President Jonathan Fires IG of Police, Suleiman Abba

 
President Goodluck Jonathan  has fired Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba.
The sack was announced by the president’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, in a statement on Tuesday.
No reason was given for the sack.
A Deputy Inspector General of police, Solomon Arase, was appointed to act in his stead.
Mr. Abba’s removal and the assumption of office of his replacement are with immediate effect.
Mr. Abati’s statement read in full, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has relieved the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba of his appointment and duties with immediate effect.
“President Jonathan has also appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, as Acting Inspector-General of Police, also with immediate effect.
“Until his appointment as Mr. Abba’s replacement, Mr. Arase was the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.
“Mr. Arase holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law, as well as  Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies.
“He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.”
Mr. Abba, 56, became acting Inspector General on August 1, 2014 following the retirement of his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar, after 35 years of public service.
He was confirmed substantive IGP on November 4, 2014.
Mr. Abba was until that appointment an Assistant Inspector General, AIG, in charge of Zone 7 command, a position he occupied since May 25, 2012. He was also a former Aide-De-Camp, ADC, to the wife of a former military Head of State, Maryam Abacha.
With his removal, Mr. Abba will proceed on forced retirement four years before he attains retirement age. He enlisted in the Nigerian police as cadet inspector on December 31, 1984 and is actually due for retirement on March 22, 2019.

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President Jonathan defends his decision to concede defeat to Muhammadu Buhari

President Goodluck Jonathan has defended his decision to concede defeat to Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 election, saying he was concerned about allowing his personal ambition scuttle a democratic system he helped nurtured, with the likely consequence of a “collective tragedy”.
Mr. Jonathan said Thursday that he needed to check his ambition, as the consequences of not doing so may have been dire not only for Nigeria, but Africa.
The president made the remarks during separate meetings with the new ambassadors of France, Senegal and Ethiopia. He was responding to commendations for his decision to promptly accept defeat after it became clear Mr. Buhari had won the polls.
“Democracy has to be nurtured to grow. Strong democratic institutions are the backbone and future of our democracy. They must be protected and nurtured. As for me, as a matter of principle, it is always the nation first,” Mr. Jonathan said.
“You need to have a nation before you can have an ambition. It should always be the nation first. You don’t have to scuttle national progress for personal ambition.
“Since I assumed duty, I have been involved in quelling political crisis in some African countries and I know what they passed through and what some are still going through. If you scuttle a system for personal ambition, it becomes a collective tragedy,’’ President Jonathan declared.
Mr. Jonathan urged world leaders and international institutions to give their fullest possible support to the incoming administration of Buhari.
He also called on all Nigerians to do their utmost best to help the incoming president succeed in leading the country to greater heights of accomplishment.
The president appealed for patience, understanding and cooperation, which, he said, Mr. Buhari will need to move the country forward to greater, peace, security and progress.
Speaking with the new French ambassador, Denis Guaer, President Jonathan urged France to extend the support and assistance it gave to his administration to Mr. Buhari’s government.
“President Francois Hollande was our guest in Nigeria during the celebration of Nigeria’s centenary. He has been very supportive of the country in the fight against terrorism. I expect that the same warmth and goodwill will be extended to the incoming government. I expect that France will continue to work with the new administration, especially on issues of terrorism.
“The United Nations has been supportive as well. Our troops, supported by regional forces, have done very well in fighting the terrorists in recent times. What we need now is support to help our people get back their lives,’’ he said.
The ambassadors commended President Jonathan for setting a record of humility, patriotism and courage in safeguarding the democratic process in Nigeria and Africa.
“Nigeria is not only an economic power in the world today, but also a great democratic example. And it is all by your effort, Mr. President. The last elections and your response was truly a great achievement and you will always be remembered for it,” the French ambassador told the President.
Mr. Guaer, the new Ambassador of Senegal, Baboucar Sambe, and the new Ambassador of Ethiopia, Samia Zekaria Gutu, who were at the Presidential Villa to present their letters of credence to President Jonathan, also assured him that they will do their best to strengthen relations between Nigeria and their countries during their tenure.

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I am still in PDP– Ogbulafor

A former National Chairman of the PDP, Vincent Ogbulafor, who Friday sneaked into the national Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja said he was in the office to congratulate the party for a “job well done”.
In a chat with newsmen after emerging from a private meeting with the APC Chairman, John Oyegun, which lasted for 45 minutes, Mr. Ogbulafor said “I just came back into town yesterday and I came to congratulate the national chairman of APC for a job well done”.
Mr. Ogbulafor was a national secretary and later, chairman of the PDP.
The APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, defeated the candidate of the PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan, in the election that held on March 28.
Asked if he is moving over to the APC, Mr. Ogbulafor said “I am still in PDP”, adding “Not yet. Even if I will, not yet”.
The former PDP Chairman also expressed delight with the victory of Mr. Buhari in the presidential election.
When reminded that he had earlier predicted that the PDP would rule Nigeria for 60 years, Mr. Ogbulafor blamed it on the “dismantling of the governors’ forum”.
Also, the APC Deputy National Chairman, South West, Segun Oni, said Mr. Ogbulafor was in the secretariat on a private visit.
“Don’t forget, the National Chairman is his friend and some of us are also his friends,” he said.
Mr. Oni however said the party would be happy to welcome Mr. Ogbulafor into its fold.
“He came to visit his friend and to congratulate us. That is the way politics should be played. Even if he were still the National Chairman of PDP and he comes here to congratulate our national chairman and meet some of us his friends, that will be good politics.
“I am looking forward to our friend, the National Chairman of PDP, visiting us here to say congratulations. As politicians, we must salvage this process called politics; we must rescue it from charlatans.
“We must give it a colour of decency, and maturity,” he said.

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South Africa seeks support to defeat xenophobic attacks

South Africa on Friday in Pretoria sought diplomatic support from countries across the continent to tackle the ongoing anti-immigrant violence in the country.
This was as a result of series of complaints by foreign nationals that the South African police are failing to protect them.
They said the crisis was stirring hostility to South Africans working abroad.
South African Foreign Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, told a reporter after the African diplomatic meeting in Pretoria, that there was urgent need to nip the crisis in the bud.
“We believe that working together we can defeat this demon,” she said.
Malawian Information Minister, Kondwani Nankhumwa, said on Friday that the country has hired buses to repatriate 500 of its nationals from South Africa.
He urged South Africa to provide greater protection for immigrants, echoing demands from China and the African Union.
Kenya and some other African governments have also offered to evacuate any of their citizens who feel threatened.
Chadian Ambassador, Mahamoud Adam-Bachir, said the Pretoria meeting had helped to alleviate some safety concerns.
“It went better than expected, we were assured of the security of our nationals,” he said.
The Foreign Ministry of China, a major trade partner of South Africa, said Chinese-run shops had been damaged in Johannesburg.
The Chinese consulate said it has lodged a protest with the police and asked that they ensure the safety of Chinese people.
Meanwhile, Petrochemicals group Sasol, said it would repatriate 340 South Africans working in Mozambique after local employees at one of its gas projects protested about their presence.
An industry source said Mozambican employees at a sub-contractor for mining group Vale had become “hostile” to South Africans working on the Moatize project in that country but there had been no violence.
The police said at the Ressano Garcia, the border post between South Africa and Mozambique was closed after more than 200 Mozambicans barricaded a road approaching the crossing.
The police said the traffic was later resumed after they dispersed the protesters.
South Africa, with a population of about 50 million, was home to an estimated five million immigrants, from countries including Somalia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, and from further afield, including China and Pakistan.
Many own shops or sell wares as informal hawkers on street corners or in markets.
Periodic outbreaks of anti-immigrant violence have been blamed on high unemployment, officially around 25 per cent although economists say in reality much higher, widespread poverty and glaring income disparities.
(Reuters/NAN)

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PHOTOS: The Real Meanining of the xenophobic attacks in S/Africa

South Africans photographed stealing from attacked foreign stores

 

Some South Africans stealing from stores owned by foreign immigrants who were attacked by the Zulu boys. This does not speak well of S/Africans. The government of S/Africa should wake up and call these criminals and misguided citizens to order. What a shame!

 

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Fani-Kayode in $2m election monitoring controversy

The Director, Media and Publicity, Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is immersed in a controversy over alleged $2 million situation offices for the Peoples Democratic Party across the 36 states and the FCT.

Femi Fani-Kayode was alleged to have applied for $2 million to open situation offices for pre and post election monitoring for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the country. The situation office/room was meant to monitor the elections nationwide to ensure that the PDP was not in any way shortchanged in the electioneering process.

According to a reliable source, Fani-Kayode procured the service of a middleman who is highly connected to the Presidency who facilitated the deal and the sum of $1.5 million was approved for the project.

Peoples Daily reliably gathered that no such office was opened in any part of the country even as the general elections have come and gone. And the middleman who facilitated the contract has understandably not got his cut and now threatening a showdown with Fani-Kayode.

Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government was also alleged to have bought a brand new Range Rover 2014 model for his girlfriend, names withheld, at a whooping cost of $70,000, equivalent to over N13m also allegedly from the proceeds of the contract.

Contacted on phone yesterday for his response, Chief Fani Kayode did not pick his call. But a text message sent to him was responded to by a man who called to introduce himself as Jude Ndukwe, SA to Fani-Kayode.

“We received your text message. The situation room project never came through us. We were not involved in it. We never received a Kobo for any situation room project,” he said while a voice was heard dictating to him from the background.

Ndukwe said further: “I am sure you know who is involved in the project but you want to beam your searchlight on us. If we bought a car, is that news? You can write what you want. We will meet you in court,” he threatened.

Afterwards, another confidant of Fani-Kayode called our reporter to say that information available to him suggested that the said project was handled by Legacy House, another campaign arm of the PDP located in Abuja.

According to the confidant who pleaded anonymity, he worked closely with Fani-Kayode but that he was not aware such a project passed though him.

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APC directs members in Adamawa to defy curfew

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has directed its members and supporters in Adamawa State to defy the curfew imposed by the state police command.
The APC described the curfew as unlawful.
The Adamawa Police Commissioner, Gabriel Adaji, had on Friday addressed journalist​s​ in Yola, the capital city, announcing the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew​,​ beginning Sunday to Tuesday.
Mr. Adaji said the decision was taken at a crucial inter-agency security meeting and was aimed ​at​ curtail​ing​ the breakdown of law and order.
He said the decision was taken “to avert some nasty experiences encountered when the Presidential elections result was announced whe​n​ miscreants hijacked the celebrations”.
He said the “the police will enforce the dusk-to-dawn curfew and anyone found wanting will be dealt with”.
But in a swift response via a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the APC said there was no threat to security in the state to warrant the imposition of curfew.
It said the Presidential and National Assembly elections were held without incident or declaration of curfew, wondering what warranted the unlawful curfew declaration.
”Imposing an unlawful curfew with effect from when voting ends on ‎Saturday is suspect and unacceptable. We are therefore asking all our members and supporters to ignore the curfew, come out en masse to vote and also stay back to defend their votes,” APC said.

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Jonathan urges ​governorship, state assembly​ candidates to accept ​election ​​outcome​

President Goodluck Jonathan has called on all the candidates participating ​in​ Saturday​’s​ Governorship and House of Assembly elections to accept ​the ​outcome of the ​​​polls​.

President Jonathan who made the call in a Facebook post Friday urged contestants in the elections to accept the will of the people.

“I urge contestants to respect the will of the people as we promote a new Nigeria that is a pacesetter and light bearer in the practice of democratic politics without bitterness. May God bless Nigeria,” he said.

President Jonathan was the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the last presidential election.
He lost to the opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Candidates but promptly accepted defeat in what is now regarded as ​Nigeria’s first.
He also asked Nigerian​s​ to come out and cast their votes.

“As Nigeria returns to the polls tomorrow, I encourage all registered voters to come out en masse and exercise their right to vote,” he said.

Mr. Jonathan said he has instructed security agents to fully facilitate the right of Nigerians to choose leaders of their choice at the gubernatorial and assembly levels by remaining non-partisan and ensuring that everyone vote​s​ in a secure environment.

The Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections  are set to  determine the leaders that will take care of the affairs in each the 29 states in Nigeria.

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NDLEA arrests South African lady with N74m concealed in oats packs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 39-year-old South African woman identified as Nosisi Nqgula at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with $373,725 (N74.4million) and €2,120 (N450,000), concealed inside packs of oats found in her luggage.
According to a statement issued by the NDLEA Lagos Airport Command, the money was discovered during an inward screening of passengers on a South African airline flight en route from Johannesburg.
Two Nigerians, Damian Akamelu and Prophet Cyprian Chigere are being interrogated in connection with the seized money.
The South African lady, Ms Nqgula when interrogated said she was sent by a Nigerian to give the concealed money to one Akamelu
“I live in Johannesburg. I was given a bag by a Nigerian to deliver to Damian Akamelu. During examination of my bags at the Lagos airport, the money was found inside packs of oats.” she said.
The NDLEA Commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the manner in which the money was concealed was questionable
“The mode of concealment presents reasonable grounds for money laundering. Five packs of oats were found to contain $373,725 and €2,120. Two Nigerians are also being interrogated,”he said.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade while commenting on the arrest said the agency will investigate the matter so as to know the source of the money. "I have therefore directed that the case be investigated to ascertain the source of the money.” he said
 

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FG Debunks Alleged Plans To Rig Election In Lagos

 
The Federal Government has debunked the allegation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Lagos on Thursday was part of a plot to rig Saturday’s gubernatorial election in the state.
The APC’s spokesperson, Lai Muhammed, had on Friday said that Mr. Jonathan visited the nation’s commercial capital to fashion ways of rigging the election in favour of candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party. debunk
But in a swift reaction, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Abati, said the allegation was wrong.
“Lai Muhammed is wrong to say that the President came to Lagos to rig the gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, April 11,” he said.
“He is of course lying as usual; and rude. President Jonathan visited Lagos. He arrived on Thursday and left on Friday. People visited him. So what?
“Anytime the president is in Lagos or any part of the country, a lot of people come to pay homage to him. Nothing unusual happened during his last visit to Lagos.
“Senator Musiliu Obanikoro’s visit to the president in Lagos is not something that anybody should use to play politics. Koro is a minister of the Federal Republic. He came to see his boss.”
Apart from Mr. Obanikoro, he said Messrs Jimmy Agbaje and Gani Adams, among others, visited the president while in Lagos.
The presidency wondered why Mr. Jonathan’s visit to Lagos which is a part of Nigeria, and the visit of PDP members to the leader of their party, should become an issue.
It argued that Mr. Jonathan never summoned or held meetings with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the police, polling officials or persons involved in the conduct of the anticipated election.
“So to say that the president went to Lagos to supervise the rigging of Saturday’s election is most uncharitable and cruel,” the presidency said.
Even before the result of the presidential election results were declared by INEC, the presidency said Mr. Jonathan called the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari and congratulated him.
The presidency said the world has continued to commend Mr. Jonathan for conceding defeat, which it said saved Nigeria.
It said the action exemplified the president’s sportsmanship, statesmanship and leadership at a very critical moment.
Besides, it said Mr. Jonathan has demonstrated commitment to free and fair election, the rule of law and due process, thereby showing character, honour and integrity.
The presidency noted that Mr. Jonathan has left a worthy legacy, adding that the APC spokesperson and his masters were wont to taint the legacy by cooking up meaningless tales.
“Lai Muhammed should look for another target and leave the President alone. His fatuous tale does not make any sense.
“I repeat: We will like to advise that the APC should just leave the President alone. President Jonathan was a candidate in the presidential election; he did not rig the election. Why would he want to rig tomorrow’s elections?” the presidency asked.
The Peoples Democratic Party had earlier condemned the APC’s allegation, wondering why the party should accuse the president when the president-elect, Mr. Buhari, who is its leader, had visited several states to support APC’s governorship candidates, without anyone accusing him of plotting to rig elections.

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