you still smiling and unruffled. Yes, nothing will
really ruffle me because I am willing and ready to serve but I am not
desperate to serve. That is what keeps me going.

"All of us who want to hold offices from the least, a counselor of a
ward or a chairman of a council, a member of the state House of
Assembly or member of House of Representatives, Senate, Governor or
the President, if all of us are always ready and willing to serve our
people but we are not desperate in that our mission, then of course
Nigeria will be a better place for all of us".

Noting that that most accounts of his life published so far are not
accurate, the president described the story of his life as a humble
one

He said even though the book being launched yesterday provided an
account that seems to be close to being accurate, he himself would
write and publish the most accurate book after leaving office.

Jonathan assured that he would continue to initiate programmes that
will help young people as long as he remains the President, adding
that beneficiaries of his administration's YouWin Programme will shock
the country in the next 10 to 15 years.

Boasting that a product of the Almijiri schools being established by
his government would one day become the President of the country, he
said this explains why he had been passionate about education as could
be seen in his decision to increase the number of federal universities
across the country.

APC Plans To Announce Fake Presidential Election Result --PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation
alleged on Friday that the All Progressives Congress was planning to
announce fake presidential election results after the poll next week,
on Radio Chanji.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation,
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who made the allegation at a news conference
in Abuja, also insisted that available facts before the Federal
Government had indicated that the APC has a strong link with the
broadcasting station.

Fani - Kayode, further alleged that the APC would use the radio
station being operated from outside Nigeria, to propagate dangerous
propaganda to cause chaos after the presidential poll next Saturday.

He said, "We believe that we have been vindicated on our report just
two days ago about the existence of Radio Chanji. This is despite the
denials and the lies by the APC about the true situation of things and
about their dastardly intentions and sinister plots to use the station
for nefarious purposes."

He also claimed that the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, had
confirmed that the radio station existed and, that it was possible
that its operations, which had been going on for some time, are being
conducted from outside the country.

He said the latest revelation by the NBC was of great concern to the
ruling party.

He said[b], "Once again, we wish to point out the dangers of this
radio station and the evil intention of the people behind it. Apart
from anything else, they wish to use the station to announce false
results after the up-coming elections are conducted.

"That is the primary and more obvious intention and motive. There is,
however, a less obvious motive and intention and it is as follows. We
believe that it is only after the APC has been defeated in the
Presidential elections that the secondary purpose of this station will
manifest.

"The truth is that they intend to use it to create division, chaos and
strife in Nigeria by propagating the most irresponsible form of
mendacious and inciting falsehood and provocative propaganda. They
also intend to use it to incite their supporters to kill."

The PDP therefore called on the authorities to investigate, question
and arrest the people behind it before it is too late and before all
hell breaks loose.
--PUNCH

JAMB Releases 895,000 Results of Computer-Based UTME Exams

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released about
895, 000 results of candidates who sat for the Computer Based Test
(CBT) 2015 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations.

The Registrar of JAMB Prof. Dibu Ojerinde said this on Thursday in
Abuja during the inspection of proceedings of exams at designated
centres by the Minister of States for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri.

Ojerinde said the 895, 000 results released does not equals the amount
of results collected because some candidates who are yet to get their
results may have given JAMB wrong phone numbers.

"The results are already on the net (website) for those who have
written the exams. They should use their registration number and log
on to the JAMB website and get the result, but the results that are
not ready cannot be joined with the available ones," he said.

The Registrar explained that the board has resolved the challenges
faced earlier and that they are now stabilized to carry on in the next
11 days.

He said: "We hope to have less days next year because Mr. President is
building centres in all states of the federation particularly in the
local governments which will be ready for use next year."

While inspecting the conduct of the examination at Chamscity and NIIT
centres in Abuja, Prof. Onwuliri said she was impressed with the CBT
examination which makes result available two hours after the candidate
finishes his or her exams and by so doing remove obstacles around
marking and grading of the exam results.

She noted that the CBT is part of government efforts to make Nigeria
part of the global community and achieving excellence in education in
terms of access and quality.
--Daily Trust

'Breathtaking' Solar Eclipse Witnessed By Millions

A great swathe of the Earth's surface was plunged into darkness as the
Moon came between us and the Sun.

From an aeroplane above the Faroe Islands, a BBC camera crew captured
startling footage of the event reaching totality at 09:41 GMT.

The deep shadow formed first in the North Atlantic and then swept up
into the Arctic, ending at the North Pole.

People keen to catch a glimpse of the rare phenomenon were advised not
to look directly at it.

Looking directly at the Sun can cause serious harm, and skywatchers
were directed to the multiple ways to catch an eclipse safely and in
comfort.

In all parts of the UK, the eclipse reached at least 83%, with the
darkness peaking at about 09:35 GMT. The precise timing and degree of
the eclipse varied with location.

For the Shetland Islands, the eclipse was at its height at 09:43 GMT
and was very near total, with 97% of the Sun's disc obscured by the
Moon.

For those caught under cloudy skies, the internet was a good option to
see the eclipse.
Scientific agencies had planes and even satellites gathering video to
relay on the web and on television.

In the UK, the weather turned out to be slightly better than
anticipated, with clouds breaking in many places at just the right
time. London and the South East, on the other hand, just saw their
grey day get slightly gloomier.

Experiencing a genuine total eclipse required a trip north of the
British Isles - such as the flight taken by a BBC camera crew and
Stargazing Live's Liz Bonnin, above the clouds in the Faroes.

"We have a pretty spectacular view," Bonnin said. "This is extraordinary."

That footage revealed interesting features of the eclipse, including a
clear view of "Baily's beads". These are the sparkles of light seen at
the very edge of the Moon, where its rugged landscape allows the last
rays of sunlight to peak through before full obscuration.

Few land areas were directly in the path of the Moon's deepest shadow
- its so-called umbra - and seabirds probably had the some of the most
dramatic eclipse experiences.

The period of greatest darkness - nearly three minutes - occurred over
a spot in the Norwegian Sea, a little below the Arctic Circle, at
09:46 GMT.
--BBC

How To Use Aloe Vera And Green Tea For Effective Pimple And Acne Treatment

Aloe Vera

This herb has always been an important beauty ingredient for women. It
helps control skin breakouts. Also, with regular usage, it prevents
the further formation of acne and helps heal acne spots too.

You can use aloe juice or gel that you can find in the stores. You can
also break open an aloe vera leaf, extract the pulp and apply it on
your skin. After 15 minutes, wash it off with lukewarm water.

Green Tea

Easy to find and use, Green tea is also known as "pimple tea" in many
Asian cultures, as it is an effective herbal remedy to get rid of
acne. Green tea helps deal with acne in two major ways. You can drink
3-4 cups of green tea every day to help detoxify the body.

You can apply it on your face as well. To apply on the blemishes, take
a used green tea bag, allow it to cool down, and then dab it on the
affected parts. The antioxidants in green tea help your body to get
rid of free radicals that can cause damage to your skin.
--infonaija

FIFA Confirms Qatar2022 World Cup Final On December 18

FIFA has confirmed that the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will
be played on December 18, the country's national day.

FIFA spokesman Walter De Gregorio said on Thursday the announcement
was a "major step" and said the executive committee of football's
world governing body could confirm the start date on Friday.

It took the custodians of world football 1568 days to finally decide
on a date for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The gas-rich Gulf state had always maintained it was ready to deliver
a World Cup in the traditional June-July months, in the European
summer when most of the leagues on the continent take their break.

But Qatar's temperatures can exceed 50C during that time of year - so
holding one of the biggest sports events on the planet attracting was
quite simply not going to be practical, even with air conditioned
stadiums.

FIFA had to be seen to be consulting far and wide. They took their
time. It's worth noting that the awarding of this particular World Cup
12 years ahead of the event is unprecedented. So Sepp Blatter and co
didn't need to rush this decision.

And here we are over 1,500 days later knowing what we knew the day
the Middle East won the rights to host their first ever World Cup.
It's going to be a European winter World Cup.

"It is a major step because finally we know and we can move forward,"
De Gregorio said in a statement at FIFA headquarters.
"In principle we will try to play in 28 days. The next stage will be
to have talks ... in particular related to the international match
calendar."

FIFA's executive committee prefers a 28-day tournament, four days
fewer than usual and starting on November 21, but did not make a
decision in the opening session of its two-day meeting.

The November through to December option had been expected after being
recommended by a FIFA-appointed task force which met last month in
Doha, the Qatari capital.

The task force sought to take FIFA's lucrative event out of the Qatari
summer heat in the June to July period when World Cups are
traditionally played.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter then said he preferred a Sunday, December
18, final. Every World Cup final since 1966 has been played on a
Sunday.

By rejecting UEFA's preferred December 23 final, a Friday, the FIFA
executive committee helped protect the English Premier League's
traditional December 26 program.

A 28-day World Cup would cut the time clubs must release players to
national teams.

Both FIFA and Qatar have fought off questions of corruption ever
since they were awarded the tournament back in 2010, with Qatar
accusing its critics of a clear bias against the Gulf monarchy.
--Agencies

Jonathan Wants Me Dead Before March 28 --Mbaka Cries Out

The outspoken Enugu-based Catholic priest and founder of Adoration
Ministry, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka Thursday raised fresh alarm over
alleged plans by President Goodluck Jonathan to assassinate him before
the March 28 general elections.

In a press statement, through the media officer of the Adoration
Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria, Barr. Ike Maximus Ugwuoke, saidt he had been
marked for death before the presidential election.

The statement entitled: "JONATHAN WANTS ME DEAD BEFORE THE 2015
ELECTION", the Adoration Ministry warned that if anything happened to
"Mbaka, Jonathan's government would be held responsible."

The statement read: "It is with a deep sense of concern that we are
constrained to make this statement on the continued threat to the life
of Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka over his 2015 New Year message titled "From Good
luck to Badluck".

"The issue of threat to Fr' Mbaka's life became a public knowledge
that it formed the headline of a national daily Publication of 5th
January 2015, "My Life in Danger". The daily reported, 'Enugu Catholic
priest and the founder of Adoration Ministry, Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka
raised alarm that he has been receiving threat messages following his
New Year eve message'.

"Two days later, 7th January 2015, another daily also reported that
the Enugu State Police Command has refuted claims by Fr Mbaka that his
life is in danger. It dismissed Fr. Mbaka's outcry over threat to his
life as baseless. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere
Amarizu, DSP was quoted as saying, 'We do not have any report by Fr.
Mbaka over threat to his life. We have not received any complaint from
him'".

The Ministry added that, "On the backdrop of the above, one begins to
wonder whether the alarm raised by Fr Mbaka on an alleged plot to kill
him was a mere rhetoric as the police had made it to appear merely
because there has not been an official report to the police over it.
Absence of a formal report on threat to one's life doesn't negate the
reality of such threat more so when the victim had made a public
outcry on this issue. To argue otherwise is akin to denying the fact
of death in the face of a man's corpse merely because there is no
certificate certifying his death.

"Rev Fr. Mbaka had consistently in his public outings been raising
alarm over threat to his life and strange calls and messages
threatening to assassinate him. The last of this was his assertion
that assassins from the Presidency had been engaged to exterminate his
life before the 28th March 2015 Election.

"This was coming after he had made a public statement on 8th March
2015 that in the presence of some named witnesses, he rejected a
parcel of money sent to him by the First Lady through the Deputy
Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and that the rejected money was with
the latter.

The issue of threat to Fr Mbaka's life has become worrisome that even
at his last Friday's adoration Programme held on 13th March 2015, he
did not turnout in his usual car due to security alert he had of his
planned assassination on that day. Thursday strange hoodlums in a
black hillux besieged his parish compound but they left disappointed
when they could not see him.

"Wherever and whoever this threat is coming from, we state that there
are strong and compelling circumstances pointing towards the fact that
Fr. Mbaka's latest attacks were stemming from his said 2015 New Year
message which was not favourable to the President Goodluck Jonathan
led administration.

"We also wish to state that before the 2015 New Year message of Fr
.Mbaka, he used to pray for Jonathan's Government and never raised any
alarm on threats to his life but after the 31st night message which he
was inspired to preach by the Holy Spirit he has been making a public
outcry of threat to his life. This is a clear case of a witch cries in
the night and ones child is found dead in the morning.

"We advise the Goodluck Jonathan's government that he has a duty to
protect and guarantee Fr Mbaka's life as Adorers, Nigerians, the
Catholic Church and indeed the international community will readily
point accusing fingers to him, in event of any misfortune against Fr
Mbaka or Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria.

"With the stage the level of threat to Fr Mbaka's life has reached, we
call on Nigerian Police and indeed all security agencies in this
country to protect the life of our Spiritual Director we else may
resort to enforce his fundamental Rights to life against President
Jonathan's led government as guaranteed under section 33 of the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
--Daily Times

Jonathan Ahead Of Buhari --Opinion Poll

Nine days to the March 28 election, an independent consulting firm,
Kevin, Charlyn and Kimberly, has said that an opinion poll carried out
by the firm shows that President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) will likely lead his All Progressives Congress
(APC) counterpart, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, with a margin of 13 per cent.

A consultant with the firm and director of Vince Network Limited, a
United Kingdom-based organisation, Mr Vince Onyekwelu, disclosed this
during a press conference in Abuja yesterday.

He said, "The cumulative aggregate is that PDP GEJ (Jonathan) scores
63% while the APC GMB (Buhari) gets 37% for the development of the
Nigerian economy and protection of basic human rights."

Onyekwelu said the poll was based on monkey survey samples of 28,000
respondents, 2,000 respondents from Facebook and Twitter, while 300
respondents were from face-to-face contacts and telephone interviews.

Speaking on the methodology of the survey, Onyekwelu said it was based
on the perception of the people and several other dynamics.

On the credibility of the survey, he said the research is credible
based on his capacity and knowledge, adding that the respondents were
randomly selected to ensure that justice was done to the survey.

He also acknowledged that Nigerians who responded to the survey saw
the war on terror as one of the major issues that would decide who
they would vote for.

Meanwhile, the Ijaws in Rivers State, under the auspices of Rivers
Ijaw Forum, have endorsed the second term bid of President Jonathan
and the governorship ambition of Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike in this
year's elections.

The group, in a communiqué at the end of a one-day Rivers Ijaws Summit
in Port Harcourt, signed by Ijaw chiefs, elders, opinion leaders,
women and youths, resolved that all Rivers people of Ijaw extraction
should vote for President Jonathan and Wike in the March 28 and April
11 elections.
--Leadership

Terrorism: APC Unhappy Over Jonathan's Success --Fani-Kayode

Director of media and publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party
Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode,
said yesterday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not happy
with the success of the nation's military and the federal government
in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.

Fani-Kayode, in a statement he issued in Abuja, said "what is really
giving the APC a headache is their failed expectation that President
Jonathan's government would be unable to subdue the deadly activities
of the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-eastern part of the country.

"The APC had field days attacking the government on the issue of
insurgency, hardly aware of the determination of our presidential
candidate, President Jonathan, to end the problem once and for all.

"So far, the Nigerian military, in collaboration with the West African
forces, had been recording unprecedented success in the campaign
against Boko Haram insurgents.

"The military has turned up surprises in their anti-Boko Haram
campaigns so far with the ability to recover all the territories
hitherto lost to the insurgents in Adamawa and Yobe, with only a few
communities more to recover in Borno State."

Fani-Kayode accused the APC of planning to hire foreign journalists
and procure the services of foreign media houses to discredit and
disparage the achievements of the military and the federal government
under President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said, "This is to bring to the notice of the good people of
Nigerians that the APC is now engaged in a last minute effort to hire
foreign writers to discredit and disparage the government of President
Goodluck Jonathan and the achievements he has so far recorded as we
march towards March 28 presidential election.

"It has always been the stock in trade of the APC to run to the
international media for support after failing to convince Nigerians
that it has the credibility and capacity to withstand our presidential
candidate in the coming election.

"Past efforts by the APC to use the international media against our
president had failed and will continue to collapse like a pack of
cards.

"This latest move by the APC is coming against the backdrop of the
general disenchantment against them and their leaders caused by the
broadcast TV documentary, "Unmasking the Real Tinubu", which exposed
how their national leader, Bola Tinubu, used his office as governor
and the office of his successor, Babatunde Fashola, to amass
monumental wealth in Lagos.

"Until the TV documentary, the opposition had field days denigrating
the PDP, using the mantra of corruption as a tool. By now, Nigerians
are properly schooled on which party holds the banner of corruption in
the most sordid and absurd manner."
--Leadership

2015 Elections: UN Backs INEC's Use Of Card Readers

The United Nations (UN) yesterday backed the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) to use card readers during the rescheduled
March 28 presidential elections in Nigeria, stressing the need for all
Nigeria's political parties to create a conducive environment for the
elections.

Speaking during his visit to Nigeria, the United Nations Political
envoy, Mr. Jeffrey Feltman, lauded the efforts of the electoral umpire
for its ability to distribute permanent voters cards and the testing
of card readers despite a tight schedule and logistical challenges.

He pressed further that the efforts of the Jega-led INEC to implement
the use of card readers during the polls should help Nigerians and the
international community build their confidence in the country's
electoral system and pave the way for credible and inclusive
elections. He also said that the electoral commission had made
"noteworthy" progress in the preparations for the upcoming elections.

Speaking further, the United Nations top official noted that it was
only the ability of Nigeria's politicians to prevent heating up the
polity that could guarantee credible and bloodless electoral process
in the country.

Flanked by the secretary-general's high-level representative to
Nigeria, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Mr. Feltman insisted on the need for
electoral and political officials to continue working together to
create an environment conducive to the holding of violence-free and
credible elections. He added that only a conducive environment could
make eligible Nigerians to freely exercise their constitutional right
to vote, including those displaced by violence in the northeast.

He however commended President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) and the presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari, for their
commitment to the Abuja Accord aimed at preventing election-related
violence.

"Given the important role Nigeria plays in the region and globally,
the international community is closely watching the elections in
Nigeria and that any persons responsible for violence will be held
accountable," Mr Feltman stated.

Turning to the situation in the country's northeast where government
forces are currently fighting the militant group Boko Haram, Mr.
Feltman reiterated UN secretary-general, Mr. Ban Ki-moon's message
that no cause or grievance can justify the insurgent group's
"continuing indiscriminate and brutal attacks" against the region's
civilian populations.
--Leadership

Follow Due Process In Suit Over My Certificate --Buhari

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the
March 28 election, Gen Muhammadu Buhari has told Justice Adeniyi
Ademola to follow due process in the determination of a suit
challenging the propriety of his academic qualification.

Buhari had through his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), informed
the court on the need to follow due process.

Buhari was dragged before the court by a lawyer, Chinwuike Okafor,
challenging the legality of the general's academic qualification for
the presidential election.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, lawyer to the plaintiff,
Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) told the court of the need for expeditious
hearing of the matter.

He added that time was of the essence since the crux of the suit deals
with disqualification of Buhari, whom the plaintiff alleged, is not
qualified to contest the presidential election slated for March 28.

Ozekhome had invited the court to consolidate the originating summons
and all pending applications over the jurisdiction of the court on the
grounds that, "the presidential election wherein we demand Buhari's
disqualification will hold on March 28".

Lawyer to the APC, (the 2nd defendant in the matter), Chief Lateef
Fagbemi (SAN), while objecting to the application of the plaintiff,
said, "I have never seen where the issue of challenge to service by
substituted means is lumped up with the originating summons.

"The Issue of service is factual and legal. We have to thrash it out
first before talking about the originating summons."

But Ozekhome took exception to the arguement of the defendants, saying
he has always advocated that the general elections should hold on
March 28 as scheduled.

He said,"I am for election holding on March 28. I never said the court
should decide the suit before election nor have intention to scuttle
the democratic process.

"Our application has to do with disqualification of Buhari; deciding
the case on time and having one candidate disqualified out of 16 flag
bearers cannot scuttle the presidential election of March 28 as
scheduled.

After listening to argument on whether or not the court should take
the originating summons together with all pending applications,
Justice Ademola adjourned the matter till March 24 for ruling.
--Leadership Newspapers

Gunmen Kidnap Diezani Allison-Madueke's 20-Year-Old Cousin In Bayelsa

Unidentified gunmen on Thursday invaded the home community of the
Minster of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke in Yenaka
community of Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State, and
abducted her 20-year-old cousin, Mr. Bozie Agama.

The spokesman of Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat,while
confirming the incident, said the police has deployed special squad of
detectives and members of the anti-kidnapping squad to track down the
kidnappers and secure the release of their victim.

According to the Butswat, the police command received a report of the
incident early on Thursday from the victim's father, Mr Maxwell Agama.

Butswat said the incident occurred at about 12.30 am on Thursday.

According to Butswat,"We are still working to know the number of the
gunmen that carried out the attack. We don't know the motive behind it
but our men in the marine division have been alerted on the incident."
--Leadership Newspapers

NLC Crisis Deepens As Factional President Emerges

General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees
(NUEE), Joe Ajaero, was yesterday elected the factional leader of the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), at a special delegates conference held
in Lagos.

Though the group had earlier fixed Saturday, March 21, for the special
delegate sconference, it later decided to hold it yesterday. It said
the change was to forestall disruption of the parallel conference by
its opponents.

The group claimed 22 unions including Electricity Workers Union,
Nigerian Textile Workers Union and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), among others participated in the
delegate conference.

The unions opposed the results of the election that produced Ayuba
Wabba president of the NLC at the 11th delegate conference held at the
Eagle Square in Abuja last week.

The election yesterday has deepened the crisis rocking NLC, as the
group went ahead to form a parallel labour centre.

The parallel executive members elected at yesterday's conference,
include Joe Ajaero (President), Issa Aremu, who was former vice
president of NLC (deputy president) and Igwe Achese, (deputy
president 2), Kasumu Kadiri, Kelly Ogbaloi and Yashi Yahaya as vice
presidents.

The twist in the election however, was the adoption of other officers
elected unopposed at the Abuja conference and had been part of the
team.

In his acceptance speech, Ajaero reeled out his plans and programmes
for workers, promising to overhaul NLC.

He commended the delegates for the confidence reposed in him, saying
the former President of NLC, Abdulwahed Omar failed in all areas.
--Daily Sun