NIGERIA: AUSTRALIAN NEGOTIATOR INDICTS U.S OVER BOKO HARAM

Australian negotiator, Dr Stephen Davis, has accused the United States of not sharing intelligence on Boko Haram with Nigerian government.

TheCable reports that the negotiator, who was in Nigeria for four months to negotiate the release of the abducted school girls from Chibok, Borno State, with Boko Haram commanders, questioned the value of the United States involvement in the war against insurgency.

“Americans claim they are doing aerial reconnaissance. Why are they not passing the information to the Nigerian military? With this information, the Nigerian military could intercept the Boko Haram convoy before it reaches its target,” he said.

Davis, while recounting the days and weeks he spent talking with commanders of the sect over the release of the Chibok girls, revealed that the terrorists usually move in a convoy of 20 to 60 vehicles at night, before they expanded and started launching large-scale attacks in the daylight.

He also hinted on how the sect usually ambush Nigerian soldiers as a result of the hostile environment in the North-East, and described the incident of last six months as worrisome. He said most roads in the rural north of Borno are very narrow.

“The militants normally strike at night, so they lay in wait where the military has to slow down to a crawl due to the poor road condition. Sometimes they dig the potholes deeper to entrap a convoy. On getting wind of the ongoing attacks, the Nigerian military would dispatch soldiers in a convoy of vehicles. Unfortunately, and unknown to the soldiers, the insurgents may have enlarged a big hole on the road. So in a convoy of say 20 vehicles, the first vehicle draws to a halt as it encounters the ditch. By the time the soldiers realise what is happening and try to make a U-turn, they are ambushed by the insurgents as the convoy struggles to turn around on the narrow pot-holed road,” he said.

The negotiator, however, noted that military action alone is unlikely to end the insurgency currently bedeviling the country.

It would be recalled that after Boko Haram kidnapped over 200 female students from Government Girls Secondary School, in April 2014, the U.S.A. promised to help Nigerian government fight insurgency. It gave some of its military personnel to training Nigerian soldiers, as well as shared some aerial reconnaissance data and equipment, but did not send any ground troops.

Other international communities like the United Kingdom, Israel and China also offered to help, but, despite the promises from these international powers, the menace of the dreaded terrorist group is yet to be fully curtailed.

Meanwhile, Dr Stephen Davis had on August 31, 2014, insisted that former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff and former Chief of Army Staff, General Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika are Boko Haram sponsors. It would be recalled that ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nasir El-Rufai also alleged on August 28, that Modu Sheriff, Gen. Ihejirika are Boko Haram sponsors.

NAIJ

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OYINLOLA SHUT OUT AS SOUTH-WEST ENDORSES OLADIPO PDP NATIONAL SECRETARY

Ahead of a planned mid-term national convention, a  meeting of the South-west leadership caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held on Monday night in Abuja has finally resolved the tussle over the slot of PDP National Secretary zoned to the region.

There were indications at the meeting that the former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the suspended national secretary of PDP may have finally lost out, unless the Supreme Court rules in his favour.

But Oyinlola has insisted that he remained the authentic secretary of the party.

He is currently at the Supreme Court challenging his suspension after winning at the Court of Appeal that nullified his suspension by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The meeting called by Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the party, South-west, in the spirit of genuine reconciliation, unanimously agreed to support Professor Wale Oladipo to continue in office as PDP National Secretary.

By implication, Oladipo would be ratified as the current National Secretary of PDP in the proposed national convention of the party since opposition against him from his zone has finally been doused.

It has been a long while since members of the PDP from region held a meeting in which members entered with the mind-set to forge a common endeavour aimed at promoting the political interest of the zone on all fronts.

The convener, George, in his opening remarks, sued for peace and understanding among the PDP leaders and members in the South-west, stressing on the necessity for a bond among members anchored on the need for all to work in unison towards winning all South-west states in the 2015 general election.

2015: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PROMISES TO AMEND ELECTORAL ACT BEFORE GENERAL ELECTIONS

The Senate and the House of Representatives Monday  in Abuja gave assurance that the Electoral Act 2010 would be amended before the 2015 general elections.

Responding to fears expressed by members of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at a dialogue on the status of the Electoral Law amendments in the National Assembly organised by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), both chambers said that the proposed amendments would make the general elections free from rancour.
‎
In separate presentations, ‎the Senate Chairman on Electoral Matters, Senator Andy Uba and his counterpart in the House of Representatives,  Hon. Jerry Manwe said both chambers were committed to the speedy passage of the bills to amend the Electoral Act.

They said that the amendments would ensure political parties' discipline by compelling parties to present only candidates that win primaries for elections.‎

ThisDay

NGF CRISIS: AMAECHI CALLS FOR RECONCILIATION

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) yesterday extended the olive branch again to the faction of the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, noting that Nigerians were left to suffer the impact of the split.

Speaking at the fourth Nigeria Governors' Forum retreat in Rivers State, Amaechi, however cautioned that democracy should be practised in coming elections.
The retreat was themed "healthcare, youth empowerment and transitioning-out”.

It will be recalled that the forum had in May 2013 split, after Amaechi defeated factional chairman of the forum, Jonah Jang. While Amaechi scored 19 votes, Jang got 16 votes.
But Amaechi in his opening remark said "to my colleagues, as we prepare to bow out, I want us to reflect on the matter of the crack in the body of NGF. Since it is our dream and aspiration to remain intact and grow together as one, regardless of any disagreements, the time to bring everyone back together is now. Our country and our people bear the biggest brunt of a fractured forum. As we forge ahead towards 2015 and the democratic bells ring again, let us continue to imbibe and internalise the democratic tenets where freely given mandates are respected and upheld even while allowing the minority to have their say."

He continued "I strongly hope that in coming elections, democracy will be practised as it ought to be. In all future elections, winners must be congratulated while losers must of necessity be commended for taking part. Mandates must be respected and held sacred. Therein lies the true democratic spirit and therein lies the way forward."

He noted that some of the resolutions reached at previous retreats had impacted on the policy in various states that participated in the retreats.

APC MEMBERS DRAG TINUBU, AKANDE, PARTY TO COURT OVER IMPOSITION OF PARTY OFFICERS

Five members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the auspices of New Lagos Movement, have sued the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, and the party's acting National Chairman, Bisi Akande, over imposition of party officers at the recently-held congresses of the party in Lagos State.

The plaintiffs, in the fresh suit before the Federal High Court in Lagos, are seeking an order restraining the defendants from allowing any delegate who may be presented by the state chapter of APC to participate at the national convention of the party scheduled to hold between June 13 and 14 or at any other time.

The plaintiffs, Akinniyi Akinsiju, Michael Popoola Ajayi, Olugbenga Fakoya, Toyin Raheem and Taiwo Sanyaolu, had filed the suit through their lawyer, Nurudeen Ogbara, seeking judicial intervention over the alleged imposition of party officers.

Apart from Tinubu and Akande, others joined as defendants in the suit are the Chairman of APC Congress Committee, Garba Abari; the APC itself and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Abari's committee supervised APC congresses which were designed to produce leaders of the party in the state.

One of the plaintiffs, Sanyaolu, in an affidavit to support the suit, recalled that all the plaintiffs specifically formed a nucleus group within the APC known as the 'New Lagos Movement' in order to instill internal democracy within the party.

EKITI GUBER POLL: JONATHAN TO PRESENT PDP’S FLAG TO FAYOSE

After it has suffered two postponements in the last two months, President Goodluck Jonathan will visit Ekiti State on Saturday to present the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag to its gubernatorial candidate in the June 21 governorship election, Mr. Ayo Fayose.
The president was to visit the state on April 26 but the visit was postponed due to lack of venue.

The party had accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of denying it the use of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium to host the president.

Again, on May 22, the visit could not hold due to the incident of bomb blast that rocked Jos, which claimed several lives.

According to a statement issued by the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, President Jonathan would present the party’s flag to Fayose and flag off the campaign.
Oluwawole said the ceremony which is expected to begin at 10a.m., would hold at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti.

It stated further that the president would be accompanied by the Vice-President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo; PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu; Senate President, Senator David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jeleel Adesiyan; Minister State for the Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and other PDP big wigs.

ANAMBRA GUBER TRIBUNAL AFFIRMS OBIANO’S ELECTION

The Anambra State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal yesterday dismissed petition challenging the election of Governor Willie Obiano.

The tribunal dismissed the application of the factional candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), Dr. Chike Obidigbo, his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Dr. Chris Ngige and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election, Mr. Tony Nwoye, for lacking in merit.
In the first judgment read by the Justice Ishaq Bello-led tribunal on the matter between Obidigbo and Obiano, he stated that Obiano was validly nominated as the candidate of APGA, and that the election that brought him to office was conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act as amended.

Justice Bello held that Obidigbo’s petition was a pre-election matter, hence not meant for the tribunal but for a conventional court.

He had few weeks ago ruled out the petition in same lines.
The Justice lso dismissed the issue of multiple registration, saying no criminal charges were brought against Obiano before any Magistrate or High Court in the state.

The tribunal also struck out the petition brought before it by Ngige for lack of evidence.
Contrary to the claims of Ngige’s counsel that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) lacked the power to extend the date of election, the tribunal held that INEC had the power to do so.

It held that in the case of unforeseen circumstances, the important thing was that the election should be in consonance with the electoral guideline.

Already, Obidigbo confirmed to journalists yesterday that he was heading to Court of Appeal immediately to challenge the tribunal judgment.

Also, the Supreme Court would, this morning, determine an earlier appeal brought before it by Obidigbo against Obiano on the issue of who was the validly nominated candidate of the party APGA, an aspect that was earlier struck out by the tribunal.

CONVENTION: APC ZONES CHAIRMANSHIP POSITION TO SOUTH-SOUTH

Ahead of its national convention, the  All Progressives Congress (APC) convention committee has endorsed a proposal zoning the chairmanship slot to aspirants from the South-south zone.

The report of the convention sub-committee on zoning has also narrowed down the zoning of the national secretary position to either the North-east or the North-west as at Tuesday night.

THISDAY gathered that from a reliable source at the meeting of the national convention committee that members had come under considerable pressure from power brokers in the party seeking to influence the zoning structure.

Speaking on the decision to zone party chairman to South-south, the source said it was done for strategic reasons to break into the stronghold of President GoodLuck Jonathan.
“Choosing the South- south to produce the next APC national chairman is party of a political strategy to strengthen the party’s position in the region as prelude to other strategic moves to wear-down PDP’s influence in the area, he said.

Under the latest zoning structure contained in the committee’s report, the South-west is to produce  the Organising Secretary, having conceded the chairman’s office to the South-south while the North- central is expected to retain the office of the national publicity secretary.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE: TEMPORARILY DISQUIETED BY DIFFERENCES OVER VOTING PATTERN, REFERENDUM

The national conference ran into stormy waters last week as delegates for three consecutive days failed to agree on the pattern of voting on resolutions of the conference.  The delegates also disagreed on whether the conference report should be subjected to a referendum.

Divergent views on how the resolutions of the national conference would be reached have pitted delegates from the North against their counterparts from the South. The problem started during the debates on the procedures and rules of the conference.

Voting Controversy
The northern delegates are insisting that resolutions of the conference should be reached through a 75 per cent majority decision. But delegates from the south say resolutions of the conference should be reached through a two-third consensus resolution.  Seventy five per cent of the 492 delegates is 369 and two-third is 328.
The controversy was kicked off when Chief Mike Ozekhome called for a review of the Order 6, Rule 4 and Rule 11, Order 11 Rules one and two of the Conference Procedures, which states that a resolution at the conference will be reached with a 75 per cent consensus of the delegates.
The chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, had ruled to adopt the procedure, but Ozekhome, in a motion supported by Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, urged the conference to adopt the best parliamentary practice of two-third consensus of the 492 delegates. Ozekhome argued that in a conference of 492 delegates, 75 per cent consensus, which will require 369 delegates to reach a resolution, will be near impossible as it will only enthrone a tyrannical minority, defeating a 74 per cent majority. He further said that it will be impossible to reach a common resolution on issues like resource control, regionalism, state police, type of government and other critical issues that agitate the minds of Nigerians.

CONFERENCE RAISES 50-MAN C’TTEE TO RESOLVE VOTING IMPASSE

• To call for memoranda from public

• Sultan leads Muslims to protest perceived marginalisation

The National Conference Chairman, Justice Lebo Kutigi, Wednesday raised a 50-member committee, tagged “The Consensus Group”, to deliberate on how to break the deadlock over the voting pattern to be adopted in passing resolutions of the national discourse.

The conference, after a two-day debate that ended on Tuesday, could not agree on whether to adopt a voting system based on three-quarters of the 492 delegates in passing resolutions or two-thirds of the participants.

The debate had polarised the delegates along regional lines with northern participants canvassing for the adoption of the three-quarters voting system, while their southern counterparts pushed for a two-thirds majority vote.

It was learnt that delegates from the three zones of South-west, South-east and the South-south met on Tuesday night where it was agreed that they should boycott the conference if the northern delegates insisted on having their way over the voting pattern.
The northern delegates also met and agreed that there would be no shifting on the matter, insisting on the adoption of the three-quarters voting system.

In another bid to resolve the crisis of confidence threatening the National Conference, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad  Abubakar III, also led Muslims, under the aegis of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), to complain to President Goodluck Jonathan over the perceived marginalisation of adherents of the Islamic faith in the composition of delegates to the conference.

Signs of trouble had emerged earlier in the day when delegates arrived and formed clusters to discuss the impasse over the voting formula.
As such, when Kutigi, finally declared the sitting opened at 10.30 am, the chamber was already charged and it was obvious that delegates were ready for a showdown.

DAY 3: NIGERIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE PLENARY – LIVE UPDATES

Welcome to the third plenary of the ongoing National Conference in Nigeria.

16.33

Earlier today, Ayodele Adekanbi drew the attention of the Conference to the plight of physically challenged delegates. He noted that during inauguration, people on wheelchairs could not access the venue. Speaking on Order 12(1, he said, “We want to request that persons with disabilities be selected to cut across all the Committees. We are 90 million disabled persons in the country.”

Mr. Adekanbi appealed to delegates to support the yearning of the persons living with disabilities, adding that such people were being marginalised on a daily basis all over the country.

He added, “While women are crying for attention today, someday, somehow, we will all grow old and disability will set in and we will experience what they are experiencing now. So please let us put the physically challenged into consideration.”

The Chairman asked people living with disabilities to choose the Committee they want to belong.

Deputy Chairman Bolaji Akinyemi took the microphone and asked the rowdy hall to give the chairman his deserved respect and obey his order.
Speaking after, Chairman Kutigi said he has already ruled that thorough debate will be taken on the 2/3 or 3/4 decision at a later date. He said he still stands by that order and asked for continuation on discussion on Order 12.

12.12

Justice Gummi, asked delegates to calm down and told them that delegates are faced with weighty issues. He proposed for a 3/4 decision because it is “a near unanimity”.

Decided weighty issues on a simple majority will be doing more harm than good.

The hall is almost becoming uncontrollable as the chairman’s plea for order is continuously ignored.

12.10

PASTOR BAKARE EXPLAINS HIS CRITICISM OF JUSTICE KUTIGI'S ISLAMIC PRAYER, DENIES ISLAMOPHOBIA ALLEGATION

The General Overseer of Later Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said his comment on the floor of the National Conference Tuesday that Chairman Idris Kutigi should refrain from starting his speeches with a short Arabic phrase should not be interpreted to mean hatred for Muslims and their faith.

Mr. Bakare had, at the first plenary of the Conference, drawn attention to the short Arabic phrase that usually precede Justice Kutigi's speech at the Conference's sessions.

The clergyman then called for a uniformed prayer at all meetings of the Conference.

'Mr. Chairman, yesterday you said something at the inauguration of the Conference and I did not understand,' Mr. Bakare said. 'Today again, you said it. I think you should pray in the way all of us understand because if I stand up and say, 'Praise the Lord somebody,' we will turn this place into a church service.'

But in a statement Thursday morning, a group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, said Mr. Bakare's 'attack' on Justice Kutigi was a premeditated demonstration of his hatred for Muslims and Islam.

Mr. Bakare has now denied the charge, saying he made the comment in the interest of national unity, cohesion and mutual co-existence at the conference.

'What we are saying is that let us adopt one simple language so that no one reads any religious connotation into anything we say or do,' Mr. Bakare told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone. We are not here for regional or religious issues. We must not be divided by tribal sentiments and religious prejudices. We must focused on building a new Nigeria.'

The clergyman explained that there was no way he could hate Muslims having been born and raised a Muslim himself.

2015: APC DECLARES SEVEN DAYS FAST TO PRAY FOR WIKE'S EMERGENCE AS RIVERS PDP GUBER CANDIDATE

I seem to find this pretty hilarious. Don't mind me ... Just read

We have read with profound gratitude reports of the adoption by the leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, of Chief Nyesome Wike, the Supervising Minister of Education, as the party's candidate for the 2015 gubernatorial election in the State. We are aware of the opposition of some camps in the disunited party to the choice of Wike and it is our prayer for these dissenters to sheathe their sword and support Wike's candidature if they are really interested in saving Rivers State from the diabolical influence of PDP come 2015. To ensure the emergence of Chief Nyesome Wike as the PDP Flag-bearer that will formally dismantle and bury PDP as a political party in Rivers State; the APC leadership in Rivers State has declared seven days fasting and prayer for all members of APC and those who true love democracy in Rivers State in this regard. 

The fasting and prayer program will commence on 25th March, 2014 and ends on 1st April, 2014 at the APC State Secretariat, old GRA Port Harcourt during the normal period of the weekly prayer and thanksgiving of APC Women. Evangelist Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya the Interim State Chairman of APC, Evangelist Mrs. Carol Nagbo the APC State Women Leader and other great men and women of God are expected to conduct the end of the fasting event. According to Evangelist Nagbo, APC is a miracle party whose mission is to dismantle every element of evil and undemocratic acts as represented by PDP from the psyche of our nation and Rivers State in particular.

We should not forget so soon that PDP is a party whose hatred for Rivers State is legendary and anything that is lawful and spiritual to stop such an undemocratic party from Brick House is an effort in the right direction and allowing an unsellable candidate like Chief Wike as the party's flag-bearer is one of the ploys we will exploit as a party to achieve this. PDP has ensured that the State's funds dwindle by ceding our Soku oil wells to Bayelsa and others to Abia State. It has also ensured that the State lacks any sign of Federal Government presence by way of projects, besides promoting insecurity in the State. Anything that would contribute to see to the total annihilation of such an evil party from Rivers State is a welcome development and one of the quickest ways to ensure the quick death of the party in the State is to allow Chief Wike to clinch the party's ticket for the 2015 guber election.

The fact remains that Chief Wike, who has spearheaded PDP-led Federal Government's onslaught against Rivers State, has lost political value in the State. Most of the people that made him tick politically have since deserted him to APC while some hungry loafers are massaging his ego just to enable them have a meal at his expense.