Buhari pictured with Obama and his wife

President Buhari in a photo with Michelle and Barack Obama during a reception at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in New York last week.

Buhari Prevented from Meeting Pope Francis after Late Arrival

The Nigerian mission inexplicably messed up the itinerary of President Muhammadu Buhari at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York on Friday, TheCable can report. The president missed a very important event on Boko Haram and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and was also prevented from meeting with Pope Francis because he was not properly briefed by the Nigerian UN mission staff.
The pope delivered a speech at the general assembly on Friday at 10am. Not only was Buhari made to come in late to the meeting because of untidy arrangements, he also took a wrong gate rather than the one reserved for presidents and heads of state. He was subsequently prevented from seeing the pope by security operatives because of his late arrival.
Buhari came in while other presidents and heads of government had already lined up to shake hands with the pope, and he was prevented by security operatives from joining in. Presidency had sought to explain away the missed meeting as not being part of the official events lined up for the president.
“The meeting at which Nigeria was reportedly absent was not one of the official events of the United Nations for which President Muhammadu Buhari and his modest delegation are in New York,” Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman, had said. But not only was it an official event, the focus was on the Lake Chad Basin and the effects of insurgency to which Nigeria’s full participation was expected.
The listed UN events had the item: “The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will hold a side event on food security and humanitarian consequences of conflicts-driven displacement in the Lake Chad Basin region.” It was scheduled for 3pm US time (8pm Nigerian time), but the president’s programme prepared by the Nigerian mission did not list it as one of the events he should attend. The session was titled “Lake Chad Basin at A Cross Road: Addressing Urgent Humanitarian Needs in An Overlooked Crisis”. A high-level government representative of the Nigerian Government was expected to be at the event which was organised by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and chaired by Stephen O’Brien, undersecretary-general of the UN.
Witnesses to both incidents described as “embarrassing and unacceptable” the attitude of the Nigerian mission staff which led to media backlash back home and on the social media. The witnesses also blamed the presidential media team for rushing to the press to defend the president’s absence at a very crucial meeting whose discussion was on a matter in which Nigeria has been worst hit by the activities of the insurgents.
Meanwhile, the event Buhari eventually attended in place of the one on the insurgency was not only poorly attended but was full of protocol breeches, as the president was already seated before other speakers started coming in.

Yale University: Withdraw The Honorary Doctorate Degree Given To Ngozi Iweala.

The petition was filed by one Sunday Iwalaiye through the world's largest petition platform wwe.change.org (An online platform where individuals can start a campaign and mobilise hundreds of others locally or hundreds of thousands around the world, making government bodies and company responsive and accountable).
"YALE UNIVERSITY GAVE ITS PRESTIGIOUS HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE TO AN UNDESERVING NIGERIAN"
:Ngozi Iweala, the outgoing Nigeria's finance minister was awarded a honorary doctorate degree by Yale University on May 15, 2015. The citation from the Yale University reads:"Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Doctor of Humane Letters. You are a citizenof your country, your continent, and the world. Shaped by challenging experiences during your childhood in Nigeria, you have made social and economic reform your mission. As Nigeria’s coordinating minister of economic development and minister of finance, you have tackled corruption, created a vision and path to long-term economic stability, and worked to build a culture of transparency. At the World Bank, you made food securitya priority and provided policy adviceand capital for the world’s poorest countries. With wisdom, a fierce dedication to doing what is right, and unflagging energy, you have transformed the economic landscape of your nation. We are proud to name you Doctor of Humane Letter"This citation from the Yale University does not reflect nor represent everything that has happened under the watch and the supervision of the Nigerian economy by Ngozi Iweala as the nation's finance minister.
There is no tangible evidence of any economic development in Nigeria under the leadership of Ngozi Iweala in all reality. Nigeria's economy is still an oil-dependent economy that is debt and borrowingridden as well as 100% consuming and importing in nature. Nigeria's debt profile has risen rapidly under Ngozi Iweala and Nigeria has borrowed over $2 billion in the last four months alone to pay salaries ofthe federal and state civil servants.Our foreign reserves and excess crude oil accounts have both depleted heavily under Ngozi Iweala. The recurrent expenditures in the federal budgets reached the highest levels which made capital development practically impossible in Nigeria under Ngozi Iweala. The board of regents of this ivy league school missed it completely by awarding their prestigious honorarydoctorate degree to an undeserving Nigerian in all truth, honesty and reality. The Nigeria's economy has remained the same under Ngozi Iweala without any evidence of its diversity from oil.
The Nigerian Naira crashed to its lowest value in its history under Ngozi Iweala. The true picture that Yale University missed is the fact that the economy of Nigeria has almost grounded to its final halt today which will makes its a daunting task for the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari to meet its campaign promises.The menace of official corruption and financial scandals have both reached their peaks in Nigeria underNgozi Iweala. A central bank governor was fired for disclosing that $20 billion was missing from the federal coffers and this allegation was investigated in a shady and questionable manner. The oil subsidy scam that cheated Nigeria's tax payers of trillions of Naira was coordinated and supervised by Ngozi Iweala. The culture of official corruption and state resource mismanagement were both honored, celebrated, protected and defended under the leadership of Ngozi Iweala as the supervising coordinator of the Nigerian economy. To give a honorary doctorate degree to an undeserving Nigerian by this world's reknown university is the biggest slap on the faces of the 180 million Nigerians in 2015.
I am using this social medium to appeal to the board of regents of this prestigious university to withdraw this honorary degree that they awarded to this Nigerian immediately and without any furtherdelay for the sake of posterity.

President-elect inaugurates 19-member Transition Committee

The President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday in Abuja inaugurated a 19-member Transition Committee to liaise with its Federal Government counterpart to ensure a smooth transition.
A statement issued in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Committee (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the terms of reference of the committee include to develop a clear framework for liaison with the out-going Administration for purposes of a smooth hand-over/take-over and to receive hand-over documents from Ministries, Departments and Agencies and itemise the most important or most urgent issues confronting the in-coming government
It said the committee is also saddled with reviewing and making preliminary assessment of the balance sheet of government with particular emphasis on the status of assets and liabilities of government; cash flow position of the government; quantum of public domestic and external debt of government and their deployment; government’s out-standing contractual obligations and its ability to meet such obligations and the status of implementation of capital projects.
The committee is also expected to undertake a preliminary assessment of the security challenges facing the country and the counter-insurgency measures taken by the government thus far; the counter policy measures being implemented in the Niger Delta to deal with unrest and major economic crimes in the area. In particular, the status of the Amnesty Programme, the readiness of the Police and other national security and intelligence agencies in addressing threats to law and order and provide a brief over-view of CBN, NNPC, NCC, Customs and
FIRS.
Other terms of reference of the committee include to suggest “quick fixes” which will result in tangible, visible and practical measures so that CHANGE will be seen after 30 days, after 100 days, after 6 months of the Administration taking office, and to make any other observations which in view of the Committee would be helpful to the transition and take-off of the new Administration. The committee has two weeks to conclude its work
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday, the President-elect charged the committee to ”assess the information provided to you and advise me on its quality and accuracy. It is a simple matter that you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate policy decisions.
”Needless to repeat, that your Committee – and indeed our Government – are not on a witch-hunt or engaged in fault-finding. We want the facts and nothing but the facts. What has been done can not be undone. Our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past and attempt to avoid similar.”
Gen. Buhari hailed the calibre of the committee’s membership, saying they represent some of the best Nigeria can offer. He described the committee chairman, Malam Ahmed Joda, as one of the few surviving links between First Republic civil service to the present day, a man whose versatility includes farming, industry and 21st Century IT and one of Nigerian’s precious assets.
Full list of Transition Committee members:
1. Mal. Ahmed Joda – Chairman
2. Dr Doyin Salami – Vice-Chairman
3. Mr Boss Mustapha
4. Mal. Muhammad Hayatuddin
5. Alh. Abubakar Malami SAN
6. Brig. Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa
7. Sen. Hadi Sirika
8. Sen. Audu Ogbeh
9. Barrister Dalong
10. Mrs Bola Adesola
11. Mr Wale Edun
12. Mrs Nike Aboderin
13. Dr Ogbonnaya Onu
14. Mr Festus Odimegwu
15. Chief John Oyegun
16. Gov. Rotimi Amaechi
17. Dr Tam David West
18. Alh.Lai Mohammed
19 Mal Adamu Adamu – Secretary
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Abuja, April 29th 2015

The man caught with stolen PVC just receive certificate of return from INEC

Do you remember this man ? He was caught with stolen PVCs, parior to march 28 election .
He has receive certificate of return from INEC .This is very bad.

Fayose begs for forgiveness

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has
said he is ready for dialogue with his opponents to bring
peace to the state.
He also asked for forgiveness from those he might have
offended, saying “nobody is perfect.”
Fayose spoke on Friday at a special prayer session organised
for him by the Ansar-udeen Mosque, Atikankan in Ado-Ekiti
to celebrate his recent electoral victory at the Supreme
Court.
The 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers of the Ekiti
State House of Assembly have issued a notice of
impeachment to the governor, citing eight impeachable
offences.
The embattled Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, had last week
Thursday requested the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji
Daramola, to raise a seven-man panel within seven days of
receipt of the letter to investigate Fayose and his deputy, Dr.
Kolapo Olusola, over allegations of impunity, violence and
stalking among other constitutional breaches.
Fayose said, “If they say someone has enemies, I’m number
one in the world. But God has been merciful and has been
helping me to overcome my challenges.
“I need your prayers because it will strengthen me more. I’m
here in the mosque to thank God.
“All I want is peace. I have a constitutionally guaranteed
tenure. A governor is judged by his achievements in office.
All I’m interested in is to bring development to my people.
My opponents know if I have a rest of mind I will achieve my
objectives.
“All those I have offended should forgive me for the sake of
the masses and orphans. They should know people gave me
the mandate. Nobody is above mistake; they should forgive
me.”
The governor said a lot of people in the state had been living
in palpable fear of the unknown before the judgment of the
Supreme Court.
“We are here to thank God and pray for peace. I’m appealing
to those aggrieved to please allow peace to reign.
“There is no perfect man. They should allow peace to reign.
All I want is peace that will energise development.
“Anything that can bring peace cannot be wished away. For
me, I’m ready to accommodate everybody. Whatever they
want we can sit down and talk.”
Earlier before leading the prayers for the governor, the State
Missioner of the Ansarudeen Movement, Alhaji Liadi
Adebayo, called on politicians in the state to settle their
differences.
He canvassed for peaceful co-existence of the entire people
of the State, irrespective of their political differences.
The Cleric urged residents to live together in harmony as
politics was not supposed to be a do or die affair.

OUCH!!! Lai Mohammed Offers PDP’s Metuh Six-Week Crash Course On His New Role As An Opposition Spokesperson

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has denied having any
hand in the crumbling of the PDP, as alleged by the party’s
National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, while offering him,
(Metuh) a free, six-week crash course on his new role as the
opposition spokesman.
Reacting to the allegation by Mr. Metuh that the APC has
been working to destabilize the PDP, the party said in a
statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed,
in Abuja on Friday, that during the training, Mr. Metuh will be
given free lessons by his APC counterpart, in the spirit of
cooperation and for the advancement of the nation’s
democracy.
”Metuh will need the training to effectively carry out his new,
tough task. It is now obvious that he needs to understand
that for him to succeed in his new role, he must be credible,
empirical, more sophisticated in language use and very
passionate, in addition to being able to operate on a lean or
zero budget,” it said.
APC said it is ludicrous, to say the least, for anyone to
suggest that the APC is seeking to destabilize the PDP,
when the erstwhile ruling party has done such a great job of
crumbling under its own weight, having gorged on the
commonwealth.
”Really, it beggars belief to say that the APC is seeking to
lure away members of the PDP’s NEC with ‘phantom
promises and threats’, with a view to destabilizing the party,
when everyone knows the rate at which PDP stalwarts have
been rushing to jump off the sinking ship called the PDP
before it finally tips over.
”Our National Chairman and our President-elect have even
spoken out publicly on this issue, encouraging the eager
PDP defectors to stay back in their party so they can provide
a formidable opposition to the new ruling party. How then
can anyone accuse the APC of either luring away PDP
members or seeking to destabilize a party that has done
itself in?” the party queried.
It advised Mr. Metuh to take a little time off so he can
engage in some introspection, against the backdrop of the
total repudiation by Nigerians of the brand of politics that
his party, the PDP, played in its days as the ruling party.
”There is no doubt that Metuh is in a hurry to do his work as
an opposition spokesman. He should not worry. He should
save his energy, because he would need it, in addition to the
crash course which has been offered to him freely, if he is to
function effectively in his new role. Having been in
opposition for so long, we can tell Metuh that it is not a
cakewalk.
”Lies by themselves never travel far enough for the truth not
to catch up with them, as the PDP must have now realized
when its strategy of muckraking, distortion of facts and
blatant falsehood – under the guise of electioneering
campaign – failed to turn the tide in its favour during the
last elections. But it seems the lead actors in that failed
strategy, Metuh included, have not yet learnt their lessons,
hence they have continued to engage in their despicable
pastime.
”The APC has no time to waste on luring away members of
the PDP. We have our hands full as we seek to clear the
mess that the PDP has made of Nigeria and the state of
hopelessness to which its 16-year rule has plunged the
citizens. Because Nigerians wanted change, they voted for
our party. How then can the party of change allow itself to
become populated by the same folks whom Nigerians have
rejected?” APC said.

APC Zones Senate President To North Central As Speaker Will Emerge From North East

The national leaders and national caucus of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) have officially zoned the office
of the Senate President in the 8th Senate to the North central
geo-political zone, while the Speaker of the House of
Representatives was zoned to the North-east geo-political
zone.
A source at the APC meeting which lasted till the wee-hours
of Friday told THISDAY that the party leaders accepted in
principle a prototype office sharing formula that would
accommodate all vested interests within the party.
The source said: “After deft negotiations, the leaders agreed
to cede the position of the Senate President to the North-
central and that of the Speaker of the House of
Representatives to the North-east. They also endorsed a
zoning arrangement that would see the South-west
producing the Deputy Senate President and South-south,
Deputy Speaker.”
With the agreement yesterday, the current minority leader in
the Senate, George Akume from Benue State and Senator
Bukola Saraki from Kwara State are expected to engage each
other in a fierce contest for the Senate Presidency.
It was learnt that the position of the Speaker was earlier
allotted to the South-west but had to be moved to North-
east following a strong lobby by leaders from the zone who
argued that such arrangement was necessary to compensate
them for the massive support for the party during the
election.
Apart from the sharing arrangement for the principal
positions, the APC meeting which had personalities like the
former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu and some governors in
attendance also considered the issue of ministerial
appointments.
Also, the APC leaders zoned the office of the Chairman of its
Board of Trustees (BoT) to Adamawa State, where the former
Vice President Atiku Abubakar is set to clinch the position
that was hitherto held by the former governor of Osun State
and former national chairman of the party, Bisi Akande.
The source hinted further that the party zoned the office of
the Majority Leader of the Senate to the South-west.
However, South-east did not get any position in the current
allocation but according to a top notch APC member, the
zone will be compensated by other appointments to ensure
some balance and equity. In all the eight senatorial seats in
the zone, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the
seats. This has made it impossible for the zone to aspire for
any principal office in the senate.
The same thing happened in the zone for the House of
Representatives. No single member of the House of
Representatives from the zone is from the APC. PDP won all
the National Assembly seats in both arms of the National
Assembly. In fact, in the Presidential Election, the APC did
not score up to 15 percent in any of the states in the
southeast.
Another source at the Abuja meeting said the APC chieftains
could not however conclude deliberations on the ministerial
appointments as it was decided that stakeholders in the
states and zonal levels should go back to the areas to hold
consultations on the matter.
It was resolved that the state chapters of the party would
each nominate three persons for ministerial consideration
and are to submit same to the party through the Vice
Chairmen and Deputy National Chairmen on or before
Tuesday next week.
The source added that another meeting of the party
leadership is scheduled to hold on Tuesday where they hope
to harmonize issues and finalize discussions on the
recommendations to be presented to the National Executive
Committees (NEC) of the party.
“While the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari had
asked the party to discuss the issue of ministerial
appointments and to advise him as appropriate, he has
insisted on retaining the transition committee list. Buhari
had in choosing members of the transition committee made
sure that each of them is tested expert in the various sectors
where they will serve. He was said to be very conscious of
their level of integrity and honesty,” added the source.
A top member of the APC who spoken in anonymity, said:
“All the positions said to have been shared are yet to be
firmed. Nothing can be confirmed until the final meeting next
week.” He advised that all reports about sharing of positions
should be disregarded until next week when a final decision
would be taken.

Why Abdulsalami Abubakar Led Alison- Madueke To Beg President Jonathan [MUST READ Investigation]

A former military Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar
(retd.), on Thursday led the Minister of Petroleum Resources,
Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to a closed-door meeting to
beg President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sources tell NewsWireNGR that the President had refused to
see the one time powerful minsters in his cabinet, shortly
after conceding defeat, Mrs Madueke was at the Villa to meet
the President over the outcome of the Elections but was
turned back.
“The President on hearing it was the Petroleum Minister that
was visiting, basically screamed at the security agencies not
to allow her in, to everyones surprise, this is one minister
you don’t turn away her visits at the Villa”, the anonymous
source at the Presidency said.
Diezani had been in the news lately when she suddenly
disappeared from the public and was rumoured to have
travelled abroad for undisclosed reason. “After the shocker
she got from President Jonathan, it led to her trip abroad,
some her aides says the BCA Reports on her seeking asylum
was actually correct seeing as Jonathan was no longer on
her side”.
An online media ran the report that she had gone in search
of asylum but that so far six countries had denied her such
request.
The NNPC however refuted the claim. It said in a statement
Wednesday that the minister had travelled abroad to rest and
would be back this week.
Reports say that the oil minister has been ‘restless’ since
General Muhammadu Buhari defeated President Jonathan in
the general election and is billed to take office on May 29,
but more importantly, she’s been confused why President
Jonathan doesn’t want to see her.
A photograph of the minister during her visit to
Abdulsalami’s house in Minna recently went viral on the
social media.
It was alleged that she went to seek for his intervention,
after Jonathan asked he didn’t want to see her only days
after the Presidential elections.
Another close aide of the current administration of President
Jonathan tells NewsWireNGR on condition that his name is
not mentioned that “Diezani contributed to the failure of
Jonathan during the elections, her arrogance with almost
everyone that matters didn’t help”.
“While other ministers were trying to mend fences to see
that the President is in the good books of those aggrieved
with the administration, the Petroleum Minister created a
‘god complex’ around herself”.
The source narrates to us what really transpired, he said
Diezani is one of those that caused the final face-off
between Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to our sources, “Obasanjo had sent the former
NNPC GMD, Funsho Kupolokun, to her office for a meeting,
she did not only keep the man waiting for more than four
hours, she went on to ask her aides to send him out that
she’s too busy”.
According to our insiders account, that action angered the
former President who then called Jonathan to express his
displeasure at the way his Funsho was treated by one of his
ministers.
“I can go on and on to name the atrocities Diezani
committed, at some point she saw herself as the President of
Nigeria, if you read Obasanjo’s book my watch, he stated it
clearly. he added.
Alison-Madueke arrived the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last
night for the meeting to beg Mr President, about three
minutes after Abubakar made his way into the President’s
office.
Less than 30 minutes after both of them entered the
President’s office, Abubakar emerged, leaving Alison-
Madueke behind.
“Sources insists that if Abdulsalami hadn’t carried her along
to the Presidential Villa, there is possibly no way President
would have want to set his eyes on her again”.
Another member of the ruling PDP when questioned about
the role of the Petroleum Minister noted, “Diezani did not
release money for anything, she kept if for herself, even
money that is normally taken from leakages to fund
campaigns, she allowed the party to go on without funds”.
“If you noticed even up until when the elections where
postponed, PDP cordinators weren’t having money to fund
states to run the President’s campaign, she ignores everyone
including the National chairman”.
Although, when State House correspondents asked the
former Head of State for the purpose of his visit, the former
military leader said it was in continuation of his job as the
chairman of the National Peace Committee for the 2015
General Elections.
“As the chairman of the peace committee, there is always
interaction between the incoming president and President
Jonathan, in order to ensure that the peace we have been
able to get is sustained.
“So naturally, I am here to touch base with him and also to
give him a report of what the committee has been doing,” he
said.
When confronted with the issue of his recent meeting with
the minister and the fact that they entered the President’s
office almost the same time, Abubakar said those reading
meanings into the visit were just being mischievous.
He said he had met many times with Alison-Madueke and
other ministers, wondering why the latest meeting became
an issue.
He said, “I think people are just trying to be mischievous, I
have been meeting with a lot of people and a lot of ministers
in the course of this transition. So there is nothing strange
in me meeting with anybody.
Abubakar said he had continued to meet Jonathan and the
President-elect for the transition to go on smoothly and
maintain the peace.
On what will become of her after Jonathan, another member
of the ruling party said, “She has started talking to the APC
to refund some of the money, before the elections, she had
spoken to Bukola Saraki and now Abdulsalami is her
mediator but i doubt President Jonathan will be defending
her from the next administration.

Bakare Denies Appointment As Head Of Transition Committee

Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter
Rain Assembly has denied reports
that he has been appointed by
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari
to head the Transition
Committee. Speaking through his
spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin,
Bakare on Monday said the news of
his appointment is strange and not
true.
He stated that he read the news with
surprise just like other Nigerians on
Monday. He accused mischief makers
of spreading the false news. Bakare
was Buhari’s running mate in 2011
under the platform of the defunct
Congress for Progressive Change
(CPC).

PDP Guber Candidate Removes Transformer He Donated To Community After Losing Election

The aftermath of March 28 and April
11 polls for the people of Sabo
community in Ibadan is not something
pleasant as they woke up on a
Sunday morning only to discover a
Transformer donated to the
community few days ago by the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
governorship candidate, Senator
Teslim Folarin, being carted away by
some aides of the former Senate
Leader.
The PDP governorship candidate who
came fourth in the Oyo State
Gubernatorial election had reportedly
conceded defeat on Saturday night
apparently having seen the signals
that the incoming polls result did not
favour him.
However, the alarm raised by
members of the Sabo community on
sighting those removing the
Transformer in the early hours of
Sunday did not move the perpetrators
who eventually removed the
transformer to an unknown place.

I Was Not Given Campaign Funds – Doyin Okupe Releases Statement

Dr. Doyin Okupe, Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe has debunked rumours circulating social media that he received $100 million campaign funds from the presidency.

A statement signed by Okupe’s personal assistant Prince Deji Adeyanju, on Sunday, April 12, 2015 clearly states that Okupe was not part of the campaign organisation and as such was not given funds meant for the campaign.

The statement read:

Our attention has been drawn to a very misleading and false story circulating on social media about Dr. Doyin Okupe receiving about 100 million dollars from President Jonathan which he was suppose to have disbursed which they claimed he did not disburse to the appropriate groups. We wish to make the following clarifications and put the record straight:

1. President Jonathan is alive and he’s still a sitting president and the Commander in Chief. We can make this categorical statement that the president has never and he did not give Dr. Okupe any money for any group, person, association or political party for the purpose of this election.

2. Dr. Okupe was never a member of the Presidential Campaign Organization  and neither did he function as a member or play any role in this regard.

3. In his state of Ogun, Dr. Okupe was not the coordinator of the presidential campaign organization and was not in custody of any money for campaign and therefore, we wonder why anyone will even dream that Dr. Okupe received campaign funds for any group.

4. Therefore, without any fear of equivocation we say that the story that Dr. Okupe was given 100 million dollars for Labour Party and Accord Party for the South West is blatantly false and there’s no iota of truth in it.

Finally, as far as we are concerned, the elections have been fought and have been lost and won. Those who have any personal grudges or scores to settle with Dr. Okupe are at liberty to do so but be mindful of his right as a citizen and they should keep to what is true and lawful.

APC will win Lagos polls – Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Saturday said
he is optimistic that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will
win the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the
state.
Fashola made the remark shortly after casting his vote
alongside his wife Abimbola Fashola and his son Ademola at
polling unit 002, State Senior Grammar School, Itolo, at exactly
2:39pm.
He dismissed insinuation of voters’ apathy, saying such
conclusions can only be drawn after voting and counting of
votes.
He said,” I have always been optimistic in any contest, so I am
optimistic.”
On general assessments of the election and the perceived
voters’ apathy, he said: “The answer is to check whether there
is a voting point here in addition to a voting unit. If there is,
then it means here, you have 500 possibly 1000 people and then
that is the way by which you can measure the numbers.
“By scientific measures, what percentage of people actually
came out to accredit themselves, how many people came back
to vote after accreditation, and that will only be possible to
know after the votes are counted.
“It is then that you will be able to measure how many people
voted, how many people came for accreditation, how many
people were registered and how many people collected PVC.
So, all of these questions to my view are a little premature as
far as turnout is concerned.”
The governor added that reports at his disposal indicated that
the Independent National Electoral Commission officials and
materials for election arrived at many polling units and points
on time, just as accreditation went smoothly.

INEC releases statement ahead of Saturday’s elections

Press statement from INEC ahead of Saturday
Gubernatorial elections..
The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) has received reports that
some political leaders are asking members of
the public to disregard its stated resolve to
use Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Smart
Card Readers (SCRs) for the April 11,
2015Governorship and State Assembly
elections.A particular state governor in the
North Central geo-political zone is reported to
have assured voters in the state that they
could come out to vote on Election Day with
Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) if they do not
have the PVC, and that INEC will not be
allowed to insist on the use of SCRs for voter
accreditation.
Members of the public are strongly advised
to disregard false assurances that contradict
the regulations INEC has outlined for the
Governorship and State Assembly elections.
The Commission reaffirms that only voters
with genuine PVCs should come out to the
polling units on Election Day, and that
guidelines issued on the use of SCRs for the
April 11 elections will be strictly applied. Any
action infringing these guidelines will be an
electoral offence, and security agents will be
on hand to apprehend offenders.
The Commission commends Nigerian voters
for their peaceful conduct and exemplary
resilience, even in the face of minor
challenges, during the Presidential and
National Assembly elections on March 28,
2015. It, however, considers it unfortunate
that some leaders would misguide the public
and thereby prepare ground for needless
disruptions to the polling process on April
11. INEC hereby warns that any obstruction
to the processes it has put in place for the
elections by any person, no matter how
highly placed, will constitute an electoral
offence punishable in law.
Meanwhile, the Commission has assigned the
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of
Kogi State, Alhaji Hussaini Halilu Pai, to
supervise the conduct of the Governorship
and State Assembly elections in Kano State,
following the tragic demise of Alhaji Minkala
Abdullahi last weekend. Before his posting as
FCT REC, Alhaji Pai was Ekiti State REC, who
conducted the Governorship Election of June
21, 2014.
Kayode Robert Idowu
Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman

Push APC into Atlantic Ocean, Agbaje tells Igbo

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship
candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has
urged Igbo across the state to push the All
Progressives Congress ‘into the lagoon’ by
voting for him on Saturday.
Agbaje said this while addressing Igbo
traders at the Alaba International Market on
Thursday.
The PDP candidate urged them to ignore the
threats made by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan
Akiolu, that if they do not vote for the APC
governorship candidate on Saturday, they
would die in the lagoon.
“Nobody can push you into the Atlantic
Ocean. Rather, you should use your votes to
push the APC into the Atlantic Ocean by
voting massively for the PDP on Saturday,”
Agbaje said.
He urged the people to ignore the scare
tactics being marshalled by the APC, saying,
it was the antics of a drowning party.
Agbaje said, “Election is like a snake. You
have to make sure you win by killing the
snake completely by using your votes to
drive the APC out of power. The reason why
they are harassing you is because they fear
Igbo votes. They will try to do ‘shakara’ for
you but you must vote massively for the PDP
and protect your votes.”
Agbaje, who was accompanied by his
running mate, Alhaja Safuratu Abdulkarim;
and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said the APC had
become arrogant because the party had been
in power for too long.
He said, “In the last 16 years, the APC has
been full of arrogance. This arrogance must
end once and for all. Saturday is the time to
say enough is enough.”
Counselling the audience to eschew violence
and refuse to be intimidated at the polling
venue, Agbaje urged them to guard their
votes.
He said, “God is on our side and power will
change hands on Saturday and life will be
better for you and your businesses. There
will be no oppression again because this
election is about freedom from bondage.

Governorship Election: Nigeria Police deploy AIGs to Rivers, Akwa Ibom, other flashpoints

The Nigeria Police on Thursday deployed
senior police officers to oversee
governorship and state assembly elections
in states considered as the likely flashpoints
on Saturday.
Assistant Inspectors General of Police will
supervise elections in 16 states, including
Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Lagos States, and other
potentially troubled spots, a statement from
the force said Thursday.
Elections in four other states, including
Ekiti, Anambra and Osun, will be overseen
by Commissioners of Police.
In addition, a Commissioner of Police has
been deployed to command each Senatorial
Zones in Gombe, Bauchi, Imo, Akwa Ibom,
Lagos, Benue, Edo, Plateau and Sokoto
states, the statement by police spokesperson,
Emmanuel Ojukwu, said.
In Rivers State, the Special Units of the
Nigeria Police Force have been deployed to
address security concerns.
The units are the 32 Units of Police Mobile
Force, 4 Units of Counter terrorism Units, 4
Units of Special Protection Units and six
Crack Teams of Detectives from Force
Criminal Investigation Department and
complements of Intelligence officers.
The police had earlier deployed six Deputy
Inspector Generals of police to the six
geopolitical zones in Nigeria to coordinate
election activities.
Opposition candidates in several states,
including Akwa Ibom and Rivers, had
demanded the redeployment of
Commissioners of Police in their states,
accusing them of colluding with the ruling
parties to rig the March 28 presidential
election.

PHOTO. Jimi Agbaje Takes Campaign Train To Alaba Market With Branded Ijebu Garri

Jimi Agbaje was in Alaba International market today
campaigning for Saturday's election where he distributed PDP
branded Ijebu garri and recharge cards

Rivers Youths Bust INEC Officials Thumprinting Ballot Papers

A group of youths in Rivers State at the weekend found some
people believed to be officials of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) thumb printing ballot papers in
Khana, a community in Ogoniland.
The officials are believed to be carrying out the act to justify
the results posted for the National Assembly elections.
A source said: “One of the officials disclosed that the action
was arrived at to justify the results tendered and provide
evidence in preparation for tribunal.”
The youths later handed over the materials seized from the
officials to Senator Magnus Abe, who was the All Progressives
Congress (APC) Rivers South-East Senatorial candidate.
Abe, at a news conference yesterday which was also attended
by the Director-General of the Greater Tomorrow Campaign
Organisation, Victor Giadom, urged the Criminal Investigation
Department (CID) unit of the police to investigate and prosecute
the INEC officials and policemen involved in the act.
Abe said: “As you can see before me are INEC ballot papers
from Khana. At about 12noon (Thursday), youths stumbled on
some INEC officials in their office in Bori, where they brought in
presiding officers and supervisors to thumbprint ballot papers
and doctored results all in favour of PDP.
“I called the Area Commander, Bori and the DPO who told me
the INEC officials were in Bori to collect their stipends on the
last elections; I called CP Karma, who asked me to report the
matter to the CID; I decide to inform the Nigerian public before
proceeding to the police CID.”
Abe urged INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega to redeploy the
Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Gesila
Khan, before next Saturday’s elections “for showing executive
recklessness in collaboration with PDP and the police”.
He also called for the cancellation of the “concocted elections,
because the votes counted in favour of the PDP were not cast
by Rivers people.

Igbos Forgive Oba Of Lagos, Endorse Ambode

Amid bickering caused by comments
made by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan
Akiolu about the Igbos for their
perceived massive support for the
opposition in the state, the Igbo
leaders in Lagos State yesterday said
they have forgiven the monarch and
moved on with their lives.
The Igbo leaders in the state who
made this known after a meeting with
the traditional rulers in Amuwo Odofin
local government, at the council
Secretariat, Festac Town Lagos said
they have also unanimously endorsed
the governorship candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Mr.
Akinwunmi Ambode.
Speaking at the meeting, the chairman
of Ndi Eze, Lagos, Eze Gordian Dim
refuted the comment being circulated
in the social media attributed to the
Oba of Lagos, saying it was meant to
cause disaffection between the tribe
and the monarch.
He said, “What transpired at the Oba’s
palace was not what was painted by
some media organisations. I
engineered the whole process, and I
can say confidently to you that the
Oba’s statement was misconstrued
and should be discarded.
“His statement was a joke and we all
laughed through it, we even promised
him a wife.”
He noted that the needed
transformation from the centre will be
achieved if the ambition of Ambode is
supported.
The Igbo leaders averred that Lagos
State has been their home and they
will always support the progressives
as enshrined in the All Progressives
Congress.
He enjoined all Igbos to come out en
mass and vote for Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode of APC on Saturday’s polls.
Responding the Onilado of Ilado and
Inagbe Island, HRM, Oba Mobadenle
Oyekan thanked them for the visit and
assured them that Lagos State is home
to all and the government would never
deny the citizens his or her right or
discriminate against anybody
irrespective of tribe, religion or ethnic
background.
Oyekan reiterated the good
relationship with the Igbos since the
creation of Lagos State and appealed
to them to continue to sustain it.

Watch Akinwunmi Ambode speech to lagoscians

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eodWgiIE_HA&feature=youtube_gdata_player