My New Year Prophecy For Nigeria - By Dele Momodu

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBamQfPPHuaShpvxczM6kMTKNJnx5_ut2rHFSaCrPPAOgxoz1159imC3X2XNiXoDtAmQ5kGkW46GzugNefah3Pnb6AyPNHfGFWMNpEPq55AeeF1D3cgTmVYaHLMzub7Chyphenhyphen67KmPh2kE4g/s1600/BuhariFam51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBamQfPPHuaShpvxczM6kMTKNJnx5_ut2rHFSaCrPPAOgxoz1159imC3X2XNiXoDtAmQ5kGkW46GzugNefah3Pnb6AyPNHfGFWMNpEPq55AeeF1D3cgTmVYaHLMzub7Chyphenhyphen67KmPh2kE4g/s1600/BuhariFam51.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Fellow Nigerians, please, permit me to welcome you into the New Year with that exceptionally beautiful Poem [poem removed by editor] by Gabriel Imomtimi Gbaingbain Okara. The words of that legendary writer encapsulates my message on this page today. The beginning of a New Year is usually a period of renewed hope for mankind. It is a time when we all bury our unfulfilled dreams and give birth to new fantasies. </b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I really don’t know what has happened to the old tradition of men of God, especially Pastors, publishing their prophesies and predictions at the beginning of the year. It used to be a hot potato in those good old days and newspapers used to fall over themselves to get copies from famous prophets and then run them almost verbatim most times. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Man is a naturally curious animal. In Africa, most of us practise syncretism, a combination of religions, because we are never too sure about which way would ultimately lead to heaven. This is why the oracle men (Diviners), marabouts and others are still very popular and generously patronised till this so-called modern day. Many of us would want to see our future, if it is truly possible. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I shall attempt to undertake such a task here and now. The year 2015 is too crucial to our dear country Nigeria. All manner of permutations are going on right now wherever two or more Nigerians are gathered and it all centres on what would happen before, during and after the elections coming up in February. The situation is already getting tense to the extent that many rich folks are relocating their families abroad or seeking new homes or hideouts far from the madding crowd that they think Nigeria is. It is such a shame that Democracy has become a theatre of war in our clime when elsewhere it is meant to be a pleasurable game of who controls the numbers. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The question on everyone’s heart and lip is what happens if President Goodluck Jonathan fails in his second term bid and General Muhammadu Buhari wins! Will the ruling party, PDP, which has entrenched itself in power give up the fight, arms akimbo, and walk away so quietly and miserably into insignificance and irrelevance? Will the core supporters of President Jonathan, made up of militants and possible soldiers of fortune allow power to slip from their hands, just like that, without putting up some riotous protest in defiance and to delay the inevitable. Those who are beating the war drums in anticipation and rehearsing their war strategies ahead of time may wish to test their true might when that time comes. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The second question is what happens if General Buhari fails and President Jonathan wins fair and square, or by hook and crook, and Buhari’s supporters cry foul, especially if the rigging or whatever it is called becomes too obvious and a free-for-all fight breaks out! No matter how the results go, one way or the other, will the loser agree to concede defeat? The general impression is that head or tail, a serious, possibly <i>‘roforofo’</i> fight (apologies to Fela) will ensue after this election. I beg to disagree. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> My prediction is very simple and straight forward. The 2015 Presidential election is not going to be too close to call as many people expect. Whoever wins will do so decisively. A wind of change is blowing across the land at the speed of light. It is like a hurricane majestically sweeping across the nation carrying everybody along in its wake.  If it persists, General Muhammadu Buhari will win resoundingly. The victory will be so blistering that the PDP won’t know or even see what has hit it as if in a lightning strike. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If President Jonathan is able to bounce back from the current blitzkrieg, then it means the wind of change would have been fatally downgraded to the extent that something major would have gone wrong with the APC candidates and/or their campaign. But I don’t see this happening. I’m willing and ready to place a bet that the PDP has reached its final bus stop, for now, after reigning unchallenged for 16 years. This is to be expected. Even the best of democracies abroad, political parties often suffer from natural law of diminishing returns after staying in power for so long. This kind of fatigue has already set in for PDP and a President Jonathan would be the natural collateral damage in the process. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Many factors will determine this almighty election. I will break them down once again. I will start with two interesting analogies. The first is original to me while the other comes from a discussion I had yesterday with a very famous Itsekiri man over breakfast. Let’s begin with mine. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The belief of most people I know is that neither APC nor PDP is perfect. They are readily dismissed as two sides of the same coin. Let’s stretch it further. Buhari and Jonathan both have their k-legs. But the former seems to have managed his own in such a way that people have come to terms with whatever is regarded as shortcomings while they have given up on any redeeming grace for Jonathan’s apparent weaknesses. In fact, Buhari in comparison to Jonathan is like having to choose between ulcer and cancer. Both ailments will definitely cause pain and discomfiture but the difference is still crystal clear. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> My Itsekiri brother stretched my thoughts further. He said he had asked his wife a question recently while discussing Buhari and Jonathan: “Darling, who among the two would you want to leave our kids with if we decide to travel for one week…?” The stunned wife took a deep breath before answering: “If I’ve no other person to leave them with than those two, I think I will pick Buhari. I know he might not allow them to eat too much and he may even ban them from watching their Disney channels but at least the kids will be safe and we’ll meet them at home when we come back.” <i>C’est finis</i>! </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> That is the sad reality today. Many Nigerians don’t think the President has any new solutions to our economic woes, general insecurity, epileptic power, archaic infrastructure, reckless profligacy, epidemic corruption, ethnic conflagration and religious bigotry. What the President’s men are promoting ceaselessly as achievements are signs of backwardness for a nation as big, ambitious and prosperous as Nigeria, the proverbial giant of African. Most of them are nothing but relics and antiquities and we deserve much better if we must compete on the world stage. Nigerians are down and out and the options are too little and too few. They believe they have to try whatever else is available even if there is no guaranty of how things may turn out again. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Except for those profiting from the present <i>status quo</i>, and may be telling the present government lies about the situation out there, the cry everywhere is change. The scenario I foresee is that Buhari will clear a large percentage of the Muslim votes, while the Christian votes would be split but with the majority still following the Buhari/Osinbajo team. The choice of Prof Yemi Osinbajo, a respected Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) as running mate to Buhari has refined my former thoughts in this respect. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There is no gainsaying the fact that Jonathan had previously succeeded in playing this religious card by his constant forays in the sanctuaries of various churches, Pentecostal and otherwise, but with Osinbajo being brought into the equation most of this advantage has vanished and the pendulum of the Christian votes has swung the way of the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket.  Buhari will make a serious incursion into the President’s traditional territories while the President would find Buhari’s terrain almost impenetrable. Indeed people are now saying that Jonathan no longer has the monopoly of Christianity. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> On the regional front, Buhari will score more votes than Jonathan in the entire North West and North East and Jonathan may struggle to record twenty-five percent in even a couple of them. The North Central will be a battle ground but Buhari will still have a slight edge. The South West will vote massively for Buhari this time even including Ondo and Ekiti states but Jonathan will record up to 25 percent in most of them. The South South will shock Mr President as Buhari will record minimum of 25 percent or more in Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta States and win more than 50 percent in Rivers and Edo States because of the Amaechi and Oshiomhole factors. Bayelsa is the only totally safe ground for President Jonathan.  Even then one is not certain because of the schism within the PDP in that State. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In the South East, Buhari may shock pundits by recording up to 50 percent in IMO state, about 25 percent in Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States. Those who think the President will lock down the entire South South and South East are in for a rude shock and reawakening. In essence, APC will not only win in majority of the States it will win big because it controls most of the biggest states with massive votes in Nigeria. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Most of the PDP states are seriously going through one crisis or the other at this moment less than 45 days to the elections. On the contrary, APC has been able to manage its own internal crisis better without much ado.  Where there have recently been cracks, those gaping holes have been practically healed except Ogun State where I still expect my godfather former Governor Segun Osoba, to return to the fold having invested so much energy and resources in the past. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If what the President’s people are banking on is their campaign of calumny against the General, it won’t fly this time around because Nigerians have virtually acclimatised to the bad weather that a Buhari Presidency may bring while they find the PDP heat too hot and scorching to bear again after 16 years of misadventure. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The election will not be as controversial as most people expect as the winner will be decided loud and clear. Of course, there will be skirmishes here and there but it won’t be anything the security forces won’t be able to handle, contain and crush if necessary. Many of those threatening brimstone and fireballs will be the first to flee in their private jets and speedboats now that they’ve made too much money from a fluid system. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I can see a star studded cabinet after May 29 formed of the <i>crème de la crème</i> of politicians, technocrats and professionals, all committed to serving their motherland. Every effort would be made to form a government of national unity comprising of both party and non-party members and Nigerians with proven talents from across the world will be invited to join and participate in this wind of change. The new government will work harder on giving a sense of belonging to all without alienating anyone. The current regime of those who fan the embers of ethnic and religious divisions for personal gain will be reversed and consigned to the dustbin of history. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This shall come to pass. God bless Nigeria.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Read more at:  <a href="http://www.thecable.ng/new-year-prophesy-nigeria">TheCable</a></b></div>

My New Year Prophecy For Nigeria - By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, please, permit me to welcome you into the New Year with that exceptionally beautiful Poem [poem removed by editor] by...

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Unemployed Couple Give Birth To Quadruplets After Twins

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuD_cakSlzWRJoLed4VhV9IaryMZ_UuKblvanm2_vGEXPDw8HAaXGTGK1RMrwEli6FO8pTrh0xX-DwLQGNDb1C8YHPEg5IMQXq8-8-ocsuSrwpj9RxfJP9Tw-K1-KzKjnZhcpSt1_AVg/s1600/quadruplet-702x336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuD_cakSlzWRJoLed4VhV9IaryMZ_UuKblvanm2_vGEXPDw8HAaXGTGK1RMrwEli6FO8pTrh0xX-DwLQGNDb1C8YHPEg5IMQXq8-8-ocsuSrwpj9RxfJP9Tw-K1-KzKjnZhcpSt1_AVg/s1600/quadruplet-702x336.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>When Isaac Oluwasanmi Oluwadare enrolled for a diploma programme at Ni­ger State College of Agri­culture, Mokwa, a couple of years ago, he was confident of securing a good job, but that did not happen. </b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He then de­cided to go for a degree certificate and enrolled into the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where he bagged a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricul­tural Economics and Farm Management. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Though he is from a very poor family and had nobody to cater for his education, he struggled to get good education. He believed that with sound education, he would be able to secure a good job and raise a small family so that he would also be able to cater for his siblings. But all these hopes fell like a pack of cards. The fate that has befallen him is contrary to his expectations. He didn’t get a job. Rather, he got a really big family and the challenge he is facing now is how to fend for them.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When he got married in 2009, he and his wife had to wait for three years for their first child. When it then happened in 2012, they were twins and it was a big surprise. As he and his wife, who is also a jobless NCE holder, were struggling to make ends meet and cater for the two children, they got an­other big surprise with a set of quadruplets. Four babies at a time!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Oluwasanmi, 35, and his wife, 30, narrated their experiences to <b><a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=98487">Saturday Sun</a></b> at their sleepy Ikeji-Arakeji residence in Ori­ade Local Government Area of Osun State.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> You can read the details by following this <b><a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=98487">link</a></b>.</div>

Unemployed Couple Give Birth To Quadruplets After Twins

When Isaac Oluwasanmi Oluwadare enrolled for a diploma programme at Ni­ger State College of Agri­culture, Mokwa, a couple of years ago,...

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February Presidential Election Is A 'Do Or Die' Affair - Gov. Fayose

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyM2iG1DY8JTDjzg_W5gTrRFyVQ0fybNnZKe9zEvcbA05oZQRP2Bj6cpzDsp0fxe5DgkgciH1BhsJX6Hux-sbvM83lczQFBaVFnAnnpcx9Z4XQE5jr30XDCXAn_zqg-UJTp6wFHorzu8/s1600/Fayose_thuggery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyM2iG1DY8JTDjzg_W5gTrRFyVQ0fybNnZKe9zEvcbA05oZQRP2Bj6cpzDsp0fxe5DgkgciH1BhsJX6Hux-sbvM83lczQFBaVFnAnnpcx9Z4XQE5jr30XDCXAn_zqg-UJTp6wFHorzu8/s1600/Fayose_thuggery.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>An inaugural meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest was held in Akure on Saturday with the objective of outlining a strategy for winning the 2015 elections in the area, with Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose reiterating the party’s old mantra that the presidential contest is a “do or die” affair.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The returnee-governor said the party must be prepared to use its control of the army and the police, which it currently controls, to ensure victory for President Goodluck Jonathan at next month’s polls.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The meeting was organized by the PDP South-West co-ordinator, Gov. Olusegun Mimiko, who shared the high table with Senitor Iyiola Omisore, Mr. Kolapo Ogunjobi, Senator Musilu Obanikoro, Governor Ayo Fayose and various leaders from the zone.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Governor Fayose underlined that the presidential election was critical, advising that the party should forget about governorship elections and concentrate on the presidential contest.  According to him, once President Jonathan was re-elected, everything else would fall into place and the party could declare the governorship candidates of PDP in various States as it likes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Minutes of the meeting obtained by <b><a href="http://saharareporters.com/2015/01/02/governor-fayose-explodes-presidential-contest-do-or-die-affair-advocates-use-policearmy">SaharaReporters</a></b> shows that some delegates advocated de-emphasizing rallies as campaign strategy, preferring that the PDP should focus on propaganda aimed at tarnishing the image of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari.   Some of the delegates wanted to use the media to dent the image of General Buhari.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In that connection, Senator Omisore expressed support for the extensive use of propaganda against Buhari, joining Governor Fayose in stressing that the all efforts should be mobilized to win the Presidency because the PDP would be nothing without the presidency.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Fayose disagreed with the propaganda strategy, describing it as a waste of time.  Stressing that attack is the best form of defence, he said that the PDP in general and the South-west PDP should be valiant to face the Tinubus anywhere they are. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He underlined that the PDP cannot afford to lose its control of the police and the army, which it will without Jonathan being the president.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> On Fayose’s description of the presidential election as a “do or die” affair, Gov. Mimiko, obviously aware that the outburst could be used against the PDP, countered that it should not be a “do or die” but rather a “do-and-win” affair.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> One of the decisions taken by the meeting was to set up a number of committees, including Security, Contacts, Traditional, and INEC.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The committee on Security is saddled with the responsibility of working with the police and the army.  The party leaders also further tasked the students at both the national and regional levels to monitor various institutions and polling booths to make sure that the election goes in favour of President Jonathan.  It was also stated that a national student body had submitted a proposal for a youth conference that will hold in FUTA this month where the South-west students would adopt Jonathan as their presidential candidate.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>TEXT OF THE MINUTES OF THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE SOUTH WEST PDP, HELD ON 27TH DECEMBER 2014</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>The inaugural meeting of the southwest PDP was held in Akure, at the Government House of the State (Ondo State).</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>The meeting was organized by the PDP South-West co-ordinator, Gov. Olusegun Mimiko. On the high table were Gov. Olusegun Mimiko, Senitor Iyiola Omisore, Mr. Kolapo Ogunjobi, Senator Musilu Obanikoro, Governor Ayo Fayose, a governorship aspirant in Oyo State and various leaders from the South-West.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>At the beginning of the meeting, the host appealed to all the South-West PDP members and leaders to be united so as for them to be able to gain more votes from the zone. And people were given opportunity to give opinion on how they could get more votes for the presidential election in 2015 and win other positions.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>A speaker from Lagos State made a comment that Senator Muslim Obanikoro’s son, Ibrahim Obanikoro, that contested for the position of council chairman in one of the LCDA’s in Lagos State, defeated Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his area but was not given the position. He mentioned that that they had the key in winning Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that Asiwaju only claims what he cannot do.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>And the speaker further said that they needed the support of the Presidency to do so many things in Lagos State, concerning the forth-coming election.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Also, another speaker from Lagos State emphasized on issue of disbursement of funds for the election. He stressed that funds were always late for disbursement for elections, so they wanted early disbursement so that they could deliver.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>While another speaker from another state said they were happy for the meeting because it would foster peace among the southwest PDP members and that they could move on easily.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>A speaker from Oyo State laid emphasis on use of the media and said the party should go more on the media attack on the opposition party (APC). He mentioned that effective use of the media was the weapon being used by APC. Gov. Mimiko now stated that they made findings of who were the owners of some dailies and that it was discovered that those media outfits did not belong to members of the APC, and thus PDP could equally hijack the media.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>A speaker from Osun State that he had told Gov. Mimiko to help them tell the President to use his power and office to quash Ogbeni Aregbesola before the general elections, so that PDP could produce more votes for the President and that the idea of fighting Gov. Aregbesola would be by going to the Court of Appeal which he said could be influenced to remove Aregbesola. So, he urged the honourable leaders of our amiable party to look into the issue of Osun State.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Discussions now moved on to the strategy that would be used for winning the presidential election;</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>• Delegates present at the meeting discussed more on campaign that they should do less of rallies, instead, they should embark on full campaign with propaganda that would tarnish the image of APC presidential candidate, Gen. Buhari. And part of what should be used use to campaign against Gen. Buhari in Lagos is that he was the one who stopped the Railway metro project of Lagos State 30 years ago, and that instead of Buhari completing the project, he paid the penalty for breaching the contract of the railway metro line project.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>• Delegates present laid serious emphasis on using the media to dent the image of the presidential candidate of APC.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Some delegates maintained that the change that the emperor of Bourdillon wanted to change Nig. democracy to totalitarian dictatorship. Members stated that when PDP had no State in the South-west, the President got good votes from the South-west and now that the party has two States, it would be able to win all the other States if the two States in its kitty are well utilised.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Senator Omisore said in his speech that propaganda of any form shoule be utilised and that all efforts should be mobilized to win the Presidency as without the presidency the party is nothing.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>In the speech of Mr. Ayo Fayose, he said propaganda would only waste time and that attack is the best from of defence. He maintained that the party in general and the South-west PDP needed to be valiant to face the Tinubus anywhere they are. He further said we have the control of police and the army and “I CAN NOT AFFORD TO LOSE MY CONTROL ON POLICE AND THE ARMY” and without Jonathan being the president we will lose the control. Further, he said the presidential election is a do or die affair but Gov. Mimiko quickly countered that it should not be a do or die affair but rather a do-and-win affair.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Governor Fayose later said they should forget about all governorship elections and concentrate on the presidential election, that once President Jonathan returns, we could be declaring the governorship candidates of PDP in various States as they like, meaning that the Presidential election is very paramount.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>As the meeting progressed, leaders at the meeting put Oyo State in focus and maintained that PDP could get more votes for the president there by begging both Chief Alao Akala and Chief Rasheed Ladoja to align their parties with the PDP since they have no presidential aspirant and there is every need to throw out Ajimobi, Amosun with using militant thugs loyal to PDP.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Mr. Kolapo Ogunjobi representing Otunba Gbenga Daniel said they PDP on ground in Ijebu side of Ogun State and they were grassrooters and that they could deliver with good resources.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Sen. Musilu Obanikoro in his own speech said 3 days after he lost the PDP primary election, that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to him in private which he said was quite unusual of him. He said Tinubu asked him how much he had spent and that he was ready to give him 2 billion Naira and a senatorial seat from APC in Lagos State. He said he refused the offer and stressed that they could just imagine how smart and clever Asiwaju is. He further stated that Cardinal James Odunmbaku (Baba Eto) was almost at the concluding part of decamping to PDP and that even he had even concluded with the presidency in Aso Rock before Asiwaju hijacked him back with the position of Director-General of Campaign of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. He said they could see that Tinubu is the smart type. Senator Obanikoro further said he was the only person that could match Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he said he knew his tactics. He further emphasized that with cash in his hand, Tinubu is nobody.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>While Governor Fayose intervened by saying that there was nothing special in Lagos and that he normally visited markets in Lagos every weekend and before the people in the market would recognize him, they would have said so many things in his presence that they won’t know. Govenor Fayose further said he was coming to Lagos to teach people the market approach to sensitizing the people on the need to support PDP and dump APC.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>After all this, the communiqué prepared sequel to which the press was allowed entry into the place for a brief coverage before they were dispersed again. At the end, they set up various committees on such areas as:</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>• SECURITY</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>• TRADITIONAL</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>• CONTACTS</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>• INEC etc.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Committee on contacts will meet important personalities to canvass them, they mention people like Jimoh Ibrahim in Ondo, the Ogun people mentioned Sen. Anthony Adefuye as part of the personalities to be visited, and many other personalities.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Committee on INEC would monitor various INEC commissioners in various south-west states and try as much as possible to lure them with money to compromise in favour of our great party.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Committee on traditional rulers would meet up all Obas in the southwest for consultation on the presidential election and use financial gratification to lure them as many of them really need stomach infrastructure, according to Governor Fayose. Governor Mimiko maintained that many of those Obas are actually hungry and with good amount of money they could get them to support PDP.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Committee on security is saddled with the responsibility to work with the police and the army. Leaders of the party further tasked the students at both the National (NANS) and southwest level, state level to monitor various institutions, polling booths and make sure that the election would go in favour of Jonathan. It was also observed that the National body of student (NANS) submitted a proposal for a youth conference that will hold in FUTA in January where the South-west students would adopt Jonathan as their presidential candidate.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Some leaders also talked about APC’s strategy of deploying 10 persons per polling booth and that they were aware of it and stated that all leaders should task themselves to use councilors in all their various booths.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Lastly, the South-west coordinator said the next meeting that would hold in Ibadan which would involve fund-raising for the presidential election from stakeholders of the PDP south-west and the meeting would be used to shake Oyo once again urging that the Governorship aspirant of PDP to be prepared.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>The meeting ended with closing prayer from a delegate from Ondo State.</i></div>

February Presidential Election Is A 'Do Or Die' Affair - Gov. Fayose

An inaugural meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest was held in Akure on Saturday with the objective of outlining a st...

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New Year Tragedy: Family of 3 Crushed On Jan. 1 In Ibadan

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePXCP-mVmmgmxR72pkFyOuik_Zc8huMOGpukcADz3OYP6ek6irDPLkrgoRiX4m6hyphenhyphenz9F_o32VE0iNy2Oz5N3kH9S8_yszkO_YlxqfFNAyYtWI1wpISIA-7EagKxlM5rVDnVEPM0FVssg/s1600/accident-crash-700x336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePXCP-mVmmgmxR72pkFyOuik_Zc8huMOGpukcADz3OYP6ek6irDPLkrgoRiX4m6hyphenhyphenz9F_o32VE0iNy2Oz5N3kH9S8_yszkO_YlxqfFNAyYtWI1wpISIA-7EagKxlM5rVDnVEPM0FVssg/s1600/accident-crash-700x336.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>A family of three, comprising a pregnant woman, her husband and a child were on Thursday crushed by a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when the trio went for a New Year leisure walk.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Eyewitnesses said the hus­band carried their three and a half years old child while he walked beside his pregnant wife at 8:30p.m., before the SUV hit them on Adeoyo State Hospital Road, killing them instantly.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Checks by <b><a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=98481">Saturday Sun</a></b> revealed that the Honda Pi­lot SUV that killed the fam­ily was driven by a lady sus­pected to have been drunk. She was said to have rammed the SUV into an electric pole before the vehicle could come to an abrupt halt.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Eyewitnesses further stated that the police that came to the scene of the incident took the corpses to the mortuary of the Adeoyo State Hospital, Ring Road.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> They also stated that when the lady’s SUV was opened, cartons of alcoholic drinks were found. The drinks, as gathered, were evacuated into the car of a woman, who was said to have driven in com­pany with the lady.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Honda Pilot SUV was also said to have been towed to a police station close to Mobil Petrol Station in Oluy­ole Estate in Ibadan South- West Local Government Area.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However ,the spokesper­son of the Oyo State Police Command, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Deputy Superin­tendent of Police (DSP) could not confirm the incident, say­ing he needed time for proper confirmation and asked the reporter to call him back later.</div>

New Year Tragedy: Family of 3 Crushed On Jan. 1 In Ibadan

A family of three, comprising a pregnant woman, her husband and a child were on Thursday crushed by a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) in I...

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Army To Court-Martial Brigadier-General, 21 Others In Lagos

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeLzkBEeOvLY9vceB0OfpyVeX76cbEONqxcS0dFXx2Z-r2253iYtkfaMFc8BoVwWfOoJDHAQrrpFV7n7fTTZ_h3vZsYDD2Zsjc1dTNsjj5m5iw1PPPV-pxx49YZ5MafiBZUY1RWQNIJ4/s1600/Chris-Olukolade-360x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeLzkBEeOvLY9vceB0OfpyVeX76cbEONqxcS0dFXx2Z-r2253iYtkfaMFc8BoVwWfOoJDHAQrrpFV7n7fTTZ_h3vZsYDD2Zsjc1dTNsjj5m5iw1PPPV-pxx49YZ5MafiBZUY1RWQNIJ4/s1600/Chris-Olukolade-360x225.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The Nigeria Army will on January 16, arraign one Brigadier-General and 21 other officers before a General Court Martial in Lagos. <i>Punch</i> reports that Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, who is  a defence counsel to some of the soldiers confirmed this on Wednesday.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However, the army authorities are yet to release the charges brought against the accused, but it was gathered that the officers are being charged for offences they allegedly committed in line of duty while battling insurgents in the North-East zone of the country. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Falana told <b><a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/army-to-court-martial-brig-gen-21-others-in-lagos/">Punch</a></b> he is yet to receive the charges against his clients.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The GCM is to hold at the 9 Brigade Officers’ Mess, Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The accused officers include Brig.-Gen. J.O. Komolafe; Colonels A. Laguda, V. Ebhaleme, V.O. Ita, and I.B. Maina.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Others are Colonels I. A Aboi, I.M Kabir, M.H. Abubakar, A. A. Egbejule, N. N. Orok, C. A. Magaji, A.O. Agwu, A.J.S. Gulani, O.O. Obolo and A.M. Adetuyi.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The list also include Lieutenant-Colonels I. A. Aboi, I.M. Kabir, M.H. Abubakar, A. A. Egbejule, N. N. Orok, C. A. Magaji, A.O. Agwu, A.J.S. Gulani, O.O. Obolo and A.M. Adetuyi.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The only Major among the accused officers is M. M. Idris and the others include Captains M Adamu, O. A. Adenaika, M. Gidado, M.M. Clark and S. Raymond.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> S.O. Olowa is the only second lieutenant among the officers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Their arraignment comes on the heels of the amendment of the convening order for the General Court Martial by the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigeria Army, Maj. Gen. T.I. Dibi, on August 6, 2014.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The amendment of the convening order replaces Brig.-Gen. I. O. Rabiu with Brig.-Gen. A. M. Sabo as the President of the court.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Other members of the panel are four other brigadiers-general – C. O. Ayara, J. C. Egbudom, S. A. Yaro, and J. Sarham.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The order indicated that Brig.-Gen. A. M Aliyu was on the waiting list.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It also nominated Lt. L.B. Berepiki and Warrant Officer Peter Ahmadu as additional prosecution counsel.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Meanwhile, the GCM set up by the Nigerian Army to try three officers and 13 soldiers of the 331 Artillery Regiment, Biu, Borno State, in relation with the April 14, 2014 abduction of the students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, has freed one of the officers, Capt. O.O. Ogunrinde.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ogunrinde, who was arraigned on a two count of conduct prejudicial to service discipline and relaying information without verification was found to be innocent by the court and was discharged and acquitted.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Army Captain was the second-in-command at the 331 Artillery Regiment, Biu, when the Chibok girls were abducted by the insurgents.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The abduction of the girls has provoked global outrage but most of the girls remain in custody of the violent Ismaic sect, Boko Haram, trill date.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ogunrinde was said to have been arraigned for allegedly relaying information without verification concerning the number of girls abducted.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The defence counsel to Ogunrinde, Mr. A.I. Omachi, said that the trial court decided the case in favour of his client, having found him not guilty of the charges levelled against him.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ogunrinde was the only Army personnel who escaped a jail sentence by the court, which sentenced two officers and 13 soldiers in relation with the Chibok incident on December 23, 2014.</div>

Army To Court-Martial Brigadier-General, 21 Others In Lagos

The Nigeria Army will on January 16, arraign one Brigadier-General and 21 other officers before a General Court Martial in Lagos. Punch...

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37-Year-Old Nursing Mother Bathed With Acid

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmo5zOg_hI5N9b2o6aUJAbBiwUbUBcgtP84vuzw0TH00te1HiaQLxWNpy7SQAtfJVwRDysNquwKmyNC7cD4N5qbgAtjJPm_0PiWdvpzsmEkPejm_fdRZvbnIuJqr38cx5NkFYtrGhfhw/s1600/acid-attack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmo5zOg_hI5N9b2o6aUJAbBiwUbUBcgtP84vuzw0TH00te1HiaQLxWNpy7SQAtfJVwRDysNquwKmyNC7cD4N5qbgAtjJPm_0PiWdvpzsmEkPejm_fdRZvbnIuJqr38cx5NkFYtrGhfhw/s1600/acid-attack.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>A 37-year-old nursing mother, Benedeth Chiugo, is currently battling for her life at the intensive care unit of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, in Anambra State, after some unidentified attackers bathed her with substance believed to be acid.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to reports, Chiugo was attacked by some unknown persons who rode on a motorcycle and emptied the substance which was in a plastic container, on her before jumping on the motorcycle and speeding off.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It was gathered that the cries of the woman attracted the husband who was nearby and she was rushed to the hospital where medical doctors have been battling round the clock to save her life.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Recounting her ordeal on her hospital bed, Chiugo said that she was standing in front of her shop, scrolling through her phone numbers, when two unknown boys stopped their bike and one of them, about 21 years, poured acid all over her body.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The men of the Nigerian Police at Nnewi Central Police Station, confirmed the incident but said only the state Police Public Relations Officer could reveal more details on the attack.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Credit: Pulse Ng</b></div>

37-Year-Old Nursing Mother Bathed With Acid

A 37-year-old nursing mother, Benedeth Chiugo, is currently battling for her life at the intensive care unit of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Univ...

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