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[Video]: Watch CNN's Christiane Amanpour Interview Buhari

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<b>Today General Muhammadu Buhari responded to questions from Christiane Amanpour and spoke about Obasanjo's endorsement, his history as military leader and the state of Nigeria's economy and the army.</b></div>
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Watch video below:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lqwYEhNajDg" width="640"></iframe></div>

[Video]: Watch CNN's Christiane Amanpour Interview Buhari

Today General Muhammadu Buhari responded to questions from Christiane Amanpour and spoke about Obasanjo's endorsement, his history a...

Interbank Market Shut As Naira Hits ₦205 vs U$ Dollars

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<b>Trading on the interbank market was temporarily suspended on Wednesday as the Naira continued its downward trend against the US Dollar. The Naira is reported to have dropped to ₦205 to a dollar, forcing market operators to engage a circuit breaker and allow the market cool off.</b></div>
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As at the time of filing in this report, our correspondent was told that traders were locked in an emergency meeting with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to seek a way forward.</div>
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Our correspondent also learnt that the markets may re-open after a few hours.</div>
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The Naira had been on a downward trend recently on thin dollar liquidity, but the drop became reinforced following news of postponement of the countries general elections, slated for February 14, 2015.</div>
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The Naira was quoted at a record low of ₦200.10 to the dollar by market open and quickly fell to ₦204.04 within 2 hours. In the <i>Bureaux de Change</i>, the quote at 11am today was ₦212, two naira more than the ₦210 it traded on Friday.</div>
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The communications adviser to the CBN governor, who described the drop in the Naira’s interbank value as a speculative attack, speaking to newsmen said that the Naira was stable and advised anyone seeking legitimate use of the dollar to apply via the RDAS auction.</div>

Interbank Market Shut As Naira Hits ₦205 vs U$ Dollars

Trading on the interbank market was temporarily suspended on Wednesday as the Naira continued its downward trend against the US Dollar....

Man Breaks Friend's Spinal Cord For Disrespecting Him

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<b>A 28-year-old car wash attendant in Lagos, Michael Taiwo, felt a friend of his was not respecting him enough and allegedly broke his spinal cord after a fight ensued between them.</b></div>
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According to <b><a href="http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/attendant-breaks-friends-spinal-cord-over-age-claims/">Punch</a></b>, Taiwo and Akeem Amoo were boyhood friends in the Alagbado area of Lagos State before the recent fight.</div>
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The rancour started after Taiwo who is older accused Akeem Amoo of always disrespecting him.</div>
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On this fateful day, (Wednesday, January 28) Amoo, after the close of work as an Okada man around 8pm,drove to a car wash at Omisesan Junction - where Taiwo works - to wash his motorcycle.</div>
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Taiwo reportedly accused Amoo grazing his leg with the motorcycle which led to an argument.</div>
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During the scuffle that ensued, Taiwo was said to have lifted Amoo and smashed him to the floor, damaging his spinal cord in the process.</div>
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Akem Amoo was an orthopaedic hospital in Lagos where a doctor confirmed that his spinal cord has been damaged.</div>
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Taiwo was arrested and charged to court.</div>
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At an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court sitting on Monday, February 9, Taiwo was charged with assault.</div>
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Taiwo however pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail by the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. T. Akani, in the sum of ₦100,000.</div>
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The case was adjourned till Monday March 23, 2015.</div>

Man Breaks Friend's Spinal Cord For Disrespecting Him

A 28-year-old car wash attendant in Lagos, Michael Taiwo, felt a friend of his was not respecting him enough and allegedly broke his sp...

Obasanjo’s Endorsement Of Buhari Meaningless - Obanikoro

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<b>The immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, on Wednesday said the endorsement of the All Progressive Congress’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, is meaningless.</b></div>
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Mr. Obasanjo, who spoke in Kenya at the launch of his book, My Watch, endorsed Mr. Buhari at the expense of Mr. Jonathan who he said was courting a military coup.</div>
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Mr. Obasanjo opposed arguments that Mr. Buhari would be dictatorial given his antecedents, saying “The circumstances Buhari will be working under if he wins the election are different from the one he worked under before, where he was both the executive and the legislature – he knows that”.</div>
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He also said Mr. Buhari is “smart enough. He’s educated enough. He’s experienced enough”.</div>
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Mr. Obanikoro, a Lagos State gubernatorial aspirant who lost out in the Peoples Democratic Party primary, said via twitter that “Obasanjo’s endorsement of Buhari is meaningless in Yorubaland and should be treated as such across Nigeria. Nigerians have not forgotten how Obasanjo subverted the democratic process with his failed 3rd term agenda”.</div>
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Mr. Obanikoro, an ardent supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan, has been at the centre of controversy having been heard in an audio recording of plotting to rig and rigging the Ekiti elections.</div>
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He denied the allegation that he helped rigged the Ekiti elections and described the tape as a creation of the APC.</div>
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But the Police Affairs Minister, Jelili Adesiyan, admitted the existence of the tape even though he said it was not evidence that PDP members rigged the Ekiti elections.</div>

Obasanjo’s Endorsement Of Buhari Meaningless - Obanikoro

The immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, on Wednesday said the endorsement of the All Progressive Congress’...

Soldiers Storm Sambisa Forest

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<b>The military has commenced an operation in Sambisa Forest in Borno State to flush out Boko Haram insurgents.</b></div>
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The forest is widely believed to host some of the training camps and facilities of Boko Haram in the North-East.</div>
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It was learnt that the military high command decided to invade the vast forest in order to make the North-West safe for the general elections.</div>
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A reliable source in the Army told one of our correspondents in Abuja that Air Force jets started the raid on Monday. He added that surveillance activities and raids were also ongoing as of the time he spoke on Wednesday.</div>
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The source, who did not want his name in print because he was not authorised to speak on the development, said that massive ground operation would follow the aerial operations .</div>
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He said, “The military started an operation in the Sambisa Forest on Monday. For now, there are no specific cases of arrest; we don’t have that information now. The Air Force has been operating in the area since Monday. It is after that that the ground troops who are on red alert would be moved in.”</div>
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Also, a source close to an office strategic to the operations said that a lot of activities were going on simultaneously in the forest and other parts of the North-East believed to host Boko Haram camps.</div>
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He explained that the military was combing the forest because of intelligence reports that some of the insurgents who were dislodged from some communities in the North- East were moving back to the forest.</div>
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The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, could not be reached for comments on the raids as calls to his mobile did not connect.</div>
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Meanwhile, 800 children from areas affected by insurgency in Adamawa State are currently undergoing psychotherapy in the state.</div>
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Executive Chairman of the state Universal Basic Education, Bello Furo, who made this known explained that the psychotherapy was to minimise the trauma faced by the children whose   parents were either gunned down or slaughtered by Boko Haram insurgents.</div>
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He said,   “The process will take some time because most of the parents were slaughtered before their children.</div>
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“Right now, they do not have anybody to cater for them; they lost their parents as a result of the insurgency.”</div>
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Also in the state on Wednesday, the wife of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Aisha Buhari donated drugs worth N135m to   Internally Displaced Persons in Damare.</div>
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Aisha, who   said   that it was unfortunate that the IDPs were refugees in their own country, showed   sympathy and asked them to be steadfast in their prayers for peace to return to the country, especially the North-East.</div>
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Meanwhile, Boko Haram fighters attacked Chadian army positions in Gamboru, Borno State on Wednesday but were beaten back.</div>
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The Chadian troops are in Gamboru as part of a regional offensive against the islamist sect, which had   staged several cross-border attacks over the past week.</div>
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“We knew they were going to attack us. We were waiting. The battle didn’t last long. They fled,” a Chadian soldier said.</div>
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He said that eight of his colleaques were wounded while three Boko Haram vehicles were destroyed and one seized.</div>
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The Chadian Army later said in a statement that 13 Boko Haram fighters and a soldier lost their lives during the attack.</div>
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Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on Wednesday in Diffa, Niger Republic, a day after mortars and machine-gun shots were heard in N’Guigmi on the country’s border with Nigeria.</div>
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The town lies near Lake Chad, around 100 kilometres east of Diffa.</div>
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<b>Credit: <a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/soldiers-invade-sambisa-forest/">Punch</a></b></div>

Soldiers Storm Sambisa Forest

The military has commenced an operation in Sambisa Forest in Borno State to flush out Boko Haram insurgents. The forest is widely b...

Nigerian Military Pledges Not To Undermine Democracy

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<b>The Nigerian military has said it will not undermine Nigeria’s democracy or encourage any act that would threaten democratic process in Nigeria.</b></div>
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Referring to the controversy over the military’s role in the recent postponement of the 2015 general election, Defence Spokesperson, Chris Olukolade, said neither the military nor any of its service chiefs will engage in any act that could pose a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.</div>
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Mr. Olukolade, in a statement, said Nigerians and its friends should be “reassured that the Nigerian Armed Forces believes strongly in the prospects of the country under a democratic rule and will continue to discharge its responsibility to support our democracy as constitutionally guaranteed.”</div>
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Stating that the military values the calm exhibited by citizens, the defence spokesperson said it recognizes the nation’s larger interest and that her security is sacrosanct and beyond any political expediency or ulterior consideration.</div>
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“Indeed, the leadership, in particular, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs, being products and beneficiaries of the nation’s democratic processes themselves, continue to cherish highly, the nation’s democracy,” Mr. Olukolade said.</div>
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He advised Nigerians to strive towards separating the military from partisan politics and retain their confidence in its neutrality and sense of patriotism at this critical point.</div>
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Mr. Olukolade said that while the military will be working with all other security agencies to protect Nigeria’s electoral process; all military personnel have also been warned to stay conscious of the service oath and solemn commitment to protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria while remaining loyal to constituted authorities in the country.</div>
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Mr. Olukolade said, no excuse will be acceptable for any act that tends to compromise the electoral process or decent conduct of personnel while discharging duties related to elections in Nigeria in March and April.</div>
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On Saturday, the INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, announced the postponement of election originally scheduled to hold in February after the nation’s security agencies indicated to the commission that they will not be available to provide security during the elections.</div>
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The INEC chairman said security operative agencies told INEC that they were commencing a six-week special operation against Boko Haram insurgents in the north eastern corridors of the country and would rather not be distracted by the elections.</div>

Nigerian Military Pledges Not To Undermine Democracy

The Nigerian military has said it will not undermine Nigeria’s democracy or encourage any act that would threaten democratic process in...

I Will Hand Over If I Lose, Says President Jonathan

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<b>President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday cleared the air on alleged plans to prolong his tenure, saying if the result of the March 28 presidential election does not favour him, he will hand over to whoever that wins.</b></div>
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Jonathan, in a live media chat apparently organised to douse the tension generated by the postponement of the general elections, spoke among others, the   alleged plot   to sack the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, insurgency and corruption.</div>
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Before and after the polls were shifted from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11, there were rumours that   the President and the Peoples Democratic Party were nursing a sinister plot not to hand over power.</div>
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The rumours   were further fuelled by statements credited to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in far away Nairobi, Kenya.</div>
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Obasanjo was quoted as saying, “I sincerely hope that the President is not going for broke and saying ‘look dammit, it’s either I have it or nobody has it.”</div>
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But Jonathan told a panel of interviewers that he was not desperate to remain in power. He said such   “insinuations and wrong information” were meant to discredit him by his political opponents.</div>
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He said, “Let me assure Nigerians that a new government will be formed on May 29.They should not be perturbed about rumours that we are planning to send Jega on a terminal leave and other rubbish that is being circulated.</div>
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“In 2011, I said I will conduct a free and fair election and that if I lose, I will happily move on and that it should be recorded.</div>
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“Then I just concluded the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s tenure. I said I will be happy to go if I lose. I said this nation is more important than anybody. Anyone who wants to hold the office of   President and feels he is more important than the nation is not right.</div>
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“So if as of 2011, I made a commitment that   if I lose I will go, it should tell you more about my stand on free and fair elections.</div>
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“But now, Nigerians have given me the opportunity to be here for four good years and so if the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, we will inaugurate a new government.</div>
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“The rumour that I will not hand over or that I am scheming to prolong my tenure are insinuations; they are not true. Those are insinuations; it is quite unfortunate that so much wrong information is floating in the system.”</div>
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Jonathan faulted the claim by Jega that INEC was ready for the elections. He said the information given to him by security chiefs was that poor distribution of   Permanent Voter Cards could have caused a security challenge in the country.</div>
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He, however, said he would not sack Jega.</div>
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Jonathan said, “During the Council of State meeting, the issue of security was emphasised and there is no way security chiefs would have disclosed all the details to everybody but they disclosed some things to me which they did not mention to others.</div>
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“There are two aspects to the issue of insecurity. The first is   Boko Haram and   the second is the threat factor in the country.</div>
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“When INEC picked the dates for elections, the threat level was not   high until we started the campaign. So, it was important for the security chiefs to review the security architecture otherwise the country would have gone up in flames.</div>
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“In election, a lot of problems are involved. When the issue of PVC was being branded as a problem, INEC, from what Jega mentioned that day, clearly was not ready for the elections. They said they were ready but they were not.</div>
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“The day we held that meeting that led to this adjustment of dates, in Lagos for example, only about 38 per cent of registered voters had their PVCs. That means if we conduct elections in Lagos, 62 per cent of   voters   not would not have been able to vote.</div>
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“Don’t you think there are security implications in that?</div>
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“Some other states had slightly above 30   per cent collection while some had 50 per cent and there were some states that had 60 to 70 per cent. The security agencies highlighted the security implications of this but ordinary people might not see it that way.”</div>

I Will Hand Over If I Lose, Says President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday cleared the air on alleged plans to prolong his tenure, saying if the result of the March 28 p...

Jega, APC Stalwarts In Dubai To Rig Election - PDP Campaign

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPumUov-SfqLdhKH8zRMe-GVkQFlfEis3YM9O1rciNpwWmVsp-0bzUyNKB_496wLS3YzVCSTmNsXuzKLuRNcX7fGYv3Ui80XN4O3kAoYWA1qkU6qHEi_5EBZnsmaCBTVUf0tWD16sGcSm/s1600/Jega1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPumUov-SfqLdhKH8zRMe-GVkQFlfEis3YM9O1rciNpwWmVsp-0bzUyNKB_496wLS3YzVCSTmNsXuzKLuRNcX7fGYv3Ui80XN4O3kAoYWA1qkU6qHEi_5EBZnsmaCBTVUf0tWD16sGcSm/s1600/Jega1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>The Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Organization has challenged the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, to be “honourable and transparent” by publishing accurate information on the state of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs.</b></div>
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Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the organsiation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Femi Fani-Kayode, alleged that Jega may have connived with the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, to secure victory if election had gone ahead on February 14.</div>
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Fani-Kayode, alleged that the INEC boss held secret meeting with some stalwarts of the APC in Dubai, where they allegedly fine-tuned how to ensure electoral victory for APC and came up with the idea of disenfranchising about 34 million eligible voters.</div>
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He said, “Pieces of information at our disposal have shown that Jega has had meetings with APC stalwarts in Dubai and other cities in the world to perfect this wanton conspiracy against 23 million eligible voters.</div>
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“Besides, we have information that the PVCs that Nigerians are scrambling for are not in Nigeria and will not arrive before the elections. These PVCs are still in China and Prof Jega has strategically delayed their arrival to suit his electioneering permutations.</div>
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“Can Prof Jega show Nigerians proof that the Chinese company printing the PVCs has been paid in full by disclosing the total contract sum and the amount paid to date?</div>
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“Can Prof Jega show proof of arrival or expected date of arrival of all PVCs for the elections? “Can Prof Jega tell Nigerians how he could have distributed 23 million PVCs within 5days to election if there hadn’t been a postponement”?</div>
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Fani-Kayode, also queried the wide gap between collections rates in the states considered to be APC stronghold which is high while it is low in the PDP traditional stronghold states.</div>
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His questions, “Why are the PVC collection rates in the North Central, South-South, South West and South East much lower with the highest being 57%? Is it because these geopolitical zones may be pro-Jonathan?</div>
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“Why does the North West zone which includes Katsina (Buhari’s home state) have the highest collection rate of 80%?</div>
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“How come the North East also has 75% collection rate when, in fact, three states in this zone-Adamawa, Borno and Yobe- have been under the attack of Boko Haram insurgents, a development that has led to the displacement of many residents? Did the Internally Displaced Persons come back there to collect their PVCs?</div>
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“Why is it that North Central zone, which includes states like Plateau and Benue that traditionally vote PDP, has a collection rate of 48% when North East and North West have between 75 and 80% collection rates?</div>
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“Can Jega explain to Nigerians how Kano, Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna and Katsina, which were slated for Phase 3 and actually kicked off in November 2014, have achieved a 75-80% PVC collection rate whilst many states slated for Phases 1 and 2 and even some others in Phase 3 are still in the 40-50% collection rate range”?</div>
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The PDP Campaign Organisation therefore, charged Jega to come clean on the issue of PVCs distribution so that no eligible voters will be disenfranchised.</div>
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He said further, “We hereby challenge Prof Jega to be honourable and transparent. He should publish accurate information on the state of PVCs: how many PVCs are in the country? Where are they located state by state? When would the others arrive from China? How does he plan to distribute them before elections?</div>
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“We express our concerns today that Jega may have decided to aid the APC to rig the forthcoming elections through the manipulation of the production, distribution and collection of PVCs such that emerging trends have consistently shown calculated attempts to deprive parts of the country that would traditionally vote for President Jonathan of their PVCs whilst the parts of the country that would traditionally vote for the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, are already armed with their PVCs.</div>
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“The PVC collection statistics for states and geo-political zones before the postponement of the elections as tabulated below would buttress Professor Jega’s contrived grand conspiratorial alliance with the APC to fraudulently secure victory in the elections.</div>

Jega, APC Stalwarts In Dubai To Rig Election - PDP Campaign

The Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Organization has challenged the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof A...

Jungle Justice: Angry Youths Burn 7 Ritualists To Death In Benue

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<b>Seven ritualists were on Tuesday, February 10, burnt to death by an angry mob.</b></div>
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According to <b>Premium Times</b>, the incident happened at about 1.00pm at Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.</div>
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A witness told the website that the ritualists were suspected to have killed an 11-year-old.</div>
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The witness, Toryila Adamgbe, the ritualists killed the 11-year-old during an unsuccessful attempt to kill the teen’s uncle.</div>
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The suspected murderers were mobbed by angry youth who took laws into their hands, and burnt the suspects alive in three locations within Naka, headquarters of Gwer West Local Government.</div>
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According to the reports, two of the gang members who killed the teenager however escaped the lynching by the angry youth and are still at large.</div>
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Another source told the news website that the gang has been threat in Naka community, and were suspected to be among those committing most atrocities within the council area.</div>

Jungle Justice: Angry Youths Burn 7 Ritualists To Death In Benue

Seven ritualists were on Tuesday, February 10, burnt to death by an angry mob. According to Premium Times , the incident happened a...

Police Free Power-Drunk Cop, Frame Tortured Couple

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIC_1L_4mICzQZQ9A0DhUTx1kXpULHofeJO8frTiWokWaVvrmnN8aUtFMvBYAY5CiAt_v5RQGvH8VuHgb4A5y49tPzyZEQ8BSYqDc14n__XZ-kuXNRjN2YRfjD6AvDOvLGle56qteuV0s/s1600/Grace-Lagos-CP-Cornelius-Aderanti-and-Ejeh-360x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIC_1L_4mICzQZQ9A0DhUTx1kXpULHofeJO8frTiWokWaVvrmnN8aUtFMvBYAY5CiAt_v5RQGvH8VuHgb4A5y49tPzyZEQ8BSYqDc14n__XZ-kuXNRjN2YRfjD6AvDOvLGle56qteuV0s/s1600/Grace-Lagos-CP-Cornelius-Aderanti-and-Ejeh-360x225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>The power-drunk cop who tortured a couple in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State, Dada Ogunsanya, has been freed by the police.</b></div>
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However, one of the victims of the torture, Ejeh Smith, is currently being detained in the Ikoyi Police Division.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/police-free-power-drunk-cop-frame-tortured-couple/">PUNCH Metro</a></b> gathered on Wednesday that the police at the Ikoyi division were mounting pressure on him to admit that he was a criminal.</div>
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He was initially arrested by the Lion Building Police Division for allegedly receiving stolen diesel. The Ikoyi division heard about the case after Ejeh had been granted bail, but nevertheless rearrested and brought him before some selected journalists.</div>
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The action, it was learnt, was targeted at rubbishing earlier reports indicting Ogunsanya and the then Ikoyi Divisional Police Officer, Aisha Haruna.</div>
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Our correspondent had reported in December, 2014 that Ogunsanya, a corporal attached to the Ikoyi division stopped a cab conveying Ejeh and his wife, Grace, home.</div>
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The policeman, who was part of a patrol team, was said to have shone his torch on the passengers, who protested that the inner lights of the cab should have sufficed.</div>
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Angry Ogunsanya was said to have used his rifle to hit Ejeh in the eye and stepped on Grace’s stomach.</div>
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The DPO, Haruna, was alleged to have deleted Grace’s recording of the incident.</div>
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The matter was still ongoing, when PUNCH Metro learnt on Wednesday that Ogunsanya had been released, while Ejeh had been detained for another matter.</div>
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Ejeh’s wife, Grace, said her husband was arrested for allegedly receiving a stolen keg of diesel.</div>
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She said, “Last week, I returned from work and I saw a 25-litre keg of diesel in the house. My husband said a security man in the next compound wanted to sell it to him. He explained that the security man said he did not have money on him.</div>
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“My husband told the man that he would help him sell the fuel, as he had no use of the product.”</div>
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It was gathered that the security man had stolen the fuel from his employer, which was later detected through a CCTV camera.</div>
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Policemen from the Lion Building division were said to have arrested Smith after the suspect mentioned his name.</div>
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Grace said the police in the Lion Building granted bail to her husband, but as Ejeh was going home, policemen from the Ikoyi Division surfaced and said the complainant had demanded that the matter be transferred to the division.</div>
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It was gathered that the DPO of Ikoyi Division at the time of the torture, Aisha Haruna, is now the DPO of the Lion Building Division.</div>
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Grace said, “After we paid ₦15,000 for Smith’s bail in the Lion Building division, the police said he should be taken to the Ikoyi Police Division, that the owner of the case wanted it transferred there.</div>
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“The lawyer representing the complainant wanted to withdraw the case, but the police said the case should go on.</div>
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“The police then asked my husband to accept that he is a criminal, so that they can rubbish whatever we said they did to us. They also invited some journalists to interview him.”</div>
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It was gathered that Ogunsanya, who was back at the Ikoyi division, had been insisting on Ejeh’s arraignment in court.</div>
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But the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Kenneth Nwosu, said the police did not frame the couple.</div>
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He, however, admitted that Ogunsanya had been released, saying his trial had ended.</div>
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He said, “Dada Ogunsanya’s trial has ended and his rank was reduced from corporal to constable.</div>
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“Smith was arrested by his community for receiving stolen goods and was brought to the Ikoyi Police Division for investigations before charging the matter to court.</div>
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“Nobody organised a press conference on his arrest. Some journalists heard about his arrest and called me that they would like to interview him and I cannot stop them.”</div>

Police Free Power-Drunk Cop, Frame Tortured Couple

The power-drunk cop who tortured a couple in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State, Dada Ogunsanya, has been freed by the police. However, ...

Tricyclist Falls Into Soakaway While Starting Generator

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGzoi2q4Dj9tSSJx2I_mVyyOwz0Tg7Mrzei-oV2DT4p2YT39Z-Zp-KJ89bwfqzPdty9MR7Xu_jbeBnRr2_kOZR0HfLC87YkaEGV0MWWjhegWNFAqyGHtPoV3Y2fm5joAg-UW1S6kxkrgO/s1600/Soakaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGzoi2q4Dj9tSSJx2I_mVyyOwz0Tg7Mrzei-oV2DT4p2YT39Z-Zp-KJ89bwfqzPdty9MR7Xu_jbeBnRr2_kOZR0HfLC87YkaEGV0MWWjhegWNFAqyGHtPoV3Y2fm5joAg-UW1S6kxkrgO/s1600/Soakaway.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Tragedy struck in the Mushin area of Lagos State after a 35-year-old tricycle rider, Olalekan Salisu, fell into a soakaway in his house and died.</b></div>
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He was said to be starting his small generator on the soakaway around 9pm on Sunday when the slab covering the soakaway gave way.</div>
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The generator and the Ogun State indigene were said to have fallen into the soakaway.</div>
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Residents said it took about five hours before the victim, who was married with two kids, could be brought out. He was brought out dead.</div>
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Tension was still high on Wednesday when <b><a href="http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/tricyclist-falls-into-soakaway-while-starting-generator/">PUNCH Metro</a></b> visited the scene of the incident, a two-storey building on Anipele Street, Olorunshogo, Mushin.</div>
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Our correspondent observed that two fresh concrete slabs had been prepared to replace the damaged one which was at the back of the house.</div>
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Faeces, said to have been drained out of the soakaway with pumping machines in frantic bid to remove the victim, were still in the gutters in the area.</div>
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Some of the deceased’s co-tenants, however, denied living in the house or knowing about the incident. They declined to talk to PUNCH Metro.</div>
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One particularly threatened to beat up our correspondent. One of the tenants, who did not identify himself, asked our correspondent to leave immediately.</div>
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He said, “Look, everybody is sad. The man that died here is young and his family has left the house for their home town after the incident. The landlord does not live here with us. If you want to get any information, come back when his family returns or when everybody is in a good mood.”</div>
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However, some residents of the area claimed that the tenants were trying to cover up what had happened in the house.</div>
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A resident, John Ademola, who said he was among those that attempted to save the victim on the night of the incident, explained that the tenants usually put generators on the soakaway which must have weakened the slab and caused the tragedy.</div>
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He said, “On that night, the man, who lived on the second floor, came outside to turn on his generator after a power outage.</div>
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“The generator, which was on the soakaway, started working and as the man was about leaving, the soakaway caved in and he and the generator fell inside.</div>
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“As he was going down, he shouted for help and that was what made people know that something bad had happened.”</div>
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Our correspondent learnt that all attempts to remove him proved abortive, until someone called men of the Lagos State Fire Service.</div>
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The firemen were said to have inserted pipes into the soakaway to drain the wastes after which the victim was brought out dead.</div>
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The Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, while confirming the incident, said a fireman, Joshua Akindele, descended into the soakaway to evacuate the victim.</div>
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He said, “The fireman went in with a sealing hook and a ladder. With the aid of the hook, he found the location where the victim was buried in the faeces. He then went into the basement of the septic tank using the ladder.</div>
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“He used a side of the victim’s shoulder to bring him up and tied a rescue rope over his body before drawing him up.It was a difficult situation.”</div>
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Fadipe warned people in the state to avoid using septic tank as a passageway or a facility for storage of generators, which could weaken the slabs and lead to avoidable disaster.</div>

Tricyclist Falls Into Soakaway While Starting Generator

Tragedy struck in the Mushin area of Lagos State after a 35-year-old tricycle rider, Olalekan Salisu, fell into a soakaway in his house...

I Won't Go On Terminal Leave, Says Jega

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<b>The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said he does not have any plan to embark on terminal leave.</b></div>
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This was contrary to unsubstantiated report that Jega would proceed on a forced terminal leave on March 1.</div>
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But Jega’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu, denied this saying his boss was busy preparing for the conduct of the elections.</div>
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He said, "Jega is busy preparing for the elections and you are asking about terminal leave. Does anyone planning to conduct elections go on terminal leave? There is nothing like that."</div>
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Idowu had in an interview on a TV programme monitored in Lagos, on Tuesday, said Jega’s appointment was not guided by civil service rules and would serve until the end of his tenure on June 30.</div>
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He said the postponement of the elections would make INEC better prepared for the elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11.</div>
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Idowu also denied the report that Jega had resigned his appointment due to pressure from the Presidency.</div>
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Idowu said, “No, that’s (resignation) is not true, he has not resigned. He didn’t resign. It is a mere rumour.”</div>
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Similarly, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, said Jega could not be asked to go on a terminal leave because he was not a civil servant.</div>
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He said, “I do not consider the Chairman of INEC as a civil servant subject to civil service rules the same way I, as a member of the House of Representatives, is not a civil servant. There is a difference between a civil servant and a public servant or officer. Jega falls under the latter.”</div>
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However, it was learnt that by norm, political appointees had at several times in the past been ordered to go on terminal leave even though they were not civil servants.</div>
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The provisions of Public Service Rules 100238 states that officers are required to give three months notice of their retirement from service terminating on the effective date of their retirement. This means Jega might be forced to proceed on terminal leave before the elections.</div>
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For instance, the tenure of Jega’s predecessor, Prof Maurice Iwu, was due to expire on June 13, 2010 but on April 28, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan, ordered Iwu to proceed on terminal leave.</div>

I Won't Go On Terminal Leave, Says Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said he does not have any plan to embark on ter...

4 Women Arrested For Selling 2-Month-Old Baby For ₦625,000

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<b>Four suspected female child traffickers have been nabbed at Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government area of Anambra State, for their alleged involvement in the stealing, selling and buying of a two-month old baby girl for ₦625,000.</b></div>
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The baby was reportedly stolen from her mother at Nnewi area of the State by three of the suspects, who sold her to one of the suspects.</div>
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The suspected seller, said to be an Enugu-based woman, allegedly stole the baby from her mother and sold her to the buyer who is said to be a middle aged woman looking for a female child.</div>
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She reportedly told police investigators at the Ogidi Police Division:</div>
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"I have a male child, but I want a female that will look after me when I become old."</div>
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My husband was aware of the baby and, in fact, he was even the one that asked me to carry on when I told him of my plans to buy a female child."</div>

4 Women Arrested For Selling 2-Month-Old Baby For ₦625,000

Four suspected female child traffickers have been nabbed at Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government area of Anambra State, for their alle...

[Opinion]: Badluck Jonathan - By Solomon Dersso | AlJazeera

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<b>This year's Valentine's Day will now be observed in Nigeria free from the destruction of the electoral contest. In a move that triggered major controversy and debate, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria announced the postponement of the national elections originally set for February 14, to March 28. </b></div>
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The elections are said to be unlike any other that Africa's most populous nation has had in its history. Unlike previous elections in which the opposition has been deeply divided and the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) enjoyed electoral dominance, most opposition parties have now come together under the All Progressive Congress (APC). To the excitement of the gods of democracy, this has made this year's elections the most competitive in the history of the country.</div>
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According to the latest opinion poll involving 2,400 prospective voters from across the country, the percentage of voters who said they would vote for each party is equal at 42 percent. It is accordingly, the very first time in Nigerian history that the incumbent is faced with a clear danger of losing out to the opposition.</div>
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<b>Mounting discontent</b></div>
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For the incumbent, there is no worse time to face such a formidable electoral challenge than this. It came at a time when there is mounting discontent in Nigeria over the government's (mis)handling of the Boko Haram insurgency that has continued to devastate northern Nigeria for over five years. </div>
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Since 2014, the group's attacks have assumed a new level of destructive force in which civilians have become the victims. According to the Council on Foreign Relation's <b><a href="http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/nigeria-security-tracker/p29483">Nigeria Security Tracker</a></b>, Boko Haram-related violence claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people in 2014.</div>
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Having seized about 70 percent of Borno state and many towns and villages in Yobe and Adamawa, Boko Haram has, since mid-2014, captured a large swath of territory equal to the size of Belgium.</div>
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In a change of electoral fortune, APC's presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler of Nigeria with strong backing in the mostly Muslim north and helped by Nigerians' desire for firm action against Boko Haram, seems poised to avenge his loss of the 2011 elections against PDP's flag bearer the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. </div>
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<b>Security trumping democracy</b></div>
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Security has thus become the major issue of the electoral contestation. What more opportune moment for the Nigerian army to launch a military offensive against Boko Haram than during the coming six weeks?</div>
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The INEC rejected an earlier call by the president's security adviser for postponement of the elections to allow enough time for finalising preparations. Yet, with the <a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/176440-inec-postpones-2015-general-elections.html">security agents stating in a letter</a> that the military could not provide security if the elections were held as originally planned, the INEC decided to postpone the elections. The reason is obvious. To paraphrase: "It is the security, stupid."</div>
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It is a case of security trumping democracy. Although much of the blame for the postponement is to be placed on the security establishment, it did not leave the INEC untouched.</div>
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The INEC is responsible for conducting the election but depends on the security institutions for safeguarding the security of the polls. In "prioritising" the fight against Boko Haram at this particular time over the provision of security for the elections as originally planned, the military practically vetoed the INEC in determining the timing of the election.</div>
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It is a case of security trumping democracy. Although much of the blame for the postponement is to be placed on the security establishment, it did not leave the INEC untouched.</div>
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The opposition candidate put the independence of the INEC in question when he <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/02/08/nigeria-election-buhari-idUKL5N0VI0RI20150208">blamed the postponement on the ruling party</a>. The extent of the damage to the INEC currently remains unknown.</div>
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<b>Security concerns</b></div>
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It has become increasingly clear that Boko Haram is a key variable that will determine the outcome of this election. The humanitarian impact of the group's attacks, particularly the growing number of refugees and internally displaced persons may mean that millions of people in APC stronghold territories may not be able to participate in the election.</div>
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INEC was unlikely to hold elections in Boko Haram controlled territories of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa.</div>
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Although much of the insecurity is believed to have put Buhari more at a disadvantage than Jonathan, the suicide bomber that struck minutes after the president left a rally in the northern city of Gombe was a clear sign that Boko Haram was capable of wrecking havoc even for the incumbent and outside of the three most affected territories.</div>
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Although there certainly is a need for action against Boko Haram including through deploying more troops to the three affected territories, the postponement of the elections was not seen as convincing. "It is critical," US Secretary of State <a href="http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/statement_02072015.html">John Kerry</a> said in a statement, "that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process".</div>
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If the military victory that eluded the Nigerian army for the past five years is not secured during the next six weeks, Jonathan may not have the good luck of avoiding what he feared for Valentine's Day from happening on March 28.</div>
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Unless of course his PDP uses the six weeks to resorts to what Paul Collier calls in his provocative book "Wars, Guns and Votes" as "socially dysfunctional strategies of vote winning".</div>
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<b>Dr Solomon Ayele Dersso, a legal scholar and analyst of African international affairs who writes on current African issues, is a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, Addis Ababa office.</b></div>
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<b>Culled from <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/02/badluck-jonathan-150210053307570.html">Al Jazeera</a></b></div>

[Opinion]: Badluck Jonathan - By Solomon Dersso | AlJazeera

This year's Valentine's Day will now be observed in Nigeria free from the destruction of the electoral contest. In a move that ...

Soldiers Lay Siege To Tinubu’s Home

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<b>A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says soldiers have placed him under surveillance for the past three days.</b></div>
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Tinubu, in a statement on Tuesday by his Media Office, claimed that the soldiers numbering 30 were first noticed in a truck close to his Ikoyi, Lagos residence around 11pm on Sunday.</div>
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A soldier, Capt. Sagir Kooli, who exposed the alleged rigging of the June 2014 Ekiti State governorship election, had in a video which went viral last week said   that Tinubu’s telephone was bugged by the Department of State Services.</div>
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The former governor said in the statement that the soldiers were initially stationed about 500 metres from the gate of his house   before they moved closer.</div>
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Tinubu explained that on Monday night, the soldiers returned in two vans and stayed throughout the night.</div>
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He claimed that some of them alighted from the vans and walked back and forth in front of the house.</div>
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The APC leader,who alleged that the vans were stationed on both sides of the house on Tuesday morning,   vowed not to be intimidated by the government.</div>
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He said, “I remain resolute in my advocacy and support for the rule of law. President Goodluck Jonathan’s government has through the service chiefs staged a coup against Nigerians and the 1999 Constitution and now wants to silence his critics. I will not be muzzled through the barrel of the gun.</div>
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“The guns and bullets they should use to defeat Boko Haram are now being turned against the opposition and innocent Nigerians.”</div>
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Tinubu advised Jonathan not to take Nigeria back to the days that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election and urged the Yoruba to hold Jonathan responsible should anything happen to him.</div>
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He said, “As the scaremongering by the army continues, Nigerians must come to the realisation that the military has abandoned its statutory role and have now being dragged into partisan politics.</div>
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“Nigerians and the South-West should hold the Jonathan-led military responsible if any harm or danger comes to Tinubu and his family. The case of the Unknown soldier is too recent in our memory.”</div>
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In a separate statement, the Lagos State chapter of the APC described the development as unfortunate and an evidence that Jonathan was abusing the military.</div>
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The statement by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Joe Igbokwe, noted that soldiers were used in harassing and arresting leaders of the APC in Ekiti State during the governorship elections.</div>
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It described the abuse of soldiers as "an act of desperation being perpetuated by a dying regime."</div>
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The party said while Chad and Niger Republic were deploying soldiers to fight Boko Haram, the Federal Government was using soldiers to intimidate the opposition.</div>
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The statement read in part, “We see the attempt to intimidate and harass Tinubu as one of the desperate efforts by a dying regime to arrest the forces of history and warn that the PDP and the Jonathan presidency are struggling in vain for nothing will save them from being thrown to the dumpsite of history.</div>
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“A nation that is being assailed with the sordid details of the misuse of the army to rig elections for the PDP in Ekiti is today being treated with the scenario of using the same army to intimidate opposition forces so as to procure another extension for a failed regime that ranks not only as the most corrupt but the most clueless and incompetent in the history of the country.</div>
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“It is a pity that when poor countries like Niger and Chad are sending troops to fight insurgents in Nigeria, our own troops are being deployed to fight the opposition and intimidate the nation for the sole purpose of forcing through the dead ambition for continuation by a failed and bankrupt regime.”</div>
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However, the Deputy Director of Information, Nigerian Army 81 Division, Col. Mustapha Anka, denied that soldiers were deployed to monitor Tinubu.</div>

Soldiers Lay Siege To Tinubu’s Home

A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says soldiers have placed him under surveillance for the past three days. Ti...

Jonathan Inviting Military Coup On Nigeria - Obasanjo

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<b>Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised fears that the political posturing of President Goodluck Jonathan - using the military to delay scheduled election - might invite a military coup on the country.</b></div>
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“The signs are not auspicious,” Mr. Obasanjo told the <b>Financial Times</b> in an interview in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. “I don’t know whether a script is being played.”</div>
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“I sincerely hope that the president is not going for broke and saying ‘look dammit, it’s either I have it or nobody has it’. I hope that we will not have a coup... I hope we can avoid it.”</div>
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There have been concerns among opposition activists and civil society that Mr. Jonathan is excessively courting the armed forces and dragging them into politics.</div>
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National elections, earlier billed for February 14 and 28, were rescheduled for March 28 and April 11 following a “strong advisory” and a warning from the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and military chiefs that they could not guarantee security for the polls.</div>
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The opposition All Progressives Congress has accused the military of being used by the Jonathan administration to scuttle the election after it had earlier given a clear commitment to provide security for the elections just three days before making a volte-face.</div>
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Many Nigerians also expressed concern when the Nigerian Army addressed a press conference in January, saying it did not have the original certificates of Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate Mr. Jonathan’s party is battling to disqualify from running.</div>
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And just recently, a leaked audio recording suggested that Mr. Jonathan ordered the military to rig last year’s Ekiti governorship election in favour of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party.</div>
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In his interview with the Financial Times, Mr. Obasanjo said the military, especially the army, is in bad shape and had not been properly led.</div>
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“It’s a question of leadership - political and military,” Mr. Obasanjo said. “I think you need to ask [Mr Jonathan] how has he let [the army] go to this extent . . . Many things went wrong: recruitment went wrong; training went wrong; morale went down; motivation not there; corruption was deeply ingrained; welfare was bad.”</div>
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There are suggestions Mr. Jonathan would prefer to hand over to the military rather than Mr. Buhari if he loses the coming presidential election, but there is so far no clear-cut evidence to suggest that, although the APC has repeatedly alleged that the president’s party is in cahoot with the military to rig the coming election.</div>
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In the interview published Tuesday, Mr. Obasanjo, a card-carrying member of the PDP, openly endorsed opposition candidate, Mr. Buhari, saying he is best for Nigeria at this time.</div>
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The APC candidate is a former military head of state, who ruled Nigeria between December 1983 and August 1985.</div>
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“The circumstances [Mr. Buhari] will be working under if he wins the election are different from the one he worked under before, where he was both the executive and the legislature - he knows that,” Mr. Obasanjo said. “He’s smart enough. He’s educated enough. He’s experienced enough. Why shouldn’t I support him?”</div>
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Mr. Obasanjo has repeatedly accused Mr. Jonathan of deepening corruption in Nigeria and mismanaging public funds.</div>
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Speaking about the financial crisis facing the country as a result of the crash in crude oil prices, Mr. Obasanjo sees some positives in the development.</div>
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“There’ll be less in the pot, for stealing or corruption,” the paper quoted him as saying.</div>

Jonathan Inviting Military Coup On Nigeria - Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised fears that the political posturing of President Goodluck Jonathan - using the military to...

Jonathan Says 'Not Consulted' On Election Postponement

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPv1m5SlKUpDJNUSyfPVenYa9Gd1Q7JYjqK-qkCR-pkzWToQfFTLHd_qDUeMQm_vNbJ1bflMgMvhrsbjV0YgNdH2JcYaeXlDbvHGBJ6lmyatIj7nnOKfw8Uh3Lt6RLdDjVKD4AQ6lAnQZ/s1600/GEJ+MediaChat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPv1m5SlKUpDJNUSyfPVenYa9Gd1Q7JYjqK-qkCR-pkzWToQfFTLHd_qDUeMQm_vNbJ1bflMgMvhrsbjV0YgNdH2JcYaeXlDbvHGBJ6lmyatIj7nnOKfw8Uh3Lt6RLdDjVKD4AQ6lAnQZ/s1600/GEJ+MediaChat.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said Wednesday that he was "not consulted" on a controversial decision to postpone national elections, but vowed that the vote would take place and an elected government sworn in on May 29.</b></div>
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Some have accused Jonathan's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of secretly lobbying for the six-week delay out of fear that it was heading for defeat in the polls initially scheduled for February 14.</div>
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"I was not consulted and I don't want to be consulted," Jonathan said in a nationally broadcast interview, rejecting claims that his political interests motivated the postponement.</div>
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The National Security Agency (NSA) and military top brass last week urged election officials to push back the vote.</div>
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They said most available troops had been sent to the northeast to battle Boko Haram Islamist militants and would therefore not be able to provide nationwide security on polling day.</div>
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also struggled to distribute voter identity cards, which the NSA listed as another reason in support of a postponement.</div>
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The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and many observers claimed the NSA was trying to buy more time to save Jonathan's struggling re-election campaign.</div>
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But Jonathan insisted election officials made an independent decision after receiving guidance from the security agencies.</div>
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He also completely dismissed suggestions of a wider conspiracy to scrap the polls entirely so as to extend his time in office.</div>
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"Let me assure Nigerians that elections will be conducted in this country and a government will be inaugurated on the 29th of May," he told a panel of journalists.</div>
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Jonathan said he did not "see the big deal" concerning the postponement, as INEC acted within the constitution.</div>
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Nigerian law calls for the vote to completed 30 days before the May 29 inauguration deadline, meaning the new election date of March 28 falls within the law.</div>
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The president said the "international community" occasionally sees election delays in Africa as an excuse by the incumbent to "extend tenure".</div>
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"That is not the case in Nigeria," he said.</div>
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Jonathan is facing a tough challenge from former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari of the APC and most experts have said the race is too close to call.</div>
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Ruling party leaders have in recent days grown fiercely critical of INEC boss Attahiru Jega, questioning his competence and even suggesting that he was secretly collaborating with the opposition.</div>
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Some PDP leaders have called for Jega to be replaced before the vote, citing INEC's failure to distribute sufficient voter cards in ruling party strongholds</div>
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But Jonathan said stories that he was planning to remove Jega "belong to the garbage world," and voiced confidence that INEC would conduct free and fair polls.</div>
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<b>Credit: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-2949638/Nigeria-president-says-not-consulted-election-postponement.html?fb_ref=Default">Daily Mail</a></b></div>

Jonathan Says 'Not Consulted' On Election Postponement

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said Wednesday that he was "not consulted" on a controversial decision to postpone natio...