Days of infrastructure decay and utter neglect of Aba, Abia State commercial nerve centre will soon be over. This was the pledge of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the state, Dr. Alex Otti, as he stormed the Ariaria International Market, Aba yesterday.  
He also pledged provision of conducive environment for businesses and abolition of multiple taxation, which is currently the order of the day.
Otti, who was in Aba in continuation of his sensitization and mobilisation tour in various parts of the state, bemoaned the filthy state of the once glowing and vibrant commercial city, vowing to transform it in record time if elected.
This comes on the heels of his endorsement as the governorship candidate by a coalition of stakeholders of the Market and Ward 9 Aba North Local Government Area, at his Umuru, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government country home.
The Ariaria Market group, which paid solidarity visit to Otti, stressed that its decision to back him was based on their conviction that he would provide good leadership and address development challenges in Abia if elected.
Similar expression of enthusiasm and support came the way of the APGA candidate during his Ariaria Market tour.
In the course of the exercise, Otti, a former group managing director of Diamond Bank, interacted with the traders who threw their weight behind his aspiration, informing him, however, of some of their concerns about the February 2015 polls.
One of the traders, Obinna Innocent, particularly tasked the APGA flag bearer on the need to secure his votes during the contest. Expressing similar concern, another trader, Mrs. Ogechi Duru also decried the state of the international market and Aba in general, urging Otti to keep his promises if elected. She said the traders totally believed in him and his Master plan for Abia State.
In his response, Otti assured the traders and other supporters of his belief in President Goodluck Jonathan’s ‘one man, one vote’ philosophy, promising that their votes would be protected.
He, however, reminded them that they also had a major role to play in ensuring his success at the poll. He advised those who had not collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to do so at their various local government headquarters, saying it was the main tool they needed to change Abia for the better.
The highlight of the visit was Otti’s march through Aba Shopping Centre Road with his campaign team, where he addressed a crowd of supporters.
The Ariaria visit was not the first time the APGA candidate had stressed his commitment at transforming Aba. He had during his official declaration for the governorship, pledged that he would create a Ministry of Aba Affairs and develop the city to a level that it would comfortably be referred to as the ‘Japan of Africa’.

APGA guber candidate, Otti, storms Aba, pledges good governance

From PETRUS OBI, Enugu
Enugu State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend declared that the decision to choose a female as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is a deliberate attempt to show fairness in the distribution of political positions in the state.
Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Ikeji Asogwa, who spoke during the end-of-year party of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), expressed regrets that the Anglican Church in Enugu requested that an Anglican be chosen to run with Ugwuanyi, who is a Catholic.
Asogwa, who was answering a question on why the party ignored the request by the Anglican Church, said the request came after the party had chosen and submitted the name of the governorship running mate.
The state PDP boss, who was also asked to say who the PDP governorship candidate was said: “Let me say it again that Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is the Enugu PDP governorship candidate. And I want to say that even before the bishops made their demand, the party had forwarded the name of Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, to the appropriate quarters as the running mate to the party’s gubernatorial candidate.”
He explained that apart from the fact that the party had already picked the running mate of its governorship candidate before the Anglican Church made its request, saying such position was not supposed to be based on religious denomination.
The party, Asogwa said, was only interested in and committed to producing leaders with integrity that would deliver the goods, irrespective of religious affiliation.
He added that picking a running mate of a governorship candidate of a party was a serious business involving a lot of consultations.
Anglican Bishops in Enugu State had during a media briefing last week, took exception to a Catholic/Catholic ticket by the state PDP in 2015.
They had argued that since the gubernatorial candidate, Ugwuanyi, was a Catholic, it would have been proper for the party to pick an Anglican as his deputy in the spirit of justice, equity, and fair play.
Boko Haram: Ihejirika sues Australian hostage negotiator, demands N100bn

From GODWIN TSA, Abuja
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, has filed a whopping N100 billionlibel suit against Australian hostage negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davies, who allegedly accused him of sponsoring Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria.
In the suit filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja by his team of lawyers, led by Chief Nnoruka Udechukwu (SAN), Ihejirika said he had been exposed to scandal, odium, ridicule, humiliation and his character, credit and reputation brought into disrepute, both in Nigeria and abroad as a result of Davis’ statement.
Already, his lawyers have approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to serve Davis, who lives in Perth, Australia, with the court processes, after the court granted their application for an order to serve the processes abroad.
Australia and Nigeria are members of the Commonwealth and a special procedure applies when serving court processes on a defendant residing in a country that is a member of the body other than the country where the writ is issued.
Apart from the N100 billion damages, Ihejirika is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Davis and his agents from further making defamatory comments about him.
He also seeks “an order for the defendant to publish forthwith a full and unqualified retraction and apology conspicuously in the front page of THISDAY newspaper to assuage the plaintiff for the said false malicious and libelous publication.”
Ihejirika said he retired meritoriously from the military after a successful career and that he served the army without blemish.
He said: “On or about the 28th day of August 2014, the defendant granted a multimedia and television interview broadcast to AriseTv which aired in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja, and subsequently published by numerous newspapers and media houses; wherein the defendant when asked during the Arise news segment of the interview to name the sponsors of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, falsely and maliciously spoke of the plaintiff in the following words, to wit: ‘There is the former Chief of Army Staff, retired January, or actually sacked by the president, he is another sponsor. I could give you the names if you like but I have no fear that these were very confident and it is in fact Boko Haram senior commanders who have been naming them’.”
He said the spoken words and publication in their ordinary meaning were ‎understood by reasonable members of the society who listened or watched the Arise news broadcast in Abuja to mean that he sponsored Boko Haram to wage war, insurrection or insurgency against Nigeria.
He also said the publication implied that he did not retire but was sacked by the president and that he had committed treason or treasonable felony.
Ihejirika said the public who listened to the broadcast believed that he had conducted himself in a manner tantamount to breach of his oath of allegiance and service as a soldier and senior officer in the Nigerian Army.
In an affidavit he deposed to, Ihejirika said he had suffered grievous wrong and had been exposed to scandal, odium, ridicule, humiliation and that his character, credit and reputation had been brought into disrepute, both in Nigeria and abroad.

Why we chose female deputy gov –Enugu PDP

From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, Maiduguri
Nigerian military yesterday announced four days restriction of movement in Borno State following an intelligence report that suggested planned attacks by Boko Haram.
Spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri and Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said security reports indicated Boko Haram was making efforts to unleash terror on the area during the Christmas celebration.
“Security reports at the disposal of the Headquaters of 7 Division Nigerian Army indicated concerted efforts by the Boko Haram terrorists to unleash mayhem on some parts of Borno State and in particular, the city of Maiduguri during Christmas celebration,” Usman said in a statement made available to reporters yesterday.
He said the military resolved to ban vehicular movement from 6pm on December 24 to 7am on December 28 to prevent any attack.

Xmas: Military bans movement in Borno over Boko Haram threat

Odegbami, Alam Hawkes mourn him

Joe Apu
The Nigeria football family has again been thrown into mourning following the death of former IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan striker, Moses Otolorin who passed on yesterday morning. He reportedly died of renal failure in Ilorin where he had been living since his active playing days.
His demise came less than a month after the death of former Stationery Stores of Lagos legend, Yomi Peters who was buried at the weekend.
The Shooting Stars stocky and power-built centre forward’s death makes him the sixth member of the 1976 heroic IICC Shooting Stars squad to have died. He was noted for his powerful shots and long throw in and scored more than half of the 15 goals the Shooting Stars had in winning the African Winners Cup in 1976.
His long throw in was a great asset to the Shooting Stars’ winning of the Africa Winners Cup in 1976, especially in the semi final clash with Zamalek of Egypt and later, in the opening goal against the Roger Milla-inspired Tonnerre Kalara of Cameroun.
He spoke on phone last Thursday evening to Kunle Solaja, the General Editor of The Sun Newspapers Limited.
The late Otolorin’s team mate, Segun Odegbami while reacting to the news described him as a fantastic footballer. “He was my team mate in IICC, my friend and strike partner. I knew he was sick and we even spoke last week but his death is a big tragedy for us. This is a big reminder to us all that as we grow older, we’ll surely go someday.”
Odegbami, recalled that even Alan Hawkes then coach of the IICC had described him as the best striker he had ever seen. “There was a goal he scored that left our coach shocked and he described him as one of the best strikers he has seen even better than Pele.”
Hawkes on his part, in an email to Ayo Ademokoya, a freelance writer with the Sun newspapers stated thus: “What terrible news to hear Moses has died. I received an email from him just 3 days ago, in fact he sent two photographs of himself, in action, on the football field and I e-mailed him back to ask how he was getting on and tell me about his family.
I was so looking forward to hearing his reply.
What a terrible shame, he was such a lovely lad and one of the easiest of human beings to get along with. I was not aware of his cancer and I would like you to pass on my condolences to the members of his family.
He was a fantastic player and a genuinely nice man. God bless him and may he rest in peace. So  sorry.”
Before Otolorin’s death, five other members of the squad that won the first continental honors for Nigeria had died. They were Folorunsho Gambari (1982), Muda Lawal (1991), Best Ogedegbe (2009), Joe Appiah (2012) and Skipper Sam Ojebode (2012).

Moses Otolorin passes on

BY VINCENT KALU
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Cometstar Nigeria Limited, Chief Uzochukwu Uduji, has described The Sun Awards as great and outstanding., saying that it means much to him.
Speaking at his factory in Agbara, Ogun State, when The Sun Publishing Limited team, led by the Editor, Saturday Sun, Mr. Bruce Malogo, presented a letter formally notifying him of his award as The Sun Manufacturer of the Year 2014, Uduji said he was excited and overwhelmed as recognition for outstanding performance does not come easy.
“Being recognised by The Sun shows that we are a great player in our sector,” he said.
According to the industrialist, The Sun didn’t make a mistake in announcing him  as Manufacturer of the Year 2014 because, “last year, I won Entrepreneurship Award from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Apart from that, I have received many awards, some, I accepted and others I rejected. This one from The Sun is outstanding and I will remain ever grateful.”
He said the award would impact positively on his company and its products, as people from all over country and beyond have been calling to congratulate him on the award, which they described as a grate feat.
“The award means a lot; it shows that our products belong to the best category, which will translate to more sales and businesses. This year, we also received ISO Award; when a company is certified by ISO, it means that it is no more one-man show; it shows that the company is following due process,” Uduji said.
His family, friends, associates as well as well-wishers, he said, are eagerly waiting to join in the celebration on January 17, 2015 when the award will be formally presented.
“I’m expecting a huge crowd because it is not an easy thing to be recognised by a great brand like The Sun. The award is not a joke; it is special. Anybody who reads The Sun knows the caliber of people that are giving the awards. This means that anybody given such an award is also recognised anywhere. Not every award is acceptable, but that of The Sun is great and I appreciate it,” Uduji emphasised.
On The Sun, the business mogul said: “I will describe the paper as my daily guide, since it is a must-read for me everyday. Anything I do, I always carry it along, because it is widely read, as you can get it in any village in the country. I identify with The Sun.”

The Sun Awards 2014: This means so much to me – Uduji

By OUR REPORTERS
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, on Sunday had a taste of the resentment pervading the state, when angry residents in Aba revolted, booing and pelting him as well as his associates with sachet water.
This is coming a few days after youths from Ukwa, in Abia South Senatorial District, shut down oil wells in the area in protest of Ikpeazu’s candidacy, claiming that they were shortchanged.
Trouble stated for Ikpeazu, at the climax of the annual Half Marathon organised by a local radio station, at Enyimba Stadium in Aba, when some PDP supporters tried to hoist his banner.
Daily Sun gathered that this had attracted opposition from the crowd, shouting: “No, no, no; we don’t want him; No, no, no; we don’t want him; he is not our choice for the governorship; he is not our choice for the governorship.”
This vehement opposition by the crowd, it was gathered, stalled the hoisting of Ikpeazu’s banner, as the people openly threatened to shut down the stadium if the contrary was done.
When it appeared that everything was over and the master of ceremony began to recognise dignitaries, the crowd went wild when the name of Ikpeazu, who was seated at the VIP stand of the stadium, was mentioned. The crowd started booing again and shouting: “We don’t want him; we don’t want him; we don’t want him; go away, go away, go away.”
Also, when the name of Senator Enyinnaya Abiribe, who got automatic ticket to return to the Senate for the third time, was mentioned, the crowd also booed.
Ikpeazu, who was dazed by the crowd’s reaction, was to face a more embarrassing situation when he was leaving the stadium. The crowd shifted attention at him and surged forward, pelting his convoy with sachet water, booing and shouting: “Go, go; we don’t want you; go, go; we don’t want you.”
It took the effort of security personnel attached to the PDP governorship candidate to shield him from being physically assaulted.

…Ukwa youths insist on governorship, shun reconciliation committee 

By OUR REPORTER
Youths of Ukwa in Abia South Senatorial District of Abia State have insisted on having the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 polls, saying that no amount of falsehood by Abia Government officials could change there course.
The youths are also distancing people of the area from the Reconciliation Committee set up by the state government and headed by a former national chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, describing it as an insult to their sensibilities.
Youths from Ukwa last week protested what they described as shortchange in the political equation of the state in that they were relegated to the background politically when they were supposed to produce the next governor of the state.
To drive home their grievances, the youths shut down oil wells in the area and blocked the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway causing heavy gridlock on the ever-busy Highway.
Reacting to the youths’ protest, the Special Adviser to Abia State governor on Security, Chief Ukpai Agwu Ukpai said the youths should not have protested since the person picked by the PDP to carry the banner of the party in the 2015 gubernatorial polls was from their area.
He was also quoted to have advised the youths that instead of protesting, they should embrace the Reconciliation Committee set up by the state government.
Piqued by the reaction of Ukpai, the Ukwa Youth Renaissance Forum in a statement by its co-ordinator, Mr. Dennis Nwankwo and the secretary of Ukwa Youth Volunteer Vanguard, Prince Uche Iwezor insisted on the people of the area having the governorship in 2015.
They said Ukpai was not saying the truth when he said the person the PDP in the state had chosen as its candidate in the governorship race in 2015 was from their area, stating that Ukwa is distinctly different from Ngwa.
According to them, “the man who said that the PDP governorship candidate is from our area is either he does not  know what he is talking about or deliberately decided to stand the truth on its head to achieve a set goal.”
They said they had nothing to do with the Reconciliation Committee set up by the state government, stressing that such committee was set up to insult the sensibilities of PDP members  in the state and as such, none of their people would have anything to do with the committee.
The youths said Ukwa people had suffered for long in the mist of plenty, adding that they were no longer going to play second fiddle in Abia South in particular and the state in general.
“They said they had set up a Reconciliation Committee, for who? Whom are you going to reconcile, the person you purposely injured? Our people will have nothing to do with that committee, it is an insult.
“We have suffered much for long in the mist of plenty and we are no longer going to play any second fiddle again. It is either we have the governorship of the state or nothing,” they said.

Abia guber: How Gov Orji’s candidate saw hell in Aba

84 kid soldiers seized, 45 trainers arrested

Cameroon’s army yesterday said it has dismantled a training camp for Boko Haram militants.It is the first time the army has dismantled a camp and appears to represent a further success for the military after it said it killed 116 militants on Wednesday.
Dozens of militants were arrested or killed and 84 children who were being trained theat the camp seized, the army said. Reuters quoted spokesman for Cameroon’s Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant Colonel Didier Badjeck as saying that local people in northwest Cameroon alerted the military at the weekend to the camp in Guirvidig locality, near the border with northeastern Nigeria.
“The Rapid Intervention Battalion of our army immediately launched an attack, seized 84 children between seven and 15 who were undergoing training in the camp, arrested 45 of the trainers and killed many more,” he told Reuters. At press time, there was no independent confirmation.
The children are being investigated to determine whether they are Cameroonian or Nigerian while the 45 militant trainers arrested will be transferred to the capital Yaounde, he said. Badjeck said there was no precise toll because the fighters fled in pick-up trucks carrying their dead, adding that three pick-ups were burned. He did not say whether the army suffered any casualties during the operation.
Jean-Pierre Mbida, a soldier with the Rapid Intervention Battalion tasked fighting Boko Haram, said the area where the camp was discovered had been “relatively calm.” He said soldiers would search the area for other hideouts and training camps.
Boko Haram has killed hundreds of people in northeastern Nigeria this year as it campaigns for an Islamist state. The group has also attacked other cities and stepped up cross-border incursions into Cameroon, prompting Cameroon to deploy troops to its northern region.

Cameroon army kills Boko Haram insurgents, dismantles training camp

Scores die in fresh Yobe attack as insurgents torch Govt’s Lodge

FROM PAUL ORUDE, BAUCHI and Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Many people were killed yesterday following a bomb blast that rocked the biggest and busiest market, Central Market in Bauchi, the state capital yesterday evening. In fact, it was a rain of bombs across Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe states. Just about a month ago, Boko Haram bombers attacked Gombe Line park, killing scores of people. Also, 19 people have been confirmed dead  by the Gombe State Police Command with 25 others injured following an explosion at Dukku motorpark in the metropolis yesterday. This is even as insurgents stormed Geidam in Yobe State Sunday evening, attacking the Government Lodge among other public buildings.
“There was bomb explosion at the Bauchi Central Market on December 22, 2014 at about 17:30hrs. As a result of the blast, the market was in flames.
“Scene was cordoned off by combined security forces including police explosive ordinance disposal unit. The Commissioner of Police visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment,” spokesman of the police command, DSP Haruna Mohammed, disclosed in a statement.
According to Mohammed, “it is too early to ascertain the level of casualties and damages now, because rescue operation is still on-going, while effort by the Fire Service is on to put out the fire”
The  Gombe police command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Fwaje Atajiri, a Deputy Superintendent, told newsmen that when the incident occurred, the police immediately went to the park, cordoned off the area and helped in the rescue of injured persons.
However, the Secretary of the Red Cross in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Yakubu, who was at the scene of the blast, told reporters earlier that they evacuated 20 bodies and 18 injured persons a few minutes after the blast.
He said most of the bodies were blown up and could not be recognized. According to him, both the corpses and the injured were conveyed to three hospitals.
An eyewitness and a driver operating at the park, Ibrahim Likita, said he saw 21bodies being evacuated after the blast occurred some few minutes before 11:00 am, when a Sharon bus was being loaded with passengers for Bajoga.
Another eyewitness who did not disclose his name, stated that a lady accompanied to the park by an unidentified male had left her hand bag in the vehicle and went out to escort the man and was being expected back in the vehicle to take off when the explosion occurred.
The eyewitness, who claimed to have participated in the evacuation of the corpses said he counted 10 bodies apart from those whose bodies were blown up.
Mallam Ibrahim Mamuda (a.k.a Danladi Black) also told journalists that in the past, security checks were being carried out at the entrance of the park, but had long been abandoned.
Gombe, the Gombe State capital has in the past few months recorded terrorist attacks at the Gombe line motor park , the residence of Governor, Isa Yuguda, the Nigerian Army 301 Artillery Regiment Quarter Guard and recently, the Dukku motorpark which had claimed several lives.
Governor Yuguda has condemned the Monday attack, describing it as a most unfortunate and barbaric incident aimed at disrupting the peace the state is enjoying.
The governor, according to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Deacon Ishola Michael Adeyemi, lambasted the attackers, describing them as cowards, who are always happy in splitting innocent blood without any justification.
Yuguda, however, reassured the people that his administration will not relent in its efforts to ensure that lives and property of law-abiding citizens are protected at all cost, adding that the government has always collaborated with security agents to maintain peace.
While sympathizing with all those who lost their loved ones in the dastardly attack, Yuguda assured that government will ensure that the perpetrators were promptly apprehended and brought to book.
Meanwhile, scores were killed Sunday evening in a fresh attack on Geidam, a border town in Yobe State by Boko Haram even as troops moved to reclaim the town from the insurgents. A Government Lodge was one of the buildings attacked.
A source told Daily Sun that some terrorists raided Geidam, the country home of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, about 180 kilometres from Damaturu, the state capital, Sunday evening.
The insurgents arrived in the town located on the Nigeria-Niger border at about 4:30pm, shooting and throwing explosives into houses, public buildings and business premises. “Many people have been killed. I can confirm to you that so far, five people I know were killed by the attackers as I run out of the town, but I am sure several people have been killed during the incident,” a witness, who opted for anonymity, said yesterday after fleeing to Damaturu.
A security source said the insurgents destroyed telecommunication masts in the town, set ablaze a police station, Government Lodge and other public facilities. The source said the attack lasted till the early hours of yesterday, adding that many residents fled into the bush.
Meanwhile, soldiers have reclaimed Goniri, one of the towns captured by Boko Haram in Yobe  since August in Gujba LGA, a source said. Though, there was no official confirmation from the military, but an officer told Daily Sun the operation was still ongoing.
He said troops moved into Goniri, about 40 kilometres, east of Damaturu on Saturday, adding that efforts are still ongoing to clear the terrorists from the town.”

Boko Haram returns to Gombe, kills 19 at motor park

BREAKING NEWSBomb blast hits Gombe park The latest bomb is said to have been detonated today, December 22, at about 11am at the Dukku Motor park in the state near the police area command.

Another explosion has reportedly occurred at a motor park in Gombe State.
The latest bomb is said to have been detonated today, December 22, at about 11am at the Dukku Motor park in the state near the police area command.
An official casualty figure has not been released but many people are believed to have lost their lives as a result of the rush to travel for the Christmas holidays.
An explosion had earlier rocked the Central Park in the Cross area of the state on October 31.
Story developing.

BREAKING NEWSBomb blast hits Gombe park

The latest bomb is said to have been detonated today, December 22, at about 11am at the Dukku Motor park in the state near the police area command.

Gov Amaechi Is Officially The Most Used Human Being In Nigeria Politics.

APC turned him into a pariah in the SS by pitting him against his own people.
APC turned him into a Danfo driver (SUOO!)
APC used his money to bribe delegates
APC used his Jet to fly around Nigeria for rallies
Now this MAGA isn't the even on the ticket and have no future in Rivers politics.

Meanwhile,
The governor of Niger state called Amaechi (during the nPDP saga) and told him to beware of Tinubu (who at that time promised Amaechi VP position in APC).
Aliyu's point then was that Tinubu is well known for reneging on agreement once his interest is served.
Amechi being who he is, already saw himself as the VP of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He was blindfolded, used and dumped( like a harlot) by the same people that encouraged him to fight the Federal Govt.
Ever wonder why he has suddenly become reticent and downcast recently.
Well, such is life. History is replete with men who were betrayed by their closest friends. Julius caesar was murdered by his friend and confidant Brutus.
Amaechi has been deceived by those he fought for against his own region and against his own people. He remains the biggest loser ever in Nigeria political history.
Will he swallow his pride and return to the national party, the PDP? I doubt.
Presently, his is being pacified with a promise of key ministerial position in APC.
As usual, he will fall for this and continue to dance surugede without realizing that surugede is the dance of the spirits.
Your vote is your power!
Vote President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015

Gov Amaechi Is Officially The Most Used Human Being In Nigeria Politics.

British soldier investigated for war crimes after touching Taliban terror suspect on nose with piece of paper Soldier is accused of abusing terror suspect during routine interrogation Enemy fighter was captured over murder and mutilation of French soldiers British soldier allegedly tapped him on the nose with sheet of paper The man who has an exemplary record was investigated for war crimes Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2882798/British-soldier-investigated-war-crimes-touching-Taliban-terror-suspect-nose-piece-paper.html#ixzz3McwoovHU Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

A British soldier was investigated for possible war crimes for thrusting a piece of paper at a Taliban fighter, it has emerged.

He was accused of abuse for touching the terror suspect on the nose with the sheet during a routine interrogation in Afghanistan.

The enemy fighter had been captured and detained as a potential ringleader in the murder and mutilation of four French soldiers in 2008.

But it was the military intelligence officer, who had an exemplary record, who was investigated for possible war crimes amid claims he had broken rules banning the touching of prisoners during interrogation.

On another occasion an interrogator was probed for shouting in a suspect’s ear in case he burst an ear drum, it was claimed. 

The investigation is said to have taken place four years after the alleged offence.

The incidents came to light after the Ministry of Defence tightened the rules governing tactical questioning in the wake of several highly-damaging allegations that UK troops abused captives in their custody.

The changes have led to considerable disquiet in the military that soldiers are being hampered in their ability to extract information from insurgents that could potentially save lives.

Last week, the Al Sweady Inquiry report into the fallout from a firefight in Iraq in 2004 which became known as the Battle of Danny Boy concluded that insurgents and their families had used ‘deliberate lies’ to smear British troops.

British soldier investigated for war crimes after touching Taliban terror suspect on nose with piece of paper

• Soldier is accused of abusing terror suspect during routine interrogation
• Enemy fighter was captured over murder and mutilation of French soldiers
• British soldier allegedly tapped him on the nose with sheet of paper 
• The man who has an exemplary record was investigated for war crimes

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2882798/British-soldier-investigated-war-crimes-touching-Taliban-terror-suspect-nose-piece-paper.html#ixzz3McwoovHU

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2882798/British-soldier-investigated-war-crimes-touching-Taliban-terror-suspect-nose-piece-paper.html#ixzz3McwLCOst

Minna: Two students in hijab nearly mobbed

Two female undergraduate students of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Friday, were nearly lynched to death by irate members of the public when they were suspected and accused of being suicide bombers.

The students who were dressed in hijab (Islamic apparel for women) were returning to resume school when some members of the public at Central mosque Minna raised alarm that the two ladies were suspected to be suicide bombers.
Eye witness said that the two victims who were dressed covering all their bodies and faces were trying to walk across the frontage of the mosque when the jumat prayers were about to be said.
Their mode of dressing and the bags they were carrying attracted the attention of other worshippers and this led to the raising of alarm but for Police intervention the two ladies would have been lynched to death. One of the victims was injured by the irate crowd and she is currently receiving treatment from Police Clinic in Minna.
When contacted Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari confirmed the incident but said that the two victims were wrongly accused.
“When the attention of our men on duty was drawn to the ladies, they were subjected to bodily search and their bags also whisked and nothing incriminating were found on them. We were able to establish that the two of them are returning students of FUT Minna. Their mode of dressing made people to suspect them.
“It took the timely intervention of our men as members of the public had started to beat up one of the ladies leading to the point of sustaining some injuries and she is being treated at the Police Clinic,” Gambari state.
The Police spokesman, who decried the mob action of members of the public, advised that Police should be allowed to do their work after complaint must have been lodged.
According to the PPRO, “The crowd that came round when the ladies were been searched would have been affected should the suspects be suicide bombers and were carrying bombs”.
The students are still been kept in Police custody.

Minna: Two students in hijab nearly mobbed

LIFE IN BUHARI'S JANJAWEED ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AREWA !!!

Don't Trust Boko-Hari Buhari, Nigeria's Islamist-In-Chief !!!
Is This The Future You Want?

SAY NO TO ISLAMIZATION, SAY NO TO BOKO HARI BUHARI!

LIFE IN BUHARI'S JANJAWEED ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AREWA !!!

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G!!!

 Anarchy as the Hausa-Fulani Clash with Igalas and Idomas

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G!!!

Oluwaseyi Jaiyeoba wrote:

Heavy Fighting Reported in Bagana, Omala LGA
Many people have been reported feared killed as Hausa and Fulani fighters attack Bagana in Omala local government of Kogi state, burning houses.
The lgalas with Idoma retaliate, killing many Hausas and Fulanis.
The war is hot as people in large numbers flee the area.
The Nigeria army in the area could not do anything as both sides use heavy weapon during fighting.

JONATHAN, BUHARI ASKED TO SIGN UNDERTAKING.

"Over post-election violence
"Sultan, Ooni, Sanusi, Adeboye listed as facilitators
IF the proposal is agreeable to both parties, President Goodluck Jonathan and former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, would be signing a commitment to non-violent post-election reactions.
The peace proposal to the two leading candidates in the 2015 presidential election was at the instance of the diplomat and elder statesman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi.
In an open letter to Jonathan, the presidential standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Buhari of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the vice chairman of the just-concluded national conference noted that post-election violence was inevitable in the February 14, 2015, except the duo was committed to a peace undertaking.
He went down the memory lane on how the late national security adviser discarded his proposal to forestall post-election violence during the 2011 presidential election and the attendant tragedy of epic proportion that trailed the loss by Buhari.
He predicted that post-election violence was certain this time around, regardless of where the victory pendulum swung.
Akinyemi, a former Minister of Internal Affairs, listed 10 prominent Nigerians as proposed facilitators of the desired peace deal.
They are the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi; the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha; the Oba of Benin, OmoN’oba Erediauwa; former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
Others included the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye and former heads of state, General Yakubu Gowon and General Abdulsalaam Abubakar.
The letter, dated December 16, 2014, read in part: “shortly after his appointment as National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi, at his own request, met with me in my office in Lagos to discuss the state of the nation.
“It was on the eve of the 2011 elections. I told the General that I was not worried about the conduct of the elections or about the outcome which I expected President Jonathan to win.
What really worried me, I told the General, was the management of the violence that would ensue after the elections.
I was sure that there would be violence on a massive scale and I made some suggestions to him about how I thought the violence could be contained.
My suggestions were not acted upon. The elections occurred, President Jonathan won and all hell broke loose. Missing were the conflict-controlled measures which I had discussed with General Azazi.
“Now we are back at the same crossroads again, except this time is more precarious and dangerous than the last time. Firstly, we have this very notorious prediction from United States (US) semi-official sources that the world is expecting a cataclysmic meltdown of the Nigerian nation come 2015.
“Of course, most Nigerians have taken umbrage at this prediction for their country. But there are Nigerians who are indifferent to the outcome of this prediction. One of my low moments during the just concluded 2014 national conference was, when in an attempt to break an impasse, I painted a grim picture of devastation which would follow a breakdown of the Nigerian state, to which a delegate between 45 and 55 years old replied ‘so what?’
“I thought to myself, here is a man who would probably run away to a neighbouring country at the boom of the first gun but was callously indifferent to the fate of the youth, women and children who would be caught in the middle.
“Secondly, the certainty of violence after the 2015 elections is higher than it was in 2011. If President Jonathan wins, the North would erupt into violence as it did in 2011. If General Buhari wins, the Niger-Delta will erupt into violence. I don’t believe that we need rocket science to make this prediction.
“The violence of 2015 is going to be horrendous and worse than the one of 2011 for the simple reason that the illegal massive importation of weapons into the country has reached such alarming proportions that I really wonder which is better armed, the militias on one hand or the official armed forces on the other hand.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I am not imputing the illegal importation of arms to any particular zone. Some years ago, some Iranians were arrested for bringing in a shipload of weapons into Lagos harbor. They were tried and jailed and then smuggled out of the country. Some months ago, sophisticated weapons were discovered buried in the basement of a Kano house. All these have now fallen below the radar. These are the ones we know about. How many do we not know about?
“There are states and movements out there, African and non-African, which do not mean well for the Nigerian state, which wish Nigeria to dissolve into a theatre of bloodshed, gore and instability. They will succeed if we continue the politics of making enemies of ourselves and friends of our enemies.”
On the way forward, he said, “the first step forward is for the two presidential candidates to meet and sign a memorandum of undertaking that will commit both to: a civil and peaceful campaign, devoid of threats, a commitment to preach peaceful elections to their supporters, a commitment to control their supporters after the elections. Supporters of whoever loses should be entitled to peaceful protests, but not to violent protests.
“I also appeal to the the Sultan, the Emir of Kano, the Lamido of Adamawa, the Ooni of Ife, the Oba of Benin, Chief Anyaoku, Pastor Oritsejafor, Pastor Adeboye, General Gowon and General Abdulsalaam to facilitate the pre-election meeting between the candidates, the preparation of the memorandum of undertaking and as a council of wisemen, to assist in managing the post-election conflicts.”
Source: ‪#‎Tribune‬ News.

JONATHAN, BUHARI ASKED TO SIGN UNDERTAKING.

AMAECHI SOLD RIVERS’ ASSET TO FUND APC, BUHARI, SAYS – TONYE PRINCEWILL.

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in Rivers State, Tonye Princewill, has accused Governor Rotimi Amaechi of selling the state’s assets to an indigenous oil company, Sahara Energy, and using the fund that accrued from the sale to finance the activities of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
PREMIUM TIMES recently reported how assets such as Olympia Hotel, Abonemma Wharf, Risonpalm and the power generating stations in the state were sold to Sahara Energy.
Mr. Princewill alleged that the over $800 million realized from the sale of the assets was never lodged into the coffers of the state government.
“Money changed hands but the accounts they entered were not necessarily Rivers state government’s officially operated accounts,” he said.
He also alleged that there is no evidence of competitive tendering, independent valuation or a transparency in the entire process, arguing that the “Rivers people cannot be sure they got a good deal”.
“In one instance approximately $400 million changed hands over an asset that could easily be worth twice that. Why the secrecy?” he said.
Mr. Princewill, who said he worked for the success of Mr. Amaechi during his election in 2007, also accused the governor of using threat and intimidation to force the sale of the assets to Sahara Energy after the company began to develop cold feet funding the politics of an opposition party.
“Incidentally the partners in the company (who were) uncomfortable with the obvious attempt to finance the politics of Amaechi hesitated to approve the transactions.
“But a prompt threat from the Rivers Government made them rethink. Can anyone say they did not know what the money would be used for?
“Amaechi is one of the chief financiers of the APC election and a close ally of Buhari,” he said.
He also accused the Rivers governor of using some of the proceeds of the sale to launch international propaganda for the 2015 election.
“Information reaching me is that international media organizations have already been paid in USD from these transactions to come and cover the 2015 elections in a Tahrir square strategy.
“The aim of the opposition is to gather crowds in a single location and beam pictures around the world creating the impression that the whole country is in chaos,” Mr. Princewill said.
Efforts to get the Rivers Information Commissioner, Ibim Semenitari, to react to the allegations were unsuccessful. She did not return calls and sms sent to her at the time of publishing.
Why I moved to Labour Party
PREMIUM TIMES’ exclusive chat with Mr. Princewill was preceded by a Press Conference, in which he told the media the reasons he recently left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Labour Party, LP.
He said the PDP did not treat all the aspirants in Rivers State fairly in the process that produced former Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, as the candidate of the party in the state.
He said rather than agonise like others, he chose to look for a platform that shares the same belief and aspirations like him to actualize his dream of running for governor.
“2015 has been on our mind since 2007, the time has come and we have tried as much as we could to play it fair, and reasonable, but the PDP felt that in their best interest they are going to impose a candidate on us.
“While other aspirants had not had the good fortune, wisdom, courage or opportunity to move parties, I have; and I have moved into a party that I can quite comfortably call home,” he said.
He said he strongly believes that he has the support of the people, because unlike most politicians from the state, he declined to take up positions in the Senate and the federal cabinet.
“I declined both Senate and Ministerial positions to remain with the people.
“I stayed out of government and kept my political structure intact,” he said.
Mr. Princewill also stated that politicians are often forced to move from one party to another because most political parties in Nigeria lack ideology.
He, however, said the Labour Party is different because it stands for something, which he also believes in.
“The Labour Party has an ideology and concept of what government should be doing which is similar to my own,” he said.
“I am someone who believes that business should be allowed to thrive, but the ordinary people must be carried along, jobs need to be created and people need job security. I also believe that we should be looking at jobs for all, not just creating contracts for a few and in that light, the Labour party and myself share quiet a lot.
“We believe in social housing, free education, free health care and also believe that business should be partners with employees instead of a master/ servant relationship,” he said.
Mr. Princewill said the Labour Party would be his last political party.
“It is safe to say that I am not going to be moving again, if Labour party disappoints my constituency, then I will be quitting politics completely. I am not going back to PDP under any circumstances.
“I intend to finish my political career in the Labour Party whether I win or lose the next election,” he said.
He added that with his movement to the party and his adoption as its candidate, eleven other political parties have joined forces to endorse him as their candidate in 2015
“A press conference will be held in the next few days to unveil that position.
For 2015 in Rivers State, it is going to be the PDP, APC, and the rest. We are the underdogs, but that is the kind of underdog I prefer to be,” he said.
Source: ‪#‎PremiumTimes‬ News.

AMAECHI SOLD RIVERS’ ASSET TO FUND APC, BUHARI, SAYS – TONYE PRINCEWILL.

UK MUSLIM CHILD BRIDES ARE LEGAL.

For full information go here http://pamelageller.com/…/uk-muslim-child-brides-are-legal…/

UK MUSLIM CHILD BRIDES ARE LEGAL.

IJAW YOUTHS THREATEN ATTACK ON BUHARI’S SUPPORTERS.

Ijaw youths have threatened to attack supporters of the presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in southern part of Nigeria.

The youths said on Sunday that they would visit Buhari’s supporters in the South with violence if the loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan should be attacked in the North.
The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide said the decision to attack Buhari’s supporters was informed by reports that some persons in the North had resorted to sending open threat messages to pro-Jonathan governors and other supporters.
In a statement by the IYC spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, the youths said, “All Nigerians irrespective of his or her place of origin has a right to contest for the presidency of Nigeria and Nigerians have a right to support any candidate of their choice without molestation.
“It would be recalled that hundreds of Nigerians, especially NYSC members were killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in the aftermath of the 2011 elections as a result of similar undemocratic disposition of some elements in the North.”
“We of southern Nigeria have not at any time threatened or attacked supporters of General Buhari; hence any threat or attack on supporters of President Jonathan in the north would be visited with proportionate action from us in the south.
“Governors Amaechi, (Rochas) Okorocha and (Adams) Oshiomole; Timipre Silva, John Oyegun, Bola Tinubu and other supporters of General Buhari in southern Nigeria are going about their campaigns without any molestation from southerners.
“Enough is enough for those who promised and are making northern Nigeria ungovernable for President Jonathan. If they want their own country, let them say so as we can no longer accept the ‘Extreme North Must Rule’ mentality of some northerners.”
Source: ‪#‎Punch‬ News.

IJAW YOUTHS THREATEN ATTACK ON BUHARI’S SUPPORTERS.

BOKO HARAM ABDUCTED 185 WOMEN IN BORNO STATE YESTERDAY AND KILLED NO LESS THAN 52 INNOCENT PEOPLE.

#‎Femi_Fani‬-Kayode: Wrote.
BOKO HARAM ABDUCTED 185 WOMEN IN BORNO STATE YESTERDAY AND KILLED NO LESS THAN 52 INNOCENT PEOPLE.

DESPITE THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL SUPPORTING AYATOLLA BUHARI AND HIS HARAMITE ARMY. WHAT A PEOPLE, WHAT A COUNTRY.

—

PROTESTING YOUTHS BURN APC SYMBOL IN IMO.

Thousands of youths under the auspices of the Imo Grassroots for Goodluck Jonathan Organisation (IGGO), yesterday staged a solidarity march along major streets of Owerri, the Imo State capital, in support of the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 election.

The youths, who moved from Egbu Road through Wetheral Road, burnt brooms, the symbol of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in front of the Imo state government house, declaring the party dead in the State and thereafter, marched to the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, along Okigwe Road. where they declared total support for the re-election of President Jonathan 2015.
Speaking on behalf of the youths before the state executive of the PDP, the national Coordinator of IGGO, Samuel Otuibe, said they carried out the rally as a way of continuing their sensitization of the Imo populace to support the re-election of President Jonathan in 2015.
According to him, President Jonathan has done a lot for Imo State and South East in general especially in the areas of education, youth empowerment, agriculture and other salient areas.
He lamented that most of the projects done by the federal government in all the tertiary institutions in the state were being claimed and credited to the APC-led government in Imo State. Otuibe used the opportunity to commend the PDP for hearkening to the voice of the group by giving him the party’s presidential ticket to continue in office for a second term in 2015.
“We held a similar rally in February this year when we called on the PDP and Nigerians to allow President Jonathan to continue his transformation of Nigeria.
The party listened to us and we are also here to thank you for hearkening to our prayer”, he said adding that by giving Jonathan a second term ticket, the PDP had only shown that all Nigerians have opportunity to aspire to the highest office in the land.
Source: ‪#‎NewTelegraph‬ News.

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23 STATES VOTE AGAINST LG AUTONOMY "NULGE.

directs members, Nigerians to boycott 2015 elections
All the states in the South-South have voted against local government autonomy, just as all states in the North-West.
While all the states in the South-South and North-West voted against the move, all states in the North Central fully supported local government autonomy.
In total, 23 states voted against the local government autonomy, while 13 voted in favour.
Piqued by the voting trend, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has directed all its members, especially in the states which rejected local government autonomy to boycott 2015 general election or vote out the party in power in those states.
It also called on all Nigerians to rise against killers of democracy at the local government level by staying at home during elections.
The Senate and the House of Representatives have done their work by supporting the move for local government autonomy, but to scale through, it must also be supported by the two-third of the Houses of Assembly in the 36 states of the federation.
The states which voted against local government autonomy from the South-West are Ondo,
Ekiti and Osun;
from the South-South— Rivers,
Cross River,
Bayelsa,
Delta,
Edo,
Akwa Ibom,
while from the South-East are Enugu and Imo states.
Others are North-East— Borno,
Yobe,
Taraba,
Bauchi and Gombe;
North-West—Kaduna, Kano,
Katsina,
Kebbi,
Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The states that supported local government autonomy are Lagos,
Oyo,
Ogun,
Ebonyi,
Abia,
Anambra,
Adamawa,
Plateau,
Niger,
Kogi,
Benue,
Nasarawa and Kwara states.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Thursday, the General Secretary of NULGE, Joshua Irapakop, who expressed surprise at the decision of the states that voted against local government autonomy said democracy had been totally killed at the local government level in the country.
He blamed the states governors for the development, just as he called on NULGE members not to vote during the election or vote out the party in power in those states.
Irapakop said: “Local government is the voice of the people. Our members and the public should vote against those who voted against local government autonomy.
“They took the matter to the public, asking for their opinion and the people said they wanted local government autonomy. What have they done now with their decision? It means the people are not relevant.
“It is high time Nigerians moved against the people in power, who go against what the people want.
The only way they can protest that is by staying at home during the 2015 elections. They should not vote.”
He stated that NULGE would be staging a protest in all the states affected, because “their action is not democratic, especially in those states that voted against local government autonomy.”
Irapakop challenged them to come out and tell Nigerians their reasons for voting against it, adding that “we will not hesitate to mobilise our members and picket those state Houses of Assemly that have voted against it.”
NULGE president, Ibrahim Khaleel, also told the Nigerian Tribune that the two chambers at the federal level were able to harmonise their positions and came up with a common position, which was the opinion of majority of Nigerians.
He stated that this was done in the best interest of the Nigerian project.
Khaleel described the governors as clog in the wheel of progress and development of Nigeria, adding “all previous attempts to strengthen the institutional framework of local governments have been hijacked or killed by the conspiracy of these governors.”
The NULGE president added: “The wise decision for the governors, if they will understand, is to strengthen the local government. Like we always say, strengthening the local government is not about the local government workers. What we need in Nigeria now is stability.
What we need now is participatory democracy.”
He, therefore, called on them to rescind their decision by going along with the wishes of majority of people of Nigeria.
Source: ‪#‎Tribune‬ News.

TERRORISM: DSS’ STATEMENT EXONERATES ME, SAYS MODU SHERIFF.

Former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has stated that recent revelations from investigations conducted by the Department of State Service (DSS) on allegations that he is a sponsor of Boko Haram have exonerated him from any complicity in terrorism.
Even though he refused to be drawn into elaborate discussion on the issue, Sheriff all the same stated: ” What else do you want me to say?
The SSS’ statement was very clear, that people were planted to smear me and paint me in bad light. But God has used the DSS to vindicate me.
It was just a calculated attempt by my political opponents and powerful top government officials in my state to bring me down.”
An Australian negotiator, Steven Davis, who claimed to have been involved in negotiations on behalf of the Federal Government with commanders of Boko Haram for the release of over 200 schoolgirls had named Sheriff and a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), as sponsors of Boko Haram.
Davis, while speaking in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), also alleged that one of the primary sources of funding of the terror group was Nigerian politicians and that a man resident in Abuja whose three nephews had been identified as being behind the Nyanya bus station bomb blast that killed 77 people was one of the financiers of Boko Haram.
But Ihejirika and Sheriff had both dismissed the allegations, saying they had nothing to benefit from the sponsorship of Boko Haram. Davis had said in his interview that “First thing to do is to arrest the former Governor Sheriff.
Former Governor Sheriff has been funding this for years.
He is satisfied that he will be picked up and he has now switched to the ruling party, PDP, in the hope this will give him protection”.
But the DSS in a statement on Wednesday said its investigations into Davis’ allegation had shown that those he claimed to have interacted with were Boko Haram impostors.
“Consequently, seven associates of Davis were arrested and it has been established that they were part of a well-orchestrated plan to spread falsehood, undermine and discredit efforts of government to end terrorism,” DSS Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, said in the statement.
Among those arrested was Junaid Idrissa Khadi, a former special adviser to Sheriff’s successor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.
According to the statement, Khadi confessed that he and one General Ashafa went with Davis on a journey to a remote part of Marte LGA, Borno State, on a false mission to rescue the abducted Chibok school girls.
And that “he deliberately conspired to blackmail and implicate Ali Modu Sheriff (Sen), former governor of Borno State and one Mala Othman, former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as sponsors of the Boko Haram sect.
This he said he did by mounting pressure on the fake Boko Haram Commanders, particularly Abubakar Yusuf (a.k.a Baba Sani) to affirm that Sheriff was indeed a sponsor”.
Source: ‪#‎NewTelegraph‬ News.

ELECTION RIGGERS WILL HAVE TOUGH TIME IN 2015 —INEC.

Those planning to rig the 2015 general election should have a rethink, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced some innovations that will make rigging of the 2015 general election very difficult and almost impossible.
INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, disclosed this at a workshop organised for senior police officers in a paper entitled: ‘‘Conduct of free and fair elections: INEC perspective.’’
He regretted that there were many loopholes in the electoral process prior to his assumption of office which, according to him, eroded the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process.
However, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has reassured that the 2015 general election will be the best in the history of the country so far.
According to Jega: “One of the first things we did when we came in was to see how we could minimise fraudulent activities in the conduct of elections and we went back to the basics in the conduct of elections.
“First and foremost, we said our ballot papers must be serially numbered and in our country in 2007, even in presidential elections, our ballot papers were not serially numbered.
“Since 2011, we ensured that all ballot papers for our elections were serially numbered and in the distribution of these materials, we ensured that party agents and other observers knew which serial numbers went to each state and each local government , which ward and which pooling unit.
He said if elections observers and party agents were meticulous, a situation where ballot papers could move from one area could easily be avoided and if it happened, it could easily be known and addressed.
Jega said they ensured each ballot box they deployed was serially numbered which would make them to know which ballot box was taken to which area.
“We have decided that all our ballot papers should be colour coded. In 2011, we started a coding for ballot papers so that each state had its own different colour. It will, therefore, be obvious if you carry a ballot paper from one state to the other.”
Jega reiterated that: “As I speak with you, we have moved to customisation.
By the time we did the successive governorship elections, we were customising ballot papers to local governments so that the colour of ballot paper from one local government to another will be different.’’
“As I speak with you now, even our result sheets are customized. In the past result sheets are profomers and politicians can attack a pooling unit and tear a result sheet and write result and bring it back into the collation process. “
“We have make sure that result sheets are customized now. If there is emergency, there is a robust plan for replacement.”
He lamented that: Nigerians have aspired for democracy and they have aspire for free, fair and credible elections that can pave the way for the deepening and consolidation of democracy, but that this aspiration has been continuously frustrated to the extent that one can say most Nigerians have been wondering about whether democracy is worth it.
“I think, we have to constantly tell Nigerians that struggling for democracy is worth it, participation to deepen democracy is worth it, but also we have to do our best to ensure that we satisfy that aspirations that Nigerians have for democracy.”
Speaking, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, reiterated that the 2015 general elections will be one of the best in the history of the country.
“It must be stated that the Nigerian police will do more to further understand our role and fully meet up with all challenges ahead.
“The 2015, general elections, I assure you all will be one of the most peacefully conducted national elections in Nigerian. All Nigerians, and indeed the international community at large at interested in seeing that these elections are not only safe and secured but are free, fair and credible.
“We need and the understanding and full cooperation of all stakeholders to make this a reality. The task of providing adequate security during the electoral process is one of the daunting challenges facing security agencies today.
“The Nigeria Police, therefore, being the lead agency will, with the cooperation of other sister agencies do everything that is possible that can be done to secure to electoral officers, protect electoral venues and electorates.”
Source: ‪#‎Tribune‬ News.