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Sad! Baby Falls Off Mum's Back On Okada, Crushed By Truck

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<b>A heavy duty truck, conveying crates of soft drinks, yesterday, at the Okorodafe Roundabout in Ughelli, Delta State, crushed a four-month-old baby girl, who had fallen off the back of her mother travelling on a commercial motorcycle, popularly known as Okada.</b></div>
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According to witnesses, the mother of the baby, who is in her 30s and simply identified as Ese, was said to have been struggling to adjust the wrapper with which she strapped the baby to her back, while the Okada was in motion.</div>
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One of the witnesses, identified as Efemena Okiemute, told <i>Vanguard</i> that the baby fell on the middle of the road and was immediately crushed by the truck, which was directly behind the Okada.</div>
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When <i>Vanguard</i> visited the scene, officials of Ughelli Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, were seen clearing the remains of the dead baby from the road.</div>
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<b>Source: <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/baby-falls-off-mums-back-okada-crushed-truck/">Vanguard</a></b></div>

Sad! Baby Falls Off Mum's Back On Okada, Crushed By Truck

A heavy duty truck, conveying crates of soft drinks, yesterday, at the Okorodafe Roundabout in Ughelli, Delta State, crushed a four-mon...

[Photo Of The Day] Gov Fashola Meets Class Teacher 38 Years After

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozanuXXImgDLDGEvpQhV9dVjrrLWnLNvuMJQN1Wr1SEU3YZ49xbCo789BIKPkOm85VMTOiqkA9VGNsIAnKwbGVZaFUSfMndxIf11QjbzGBUHyf5_h3BRytlIxTgCEgRAYLi1vLFKKtRM/s1600/Fashola+with+Teacher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozanuXXImgDLDGEvpQhV9dVjrrLWnLNvuMJQN1Wr1SEU3YZ49xbCo789BIKPkOm85VMTOiqkA9VGNsIAnKwbGVZaFUSfMndxIf11QjbzGBUHyf5_h3BRytlIxTgCEgRAYLi1vLFKKtRM/s1600/Fashola+with+Teacher.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola met with his former Bible Knowledge teacher, Mrs. Felicia Iyabode Adefunke Akinola, when he was a student at Birch Freeman High School, Surulere, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja on December 22.</b></div>
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This reunion comes 38 years after the governor left school.</div>
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[Photo Of The Day] Gov Fashola Meets Class Teacher 38 Years After

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola met with his former Bible Knowledge teacher, Mrs. Felicia Iyabode Adefunke Akinola, when he was...

Actress Iyabo Ojo Ventures Into Sex Business

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoNpiAWsSj9LHhgnOJ1uPI8cPu1M66ARlE0fc5-CcErjVFEICWNQrW0Q7UpnaAv-BdioLy0yqW7e5OuAVMX6gOUK3MY3GXf7u4y_jamLXhe68A_x1egDerSyxmtqmHe3lPneIoxQGbFk/s1600/iyabo-ojo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoNpiAWsSj9LHhgnOJ1uPI8cPu1M66ARlE0fc5-CcErjVFEICWNQrW0Q7UpnaAv-BdioLy0yqW7e5OuAVMX6gOUK3MY3GXf7u4y_jamLXhe68A_x1egDerSyxmtqmHe3lPneIoxQGbFk/s1600/iyabo-ojo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Since sex business is the in-thing now, <i>Nollywood</i> actress and boss of Fespris World, Iyabo Ojo, has just announced her venture into the 'pleasure' business, which is still frowned at in Africa.</b></div>
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She announced via a BBM broadcast recently that she has added breast enlargement and vaginal tightening service to the services being offered by her beauty outfit, located in the heart of Ikeja, Lagos. </div>
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"New effective products: sliming pills, breast enlarging cream, hip up butt enlarging cream, tightening liquid for ladies to mention a few. It’s Xmas season, visit Fespris World today and get a 20% on all our services and products, plus the best royal treatment ever", she wrote in her message.</div>
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The business, according to findings, is fast gaining grounds in Nigeria even though some people patronise them secretly. </div>
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She also dabbles into the restaurant business apart from her interest in beauty enhancement.</div>
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Other Nigerian actresses who run boutiques, spas and salons in Lagos include Bisi Ibidapo-Obe who has a sex toy store, Chika Ike, Doris Simeon, Bukky Wright, Toyin Aimakhu-Johnson all run fashion stores.</div>
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In 2014, Bisi Ibidapo Obe ventured into the business and opened her store in Magodo area of Lagos State.</div>

Actress Iyabo Ojo Ventures Into Sex Business

Since sex business is the in-thing now, Nollywood actress and boss of Fespris World, Iyabo Ojo, has just announced her venture into th...

Shocker! 'House-2-House' Dumps Jonathan For Buhari

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9AVJhNQxWibliWFH7e9ByR2H8exrdxsOmXeDffyfwg19ZtosrLLdmhwPNy_k_b69yqKaPNtAlO_6RTLTiq21xql64hOP8-o6cFz1TvAjBdy8AgYLc_XKuaWS50oVrfrgpE86BCDYWgQ/s1600/House2House1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9AVJhNQxWibliWFH7e9ByR2H8exrdxsOmXeDffyfwg19ZtosrLLdmhwPNy_k_b69yqKaPNtAlO_6RTLTiq21xql64hOP8-o6cFz1TvAjBdy8AgYLc_XKuaWS50oVrfrgpE86BCDYWgQ/s1600/House2House1.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b>The House-to-House campaign group, which in 2011 helped push Goodluck Jonathan into power, today turned its back on him and threw its weight behind his main challenger, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).</b></div>
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House-to-House Campaign Organization Dumps President Jonathan, Adopts Buhari For Change</div>
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The group cited Jonathan’s poor performance and inability to check corruption among political and office holders for its decision.</div>
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The National Coordinator of the House-to-House Political Education Initiative, Kunle Ehinlanwo, who is a son of a former PDP senator, made this known to newsmen at a press briefing in Abuja.</div>
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He said that the initial idea of the organization was to support the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the belief that continuity would better secure Nigeria’s democracy considering its current stage onthe democratic ladder.  Upon deeper review and careful analysis of the situation in the country, he explained, his group had come up unconvinced with the performance of the Jonathan administration. </div>
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“We have consequently decided to throw our support in favour of General Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who we are convinced is a better man for the challenging job,” he said. </div>
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<b><a href="http://sharonoilltd.com/main2/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=33:house2house-press-conference-speech&Itemid=675">READ: HOUSE-2-HOUSE CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT JONATHAN 2015</a></b></div>
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Ehinlanwo declared that the House-to-House Initiative will henceforth campaign vigorously to canvass massive votes for the election of General Buhari and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, ahead of the next general election across the 36 states of the Federation, the FCT and the 774 Local Government areas in 2015.</div>
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He explained: “For the record, our organization is engineered and powered by concerned citizens and patriotic volunteers throughout Nigeria to achieve these common objectives. We are concerned about the future of this great nation buffeted by bad leadership and we believe the time for a collective action towards a purposeful and responsible government which shares the wishes and aspirations of distressed Nigerians is now. We have therefore taken the bull by the horn to do honest bit in the quest for change.”</div>
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He revealed the aims and objectives of the organization, among others, to be:</div>
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(1) To mobilize Nigerians, particularly the youths, to ensure victory for General Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in the presidential election.</div>
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(2) To properly educate Nigerians on the imperatives of electing the APC presidential flag bearer in the 2015 presidential election to achieve a lasting progressive CHANGE.</div>
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(3) To assiduously canvass the election of General Muhammadu Buhari and indeed a necessity to right the debilitating condition in our nation today, thereby ensuring justice, peace, unity and prosperity among the Nigerians people.</div>
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(4) To work in harmony with the national leadership of the APC and all other organizations, including socio-economic, political and volunteer formations to propagate the ideals of a new era of possibilities.</div>
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Ehinlanwo dismissed the challenge posed by the incumbency factor in Nigerian politics, saying that APC would triumph because the Nigerian people can see beyond the antics of the rudderless Jonathan administration, particularly the desperate quest for power that can be observed in its actions and activities in recent times. </div>
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He stressed that Nigerians earnestly yearn for change and that it is becoming very clear that no amount of intimidation or corruption of the electoral process will change that tide. The voices of the people will be heard, loud and clear, via their massive votes at the election, he said.</div>
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<b>Source: <a href="http://saharareporters.com/2014/12/23/shocker-house-house-campaign-organization-dumps-president-jonathan-adopts-buhari-change">SaharaReporters</a></b></div>

Shocker! 'House-2-House' Dumps Jonathan For Buhari

The House-to-House campaign group, which in 2011 helped push Goodluck Jonathan into power, today turned its back on him and threw its w...

Rumbles in Osun APC Over Senatorial Primaries

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJEfVUN3NjaLPFdq1bN_JA5R3sgxJTJ_MXSnT13ACRmmY0KIMBFyGAXZ2xzVYLO6e7aGJZrOR2QUB8ELn-1sKb6rlYNJ_ciqM7QDEIOzxTdgvhOQ7MVITNtlVsFyGvDuB86dacPBWMYs/s1600/Omoworare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJEfVUN3NjaLPFdq1bN_JA5R3sgxJTJ_MXSnT13ACRmmY0KIMBFyGAXZ2xzVYLO6e7aGJZrOR2QUB8ELn-1sKb6rlYNJ_ciqM7QDEIOzxTdgvhOQ7MVITNtlVsFyGvDuB86dacPBWMYs/s1600/Omoworare.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>There is a cold war currently rocking the Osun State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the result of just concluded senatorial primaries for Osun East is been faulted by the two leading aspirants - the incumbent senator, Sen. Jide Omoworare and the publicity secretary of Ogun APC, Mr. Sola Lawal.</b></div>
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Lawal, the All Progressives Congress Publicity Secretary in Ogun State (another APC-controlled state) had criticized the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for allegedly upturning his victory in the primary and giving his mandate to Omoworare, adding that he had polled 16 votes more than the senator.</div>
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A close ally of Sola Lawal, Patrick Ogundele recently described Sen. Omoworare as ‘an incorrigible failure’. Saying that he has failed to be a viable representative to his constituents and that the one-time Lagos politician does not require further reinstatement in the National Assembly.</div>
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‘He is unknown in the district by even his party men, let alone the people of the senatorial district’. Ogundele also disclosed.</div>
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Omoworare on Monday reacting to Sola Lawal who has vowed to reclaim his mandate released a statement made available to newsmen by his media aide, Tunde Dairo urging Lawal to shun hatred and take the allege defeat in good faith.</div>
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The statement reads, “The attention of Senator Babajide Omoworare’s Media Office has been drawn to a report which states that Sola Lawal was said to have sent a petition to the National Assembly Primary Election Petition Committee of APC in Osun. He claimed to have won the primary election conducted by the party for candidates running for senatorial seat of Osun-East senatorial district.</div>
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“We have also read the same assertion in some national newspapers of Monday, December 22, 2014. To forestall any element of ambiguity in the near or far future, we intend to set the record straight to prevent a misdirection of public consciousness and probe the intentions of Sola Lawal.</div>
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“If we are silent at this threshold of history, this false assertion may soon adorn the toga of the truth and posterity will not judge us right.</div>
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“Lawal is on a spoiler mission. His attitude and disposition to the party hierarchy, even to the governor of the state, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, calls his political maturity, mission and intention to question”.</div>
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As event persists, feelers at our disposal have it that Sola Lawal might consider dumping the party if petitions submitted to the National Executives of the party are not favourably treated.</div>

Rumbles in Osun APC Over Senatorial Primaries

There is a cold war currently rocking the Osun State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the result of just concluded sena...

[Punch Editorial]: Jonathan's ₦21B Donation: Impunity Taken Too Far

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMh-joZC7LlHVAOAT9XE1tOehQPh0qQx-ll0zJmrsC9bRHNv46GzvzhA_XOGRhqrIa3iAq76LZi_wELgEI8iJQ7VwPiI0CgnvjGMI236W_nK99SWQue0aaoNakOJTwlS1Poz-_1vhN8A/s1600/JonathanG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMh-joZC7LlHVAOAT9XE1tOehQPh0qQx-ll0zJmrsC9bRHNv46GzvzhA_XOGRhqrIa3iAq76LZi_wELgEI8iJQ7VwPiI0CgnvjGMI236W_nK99SWQue0aaoNakOJTwlS1Poz-_1vhN8A/s1600/JonathanG.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>The Peoples Democratic Party Fund Raising Dinner held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to boost President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign war chest has been attracting public attention. The event, which took place last Saturday, was attended by business people, multinational organisations, interest groups and individuals who donated a sum of ₦21.27 billion to support his campaign for the 2015 presidential election.</b></div>
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But the President and his party will definitely have trouble explaining away this latest bizarre development in regard to the law of the electoral game and the morality in politics.</div>
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Though how a political party’s candidate raises his or her campaign funds is the party’s affair, the process must comply with the extant laws and pass the integrity test. First, Nigerian laws are unambiguous on campaign expenses and funding. The 1999 Constitution in Section 221 clearly states: “No association, other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election.” The Companies and Allied Matters Act also expressly forbids companies in Section 38 (2) from funding or donating gifts, property or money to any political party or association. Then the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, specifies in Section 91 (2) that “the maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall be ₦1 billion.”</div>
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But Jonathan, the ruling PDP and its 21 state governors took lawlessness to a new height on Saturday when one Tunde Ayeni, leading other donors, gave ₦2 billion on behalf of himself and his unnamed “partner” and “friends.” Jerry Gana, a permanent fixture in successive governments, announced ₦5 billion on behalf of his equally mysterious friends and “associates in the power sector.” Not to be outdone, oil and gas sector “friends” also pledged ₦5 billion; real estate and building sector, ₦4 billion; transport and aviation sector, ₦1 billion; food and agriculture, ₦500 million; power, ₦500 million; construction, ₦310 million; road construction, ₦250 million; National Automotive Association, ₦450 million; and Shelter Development Limited, ₦250 million. Going by the Electoral Act, which caps the donation an individual could make at ₦1 million, 5,000 donors must have been behind Gana’s ₦5 billion gift.</div>
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There is no doubting the fact that these donations raise salient questions verging on transparency. At a period when the government should be taking interest in enforcing compliance with the money laundering laws, people should not come out to announce donations on behalf of themselves and their “friends,” without actually naming those “friends.” It should also be of interest to know if those donors and their anonymous “friends” have complied with appropriate tax obligations. International best practices stipulate this as the minimum irreducible requirement.</div>
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Many Nigerians will also be interested in knowing how the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, which was credited with producing ₦15 million, came about its donation. As a government agency, where did it derive such powers to donate to a political party from? Having done this for the PDP presidential campaign, will the commission also make a similar amount available to other parties?</div>
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As for the sectoral donors, there is also the need for total disclosure. Who were the actors in the oil and gas sector that donated ₦5 billion? If they are publicly quoted companies, did they get the approval of their shareholders before going on the spending spree? How did the power sector that has not been able to muster enough investible funds come about a ₦500 million donation? With the automobile industry donating ₦450 million, it is no longer surprising that it benefited so much from the government’s controversial waivers.</div>
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Ayeni, a legal practitioner whose consortium recently acquired NITEL and Mtel, is also the chairman of Skye Bank Plc and a director in the Ibadan Electricity Development Company. Given that these big time sectoral players have suddenly become the big donors to the President’s campaign, what is the guarantee that regulators would be able to control them? It is little wonder that the government, after selling the power sector to private operators, is still interested in arranging a ₦213 billion bailout for them.</div>
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So, except the players in the various sectors donated their own money, they have brazenly violated the law if they did so on behalf of their companies. The relevant authorities should demand their tax returns. As of 2010, domestic airlines collectively owed banks and regulators over ₦300 billion. To say the least, this is another outrageous example of brazen impunity in government.</div>
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Indeed, a string of ugly scandals has dotted the Jonathan administration. Among the most unsettling cases is the ₦2.53 trillion paid out in 2011 as petrol subsidies to cronies and “ghost” businessmen when the National Assembly approved only ₦245 billion that year. We also recollect the mind-numbing loss to the national treasury of some questionable waivers that cost the country ₦64 billion in first six months of the year. Funds that disappeared from the public till can now find their way back as campaign donations. There is also the unresolved issue of missing billions of dollars at the state-owned oil company.</div>
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This scale of campaign slush funds and illegal contributions in return for some political and economic favours is deeply worrying. On moral grounds, leveraging on political power to raise campaign funds is corrosively anti-democratic. That it was done by previous administrations should not be a justifiable excuse for the flagrant abuse of power. There is next to no doubt that some of these funds are of doubtful origin. It is just sickening to find a President who claims to be fighting corruption fraternising with the venal high and mighty.</div>
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But a graver worry is how the toxic donations will further poison the electoral process and shore up the system of patronage. We are also faced with a total collapse in political morality, with corruption worn now as a badge of honour. It is sad to note that there is an instinctive conclusion among the Nigerian public that the Jonathan government is the most financially corrupt, fiscally irresponsible, politically insensitive and socially disconnected in Nigerian history. What a shame! The 21 PDP governors should also explain if their state legislatures approved the ₦50 million each they donated and whether they will extend the largesse to other parties.</div>
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In real democracies, laws regulate the conduct of candidates and international best practices demand transparency and specificity in campaign financing. In the United States, for instance, campaign contributions from government contractors, personal or business funds, individuals or sole proprietors who have entered into a contract with the government are prohibited by law. Any infraction or suspected questionable behaviour is investigated and culprits punished. This explains why French authorities since 2013 have been investigating Nicolas Sarkozy, the immediate past French President, over the allegation that he received €50 million from the late Muammar Gaddaffi as financial help for his 2007 presidential campaign. The US federal prosecutors have launched a clutch of corruption investigations against politicians such as Washington Mayor, Vincent Gray, and Virginia governor, Bob McDonnell, who received money from local businessmen they claim was in accordance with accepted campaign finance practices.</div>
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Impunity starts from little things left unpunished. These financial irregularities inside the Jonathan re-election campaign should also be investigated. While Section 8 (1) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service enabling law empowers the FIRS to adopt measures to identify, trace, freeze, confiscate or seize proceeds derived from tax fraud or evasion, Section 35 (3) says “…the Service may cause investigation to be conducted into the properties of any taxable person if it appears to the Service that the lifestyle of the person and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.” Most of the donors in this bizarre event fall within this category. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has sufficient grounds to investigate the suspicious financial transactions.</div>
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It is all evident that Jonathan has failed badly to build a credible, honest and minimally effective government for almost half a decade that he has been President. This is regrettable indeed.</div>
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<b>Credit: <a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathans-n21bn-donation-impunity-taken-too-far-2/">Punch</a></b></div>

[Punch Editorial]: Jonathan's ₦21B Donation: Impunity Taken Too Far

The Peoples Democratic Party Fund Raising Dinner held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to boost President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign...

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[Punch Editorial]: Jonathan's ₦21B Donation: Impunity Taken Too Far

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