Monday, May 12, 2014
C-O-N-F-U-S-I-O-N!!! Abducted Girls’ Conversion To lslam, War Against Christians - Pastor Oritsejafor.
The National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor, said on Monday that the purported conversion of the abducted schoolgirls
of Government Secondary School, Chibok, in Born State by members of Boko Haram was a
declaration of war against Christians in the country.
The CAN leader, who was reacting to a new video by the Boko Haram, showing the Chibok
schoolgirls reciting the Holy Qur’an on Monday, noted that those girls could not be
exchanged for the release of any detained Boko Haram members, who he described as
‘criminal’ in detention, as demanded by the sect.
Oritsejafor, who spoke through the CAN’s National Director of Research, Elder Sunday
Oibe, at a press conference in Kaduna, added that the forceful conversion of the
girls, who are mostly Christians, amounted to persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
He said, “I have the consent of our national president, who is abroad to address you.
First, these children are Christians and not Muslims and so they cannot be converted
to a religion that is not theirs at gunpoint without conviction. Besides, is that how
conversion is being carried out? All the children displayed are Christians and that
is the motive behind the abduction.
“It is simple. Because they are Christians and they represent the church in the eyes
of their abductors. Secondly, it smacks of some form of religious persecution. If
not, why are their captors converting them to another religion? And if they say they
will use them as a condition to negotiate for their men in detention, our daughters
are not criminals and cannot be used in any way to free their criminal fighters.
“Show us where in Nigeria you have seen Christians fighting and throwing bombs in the
name of God. We challenge any one to show us where Christians have abducted Muslim
children in the name of Christianity. We challenge anyone to prove in Nigeria where
Christians have taken arms in the name of protecting Christianity or even carry out
acts of genocide on helpless and defenceless Nigerians. As far we are concern, it is
a war against Christians and Christianity.” - Hope For Nigeria
Sunday, May 11, 2014
UN Security Council Vows to Bring Boko Haram Sponsors To Justice
Abiodun Oluwarotimi
— May 11, 2014
The United Nations Security Council has vowed to ensure that the financiers and
sponsors of the Boko haram sect are brought to justice
The Council President, Ambassador Oh Joon of the Republic of Korea, who said this in
a statement obtained by LEADERSHIP Sunday yesterday also condemned in the strongest
terms the terrorist attacks committed by Boko Haram that occurred in Gamboru Ngala,
Nigeria on May 5 causing hundreds of deaths and injuries.
In the statement, members of the Security Council urged all states, in accordance
with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council
resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Nigerian authorities.
The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern at the terrorist attacks
conducted by Boko Haram since 2009, which have caused large-scale and devastating
loss of life and represent a threat to the stability and peace of West and Central
Africa.
The Council reminded states that they must ensure that measures taken to combat
terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular
international human rights, refugee and humanitarian laws.
The body reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations was criminal
and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever
committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation
or ethnic group, members of the Security Council strongly condemned all abuses of
human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including those
involving sexual and gender-based violence, abductions and attacks against schools
and hospitals, including their personnel, and underline that all perpetrators of such
acts must be held accountable at national or international levels, and that some of
those acts may amount to crimes against humanity under international law.
We Will Fish Out Abducted Schoolgirls, INTERPOL Assures Jonathan"
President of the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, Mrs. Mireille
Ballestrazzi, Saturday assured President Goodluck Jonathan that the abducted
schoolgirs will be fished out by the organisation wherever they may be around the
world.
Jonathan disclosed the INTERPOL commitment in Oporoza, in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta
State, at the groundbreaking ceremonies of the NIMASA Shipyard and Dockyard,
Okerenkoko and Nigeria Maritime University at Kurutie, under the auspices of the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
He reassured Nigerians that the abducted girls could not be sold into slavery as
threatened by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau in recent video clip.
The president was full of praises for international community for coming together
condemning the abduction as well as their resolve to help find and free the abducted
girls
.
“The international community is angry with the whole thing. We have support from
other countries; we promise the world that we must get the girls out.
“I am very pleased with the support coming from the United States, the United
Kingdom, France the Republic of China, Israel, Spain and others.
“I am happy with the cooperation we are getting from our neighbouring countries,
Cameroon, Niger ,Chad and Benin, we are totally committed to making sure that we
these girls out.
“The story that they have sold them definitely they cannot buy any of those girls.
“I just had a communication with the President of INTERPOL who said they are ready to
key with the Nigerian government to search the whole world. Wherever these girls are,
we must get them” .
Source ThisDay.
CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPING!!! Muslims IShould Unite Against Boko Haram - IBB.
Piqued by the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect in the country, a former
military head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd) has called on Nigerian Muslims
to rise up against the continued blackmail of the religion of Islam in the land.
“Islam enjoins you to live peacefully with fellow human beings. Allah says there is
no compulsion in religion, so this alone is okay for us. Therefore, anybody who will
come and smear our name, all Muslims should kick against that. Muslims should also do
everything possible to stop this continued blackmail against the religion of Islam.
We must prepare to fight it and ensure that we become successful,” he said.
Babangida, in a telephone interview with the Hausa service of the British
Broadcasting Corporation monitored in Kaduna State on Saturday, also said now was the
time for Nigerians to unite so as to rescue the missing Chibok schoolgirls in Borno
State.
While commiserating with parents of the Chibok schoolgirls over the abduction of
their children, the former military ruler said, ”first of first, I am together with
the parents of those girls in prayers so that Allah will protect these children.
Secondly, this has affected the entire country. Once you are a Nigerian, no matter
your religion, what happened to these children has affected every one that is called
a Nigerian.”
On the slow response of the Federal Government with regards to rescue efforts,
Babangida said now was not the right time to apportion blames.
“Allah has destined that this thing would happen in this way, what we are supposed to
do is to look for ways that we can assist in finding these missing girls.
If we could find them, they are not just girls from Chibok, no..they are Nigerian
girls. So what I hope is that,the Muslims, the Christians, even the animists,” he
said. - Hope For Nigeria
B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!! Israel Army Join Search For Missing Girls & Fight Against Boko Haram.
The Israeli Army have confirmed their readiness to join the search for the Kidnapped
Chibok School girls and the fight against the Islamic terror group, Boko Haram in
Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan according to Presidential source available to Hope For
Nigeria, agreed with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Nethanyahu over the phone
this afternoon on the deployment of Israeli anti-terrorism experts and Military to
the troubled North Eastern states of Nigeria. - Hope For Nigeria.
‘We Informed Security Agents Ahead Of Attack But They Fled’ – Chibok Resident Opens Up
Abducted Chibok girls spotted in Central Africa
Jonathan Hails Buhari’s Patriotic Stand Against Terrorism"
Jonathan Hails Buhari’s Patriotic Stand Against Terrorism"
President Goodluck Jonathan has commended former military Head of State and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major-General, Muhammdau Buhari, for his statesman-like view on terrorism and insecurity in the country, as expressed in his article, which was published by the media this week.
In a statement issued by the president’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan said the position taken by Buhari was that of a “true patriot, respected former head of state, revered elder statesman and nationalist”.
“The president welcomes General Buhari’s call on all Nigerians to remain steadfast and work in unity to overcome terrorists and other merchants of death who currently threaten national security.
“President Jonathan fully shares General Buhari’s view that a minority must never be allowed to bring the nation to its knees through terror.
“He has noted General Buhari’s recommendation that the nation’s counter-terrorism strategies be further fine-tuned and welcomes his kind offer of support and cooperation in dealing with the challenge of terrorism.
“The president assures General Buhari of his administration’s sincere commitment and dedication to the successful prosecution of the fight against terrorism and all other threats to national security.
“He further assures the general of his preparedness to work with him and all other patriotic Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations, to strengthen national security and end the scourge of terrorism,” Abati said in the statement.
In the meantime, the meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum slated for today is expected to be moved forward by a few hours to enable the governors from the region to deliberate ahead of the expanded National Security Council (NSC) meeting also scheduled to take place at noon today.
The president, 36 state governors and the security and service chiefs are to meet this afternoon to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the country and forge a way forward on how to tackle the Boko Haram menace.
According to security sources, the need for the northern governors to meet ahead of the enlarged meeting between the president and all the governors, as well as the letter written by the Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako to his northern colleagues, in which he had accused the federal government of genocide in the North, necessitated the postponement of the security council meeting to today.
THISDAY had exclusively reported yesterday that the expanded meeting of the security council had been postponed by the presidency for the second time in one week to today.
It was originally slated for Thursday last week but was rescheduled for yesterday and postponed for a second time to take place today.
But a top security source disclosed to THISDAY yesterday that the “nasty” letter by Nyako largely altered the original agenda and arrangements for the meeting.
It was also reasoned that on technical grounds and following the serious issues stirred by Nyako's letter, it would be wrong to hold the Northern Governors’ Forum meeting, also slated for today, a day after having a comprehensive security meeting with the president.
The source explained to THISDAY that officials in the presidency, top security brass and some governors consider today's meeting as the apex body where all the regional, geopolitical and ethno-religious issues should be collectively discussed and thrashed out.
Accordingly, the meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum is expected to be held this morning before the enlarged security council meeting, or at the very worst, it might be shelved immediately after the meeting with the president, all the governors and security chiefs takes place.
It was also revealed that top on the agenda of today's meeting, will be Nyako’s letter, which was said to have angered, shocked and surprised many among the northern elite, who are desperately trying to do damage control.
According to some concerned northern policy makers, the recent interventions by Buhari, and former military administrator of Kaduna State, Colonel Dangiwa Umar (rtd), were borne out of the need to “assuage the embarrassment caused by Nyako's letter”.
“For the postponement, there was a consideration, technically and as a result of Nyako’s bombshell, that it will be wrong to hold the highest security meeting before that of the Northern Governors' Forum. It was decided that it will be better to first have other sectional or regional meetings, where the northern governors' position could be tabled at the enlarged security council meeting.
“Already, a lot of northern leaders have been put off by Nyako’s letter and have been doing damage control like Buhari's intervention this week. So there was a technical consideration in that regard,” the source explained.
Other than Nyako’s letter, other major issue that would be high on the agenda is the uncertainty over the extension of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, as well as the abduction of scores of female students in Chibok, the Fulani herdsmen crisis, and possibly, the controversial Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) project for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
However, the most volatile and divisive agenda, which has presented the president with a dilemma is the raging issue of emergency rule, with the security agencies, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership and moderate elements of APC rooting for its extension, and in extreme cases for the full-scale declaration of emergency rule that would lead to the removal of the three governors of the affected states.
Despite the support the extension of emergency rule has, the governors from the north have kicked against it on the premise that it has been ineffective.
“However, this is fiercely being opposed by the governors of the three states, the APC leadership and Northern Elders Forum (NEF), meaning that any decision that will be taken in that regard would have to juxtapose security/military considerations against political calculations,” the source said.
However, before today’s meeting, THISDAY gathered that an exhaustive meeting of the security chiefs was held at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Tuesday to deliberate on the recent security challenges across the country, especially the Nyanya bus station's bombings and general terror threat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A top military source disclosed that the DHQ meeting also looked at the disturbing issue of the schoolgirls’ abduction as well as the, Wukari clashes between Fulani herdsmen and locals in the North-central zone.
It was however revealed that the most passionate discussion centred on Nyako's letter with the security chiefs under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), in liaison with the National Security Adviser (NSA), brainstorming on the content and implications of the letter.
“There were many considerations and implications of the letter. Was he (Nyako) actually planning subversion. Had he a deep connection with the terrorists? Was he trying to ruffle feathers in order to stop the extension of emergency rule, fearing that he might be removed, or is this a question of old age and its attendant setbacks?” the security source asked.
He disclosed that in order to get to the bottom of the motive behind the letter, investigations have commenced and the governor would be invited for questioning very soon.
“But as you know, the invitation and questioning would be done in a diplomatic manner because of immunity clause and also with a view not to embarrass him,” he said.
THISDAY had also reported that the presidency and security agencies, led by the Office of the National Security Advisers (ONSA), are working on a plan to probe and possibly prosecute Nyako when his immunity is lifted over alleged links with Boko Haram and the scathing statement in his letter.
In a related development, the federal government yesterday came down hard on Nyako over his comment alleging genocide against northerners by the government, saying the statement was inciting, the height of irresponsibility and anti-Nigeria.
The federal government said to hear the kind of things being said by the governor at this period was very unfortunate.
Information Minister, Labaran Maku, made the decision of the federal government over Nyako's allegation known, when he fielded questions from State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
“Nyako is the former Chief of Naval Staff, he is someone that has worn uniform before, but to publicly incite the people against the security forces of this country is the height of irresponsibility.
“And I believe that for someone like that who is old enough to appreciate the kind of crisis this country is going through, we expected that there should be greater understanding, politics aside.
“When people reach a certain age, they should watch their utterances and the kind of things they are expected to say. Maybe when young people like you and me speak recklessly, we can blame it on lack of experience.
“But when someone who knows the difficulty this country is going through and the kind of effort that is being made by the federal government, for them to come out to make those statements that divide the country, even at a point that when we need national unity and national healing, is grossly irresponsible.
“We are expecting that as we move forward, this nation will definitely defeat terror. This is a war of criminals against the entire nation and they know that this crisis originated at local level,” Maku said.
He noted that the responsibility of maintaining vigilance goes right down to the village level, as well as every hamlet, adding: “But these responsibilities have been abandoned as people no longer organise themselves to fight terror.”
The minister added that “the challenge for all of us in the north is unless all of us act together, this part of this country is going down and down, while the rest of the country is experiencing growth. And the responsibility of security must be taken seriously.
“People grandstanding, people playing to the gallery, people making inflammatory statements that divide public opinion, that cause confusion, will appear to me as people that are anti-Nigeria.
“This is the time we expect all our people to speak with one voice, and speak with a voice that gives our people hope that we the leaders are united in finding a solution.”
He said the divisive statement must be condemned, as all Nigerians have a responsibility to the country.
On the traffic gridlock in Nyanya, the scene of the recent bomb blast in Abuja, the minister said government feels the pains of its citizens, saying: “Our hearts go out to citizens who under the present circumstances are compelled to endure long queues because of the road blocks that have been set up following the terror attack at Nyanya last week.
“We understand the pains our citizens are going through, we have indeed tried to find out from security services how we are going to manage the road blocks. I know a lot of man-hours are lost as a result of the roadblocks but we want to appeal to citizens to appreciate the challenges we are going through. Nobody is doing it to punish the citizens.”
Maku added that the government was looking at alternative ways of managing the road blocks.
In addition to the criticism from the federal government, former military administrator of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), joined others to condemn Nyako, asking him to “shut up”. According to Marwa, “Enough is enough. You are setting an unheard of precedent for the younger generations by those inflammatory statements.”
Speaking at his residence in Yola, Adamawa State, Marwa said Nyako had embarked on a single minded and self-appointed misadventure of being the enfant terrible of the Nigeria's political class.
The former military administrator said as a native of the state and former governorship aspirant on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 elections, it was imperative to respond to Nyako disparaging his country and its leadership in far away America.
He further explained that he was unhappy with the letter Nyako wrote to the northern governors, warning that it could scare away foreign investors.
“I want to state very clearly that Nyako’s letter does not represent the opinion of the Adamawa State citizenry. Nyako’s statement, apart from its incoherence, was disgraceful, shameful, embarrassing to the military constituency and was a behaviour unbecoming of a retired admiral, former service chief and executive governor,” he said.
He said the current security challenges in Nigeria called for a non-partisan approach towards finding a lasting solution, adding that the blame game was not the way out of the difficult circumstances the country finds itself in.
“We must come together and be united in confronting the challenges in front of us. Nyako should be quite clear that President Jonathan did not pronounce himself president.
“Even our two scriptures of the Holy Bible and Quran said God made leaders and gives leadership to whom he chooses. Whether Nyako likes it or not he must recognise and respect him as the leader of Nigeria.
“It is therefore in bad faith and setting a bad example for the younger generation in the armed forces for Nyako to bad-mouth his president in the way and the manner he has been doing of recent.
“It is this reason that I have never uttered a word of disdain, insult or indecorous language against Nyako because he is my senior in the armed forces. In the same manner, he must respect the office of the president,” he observed.
Marwa said the governor’s current antics had portrayed Adamawa State in a bad light and he was looking for a way to explain his non-performance by blaming the security challenges for eating into the state’s finances.
He held the view that APC and Nyako could never form the next government in Adamawa State, adding, “We were the roots, trunks and branches of the APC and we have left the party, we are gone and Nyako is left with the shell.”
Breaking News: BOKO HARAM Announces cease Fire! …The arrest and prosecution of ex-Gov Ali Modu Sheriff is part of their condition
In a surprise development that may end the persistent uprising that has resulted in the killing of innocent people and destruction of property worth billions of naira in the last three years in north eastern part of Nigeria, the radical Islamic sect Boko Haram whose operations have crippled the economy of Borno and neighbouring Yobe states have announced a surprise cease fire today in Maiduguri the Borno State capital.
DESERT HERALD had hours earlier broken the news that the sect will today formally announce a cease fire with some conditions. Conservatively, the violence in the northern part of Nigeria had killed more than two thousand people while many more are left permanently incapacitated either due to the terror attacks (suicide bombing) by the sect or due to torture and sometimes even gun shots by the members of the Joint Task Force (JTF).
Dependable sources told DESERT HERALD that the leadership of the sect in recent weeks were under intense pressure from the Borno Elders Forum to consider the sacrifice of a cease fire not because of the lackluster attitude of the federal government but because of the increasing casualties being recorded on a daily basis. Earlier, DESERT HERALD had received an exclusive email from the sect members confirming the their resolve for a cease fire and according to them to give those in authority the chance to show to the world that they are indeed committed to peaceful resolution of the crisis.
In a press conference that was attended by some members of the Borno Elders Forum in Maiduguri this evening the Boko Haram sect through their representative one Abu Abdul’aziz said they are formally announcing a cease fire in consideration of popular demand and to give the facilitators the benefit of doubt. Abu Abdul’aziz said to demonstrate their commitment to peace, they are not giving government conditions that may give it reasons to continue to waste public resources without commensurate result.
Part of the conditions as gathered exclusively by DESERT HERALD is that the sect had agreed on its own to lay down their arms and suspend any campaign of violence and killings in whatever form and that they will await federal government actions that will show its commitment to peace and reconciliation with them. The Boko Haram sect through Abu Abdul’aziz also demanded full compensation to all the families of their members that were not killed in the battle field (those that were extra-judiciously executed by the JTF from 2009 to date including their leader Mohammed Yusuf and those that were killed through torture and gun shots while in custody).
Similarly, the sect demanded the release of all their members that were not captured in battle field by the government as well as reconstructing their place of worship (Markas) in Maiduguri and the freedom to practice their religion as they used to do before.
Boko Haram in the first press conference also said that part of the condition for lasting peace is the immediate arrest and prosecution of ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and all the officers that killed their leader and hundreds of their people in 2009 without subjecting them to due process of the law.
They said they will give both the federal government and the Borno State government time to act and that during such time they will not be directly or indirectly involved in any attack and that anybody that attacks or kill within that period is not their member and that there would not be such instruction from their leadership.
Abdul’aziz said they will lay down their arms for the period but that they are not giving their arms because their campaign has not ended until such a time government demonstrates sincere commitment to everlasting peace. They if their freedom to religious practice cannot be guaranteed the efforts of well meaning Nigeria’s may never work and that the little conditions they gave will show to the whole world whether it is the government that is encouraging the violence for its benefit or not.
The spokesman of the Borno Elders Forum who was part of those that attended the press conference, Bulama Mari Gubio confirmed the development to DESERT HERALD.
B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!! Boko Haram Leader Declares War On World Leaders And Abraham Lincoln.
B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!!
Boko Haram Leader Declares War On World Leaders And Abraham Lincoln.
**Nigerian Muslims, either you are with us (Boko Haram) or you are with Obama!
In a new clip released online, the leader of the Islamic terror group, Boko Haram declares war on the West, denouncing a number of world leaders, as well as Abraham Lincoln.
The grainy video was released by the New York Times and shows a gun-toting Abubakar Shekau reading from a script in his left hand, flanked by two masked men in camouflage.
Addressing the camera, Shekau warns that "either you are with us or you are with Obama! Francois Hollande! George Bush. Bush! Clinton!" After pausing briefly he adds "Abraham Lincoln" to the list.
In another unhinged moment Shekau slams U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and then simply repeats "kill!" over and over.
The Times says the footage is part of the same 57-minute video in which Shekau took credit for the kidnapping of over 200 missing schoolgirls from the northeastern city of Chibok more than three weeks ago. International outrage over the kidnapping of Nigeria's schoolgirls, as well as the lack of government action to bring them back, has been growing steadily since their forceful disappearance on April 14. On Tuesday, new reports emerged that 8 more girls have been kidnapped in the country's north.
Videos of this kind are nothing new for Boko Haram, as Shekau, who the BBC reports is also the groups "spiritual leader," has been long-known to tape lengthy sermons challenging the government and western leaders. In one of these videos, released after a 2012 bombing that killed over 180, Shekau reportedly professed to "enjoy killing anyone that God commands me to kill." - Hope For Nigeria
Michelle Obama: Nigeria’s Abduction an "Unconscionable" Terror Act"
Michelle Obama: Nigeria’s Abduction an "Unconscionable" Terror Act"
# Michelle spoke in place of her husband# there was no hue and cry by the opposition party back home as APC would have done if it was our dear First Lady.
Zacheaus Somorin in Berlin with agency report
The mass kidnapping of schoolgirls in Nigeria was an "unconscionable act" of terror against the education of girls, United States First Lady, Michelle Obama said Saturday.
Speaking in her husband's place during President Barack Obama's weekly Saturday morning address, Michelle Obama, according to AFP report, said that this violence "was not an isolated incident ... it's a story we see every day as girls around the world risk their lives to pursue their ambitions."
"Like millions of people across the globe," Michelle Obama said, "my husband and I are outraged and heartbroken over the kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian girls from their school dormitory in the middle of the night. This unconscionable act was committed by a terrorist group determined to keep these girls from getting an education - grown men attempting to snuff out the aspirations of young girls."
On April 14, 276 schoolgirls were abducted in the northeastern Nigerian town of Chibook, and the kidnapping of eight more girls from Warabe on May 5. Three weeks later 223 girls are still missing. The Islamist terror group Boko Haram claimed responsibility, and threatened to "sell" the girls into slavery.
"In these girls, Barack and I see our own daughters. We see their hopes, their dreams - and we can only imagine the anguish their parents are feeling right now," Michelle Obama said.
Obama praised the courage of the parents to send the girls to school despite the threats, and of the girls going to class knowing "full well the dangers they might encounter." The girls were "determined to one day build careers of their own and make their families and communities proud," she said.
Obama evoked the example of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who "spoke out for girls' education in her community ... and as a result, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while on a school bus with her classmates." The courage of Malala "and girls like her around the world should serve as a call to action" because "more than 65 million girls worldwide are not in school.
"Yet, we know that girls who are educated make higher wages, lead healthier lives, and have healthier families," thus boosting "their country's entire economy." US presidents issue a weekly radio address on a subject of their choosing. A video version is also posted on the White House website each Saturday.
Michelle Obama has appeared alongside her husband during the addresses, but this is the first time that she spoke alone. Earlier this week, she expressed solidarity with the kidnap victims, tweeting a photograph of herself holding a placard bearing the slogan #BringBackOurGirls, the hashtag used as the rallying cry for a viral campaign calling for the schoolgirls' return.
Seven military officials along with a State Department expert arrived in Nigeria on Friday to help search for the girls. Three FBI personnel and four others were due to arrive Saturday. President Barack Obama on Tuesday described the kidnapping as "heartbreaking" and "outrageous.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Car manufacturers petition Goodluck asking him to suspend import duty waiver
Abuja to host World Economic Forum on Africa next month amid tight security
Security agents recover 121 of the 129 girls abducted by Boko Haram in Borno State
SECURITY agents have freed 121 of the 129 young girls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists from Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok in Borno State earlier this week after the Nigerian Army a successful rescue operation.
On Monday, Boko Haram carried out a daring attack on the all-girls school, whisking 129 pupils away, although 14 managed to escape and alert the authorities. Following the abduction, the military Joint Task Force (JTF) mounted an elaborate rescue operation and Borno State governor Kashim Shettima, offered a N50m (£183,000) reward to any person who gave information that would lead to the student's rescue.
Yesterday, however, the JTF confirmed that 121 of the girls abducted are now accounted for and only eight are currently still in the hands of the terrorists. Army spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade, said that the search for the remaining pupils will continue.
Major General Chris Olukolade added: "More students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok have been freed this evening in the on-going search and rescue operations to free the abducted pupils. With this development, the principal of the school confirmed that only eight of the students are still missing.
"One of the terrorists who carried out the attack on the school has also been captured and efforts are underway to locate the remaining eight students.”
With 14 of the girls escaping on their own, and eight still unaccounted for, it is believed that the military freed 107 of the kidnapped students yesterday. On Monday, 14 of the girls were said to have made their escape when one of the lorries used in transporting them broke down along the road and they jumped down and ran into the bush.
According to the JTF, military personnel are currently searching through the bushes in Borno State, using the tyre tracks of the vehicles used by the Boko Haram men. Senator Ali Ndume, the senator representing the region, said that surveillance helicopters have also been employed in the search patrol team.
Governor Kashim Shettima added that the 129 students were confirmed by the school authorities as those that registered to sit for the West African Examinations Council exams. He said 50 parents have so far registered the disappearance of their daughters in the school and more efforts are being made to ensure that the girls are reunited with their families.
“Some of the girls were courageous. They were asked to prepare a meal for all of those in the camp but they took advantage of that and bolted away when their captors were not watching and ran back to town," Governor Shettima added.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news
Presidency: Northern Governors Stance on Boko Haram Misleading"
Presidency: Northern Governors Stance on Boko Haram Misleading"
The Obama administration has been advised to disregard the claim by the 12 northern states' governors who recently visited the White House, where they blamed President Goodluck Jonathan for the mounting insurgency and killings by the Boko Haram sect.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, gave the advice in Washington on Monday, saying that it was frivolous for the 12 governors to blame the Boko Haram insurgency on the best President Nigeria has ever had.
Okupe, who addressed the media and a section of the Washington Diplomatic Corps at the National Press Club on various issues affecting the political space in the country, said it was both unserious and misleading for the governors to abandon the issue of shared experience and solution to counter terrorism and blame a president whose tenure was preceded by the activities of the terrorist group in the North.
The presidential aide said one of the ways the president was fighting Boko Haram was through the introduction of massive education in the North inclusive of the Almajiri system which is meant to rehabilitate many young northerners whose idleness makes them easy recruits for terrorist groups such as Boko Haram.
According to Okupe, over 10.5 million Nigerians are presently out of school and the Jonathan administration was doing all it can to get them back to the classroom with emphasis on the North-east geopolitical zone.
Under Jonathan, Okupe said, the economy of Nigeria has never been this good since 1960, surpassing the World Bank's prediction in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said under the same president Nigeria’s foreign reserve had grown from about $16 billion to $42.9 billion with a rising Sovereign Wealth Fund, a robust Nigerian Stock Exchange, quoted as the largest in Africa, followed by South Africa and Egypt.
He said these achievements had taken place in under three years of the Jonathan administration.
Okupe chided the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for deceiving the Nigerian public with his ever shifting figures which moved from $49 billion to $12 billion and then $20 billion.
He asked his hosts if the chairman of the US Federal Reserve Bank would stay in office one minute longer than was necessary if he had fed the American populace with such deceptive figures, adding that there was a huge difference between a missing fund and one that was yet to be accounted for.
He said Sanusi went on suspension because he presented a questionable and inaccurate 2012 audited account of the CBN which made the presidency to ask for the report of the 2013 audited account which he failed to present, prompting an investigation ordered by the president “and you cannot run an investigation with the CBN governor in office. That was why he was asked to step aside.”
He reminded the audience that CBN governor was suspended and not sacked which was completely in order to save the nation's economy.
Okupe asked the US audience whether it was acceptable for the US Federal Reserve Bank chairman to make such a mistake?
Still detailing the achievements of the Jonathan administration, Okupe noted that the president has done well on infrastructure with 200 kilometers of road construction in every zone of the country and a comprehensive renovation of 22 airports in the country, inclusive of designs and beautification, improvement in safety, security and expansion of radar coverage.
On agriculture, he told his audience that Nigeria was today the largest exporter of cassava overtaking Indonesia with an increase in rice production and a decrease on importation.
According to Okupe, with the privatisation of the PHCN and transfer of ownership to private companies with 11 distribution and six generating companies, Nigeria’s poor power sector which had been ailing since the 1960s would experience the expected turn around in the not too distant future, with 10,000 megawatts generation by 2015.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US Prof. Ade Adefuye, concluded the press conference by noting the current problems of the Jonathan administration, saying it was the result of years of bad government which cannot be solved in two or three years.
Adefuye said the Jonathan administration cannot be blamed for the terrorist activities in Nigeria as some people would want to convince the world, rather he noted that Nigeria was paying the price for trying to integrate the countries of ECOWAS through its signing of several protocol agreements that include a free passage of goods and services, which is the only reason that terrorists can come from Chad, Niger, Cameroun, strike our targets and run back to these countries.
The ambassador reassured his audience that the Jonathan administration was trying to repair the long inherited problems of Nigeria.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Why S-South leaders moved against Oyegun, Dokpesi — Adasen, Delta SSPA chairman"
Why S-South leaders moved against
Oyegun, Dokpesi — Adasen, Delta
SSPA chairman"
CHAIRMAN of the South-South Peoples
Assembly, SSPA, Delta State, Dr. Brown Adasen
in this interview explains why former Federal
Commissioner for Information and South-
South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, kicked against
the appointment of the assembly’s former
interim national chairman, Chief Raymond
Dokpesi, as Chief of Staff to President
Jonathan. He also speaks on why the
SSPA aborted the leadership of one of its most
intelligent and articulate officers, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun, as national chairman. Excerpts:
Will you say that President Jonathan has met
the aspiration of those of you who canvassed
for a president from the South-South?
When the South-South people decided that
they should have a President, it was not
because we had one particular person in mind.
We felt that we were a part of this country and
so what other zones have enjoyed, we should
also be entitled to those things.
We say we were lucky to have gotten it, but we
are not fighting to have a president that will
only concentrate on the South-South
development. That is not what we want, we
want a president that will represent the whole
country, a president who believes that the
whole country is his constituency and that is
exactly what I think the president is doing.
We also want a purely civilian president and
we have him and you can see the level of
attack on him in terms of criticism. No
president has been so criticized as Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan
However, I think he is doing well, we must not
just criticize for criticizing sake, there must be
a yardstick.
Are you saying the South-South will support
him in 2015 despite the opposition from the
North?
There is no opposition from the North against
Jonathan. I want it qualified.
Pull him down mission
Some persons from the north are kicking
against him, not the northern people. I say this
because I know of a truth that many of the
northern people and leaders are for this
government.
So, when you say leaders from the north, you
give some few persons opportunity to feel that
they are carrying the whole of the north in
their pull-him- down mission, which is a lie.
Majority of the north are for Mr. President
because they know that he is working and have
the interest of their people at heart.
SSPA used to speak with one voice. But there
appears to be a crack, as Chief Edwin Clark
fought the emergence of a former leader of
the group, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, as Chief of
Staff to the President. What is amidst?
It is said in politics that there is no permanent
enemy or permanent friend, but there is
permanent interest and I believe in it. What
was the interest of the South-South people?
We all knew what our interest was but before
you knew it, the man who led us while we
were in Calabar to make the declaration that
the presidential candidates must all come from
the South-South in all the political parties; that
there will be true federalism and resource
control and that no part of Nigeria be ceded to
any part. But the man took another course
outside of the common course of his people.
To our further dismay in 2011, because the
man he wanted to be president did not win
the presidency, he again, outside of what we
had all agreed, went to become campaign
manager or so of another presidential
candidate from the north.
There was nothing wrong in it if it was any
other person because we did not believe that
South-South alone would produce president,
but not the chairman of SSPA. The same
person after doing that cannot because he is
interested in a job, go back and say he is now
for President Jonathan. What of if the other
person from the north, who he went to work
for had won? I believe that what he did was
not good enough and a person like Chief Clark
will not take that.
Not only him, nobody in the South-South
leadership will take it. Clark spoke the mind of
so many people. It is not that he had
something against him, no.
Dokpesi could be considered a son to him and
so, he should not have any reason to fight
him.
The question to ask is, did Clark make the
statement so that he would be made the Chief
of Staff? The answer is obviously no. You see,
fair is fair. I think the statement by Clark was
made on behalf of the people. There is nothing
outside abnormal that Clark said about
Dokpesi. He (Dokpesi) is aware of these things.
Hiring people to attack Chief Clark is uncalled
for because he did the right thing.
Why was Chief John Odigie-Oyegun
unceremoniously removed as SSPA chairman?
(Laughs) Do not forget that he was made the
chairman of SSPA before he became the
running mate to Ibrahim Sheakaru, presidential
candidate of defunct ANPP. SSPA is not
partisan but we will doff our hat for any party
that is able to bring its presidential candidate
from the South-South.
But he went to a party and in his party, he
became a running mate. He sent a wrong
signal about the seriousness of the South-
South as far as the presidency is concerned.
Being its former chairman, we did not expect
him to compromise our stand. He is an
intelligent and articulate man but his hands
were tied in the defunct ANPP and his position
ran contrary to our aspiration in SSPA.
Who is the current national chairman?
The national chairman is Air Commodore
Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), former
military governor of Akwa-Ibom State.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
National Conference: FG names ex-CJN, Kutigi, chairman"
Southsouthpdp Lagos
President Goodluck Jonathan has approved
the appointment of a former Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi, as the
chairman of the National Conference.
A statement on Monday by the Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius
Anyim, named a former Minister of External
Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, as the vice-
chairman and the wife of the Director-
General of the Nigerian Institute for Advanced
Legal Studies, Dr. Valerie Azinge, as
Secretary.
The appointees are to resume duty
tomorrow in Abuja.
The Federal Government had in releasing the
modalities for nominations for the proposed
National Conference, said the conference was
expected to hold in the Federal Capital
Territory. It is expected to last three
months.
According to Anyim, 492 nominees will
participate in the conference, which is to be
held in the Federal Capital Territory.
He stated that where consensus was not
achievable, “it shall be by 75 per cent
majority.”
Anyim said that after the three-month
deliberations, the conference itself would
advise the government on the legal
framework, procedures and options for
integrating its decisions and outcomes into
the 1999 Constitution.
The SGF had stated that the conference would
discuss any subject matter, except the
indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a
nation.
He had quoted the President as saying, “You
will also recall that the President further
stressed that, “sitting down to talk is one right
step in calming down tensions and channeling
our grievances, misgivings and suggestions
into more positive use for the good of our
country.
“The President stated as well that in any case,
Nigerians are already talking about their
national challenges through the print and
electronic media.”
He observed that, “the only gap is that while
these talks are sometimes weighty, they often
lack direction.”
Modalities for the conference as outlined by
the SGF include 37 elder statesmen; one per
state and the FCT, to be nominated by the
President.
The list also includes retired military and
security personnel from each of the armed
forces, the Police, the State Security Service
and the Nigeria Intelligence Agency .
Others are traditional rulers (two per zone
and one for the FCT), retired civil servants;
one from each of the geopolitical zones and
the FCT, representatives of labour (the NLC
and the TUC) whose nominations should
reflect geopolitical and gender balance; and
Organised Private Sector with two
nominations from NECA, MAN, NACCIMA and
NESG.
The conference would also feature Nigeria
Youth Organisations with one nomination each
from the National Youth Council of Nigeria,
NANS and others.
Jonathan sacks heads of Aviation agencies"
Jonathan sacks heads of Aviation
agencies"
In what appears like a move to cleanse the
aviation sector, President Goodluck Jonathan ,
Tuesday sacked the heads of four aviation
parastatals in the country.
Those affected include Mr George Uriese of
FAAN, Mr Fola Akinkuotu of NCAA, Engr.
Nnamdi Udoh of NAMA and Mrs Chinyere Kalu
of NCAT.
This was contained in statement issued in
Abuja, Tuesday by Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, Special
Adviser on Media to Senator Anyim Pius Anyim,
Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
According to the statement, Engr. Saleh
Dumona (Director Projects, FAAN) is to replace
Mr. George Uriesi as Managing-Director of the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The statement further showed that Engr.
Ibrahim Abdulsalam (General Manager,
Procurements, NAMA) is to replace Engr.
Nnamdi Udoh as Managing Director of the
Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)
while Capt. Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick
(Government Safety Inspector & ICAO Focal
Point for Nigeria on line Aircraft Safety
Information Systems, OASIS) is to replace Capt.
(Mrs.) Chinyere Kalu as Rector of the Nigerian
College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).
In the same vein, Capt. Muhktar Usman
(Commissioner, Accident Investigation and
Prevention Bureau, AIPB) is to replace Capt.
Fola C. Akinkuotu as Director-General of the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
However Usman’s appointment is subject to
confirmation by the Senate.
In the meantime, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka is to
act as DG, NCAA pending Usman’s confirmation
by the Senate.
Dr. Engr. Felix A. Abali (Director Licencing,
NCAA) has also been appointed to replace
Capt. Usman as Commissioner, Accident
Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB).
However, Dr. Tony Anuforo retains his position
as Director-General of the Nigerian
Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
It would be recalled that President Jonathan
had barely three weeks ago sacked the former
Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Oduah
following her indictment over allegations that
she used public funds to purchase two bullet-
proof BMW cars at an inflated cost of N255
million. The House of Representatives which
probed the scandal had also discovered that
some of the Heads of parastatals under the
ministry were also involved in the scandal.
Southsouthpdp
Jonathan launches 2nd Niger bridge on Monday"
Jonathan launches 2nd Niger bridge
on Monday"
President Goodluck Jonathan said on Tuesday
in Abuja that he would do the “real ground-
breaking” ceremony for the second Niger
Bridge in Anambra on March 10.
The president said this on Tuesday when he
received a delegation of Anambra people led
by Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe,
and Gov. Peter Obi.
The delegation, which also included the
governor-elect of the state, Willie Obiano, was
on a thank-you and solidarity visit to the
president.
Jonathan said that the launch of the
construction work on the bridge was in
keeping with his promise to the people of
Anambra,
He explained that he could have launched the
project long ago with fanfare but government
must show commitment to its execution.
He said that with proper planning and funding
now put in place, he was ready to start the
project in earnest.
“The Minister of Works has briefed me that
they have done a lot of mobilisation; we are
coming to do real ground breaking ceremony
of the second Niger Bridge and other projects,”
he said.
It will be recalled that the president had,
during a recent visit to the state, pledged to
launch the construction of the bridge before
Obi leaves office on March 17.
He commended Obi for maintaining a cordial
relationship with the Federal Government.
He also used the opportunity to admonish
other elected officials and politicians to focus
on developing their states rather than make a
past-time of attacking and abusing the
president.
“A number of politicians feel that the best
thing to do is to be abusing Mr. President,
abusing the Federal Government and so on.
“You are elected to develop your state and I
think the best thing is to have good
relationship with the centre; whether you have
a pin or you do not have but one day it will
come.
“Wearing boxing gloves, jumping into the
boxing ring to face Mr. President does not
help the development of any state.”
The president specifically commended Obi for
his people-oriented programmes and for
managing an opposition-controlled state
assembly without a crisis.
He pledged to give his successor, Willie
Obiano, equal support to help him succeed.
The president also promised to retain Obi in
the Federal Government’s Economic
Management Team even after he leaves office
as state governor.
Earlier, Obi had said that it would be difficult
for a state governor to make meaningful
impact without the support of the Federal
Government.
He specifically thanked the president for the
support given to his state.
“I have been governor under three presidents
and I know the difference.
“Anambra state is your home and we are
committed to supporting you and your
government,” he said.(NAN)
Southsouth pdp
Saturday, March 1, 2014
President Jonathan Exchanging Pleasantries With Former Heads of States and Presidents As He Entered The Banquet Hall, Venue of the Centenary Awards.
President Jonathan Exchanging Pleasantries With Former Heads of States and Presidents As He Entered The Banquet Hall, Venue of the Centenary Awards.
"We may not have overcome our challenges, but neither have our challenges overcome us" - President Goodluck Jonathan.
"We may not have overcome our challenges, but neither have our challenges overcome us" - President Goodluck Jonathan.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
R-E-V-E-A-L-E-D!!! Sanusi Lamido Meets APC Leaders Again.
R-E-V-E-A-L-E-D!!!
Sanusi Lamido Meets APC Leaders Again.
The disgraced former CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido has continued his
rehabilitation talks with the leadership of the APC, after he was suspended from his
position as the head of the Nigerian Apex Bank.
Mallam Sanusi who relocated temporary to Lagos, before his suspension from office,
donated the sum of N1billion to APC to open party offices across the country. The
political father Christmas awarded a N10billion Contract to an APC chief, who is a
former state governor and another N5billion contract to the APC deputy National
chairman, Mallam El-Rufai to design the bogus CBN N100billion civic center in Abuja.
The Federal high court sitting Abuja yesterday rejected Sanusi's plea that his
suspension by President Jonathan over monumental frauds at CBN should be lifted. -
Hope For Nigeria.
Hope For Nigeria at Hq 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!! Legislatures Can’t Order Military Around – DHQ.
Hope For Nigeria at Hq 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna
B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!!
Legislatures Can’t Order Military Around – DHQ.
The Defence Headquarters yesterday reacted to suggestions by the Senate that the
Chief of Army Staff should relocate to the North-East to properly coordinate
activities of the joint services tackling Boko Haram insurgency in the region.
Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, told Daily Newswatch
in a telephone interview that the Senate resolution cannot become binding on the
military unless President Goodluck Jonathan endorses it.
Besides, he said, the military has no plans at the moment and has never discussed
the possibility of relocating its key personnel to the region since the situation
has not really called for such an action when the officers and men at the frontline
are doing just fine.
He said the Senate has no powers to order the military about and indicated that the
Armed Forces will not obey the directive.
Major General Chris said: “Only the President of the Federal Republic, Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces can make or give
such a directive to the military and not the Senate.” - Daily Newswatch. - Hope For
Nigeria.
E--X-P-O-S-E-D!!! BOKO HARAM AND SANUSI LAMIDO.
E--X-P-O-S-E-D!!!
BOKO HARAM AND SANUSI LAMIDO.
Increased Tempo of Boko Haram/Terrorist Activity in the Wake of the Sanusi Saga
In the wake of the saga involving the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria, there has been an increase in the tempo of terrorist activities carried out
by the Islamic Terrorist sect, Boko Haram.
Taken together with some historical facts, there is a strong case that this increase
in tempo and other activities are not coincidental.
The following Timelines may throw some light on the likely linkages;
February 20th 2014: President Goodluck Jonathan suspends Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
February 20th 2014: Boko Haram attacks Bama town killing at least 47, wounding many
and destroying houses.
February 23rd 2014: Boko Haram attacks Konduga Local Government, destroying houses,
and allegedly killing scores of rural dwellers.
February 24th 2014: Borno State Governor's convoy allegedly attacked by gunmen.
February 25th 2014: Boko Haram attacks Federal Government College, Buni Yada, in
Yobe State, killing at least 29 students as they slept.
HISTORY:::
It is a historical fact that Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was implicated in the Gideon
Akaluka beheading affair of 1995 and was subsequently arrested in Kano and detained
by the Abacha administration in Sokoto, Sokoto State.
Sanusi was released after the intervention of (amongst others) Alhaji Umaru Abdul
Mutallab.
Alhaji Mutallab used his influence to place Sanusi comfortably in the banking sector
beginning with the United Bank for Africa from where he moved to First Bank where he
(Mutallab) was chairman.
Malam Sanusi rose within the ranks, aided by his relationship with Mutallab, until
he was nominated by President Yar'adua and confirmed by the senate as the Governor
of the CBN in 2009.
It is pertinent to note two incidences that cannot be coincidences. The son of
Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab (Farouk Abdul Mutallab) eventually entered into infamy
when he was arrested and tried for attempting to detonate an under wear bomb on a
Northwest Airlines flight into America. Farouk Abdul Mutallab became radicalized
after he had gone to study Sharia and Islamic studies in Yemen in 2009.
This was exactly the same trajectory earlier taken by the disgraced Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi who schooled at the International University of Africa in Khartoum, Sudan in
the mid 1990s while Osama Bin Laden was also a resident of the city.
Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab appears to be a recurring decimal in the life of Sanusi
and the unifying factor appears to be their passion for an Islamic world order. For
example, one of Sanusi's first act as Central Bank Governor was to begin the push
for Islamic banking which culminated in the establishment of the first Islamic bank
in Nigeria, Jaiz Bank. Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab is the Managing Director of this
bank.
Given the quantum of funds that were appropriated by the Sanusi led CBN on non
banking related activities and donations, and the strong desire that he and Alhaji
Umaru Abdul Mutallab have for proselytizing Islam as well as their circumstantial
links to terror (Sanusi via Gideon Akaluka and Mutallab via his son) it is not such
a leap for them to facilitate the activities of terrorists. - Hope For Nigeria.
Monday, February 24, 2014
B-O-M-B-S-H-E-L-L!!! Northerners Not Jonathan are the problems of the North - Ex-Jigawa Governor.
B-O-M-B-S-H-E-L-L!!!
Northerners Not Jonathan are the problems of the North - Ex-Jigawa Governor.
**Northerners are the problems of the region, as their leaders are concerned about their personal and families’ interest and not that of the common man.
The former Jigawa State governor, Senator Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, has said that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has never in any way worked against the northern part of the country, but rather accused northerners for being responsible for the worse situation of the region.
The former governor made the declaration over the weekend while fielding questions by newsmen shortly after launching a political movement in the state he tagged: “Saminya biyayya,” that would usher in the next governor by 2015.
Launching the movement before a mammoth crowd that converged on Bandawa farm in Kazaure Local Government Area of the state, Turaki said northerners were the problems of the region where the majority were concerned about their personal and families’ interest and not that of the common man and the region.
He said, Goodluck Jonathan is not anti-north. The northerners are the ones working against themselves and the region. Most of the time, a northerner is working against another, they are always fighting themselves The governors are always kicking against the programmes and policies of their predecessors by constituting committees of enquiry to probe the leaders before them.
“Is the president doing that? Is he asking them to do so? Why put the blame on him?”
Commenting on the political movement, he said “it is purely an association of my loyal friends,” adding that he had staged a come-back to take over the leadership of his people.
He noted that it was wrong for some people to view the incumbent Governor Sule Lamido as the leader of the PDP in the state when “over 80 per cent of the cabinet members are my associates.”
“Ahmed, his deputy, was my Commissioner for Finance down to other political appointees that served under me. I made them what they are, and they visit and consult with me everyday so who am I fighting, myself?”
Turaki, who refused to declare which political party his movement is anchored, said it was immaterial to do so. - Hope For Nigeria.
SANUSIGATE!!!!
The 10-steps Deployed by Sanusi in Defrauding CBN and Nigerians!
by Favour B, Afolabi, Abuja. [REJOINDER]
I have noticed that SANUSI through his friend, Nasir El-Rufai’s [who is also alleged to have been awarded a N5Bn contract by SANUSI for which he has refused to openly discuss] protégé Japheth Omojuwa has been pushing an article titled “The CBN Never Received Any Letter From The Financial Reporting Council – Lamido Sanusi Speaks On Salient Issues” all in a bid to mislead the public on what exactly happened; well, I have for the benefit of the same audience and others chosen to chronicle the 10-steps that led to Sanusi’s suspension thus:
1. The annual reports of CBN for 2012 threw up some red flags when it was received by the Presidency in early 2013.
2. One of such larger issues was that the reports was not IFRS compatible – now for anyone that BUYS and READS Newspapers rather than just getting free online downloads, you would know what IFRS compliance means [I won’t even bother trying to help those that don’t know what means here] and should also know that that the CBN led by SANUSI practically forced all Nigerian banks to comply with this standard.
3. So it turns out THE REGULATOR'S BOOKS WASN'T IFRS COMPLIANT - leading to Ernst & Young, the retained auditors for CBN REFUSING TO SIGN OFF on the reports!
4. When the Presidency received this report, it wrote SANUSI in MAY 2013 to explain several glaring anomalies within the reports along with what was listed above in [2] & [3] – these included nothing less than 30 instances of financial infractions in excess of N248NBillion.
5. SANUSI responded to the Presidency while trying to cover up his tracks leading to the Presidency deciding to send his RESPONSE along with the books he cooked to the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria of Nigeria [FRC] who did a 13-paged REPORT/RESPONSE to the President dated June 7th 2013! [FYI: The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria is a federal government agency established by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act, No. 6, 2011. It is a federal government Parastatal under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment. The FRC is responsible for, among other things, developing and publishing accounting and financial reporting standards to be observed in the preparation of financial statements of public entities in Nigeria; and for related matters.]
6. This report which many of SANUSI'S SUPPORTERS' CLUB MEMBERS are refusing to read shows how their HERO has been intentionally reckless with the funds of the apex bank along with being irresponsible in focusing on the exact mandate of the bank.
7. So here is where THE LIES CRUMBLE - "Sanusi is being clever-by-half by saying he never got a letter from FRC because HE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO - it was the Presidency that wrote FRC to investigate the books of CBN and so their RESPONSE/REPORT can only go to the Presidency not to SANUSI" - such can only be shared with SANUSI by the Presidency at its discretion or as evidence to be provided during an investigation process! Nevertheless, it is apparent that SANUSI must have got wind of the contents of this report [guessing by the next steps he took].
8. But of course, Sanusi cannot deny not receiving the QUERY in [4] above from the Presidency hence the reason why he mentioned in his first interview with CNBC within hours of being suspended that "he indeed got a letter from the Presidency and that he has already responded to it and he doesn't know what they are asking of him again but he can only guess that this is a way by Aso Rock to divert attention away from the NNPC probe" [not his exact words] - while of course going ahead with the next chapter in his already set-out script!
9. All of these would explain why within 24 hours of his suspension, HE SECURED A COURT JUDGMENT VIA A KANGAROO SETTING FORBIDDING HIM FROM BEING ARRESTED rather than for him to SECURE A JUDGMENT FORBIDDING THE PRESIDENT FROM SUSPENDING/SACKING HIM without the consent of the Senate based on the CBN ACT? This would tell you that SANUSI knew what was coming to him all along!
10. Well, now you know why SANUSI created the Nollywood blockbuster movie titled "From $49.8Bn>$10.8Bn>$20Bn", which reminds me of Argo [you should see this movie if you haven't] to get some self-imposed-gullible Nigerians to see him as a knight-in-shining-armour-whistle-blower-who-has-come-to-deliver-the-nation-from-NNPC securing their sympathy in the process so that when the hammer is finally slammed on him, he can quickly draw on the political capital that he has secured claiming that he is being victimized for telling the truth!
Well a few of us that have followed this drama long before it became public knowledge can safely tell you that “SANUSI’s announcement that he won’t be seeking a second-term in office way back in March 2013 was after the Presidency had already gotten wind of these infractions” – and he himself knew deep down that he was never going to finish even this first term in office!
Let those Nigerians that insist that he is SAINT remember how Farouk Lawan also claimed to be the one that would deliver Nigerians from the OIL CABAL until he was caught on VIDEO stuffing $620,000 bribe money into his cap and babariga – some of us simply refuse to be fooled – so pick the class you choose to belong – the FOOLED or the WISE ONES! - Hope For Nigeria.
B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!! How Donation To Buhari Landed Sanusi In Trouble.
B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!!
How Donation To Buhari Landed Sanusi In Trouble.
**Sanusi donated more than N100 million to Buhari’s campaign in the 2011 Presidential election.
**a N5 billion contract to a former FCT minister and leading APC leader & Ex-Governor received contracts worth over N15 billion.
**"I gave Buhari the donation to advance his course because of his relationship with our family, especially my uncle". - Sanusi.
Beyond his criticism of Federal Government’s policies and revelation on the $20 billion missing oil money, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, actually ran into trouble over his romance and funding of opposition leaders.
A source in the Presidency told New Telegraph that President Goodluck Jonathan was miffed over Sanusi’s activities with the opposition. The source noted that in the build up to the 2011 presidential election, Sanusi made donation to the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Major- General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
Jonathan was said to have invited Sanusi to the Villa to explain the motive behind the donation to Buhari’s presidential campaign. It was learnt that Sanusi admitted that he only made a N20 million donation to Buhari to advance his course because of the relationship the former Head of State had with his family, especially his uncle. But a source said the President had evidence of Sanusi donating more than N100 million to Buhari’s campaign.
“Ever since the donation was made, the president has been mindful of Sanusi’s political inclination. We see him as more of opposition than being part of the government. If a sitting Central Bank governor could be making donation to a presidential candidate in an election, then you should begin to suspect,” a presidential aide told New Telegraph.
Sanusi was also accused of awarding contracts to opposition leaders. A presidential aide gave two instances of such contracts. One, a N5 billion contract was reportedly awarded to a former minister and leading opposition figure. Another set of contracts worth over N15 billion were also awarded to a former governor. The former state chief executive was instrumental to Sanusi’s appointment and that of another head of government financial institution during the late Umaru Yar’Adua administration.
“This is seen as a measure to fund the opposition leaders against the president. There are several of such instances,” a source said Also, Jonathan was said to have given up on Sanusi after security report indicted him of providing sensitive documents to those perceived as “enemies of government.”
The report also provided details of several nocturnal meetings Sanusi held with opposition leaders both in Nigeria and abroad. The details of a meeting Sanusi held with Buhari, a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other opposition leaders in London recently were leaked to the president. “The details of the meeting and several of such showed that the suspended CBN governor was on a mission to bring the government down. You can’t be an employee of government and at the same time you want to bring it down. You have to be shown the way out.
More so that he has a case to answer over the running of the apex bank,” an aide of the president said. Sanusi has remained in Lagos since his suspension last week. It was learnt that prominent opposition figures have been providing support for him and holding meetings with him.
On the timing of Sanusi’s suspension after he had revealed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) could not account for $20 billion oil money, another source in the Presidency said “government can act anytime, irrespective of the circumstances.” The source noted that Sanusi has been under probe for almost two years now. He said the probe into Sanusi’s activities started from complaints by senior officials of the apex bank “who felt that Sanusi’s style of administration, especially financial recklessness might hurt the economy.” - Hope For Nigeria.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Hope For Nigeria in Lagos
B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!!
EFCC To Prosecute Sanusi Over Alleged Multi-Billion Frauds.
The Suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, may be prosected by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged acts of financial recklessness in under administration’s as CBN’s head.
Mallam Sanusi was involved in a Generational fraud at CBN summed over N248billion and even at defrauding the Bayero University of Kano. He gave the University N1b, but collected N4billion from the accounts of the CBN. University have confirmed that they received only N1b.
According to sources close to the Presidency, it was disclosed that Sanusi may be invited this week for questioning on the allegations against him.
President Goodluck Jonathan had last Thursday suspended Sanusi as the CBN Governor and appointed the most senior Deputy Governor of the bank, Sarah Alade, as acting Governor of the bank until the conclusion of ongoing investigations into breaches of enabling laws, due process and mandate of the CBN. - Hope For Nigeria.
INNOSON MOTORS NIGERIA.
I SEE PEOPLE ARGUING ABOUT INNOSON CAR!!!
by Nzuko Odenigbo, Onitsha.
I some people arguing that Innoson cars are just an assembled car in Nigeria and that it looks like a Chinese car. Well, I do not blame anyone in their thinking, they should also know that the Tokunbo/used Toyota cars we import from US are not made in US but assembled in US while the engine and most of the parts are made in Japan and few external parts made in Mexico. It is cost advantage in production. If your cost of production outweighs the selling price in your locality, you have to look out for where you can produce it cheap then assemble it in your locality. Every country and company does it. As far as Innoson cars are sold with mileage warranty to their customers at an affordable rate just like in overseas, then it is a world class standard vehicle.
To me, this is a step in the right direction for Nigeria auto industry. Rather than challenging Innoson in local production of parts, we should challenge our engineering university faculties and engineering students. How many universities engage in reasonable and productive research? In overseas, government and companies dedicate millions of dollars for scholarship and research for professors and students. This promotes growth in ideas for local production. There are also so many factors hindering local production which include lack of electric power, non existence of steel industry, poor aluminum industry, and lack of enabling environment including lack of credit facilities and tax breaks from government.
I believe that this is a major milestone and achievement in local auto industry. Innoson has thousands of employees and his company brings tax and revenue to Anambra state.
May God bless him more and grant more Anambra people & Nigerians the good ideas that will promote local industries and employment of labor. - Hope For Nigeria.
The Rise And Fall Of Emir Of CBN
*The Rise And Fall Of Emir Of CBN*;
EVERY NIGERIAN MUST CAREFULLY READ THIS !
"Sanusi claimed a whooping N1.257 Billion for “Lunch For his Police guards” and expenses for “Private Guards” In 2012.
**Bogus Payments To Non-operating and non-existing Airlines To Distribute Currency Nationwide Exposed.
**Operated Bogus Expense Heads To Hide Fraudulent Activities.
**CBN Has Held An Account With A Balance Of N1.423 Billion For An Unknown Customer Since 2008.
Following Thursday’s suspension of Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank by President Goodluck Jonathan, THEWILL has exclusively obtained a copy of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria report that ripped apart the 2012 audited financial statement of the apex bank and exposed the fraud, excesses and wastefulness of Sanusi and the CBN.
Sanusi had over the years projected an image of an anti-graft banker, activist, reformer and crusader against graft and waste in government, as well as the financial sector. Weeks before his ouster as CBN Governor, Mr. Sanusi had accused the NNPC of failing to remit billions of dollars in oil revenue to the federation account, a claim which the NNPC has continued to dispute.
The 13-page Council report emanated following Sanusi’s response to a query issued him in early 2013 by President Goodluck Jonathan over the apex bank’s alarming reckless donations nationwide and its finances.
Whilst describing Sanusi’s response to the President’s query as “a clear display of incompetence, nonchalance, fraud, wastefulness, abuse of due process and deliberate efforts to misrepresent facts…”, the Council accused the suspended
banker of several violations including but not limited to carrying out activities with financial implications that are not related to the CBN’s mandate, especially billions of naira in ambiguous payments to invoices referred to as “Centre of Excellence” and “Contribution to Internal National Security”, and the CBN’s claim that it paid N38.233 billion to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc in 2011 for the “printing of bank notes” whereas the turnover of the entire printing and minting company group is N29.370 billion.
The Council also accused Sanusi of rogue payments as air charter fees to Emirates Airways (N0.511b), Associated Airline (N1.025b) and Wing Airline (N0.425b), for the distribution of currency nationwide whereas Emirates does not operate local charter flights within Nigeria, Wing Air is unregistered in Nigeria with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and Associated Airlines did not have a billion naira turnover in 2011 and have no financial statements because the company said it had not had any significant operation in two years to warrant preparing a financial statement.
In lieu of the serious misconduct it found against Sanusi and the leadership of the CBN, the Council urged the President to exercise the powers conferred on him by “Section 11 (2) (f) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 or invoke Section 11 (2) (c)
of the said Act and cause the Governor and the Deputy Governors to cease from holding office in the CBN and also direct the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria to carry out a full investigation of the activities of the CBN…”
It is a shame that a very Corrupt Sanusi Lamido after getting copy of this Report in June, 2013, started to sabotage and blackmail the government by writing his bogus letter to the President in September, 2013 claiming that NNPC did not remit the sum of $49.8 billion, a figure he later apologized that he did not calculate properly"
Holier Than Thou Era Has The FOI Act To Deal With
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