THE WISE ONES: February 2015

Friday, 27 February 2015

ISIS to radicalise Nigerian youths schooling abroad, FG raises alarm

The Federal government, yesterday, alerted a plan by Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) to radicalise Nigerian youth, who were schooling abroad, calling on parents and guardians to monitor their wards closely.

The Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC), Mr Mike Omeri stated this while briefing newsmen on security situation in the country, in Abuja, said the call became imperative based on intelligent report at the government’s disposal.

Buhari at Chatham House: Why I want to be President – Buhari

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), yesterday, in London gave reasons why he wants to be president after he left office as military Head of State.

35 killed as suicide bombers hit Biu, Jos

Thirty- five people were killed when suicide bombers struck in Borno and Plateau States, yesterday.

A suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded bus station in Borno State, killing 17 persons while a second bomber was shot dead before he could detonate his explosives.

Jonathan visits recaptured Adamawa towns from Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan made a brief visit to Adamawa State yesterday to see for himself some of the recaptured towns from Boko Harm in the state.

Jonathan was accompanied on the visit by the Service Chiefs including the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Air Staff, the Inspector of General of Police and the National Security Adviser among other military top brass.

Breaking news: Ebonyi House serves impeachment notice on Gov Elechi

Governor Martin Elech

EBONYI state House of Assembly Friday morning served an impeachment notice on Governor Martin Elechi over what it described as act of gross misconduct by the Governor.

Reading the notice at the plenary, the acting leader of the House, Hon. Francis Nwifruru accused the Governor of huge financial misappropriation, undermining of the integrity of the House, among other offences.

I’m not wishing Buhari dead, but he’s too old to govern – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has again reiterated that he had nothing personal against nor wishing any harm done to the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate,Major General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) and that Obasanjo insisted that Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua must be the president in 2006 because he preferred him.

Canadian troops withdraw after Boko Haram attacks

Canadian special forces participating in military training in southeast Niger, near the border with Nigeria, were ordered to withdraw recently to avoid battling with Boko Haram Islamists, the military said Thursday.

I won’t grant amnesty to Boko Haram –Buhari

The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), on Thursday, ruled out amnesty for Boko Haram insurgents if elected President on March 28.

He said the activities of the sect which has so far killed over 13, 000 people since 2009, had become a source of worry to many people within and outside the country.

Jonathan, PDP plotting to remove Jega –APC senators

Members of the All Progressives Congress in the Senate on Thursday alleged that there was a fresh plot by the Federal Government to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Attahiru Jega, from superintending over the forthcoming general elections.

Military onslaught on B’Haram proves Jonathan’s critics wrong —ex-militant leaders

Niger Delta ex-militant leaders, yesterday, said that the remarkable achievements made by the Nigerian armed forces, the Joint Multi-national Task Forces in their present onslaught against Boko Haram in the North-East region, have proved President Goodluck Jonathan’s critics wrong.

Buhari’s certificate saga suits now 10

The number of cases filed against the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), over alleged non-submission of his academic certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, has risen to at least 10.

APC reps revolt, abort House sitting

The sitting of the House of Representatives was, yesterday, disrupted after members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, rejected moves by the presiding officer of the House to stall a motion seeking to bar the military from playing a role in the conduct of the forthcoming elections.

POLLS: PDP Reps give Jonathan conditions for support

As preparations for the Presidential polls slated for March 28 intensify, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers in the House of Representatives have put forward a number of demands for President Goodluck Jonathan to meet as a condition for supporting him to win the March 28 election.

Obasanjo destroyed an expired card —PDP

Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Professor Adewale Oladipo, yesterday, said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo destroyed an expired party membership card and not the new and authentic card being issued by the party.

INEC must probe Ekiti ‘rigging’ tape – Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says the audio file which purportedly captured some Peoples Democratic Party leaders giving orders to a general to rig the June 21, 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti State must be investigated by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

Fayose asks APC to produce Ibrahim Shekau

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has accused the leadership of All Progressives Congress(APC) of knowing those behind the Boko Haram insurgency.‬

Rather than wiping out sentiment ,Fayose urged APC to produce Ibrahim Shekau, the original leader of Boko Haram

7-year-old female suicide bomber kills 5, injures 19 in Potiskum

A seven-year-old girl, yesterday, killed herself and five others in a suicide bombing in Potiskum, Yobe State.

This came on day the Nigerian defence headquarters said the Nigerian troops fighting the insurgent group, Boko Haram, have reclaimed the town of Baga and other surrounding communities in Borno state after days of fierce fighting.

Calls for interim govt treasonable, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed the idea of an Interim Government being insinuated by some people saying that such utterances amount to treason.

Speaking, yesterday, at the first 2015 plenary session of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), in Abuja, President Jonathan reiterated that the re-scheduled elections will hold on March 28 and April 11 as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Catholic Arch Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan on his part urged the president to call his supporters to order in their hate speeches and campaigns.

Swear that you didn’t visit UK’s hospital, Fayose tells Buhari

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari to swear with the Holy Quran if he did not visit any hospital for medical attention during his visit to United Kingdom.

Buhari’ll never be president –Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday boasted that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), “will never be Nigeria president again.”

The governor also challenged the former Head of State to swear by the Holy Quran that he did not visit the hospital in the United Kingdom last week.

Jonathan’ll not sign pact with Yoruba leaders –Presidency

There were indications on Sunday that President Goodluck Jonathan might not sign an agreement with Yoruba leaders on the forthcoming elections.

The PUNCH reliably gathered in Abuja that while the President was ready to specify positions he would give the South-West if he emerges victorious on March 28, he would not go to the extent of signing a pact with the leaders or any South-West group.

Don’t intimidate opponents with military, Bishop Kukah tells FG

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, weekend, urged the Federal Government to be careful about the involvement of the military in the forthcoming general elections.

The cleric, who did not see anything wrong with the involvement of the military in election, however, warned the government against using it to intimidate the opposition or the electorate.

Don’t sell South-West for nothing, Adebanjo tells Yorubas

Afenifere chieftain and elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has warned the people of the South-West against casting their votes in the coming elections for candidates that will endanger the political and economic interest of the region.

Re-election: Yoruba Obas give Jonathan conditions

As part of last efforts to win the March 28 elections, President Goodluck Jonathan is set to sign an undertaking with leaders of the South-West.

He has also appealed to traditional rulers from the geo-political zone to support him in his desire to be re-elected.

Fleeing Boko Haram insurgents drown in Lake Chad

A large number of Boko Haram insurgents have drowned in Lake Chad as they fled the bombardment by Nigerian Air Force.

Though the number of the dead terrorists was not given, it was said that many of them died as they fled the aerial attacks by NAF jets on Baga, the location of Multi-National Joint Taskforce base seized by the sect in January, 2015.

Obasanjo shuns PDP, Jonathan reconciliation again

There were indications on Friday that former President Olusegun Obasanjo might have shunned a peace move by the Peoples Democratic Party and President Goodluck Jonathan.

Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered that as part of the President’s visit to Ogun State on Friday, Jonathan and the leadership of the PDP had planned to meet with the former President.

Elections: CAN denies N7bn bribery allegation

The Christian Association of Nigeria has denied the allegation that its leaders were offered N7bn by the Presidency to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

The association also called on security agencies to investigate the Voice of Northern Christian Movement and its Executive Director, Mr. Musa Dikwa, for making the allegation.

Buhari not in London hospital – Garba Shehu

THE Major-General Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign organization, has dismissed as false reports that the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate is being treated at a hospital located at Cavendish Street, Cavendish Square, W2 London West End, London and he is not listed by the Chatham House as speaker any time soon. According to online media, Pointblank news, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, described Buhari’s ‘’medical trip’’ as a vindication of his earlier stand that Buhari was sick and lacked the required capacity to rule Nigeria.

Buhari receiving treatment in UK, Fayose alleges

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Friday alleged that the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who travelled to the United Kingdom for a supposed working visit, is in a London hospital.

Boko Haram: We’ll fight side by side with Nigeria — USA

The United States of America has said it would fight side-by-side with Nigeria in the war against the Islamist terrorists, Boko Haram.

US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, said this at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on the Safe Schools Initiative, SSI, in Abuja, yesterday.

$20bn missing oil money: Reps ask FG to release audit firm’s full report

The House of Representatives yesterday asked the Federal Government to release the full audit report of Price Waterhouse Coopers on the missing $20 billion in Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for further investigations.

CAN got N7bn to campaign for Jonathan –Borno pastor

Fresh facts emerged on Thursday about the allegation by the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, that President Goodluck Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party gave some pastors N6bn to campaign against the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in the 2015 presidential election.

Lamido, Mu’azu meet over Obasanjo

The Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, met in Abuja on Wednesday on how to convince former President Olusegun Obasanjo to return to the party.

No going back on election dates –Military, President

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Defence Headquarters have assured Nigerians that efforts were being intensified to ensure that the general elections were held on March 28 and April 11 as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

I will declare my assets publicly –Buhari

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), said he would publicly declare his assets and liabilities, if voted into power.

Buhari stated this in a document obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday. The document highlights what Buhari will do in his first 100 days if he assumes power on May 29.

Naira to exchange at N197/$

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, in a bid to salvage the Naira from speculators scrapped the official window where it sells dollar to end users through banks twice a week.

The Naira will now be sold at the ruling inter-bank market rate indicating an implicit devaluation of the currency. The Naira yesterday at the inter-bank market sold for N197 to the dollar.

NASS approves life pension for president, vice in new Constitution

THE National Assembly, yesterday, completed the amendment of the 1999 Constitution with approval of life pension for anybody who has held office as President or Vice President, Senate President or Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

APC writes Jonathan, Jega on using military for elections

Determined to make the federal government comply with court judgment on elections, the All Progressives Congress yesterday wrote a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega asking him to give heed to the judgment barring the involvement of soldiers in elections.

B’ Haram releases new video, vows to disrupt polls

Militant Islamist sect, Boko Haram, has vowed to disrupt the March 28 and April 11 elections.

“The elections will not be held even if we are dead. Even if we are not alive Allah will never allow you to do it,” the leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, said in a new video on Tuesday evening.

We’ve recaptured 11 towns, killed 300 insurgents –DHQ

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said that troops of the Nigerian Army and personnel of the Air Force have killed over 300 fighters of the Boko Haram sect.

Jega: I can’t guarantee polls’ll hold on March 28

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.

N10bn jet story against me mere fabrication – Alison-Madueke

Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, yesterday, described as mere fabrication, allegations by her traducers that she spent N10 billion in leasing jets for her use.

The minister, who spoke in an interaction with some senior journalists in Abuja, said she was being framed by her accusers for merely rising up to change the Nigerian oil industry for the benefit of the country.

We won’t tolerate further shift in polls – APC

THE All Progressives Congress, APC, declared yesterday that it will not tolerate any further shift in the general elections fixed for March 28 and April 11.

In a communique issued at the end of its First Leadership Meeting in Abuja, the party also resolved that “the use the card readers for March 28 and April 11 is non-negotiable, saying contrary to the misinformation being disseminated, the use of card readers is not synonymous with electronic voting.

Nigeria lacks institutions, systems, processes to prevent corruption – Okonjo-Iweala

Abuja – The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said on Tuesday that corruption persisted in the country because Nigeria lacked the institutions, systems and processes to prevent it.

Okonjo-Iweala made this known when she spoke on the Topic: `Preventing Leakages in the Nigerian Economy` at the Catholic Caritas Foundation Forum in Abuja.

36 dead as explosions rock Biu again

There was multiple bomb explosions in Biu, the biggest town in south of the troubled Borno State on Tuesday, a resident of the town, Ibrahim Isah, said on the telephone.

Though details of the explosions remain sketchy as the extent of damages and number of casualty could not be ascertained on Tuesday afternoon, Isah said the incident occurred at about noon.

Jega appears before Senate today over polls

The Senate on Tuesday summoned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, to appear before it on Wednesday(today).

Jega is expected to brief senators on INEC’s readiness for the forthcoming March 28 and April 11 elections.

We’ll beg Obasanjo, says Lamido

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State on Tuesday emerged from a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, giving an indication that the Peoples Democratic Party stakeholders would beg former President Olusegun Obasanjo who dumped the party on Monday.

I’ll flee Nigeria if APC wins —Bode George

In this interview with ENIOLA AKINKUOTU, a national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, speaks on the recent comments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other national issues

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says President Goodluck Jonathan plans to perpetuate himself in government like the former President of Cote d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo. What do you think of this comment?

ECOWAS commission urges Jonathan to respect constitution

Following on the heels of recent shift in the polls, the Economic Community of West African States Commission on Monday told President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that the nation’s Constitution was respected.

Your behaviour embarrasses military, DHQ replies OBJ

ABUJA — The Defence Headquarters has faulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s assertion that President Goodluck Jonathan wanted to use the military to subvert the people’s will during the elections on March 28 and April 11.

Drama as Obasanjo quits PDP after 16 yrs

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday finally dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party by asking that his membership card be torn.

But almost two hours after he did that, the Ogun State PDP executive council, headed by Chief Adebayo Dayo, announced his expulsion from the party over what it termed his “series of unabated anti-party activities.”

Jonathan, Buhari are ‘problematic’ candidates, says Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, has criticised the two frontline candidates in the March 28 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party and Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of the All Progressives Congress.

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