How Jonathan’s campaign Team votes millions to hire anti-Buhari protesters in London

President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign has earmarked $20,000 to hire protesters in London Thursday as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, speaks at Chatham House.
According to an internal memo seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the money would be spent on mobilising the crowd, refreshing them and defraying other logistics.
The memo, which originated from the campaign’s Assistant Director, Civil Society and Support Groups (Diaspora), Peter Mozie, explained why the anti-Buhari protest is necessary, and requested the campaign’s Director in charge of Civil Society and Support Groups, Nick Eze, to immediately release the funds.
Insiders in the campaign said the funds have since been released and sent to London while extensive mobilisation of protesters is now apace.
Mr. Mozie’s memo, entitled: “The Chatham House Rally: March Against Dictator” reads, “Nigerians in the Diaspora will converge at Chatham House, United Kingdom on Thursday, 26th of February, 2015 to show solidarity and support for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his transformation agenda in Nigeria as a surprise to the august visitor, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
“The solidarity rally will among other things address major progresses of President Goodluck Jonathan and many sins of General Muhammadu Buhari while he was military dictator.
“Talking Points:

1. Buhari is an unrepentant Dictator, who will never change no matter the number of suits he wears.
2. Buhari overthrew the democracy and ruled Nigeria despotically subverting human rights, imprisoning the innocent and jailed Nigeria’s foremost musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and innocent journalists for no just reason.
3. The rally will remind the international community about Buhari’s dictatorial leaning from 1983-1984 when many innocent Nigerians were killed, our democracy raped and Nigerian constitution suspended.
4. The rally will also draw the attention of opinion leaders and diplomats in the United Kingdom that Buhari should not be in Chatham House but facing war crimes at the Hague before the International Criminal Court, ICC, for genocide against Christians and innocent Nigerians who were killed by his supporters in 2011 on his instructions when he campaigned in Minna, Niger State and asked his supporters to unleash mayhem if he lost the election.
5. Above all, to draw the attention of the international community to the fact that Nigerians have rejected Buhari thrice before and will still reject him for the 4th time. In essence, to tell the whole world that Nigerians reject Buhari.

Schedule of Event
Arrival at Chatham House – 9 a.m
Drummers playing patriotic Nigerian music – 9a.m. – 9.30 a.m
Start chanting of Anti-Buhari and anti-military songs also
Speakers start speaking about Buhari’s dictatorship at 10 a.m
Diaspora will stay at Chatham and continue to chant Anti-Buhari songs until the event is over.
The world must know a DICTATOR has come to Chatham House. A ruthless killer has come to Chatham House.
However, to defray the cost of the logistics, refreshment, mobilization and necessary permits to stage the rally we shall need the sum of $20,000.00 to cover all the expenses.
Regards
CC. Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali”
The spokesperson for the campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode, could not be reached to comment for this story. He did not answer or return calls.
See bromide of memo below.


Source: PREMIUM TIMES

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Austin Okocha Emerges Chairman Delta State Football Association

Former Super Eagles captain, Austin J.J.Okocha, has been elected the chairman Delta State Football Association.
Okocha received 26 votes while his co-contestant, Evans Agbo, only mustered a vote for himself at the election held on Friday.
Okocha thus joins the likes of Christopher Green, Abubakar Ladan and Ganiyu Majekodunmi, amongst others, who all emerged as winners in their respective State FA elections.
Okocha enjoyed an illustrious career with the Super Eagles as he is one of only two Nigerian footballers to play at three FIFA World Cup finals.
Jay-Jay Okocha’s club career took him through Germany, France, England and Turkey, and he is presently Head of the NFF Technical Study Group.
Okocha, who had served as vice chairman before the elevation, replaces Amaju Pinnick, who announced his intention to relinquish the post on the day he was elected President of Nigeria Football Federation, September 30, 2014.

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I can’t guarantee holding polls on March 28 - Jega

 

Prof. Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday, reiterated his preparedness to conduct the   general elections as scheduled but maintained that only the military could guarantee the sanctity of the March 28 and April 11 dates.                      

Jega, who appeared before the Senate to explain the level of INEC’s preparedness for the elections, however, stunned many of the lawmakers when he revealed that one million Permanent Voter Cards had yet to be received by the commission from the manufacturers.

The Senators had thoroughly grilled him after he made about three-hour presentation and demonstrated how the card readers work.

Responding to a question by the Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, to give a clear assurance on the dates, Jega replied, “I think it is a very difficult question to answer.

“I have said consistently that there are things under the control of electoral commission and there are things that are not under the control of electoral commission. For things that are under our control, I can give definite and categorical assurances.

“On what is not under our control, it is futile, it is fruitless and useless to give a definite guarantee on them. I think that question should be directed appropriately. The questions of security, I will leave it, I don’t think I am competent to answer it sufficiently.”

Asked how he would respond if the security agencies requested a further delay, Jega said doing so would be illegal.

He then made reference to a constitutional provision that requires elections to be concluded at least 30 days before May 29, when a new government must be sworn in.

“Every Nigerian knows we want elections to hold… within a constitutional time frame.   The security agencies are (made up of) patriotic Nigerians. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt,” he told the senators.

He added, “We should be fair also to the military. Soldiers are also patriotic Nigerians.   I don’t see how anybody will contemplate any extension beyond these six weeks.

“There is no constitutional grounds upon which you can do that. For us, we work by the constitution, by the law . That is what is guiding us and we should all put the interest of the nation at heart.

“The human factor is always significant, it is always important but we believe that working together with security and other stakeholders, we should be able to prevent negative human intervention that can create problems.

“I kept saying consistently that INEC is not a security organisation. We are an election management body; so we rely a lot on security to be able to ensure that things are done well and that there is no disruption of the electoral process.

“We have been working very closely with the inter agencies consultative committee on election security and that is why for us, if the service chiefs say that we can’t guarantee security, give us more time, what is the alternative security arrangements ?

“If we consulted with the stakeholders and we cannot find an answer, what happens? We are going to use close to 700, 000 ad hoc staff. We can’t send people to the field in that kind of a situation.

“Our prayer is that in the next six weeks, there will be significant improvement in the security situation for us to hold the   elections all over this country in a very secure environment.

“There are certain questions that we are not really competent to answer. Certain questions should be directed to the military; they can answer them better.”

The INEC boss expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the card readers, stressing that their use for accreditation during the elections would not contravene any provision either in the electoral act or in the constitution.

He also said that   anyone who clones and tries to prevent the use of the card readers would be treated as a criminal.

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Nigerian Lawmakers Divided Over Election Shift

Members of the House of Representatives were sharply divided on Sunday over the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to shift the general elections by six weeks, beginning from March 28.

Anger was the word in the camp of the caucus of the All Progressives Congress as they did not only oppose the shift of the elections but also accused INEC of being a puppet in the hands of the Presidency.

The APC caucus also claimed that insecurity as a major excuse given by INEC was a cover-up for the alleged “hidden interests” of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

But, the PDP caucus embraced the postponement and commended INEC for having the courage to “do the right thing by not denying millions of Nigerians their right to vote.”

Findings also showed that the PDP caucus was plotting to stop the commission from using its Card Reader for Permanent Voter Cards during the elections.

Expressing annoyance over the shift of the polls, House Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, said INEC disappointed Nigerians.

Gbajabiamila said, “A deeper analysis and closer scrutiny reveals a lot more. It reveals perhaps the proverbial hand of Esau and voice of Jacob. A complete about-turn barely 24 hours after INEC said clearly in a presentation to the National Council of State that it was ready says a lot.

“The independence of INEC has been put to question because the sum total of what we heard from INEC now is that its powers to determine election dates have been usurped and the military now determines when we can have elections in this country.

“That is a dangerous precedent. Many questions are raised: Should the military be the ones to provide election security? What exactly then is the role of police in a civil society?

“The role being ascribed to the military for election purposes is ultra vires and unconstitutional. That role belongs to the police and we all know the police are not overstretched in the North-East.”

While rejecting the reasons tendered by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for postponing the election, the APC leader argued that his understanding of the development was the case of a “government in power running away from elections.”

However, the PDP House Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, argued that INEC did the right thing by “stopping on time from plunging the country into a major political crisis.”

Ogor said that had INEC gone ahead to conduct the poll “with many Nigerians yet to collect their PVCs,” the outcome would have continued to haunt the commission and its leadership.

He said, “The main issue here is the PVC. INEC would have denied millions of Nigerians their constitutional right to vote had they proceeded with the elections.

“You cannot tell me that because majority of voters have PVC, then others have become inconsequential. So, why did they register to vote? The majority will have their way, but the minority must still have their say.

“That is the only way we can begin to talk about justice and fairness, else it is a wrong step that will continue to haunt the nation.”

Doubts over March 28

House Minority Whip, Mr. Sampson Osagie, kicked against the postponement and expressed doubts on whether there would be any elections on March 28.

“The decision to shift elections is too sad. The elections may never hold after all because the security agencies will never guarantee the security of men and materials.

“This is obviously a PDP-induced decision. I weep for my country Nigeria,” Osagie stated in an electronic mail to our correspondent on Sunday.

The Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Mr. Jerry Manwe, said it was unlikely that President Goodluck Jonathan influenced the decision of INEC.

Manwe, who incidentally, is a member of the Social Democratic Party, noted that INEC became helpless soon after security reports did not support the conduct of the poll.

The lawmaker, who is from Taraba State, said Nigerians kicking against the postponement needed to visit the North-East to really appreciate what the people of the zone faced daily.

He said, “Insecurity is the key issue; I am sure if people are to die because they have to vote, that is more serious than the elections.

“The National Security Adviser and the service chiefs are in a position to know the security situation of the North-East. The North-East is in trouble and you have to be there to appreciate what is happening.

“Jonathan is not the issue; he didn’t influence INEC because up till yesterday (Saturday), he was busy campaigning, which means that he expected that the elections would still be held on February 14th as earlier fixed.”

House spokesman, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, accused the Presidency of allegedly “manipulating INEC” to play a prepared script.

Meanwhile, Mohammed, who warned against the consequences of using the “military for political reasons”, added that the PDP-led Federal Government was merely “postponing the evil day.”

He said, “It appears some persons have other interests other than the overall interest of Nigeria.

“What they have done is to politicise the military to use insecurity as their reason for shifting the polls.

“However, they are merely shifting the evil day; very soon, the chickens will come home to roost and we will see who laughs last.”

Meanwhile, there were indications on Sunday that PDP lawmakers were against the introduction of card readers by INEC.

Ogor confirmed that several motions on the elections would be brought to the floor by members as from February 17.

He said, “INEC has not tested the card reader in any previous election to know whether it is reliable or not.

“Why use the presidential and National Assembly polls as the guinea pig for the card reader? Do they want to mess up the elections?

“We are coming to discuss it on the floor and there are a whole lot of issues surrounding this postponement to be resolved.”

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Ex-African leaders, others to monitor election in Nigeria

The National Democratic Institute (NDI), a U.S. non-partisan body says it will send an international observation mission to Nigeria for the presidential and National Assembly elections on Feb. 14.

This is contained in a statement signed by Kathy Gest and Raymond Esebagbon on behalf of the organisation yesterday in Abuja.

The statement said that members of the delegation would be drawn from nine countries and would be co-led by some former African leaders and officials of the United States Government.

They are Rupiah Banda, former President of Zambia; Navin Ramgoolam, former Prime Minister of Mauritius; Mahamadu Danda, former Prime Minister of Niger Republic, and William Ritter, former Governor of the U.S. State of Colorado.

Others are Johnnie Carson, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; a senior advisor at the U.S. Institute of Peace and a member of the NDI Board of Directors.

The mission’s findings, according to the statement, will be presented at a press conference in Abuja on Feb. 15.

The statement said: ``The delegation’s purpose is to provide an accurate assessment of the conduct of the elections and demonstrate the international community’s continuing support for democratic processes in Nigeria.

``NDI’s observers will have briefings in Abuja from candidates, election officials, and representatives of political parties, civil society, the media and the international community.

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Rich, Spoilt Kid Buys 51-Year-Old Nigerian As A Toy

The Toy, a popular 80s movie, was about a spoiled rich white kid who buys a black man (played by Richard Pryor). Now there is a real life story: Wallace Turnquist purchased Ezekiel Akpu-nku from Nigeria as a playmate and servant for this 13-year-old son, Skyler.

"Last year I took Sky on a hunting safari to Africa and he was delighted by the African people," Wallace Turnquist told WSB-TV. "How funny they were, how they were always smiling and so eager to please. At first he just wanted to take one, but I told him kidnapping was illegal. So instead, I bought him one."

Since slavery and human trafficking are illegal, Turnquist gave Ezekiel a five year employment contract that pays $1,000 per year plus room/board, one day off per month and unlimited snacks. Ezekiel’s contract states that he must do whatever Skyler tells him to do so long as it is not illegal.

"This one time I made him stand on one foot for the entire day," Skyler Turnquist said. "I also made him eat a spider. He does whatever I say. He’s the best toy ever."

"I’m very happy to be Skyler’s toy, " Akpu-nku said. "In Africa I was starving, here, in the land of opportunity, my belly never goes hungry."

Turnquist said Skyler already wants another "African toy" but his father has said no this time.

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Abuja Residents Kick Against Postponement of General Election

Some residents of Abuja today protested against alleged plans by the Nigerian government to manipulate the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] to postpone the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

The protest, organized by the civic group, National Consensus Movement, commenced from the Unity Fountain, Maitama, with protesters marching in the directions of Eagle Square, a premium event centre in the nation’s capital.
But as they filed past the Federal Secretariat, the protesters were blocked by officers of the Nigeria police.
Not deterred, the protesters went on chanting, ” Election must hold, Election must hold.”
The placard-carrying protesters said it was hard for anyone to believe that after heating up the polity, the government could resort to an attempt to postpone the already planned election.
Some of the various placards read: “Nigerians say no to postponement, we want election”, “Democracy must survive.”, “Our vote of confidence to Jega. Give us elections. February 14.” “Election must hold on 14th of February ” and “GEJ, you claimed you have done 20,000km of roads, why are you afraid of elections?”
Others read, “No responsible Nigerian will support postponement of election and NCS members are all responsible. So say no to postponement ” and “No to election postponement. ”
One of the protesters, Mohammed Abdullahi,30, an Abuja-based business man, said it would be unfair to the average Nigerian if the election is postponed.
Mr. Abdullahi said elections in Nigeria have become occasions when some citizens travel from their base to their states of origin to vote.
He said a call for postponement would inconvenience people who have already moved their families to various locations in a Nigeria to cast their votes.
He also called on the government to reconsider its plans for the rumoured postponement and allow INEC its independent right to handle the affairs of the election.
“Some of my friends in PDP have even told me it’s not fair because they have spent a lot of money in campaigns. And postponement only means sourcing for funds for fresh campaigns,” Mr. Abdullahi said.
Others said the plan for postponement is a tactical approach by the present administration to ensure elongation of tenure.
The National Council of State is meeting today to deliberate on issues of possible postponement.
However, Attahiru Jega, Chairman, INEC, has said the commission is prepared for the coming elections and has no plans for a postponement.
Before today’s anti-postponement protest, some apparently hired youths numbering about 100, had on Monday marched on INEC headquarters demanding the postponement of the elections.
The youth had gathered in front of the electoral body’s headquarters, asking the commission to delay the polls because of the difficulty in the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card, PVCs.
According to the protesters, only 40 per cent of the poll had been distributed ahead of the February 14 and 28 elections.
They also claimed that INEC needed 960,000 ad hoc staff but that at the time of their protest the staff had not been engaged.
They argued that if the polls were allowed to go ahead as scheduled, several million Nigerians would not be able to vote.

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Jonathan's administration does not spare good people-Nyako

 

 The former governor of Adamawa state, Murtala Nyako said declaring him wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not come to him as a surprise, adding that the present administration does not spare good people.

Reacting to the development, Nyako said he was not in the least surprised by the latest turn of events because the present administration had shown a disdain for honest people.

The former governor spoke through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmed Sajoh.

He said, “We are not surprised but if it is true that they have done that (declared Nyako wanted), it is a good development.

“This administration does not spare good people. Show me any of the vile and corrupt people who have been declared wanted or convicted.

“Then show me the good people it has not hounded.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on Wednesday declared Murtala Nyako and his son, Abdulaziz Murtala, wanted.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said Nyako and his son were declared wanted for offences bordering on economic crimes.

“Former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, has been declared wanted by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Also wanted by the EFCC is the son of the ex-governor, Abdul Aziz Murtala Nyako, a retired naval officer.

“Both are wanted in a case of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.”

The EFCC had in July last year given the indication that it was most likely to declare Nyako wanted because he failed to honour the commission’s invitation to answer questions on how monies meant for the running of the state were spent.

Uwujaren had said then that the commission was opting for the strategy to declare Nyako wanted because he had been elusive since he was ousted from office.

“Since Nyako, was removed, he has been elusive. So, the commission has devised a strategy to declare him wanted.

“The commission is planning to declare him wanted,” Uwujaren said.

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Audit report indicts NNPC, to refund $1.48billion

The forensic audit conducted by the audit firm of PriceWaterHouseCoopers on behalf of the Federal Government on the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] has indicted the management of the national oil company for various questionable transactions.
Part of the recommendations include that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, the upstream subsidy of the NNPC should refund about $1.48billion to the Federation Account for various unreconciled transactions.
President Goodluck Jonathan had on Monday publicly received the report a day after a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN], Chukwuma Soludo, wrote a long, acerbic article accusing the managers of the Nigerian economy of misappropriating over N30trillion of public funds, including several billions in oil money.
The forensic audit was commissioned following allegation by the immediate past Governor of the CBN, Lamido Sanusi, that about $20 billion oil money was missing from the NNPC.
The Presidency had on March 12, 2014 announced, through a statement by the president’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, that it had authorised the engagement of reputable international firms to carry out the forensic audit of the accounts of the NNPC.
The allegation that the huge amount had been stolen was raised in 2013 by a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano.
Mr. Sanusi said as much as $49 billion was diverted by state oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
He later reviewed the amount to $20 billion, and called for investigations after writing to President Goodluck Jonathan.
A Senate probe into the allegation yielded no result. Mr. Sanusi was later fired by President Jonathan after he was accused of “financial recklessness”.
The government said no money was missing, but promised a forensic investigation of NNPC.
In April 2014, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, announced the appointment of the accounting firm, PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PwC), to conduct a detailed investigation into the accounts and activities of NNPC.
The minister said the investigation, under the supervision of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, would take about 16 weeks.
That schedule meant at most by September 2014 ending, the report should have been ready. A two-month delay meant the report should have been ready by November.
But the government only publicly received the report on Monday.

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Okonjo-Iweala Has An Impeccable Record- Nuhu Ribadu

The former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman and PDP Governorship candidate for Adamawa state, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has refuted the allegation by former CBN Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo that N30 trillion got missing under the watch of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Nuhu Ribadu said it was not possible to have such a huge amount of money go missing under her watch.
He stressed that the Minister of Finance has an impeccable record having monitored her while she was minister under Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
"I was baffled and got deluded for anyone to say that N30 trillion got lost. I think we just have to look at what we earn as a country and what our budget had been in these few years and see how possible it is. If everything we earned is not up to that within the period she has been the minister, which is about three to four years, then we need to be careful. We need to be careful to avoid more damage to our nation, because there are certain things that when it comes out, it will never go back again.".

"I challenge anybody to say that she stole N1 at that time; we were all there. I was in charge of EFCC and I want to hear anybody say that she did this and that. I followed her up till now. I think it is somehow uncharitable for someone to come out to say that such an amount of money was missing under her watch. When I worked with her, she exhibited a nationalistic attitude that was not questionable and believed in any policy that could take Nigeria and its people high. I am close to almost all of us that worked together as a team and I know that Ngozi continues to do what she knows how best to do, which is to serve Nigeria. She managed this economy fairly in spite of all the challenges and difficulties; it is sad for someone to look at Ngozi and said that she has a hand in it (alleged missing funds). This pull-down syndrome has to stop and we must manage ourselves very well; I am not happy now with what is going on and I think that if it is politics, I think it is something that is hurting us as people and hurting the economy as well,” he said.

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