If you want Dollars, go Jonathan; If you want Change, go Buhari

According to someone in the Muhammadu Buhari's camp, this is the deal: Muhammadu Buhari is not ready to bribe anybody with Dollars to vote for him, he is out to serve Nigerians and bring positive and very sincere development to the country as a true giant of Africa.
Buhari was said to have told a close associate that, any Nigerian who want Dollars should go to Jonathan but all Nigerians who want out country to be better for everybody should vote for Buhari.
Now that the election is finally here, who will people vote for? See FULL details below...
Nigerians will file out to vote in the presidential elections that could transform the political landscape for decades. In this final installment of The Nation's comprehensive reports on the race, they highlight the latest realities and project likely outcomes in the 36 states and the FCT:
Less than 60 million of Nigeria’s estimated 170 million population will choose the nation’s next president. One week to the day the first ballots would be cast, INEC put the total number of registered voters at 68,833,476. Out of this only 56,431,255 permanent voter cards (PVCs) had been collected. This represents 82% of total cards and is a high figure when compared with previous elections.
Before the February 7 postponement the momentum was clearly on the side of the presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari.

Founder of OPC and a loyalist of President Goodluck Jonathan has confessed that Buhari's momentum was a key factor behind the six-week shift pushed through by the Presidency.
The extension was supposed to enable Jonathan and the PDP regain the initiative. In that period the president, governors and campaign team virtually relocated to the South West – courting traditional rulers and others with a shower of Dollars. The Gani Adams-led OPC took to Lagos streets brandishing guns and vandalizing APC billboards. First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan barnstormed throughout the country rallying women for her husband. 

Critically, the armed forces in collaboration with the multinational force from Cameroon, Chad and Niger chased Boko Haram insurgents out of most towns they had occupied in the North-East.
But not even the successful military campaign has altered the dynamics of the race in the North and across the country. The fundamentals remain largely the same for Jonathan and his challenger, Buhari.
The emerging electoral map shows a collapse of the voter base that swept Jonathan to power in 2011. At the election, the incumbent took the three Southern zones and North-Central. But in this 2015, Jonathan is being restricted to the South-South, South-East and pockets of North-Central.
Buhari on the other hand won in the North-West and North-East in 2011 but lost down South. This year his support base has dramatically improved. In addition to retaining his grip across in the two zones he took four years ago, this time around he’s projected to sweep North-Central and South-West. This will give him four of the country’s six geopolitical zones – a clear pathway to power.
A status report on the presidential contest from zone to zone and state to state follows:
NORTH-WEST
The PDP controls the state governments in Kebbi, Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna. This notwithstanding, the sentiments across the zone is largely pro-Buhari. His personal popularity is reinforced by the regional clamour for power-shift to the North. In 2011, the general running under the relatively untested Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) swept the zone. Now he’s running on a far stronger platform. Crucially, the zone with the biggest vote haul in the country is Buhari’s home turf.
In 2011 Buhari garnered 6,453,437 votes as against Jonathan’s 3,395,724 votes in the North-West zone.
KEBBI
The tide is much more in favour of APC because many stalwarts or match-winners of PDP have defected to the opposition. They include leaders like ex-FCT Minister, Adamu Aliero, Sen. Muhammadu Magoro, Bala Na’Allah, Suleuiman Mohammed Argungu and even APC governorship candidate, Sen. Atiku Bagudu.
The situation has degenerated to the extent that angry citizens of the state now heckle Governor Saidu Dakingari at rallies. To win election, most candidates of PDP for National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections have refused to identify openly with Jonathan.
In 2011, Buhari running as the CPC’s candidate won 501,453 votes to defeat Jonathan who polled 369,198 votes in the state. So far 1.4 million PVCs out of the state’s registered voter base of 1.5 million have been distributed.
Verdict: APC wins.
SOKOTO
Governor Aliyu Wamakko and the APC are gaining more ground in the state. Known as “Alu Sai Alu”, Wamakko strongest points are ability to relate freely with the poor at the grassroots; ability to deliver on his promises; and a performance which has overshadowed the records of his predecessors, especially ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa. The internal crisis in PDP has buoyed the governor and APC’s chances of coasting to success. As at press time, thousands of supporters of Deputy Governor Mukhtar Shagari had chosen to work for APC rather than the party’s governorship candidate, Ambassador Abdallah Wali.
Out of the 1,659,044 Permanent Voter cards (PVCs) received by the Sokoto State INEC, 1,571,000 have so far been distributed. This might be indicative of heightened voter interest this time around. In 2011 voter turnout was a poor 40.1%. In that election Buhari prevailed over Jonathan by 540,769 to 309,057 votes.
Verdict: APC victory.
KADUNA
The disastrous campaign outing of the PDP presidential campaign train to the state indicated that the party is unpopular in the state. With some empty seats at the stadium and the shout of Sai Buhari, President Jonathan and members of the PDP presidential Campaign team were rattled. Findings revealed that APC and Buhari are in control of the northern part of Kaduna like Zaria and Lere. The opposition has always controlled the Central Senatorial District too especially Birnin Gwari, Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Igabi.
Disunity is the bane of PDP in the state with 80 per cent of supporters and loyalists of ex-Governor Ahmed Makarfi defecting to APC.
The spate of killings in Southern Kaduna, the removal of the former GMD of NNPC, and the sack of a former chairman of SURE-P, Lt. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd) might make it difficult for PDP to retain its grip on the state.
The anger in Southern Kaduna against the PDP is much and it will be difficult for Jonathan to assuage it. To add to the burden of PDP, the choice of the APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Arc. Barnabas Bala Bantex has made the ruling party in the state to run helter-skelter. Bantex is loved by the people of Southern Kaduna and he is said to be a rallying point for them
Unfortunately for the President, he is being careful in directly intervening in the party’s affairs in Kaduna State because it is the domain of his deputy. The race appears headed towards victory for APC unless Vice-President Namadi Sambo overhauls his party’s campaign machinery.
In 2011, running on a very new platform, Buhari beat the PDP’s Jonathan here with 1,334,244 to 1,190, 179 votes. As many as 3,145,037 out of Kaduna’s 3,414,250 registered voters have picked up their PVCs.
Verdict: APC to win.
ZAMFARA
Ex-Governor Sani Yerima and his political son, Abdulaziz Yari, have continued to enjoy more grassroots support in the state. They are having an easy ride because the politics in the state has followed the same pattern since 1999. The State Publicity Secretary of APC, Sani Ahmed Gwamna, said the party has no opposition in the state. “Everybody knows that since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999, PDP has never won an election to form government in Zamfara,” he said. The aloofness of the Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, to the presidential campaign has foreclosed any good outing for PDP.
PVC collection rate here is one of the highest in the country. Out of 1,495,717 registered voters, 1,435,452 PVCs have collected their cards – amounting to a 95.97 per cent. In 2011, Buhari won the state with 624,515 to Jonathan’s 238,980 votes.
Verdict: APC victory.
JIGAWA
In spite of the ranting of Governor Sule Lamido against APC leaders, the opposition will win the presidential poll in the state. One of the reasons Lamido is begrudging Buhari is the fact that the latter controls large following in Jigawa State. Even under ANPP and CPC platforms, Buhari had always won Jigawa hands down in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Since January, the governor’s comments have given advantage more to Buhari than Jonathan. In January, Lamido told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that “I agreed like every other person that Buhari is an incorruptible, honest, clean and patriotic Nigerian. My concern has always been defectors who our party, PDP, had made ministers, governors, speakers and members of the National Assembly and left us after benefiting so much.” For the presidential race, Buhari is the man to beat in Jigawa. But the governor will cling to any straw to retain the state for PDP in other strands of election.
Out of 1,831,276 registered voters in the state, 1,757,658 had picked their PVCs giving Jigawa one of the highest collection rates at 95.98 per cent. Four years ago Buhari took the state with 663,994 votes to Jonathan’s 419,252.
Verdict: APC to win.
KATSINA
This remains an APC enclave because it is the home of Buhari. During the week, many PDP members tucked their membership cards into big bags and burnt them. The elite forces are also overwhelmingly against PDP. These are prominent Katsina sons seeking power shift, APC strong leaders, those who defected from PDP to APC, and the loyalists of ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua working for Buhari. Though the PDP is trying to survive, the people of the state will vote for APC because they want the presidency which they lost in 2010, due to the death of ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua, to return to the state. The removal of the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mallam Kabir Mashi, at the prompting of some PDP stalwarts, is a minus for Jonathan in the state because it will lead to protest votes against PDP in some parts of the state.
A total of 2,569,453 PVCs are now in the hands of eligible voters in Katsina State out of 2,840,654 on the register. Four years ago Buhari won his home state handsomely by 1,163,919 votes to Jonathan’s 428, 392 votes.
Verdict: APC to win.
KANO
This is still a tough terrain for Jonathan and the PDP. For almost a week, Vice President Namadi Sambo was in Kano to woo opinion leaders and voters. He got more than he bargained for during an interactive session with academic staff who gave the Jonathan administration a low mark.
The Kwankwassiya political dynasty has successfully managed its succession plan which has given APC an advantage to consolidate. The commissioning of some projects in Kano State in recent weeks has added more pep to the score sheet of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The fresh call by the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to the NNPC account for the controversial $20billion oil funds might seal the fate of PDP in the state. But the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau is trying his best to salvage the PDP although he can only hope to secure the required 25 per cent of the total votes cast for the President.
Kano has a huge registered voter base at 4,975,701. But of this number only 3.4 million have picked up their PVCs. Buhari took an impressive 1,624,543 votes to defeat Jonathan who only managed 440,666 votes in the state in 2011.
Verdict: APC to win.
NORTH-CENTRAL
With the exception of Kwara and Nasarawa, PDP controls the state governments in the zones four other states – Niger, Benue, Plateau and Kogi. What on paper ordinarily would have been a PDP stronghold has , again, been neutralized by sentiments across the North favouring power-shift to the region. This favours Buhari. However, the results may ultimately be determined by a complex mix of ethnic and religious politics that is never far from the surface in this zone.
NIGER
Despite spirited moves to deny his association with the opposition and disparage Buhari at the PDP presidential campaign rally, Governor Babangida Aliyu knows the game is up for his party in the state. Even the manner in which Aliyu was panting and making unsolicited and irrelevant remarks suggested he was facing some electoral challenges. PDP’s fortunes further slipped down with the defection of the Deputy Governor, Musa Ibeto to APC. This is in addition to the loss of Niger East Senatorial District by-election seat to APC’s David Umar. The National Assembly Election Tribunal declared Umar as the validly elected senator instead of Nuhu Zagbayi of PDP. The refusal of the governor to handover to his deputy while going for lesser Hajj has boosted APC’s chances. Buhari is set to reenact his 2011 victory in the state. That year he won the state convincingly by polling 652, 574 to Jonathan’s 321, 429 votes. Of the state’s 2, 014, 317 registered voters, 1, 682, 058 have collected PVCs.
Verdict: APC to win.
NASARAWA
The combined forces of Governor Tanko Al-Makura and a former Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu have upstaged the PDP and APGA in the state. Though the APGA governorship candidate, ex-Minister Labaran Maku is whipping up religious sentiments, the outcome of the marathon campaign tours of APC has shown that Al-Makura remains the candidate to beat. His selling point is what a source described as his “humility.” If there was any hope left for Maku, it was shattered by the Director-General of PDP Campaign Organization, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, who described the former Minister as an ingrate. The exit of Maku from PDP has altered the game strongly in favour for APC. Up till now, the PDP campaign in the state has no bite as if the party has resigned to fate.
Four years ago PDP won the presidential contest here with 408, 997 votes to Buhari’s 278, 390 votes. PVC collection here has been relatively high. Out of 1242667 registered voters, 1, 048, 053 have picked up their cards.
Verdict: APC to win.
KWARA

Patience Jonathan Misfires In Ibadan

Less than three days before the presidential election holds across Nigeria, the wife of Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience Jonathan, has misfired at a public function.
Speaking at a presidential rally organised by the ruling PDP in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday, the First Lady goofed by stating that those who jailed ‘Adelabu’ would also jail the people of Oyo State, if they voted for the APC.
PM NEWS recalls that Adegoke Adelabu, with the nickname, ‘Penkelemis: Peculiar Mess, was a colourful politician in Ibadan in the 50s before he died in March 1958.
It was reported that the political leader Mrs Jonathan had in mind was Alhaji Busari Adelakun, a former commissioner in the state under Chief Bola Ige, between 1979 and 1982.

It was gathered that Adelakun, a political toughie, later abandoned Ige’s Unity Party of Nigeria and joined the Federally ruling National Party of Nigeria.
Following the coup of 31 December 1983, he was arrested by the coupists. He died at the University College Hospital, after a protracted illness.
But speaking in Ibadan, Mrs Jonathan said that the APC and its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari plan to jail many people, including herself if they win the 2015 election.

Patience Jonathan

Patience said: “I want to tell you the people of Oyo State, you don’t need to listen to APC. APC is a spare drug; they don’t have material to quantify PDP material. You should know that they have been in government before; they were there before PDP, before Goodluck administration. If they come to Oyo, ask them, what do they have for you, not ‘I will, I will’. You were there; when you were there, what did you do for the people of Oyo State?
“All what they did for you people when they were there was to send your fathers and your children to prison. That’s all what they have for you people, and I want you to remember. Some of you were still small by then when your fathers were sent to prison by this very APC people. Some of them died in the prison; you know them. You want me to call one of them that died in the prison – don’t you know Adelabu? Haven’t you heard that name before in Oyo? He was the leader of NPN then.
“He was imprisoned by this APC, by this very people that want to enter there and he died there. They are coming again to jail your fathers and your mothers and even me, but God would never allow them – Holy Ghost fire, Holy Ghost fire, Holy Ghost fire. They would never succeed, because they have nothing to offer. Their own is ‘I will, I will’; that’s all what they have to offer.
“PDP has come to liberate the people. After this one, when they fail, they won’t have any name to bear again. The last time they failed, they changed their name to APC – not knowing APC is a spare drug.”
Patience has been in the eye of the storm after she told PDP supporters in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, recently to stone anyone that mouths the slogan ‘change’. ‘Change’ is the slogan of the opposition APC.
APC had threatened to send a petition against her to the International Criminal Court, ICC, for inciting PDP supporters against APC’s supporters.
Even after the threat, Patience has not relented in her hate speeches against APC and Buhari. At another rally, she even said Buhari was “brain dead.”
It should be noted that Dame Patience has recently been involved in a series of controversies over her scandalous quotes directed at the opposition. She was criticised over trying to incite violence in the country ahead of the general elections, to which the president’s wife responded that she is “a woman of peace” who hates violence.

Only last week, Mrs Jonathan stated that Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi is currently homeless and then begged Nigerians not to vote Gen. Buhari, so as to avoid going to prison.
The First Lady also told a gathering of Ondo state women that they should vote for someone who values women and education.

Buhari Is Now A Child Crawling At 72 – Patience Jonathan

                                                                          Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has likened the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, to a crawling baby that has nothing to offer the nation anymore.

She made the remark at the Benue State edition of the Peoples Democratic Party Women Campaign Rally held at the IBB Square, Makurdi, on Friday.

In the words of Mrs Jonathan, “a child that is still crawling at age 72 does not have anything new to offer the people of Nigeria.”

Patience Jonathan described the APC as a sinking ship that would drown and remain under forever. She also lambasted Buhari and the APC over plans to phase out the office of the First Lady.

The President’s wife, who appreciated the women of Benue State for their support, said that she perceives and have seen it that Benue is PDP.

Earlier, the state Governor, Gabriel Suswam, described President Goodluck Jonathan as a true democrat, adding that Nigeria “must be ruled by democrats.”

Noting that the future of the nation is guaranteed under Jonathan, the state governor said: “Victory will be ours on 28 March 2015.”

Borno Governor’s convoy attacked in Maiduguri by thugs, many cars destroyed

Kashim_Shettima The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, on Sunday escaped what could have been a bloody attack on his convoy by suspected thugs in Maiduguri, the state capital.

 Mr. Shettima was driving around the metropolis when suspected hoodlums waylaid and smashed some of the cars in his convoy. 

Witnesses said the governor was attacked at a place popularly called Old UTC, which is located near the Peoples Democratic Party’s campaign office. 

“The convoy of the governor came under attack at the Old UTC near the PDP campaign office which was burnt down during the All Progressives Congress presidential rally on Monday last week,” a witness, Samaila Sabo, said, “As usual when the governor is passing-by, most of us rushed to the roadside expecting that he might throw some money for us. But when we did that on Sunday, some boys in front of UTC began to run towards Kashim Ibrahim Way throwing stones and using clubs to smash vehicles in the convoy.” 

“We had to rush back as security agents in the convoy began to shoot sporadically. I think they attacked the governor in retaliation for the burning of their office last week,” another witness at a local cap-washing shop said. The governor’s spokesperson, Isa Gusau, in a statement, accused the former governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, of being the mastermind of the attack on Mr. Shettima’s convoy. Mr. Gusau, who also said the state’s APC Chairman, Ali Dalori, witnessed the assault on Mr. 

Shettima alleged that the attack was planned and endorsed by the former governor. “The governor was driving past Kashim Ibrahim Way after going round different hospitals in the state capital to offer support to patients when his convoy was attacked while returning to the Government House located at the G.R.A,” Mr. Gusau said.

 “The thugs came out from a campaign office belonging to Sheriff and soon after the governor’s official vehicle passed, the thugs went after other vehicles in the convoy, smashing the windscreens. Don't waste money! Check best PRICES of phones, computers & electronics on www.PricePadi.com “The governor, however, ordered his security details not to use fire arms or any form of assault in order not to heighten tension in the state and compromise ongoing counter insurgency operations.

” Mr. Gusau said about 10 vehicles in the governor’s convoy were smashed by the thugs and called on Mr. Sherif to call the youth to order, warning that the APC-led government in the state would take every lawful steps to ensure that peace prevailed in the state. “Whether he likes it or not, his era has passed in Borno State. Nothing can change that history ‘Insha Allah’,” Mr. Gusau said. 

“We call on the Federal Government to call SAS to order. If he is above the law, the FG should tell us but we will not be lawless and we will not allow him have his way.” But the Media Director to the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Inuwa Bwala, denied the allegation, saying the youth who attacked Mr. Shettima might be thugs owed money for the contract the APC gave them to attack PDP offices during Mr. Buhari’s visit to the state. 

Mr. Bwala, who is also the spokesman to Mr. Sheriff, said nether he nor his principal was in Maiduguri when the alleged attack took place. He said, “We believe those who attacked Governor Shettima were the APC thugs that were denied payment of their contract agreement to destroy and burn down PDP offices in the state during General Mohammed Buhari’s visit on Monday.

 “It was on record that during that APC rally where their presidential candidate visited Maiduguri and could not address his supporters, some APC thugs, despite the tight security, were personally led by Governor Shettima’s aides to burn down many PDP campaign offices including that of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. “The same thugs used by the APC government were the ones who attacked him for failing to settle the contract for their act of political violence. 

“What is happening in Borno State now is a reaction to the balance of terror. We, therefore, called on the security agencies to be up to their responsibilities to ensure that Governor Shettima and his people are called to order”.

General Muhammadu Buhari, has declared that he respects Nigeria a lot,

The presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, has declared that he respects Nigeria a lot, hence he would publicly declare his assets publicly, if voted into power on March 28.

Buhari stated this in a document released in Abuja on Thursday. The document highlights what the respeced ex-General will do in his first 100 days as soon as he assumes power on May 29, 2015. He said he would encourage political appointees in his administration to also declare their assets publicly.

Buhari said, “I pledge to publicly declare my assets and liabilities, encourage all my appointees to publicity declare their assets and liabilities as a pre-condition for appointment.
“All political appointees will only earn the salaries and allowances determined by the RMFAC.”
If he keeps to his promise, he will be the second Nigerian president to publicly declare his assets.

The late President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, also from Katsina State as Buhari, was the first and the only Nigeria’s President to have publicly declared his assets when he assumed office.

This action forced his then deputy, who is now the President Goodluck Jonathan, to also make his assets declaration forms available to the public.

However, since he assumed office as the substantive President, Jonathan has refused to make the forms available to the public, saying that he did that when he was serving as deputy to Yar’Adua. When asked during a media chat whether he would consider declaring his assets publicity, President Jonathan refused, saying he did not give a damn.

But Buhari, in the document titled, “I pledge to Nigeria” also said that all his political appointees would only earn salaries and allowances as prescribed by the Revenue and Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission.

While pledging to personally lead the war against corruption in the country, Buhari also said that he would inaugurate the National Council on Procurement as stipulated in the Procurement Act.

He added that the Federal Executive Council, which he said had been turned to a weekly session of contract bazaar, would be made to concentrate on its principal function of policy making.

He said that he would also work with the National Assembly towards the immediate enactment of a Whistle Blower Act that will enable Nigerians to expose anyone who is stealing government money.

“I pledge, as Commander-in-Chief, to lead from the front and not behind in the comfort and security of Aso Rock, to boost the morale of fighting forces and the generality of all Nigerians,” he said.

Another Poll Predicts Victory for Buhari, APC sweep in National Assembly Elections

by Malcolm Fabiyi & Adeleke Otunuga

Summary of Results: A comprehensive electoral survey was conducted from December 19th to February 7th. Respondents were sampled using Facebook and electronic mail. Survey Platform was Survey MonkeyTM. A detailed overview of the survey methodology is described at the end of this paper. The survey questionnaire comprised of 42 questions covering the following topics: (a) demographic questions covering gender, educational attainment, income, region of origin, place of domicile and location at which voter’s registration was done (b) 2011 electoral choices (c) 2015 voting intent (d) respondents’ political views and (e) motivating factors for the choice of Presidential candidate.

The survey completion period was intentionally delayed, and opened on December 19, 2014 after both major political parties – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had announced their Vice Presidential candidate selections. This was done to eliminate any potential bias that could result from the impact that uncertainties about the choice of Vice Presidential candidates would have on respondents’ choice of President.

A critical challenge that an online-based poll offers is the possibility that results can be skewed based on an over-representation of respondents from certain regions. We controlled for this by analyzing the results on a regional basis based on where respondents registered for their voter cards.

Given that the survey allowed us to establish where respondents would be voting, it was possible to develop a detailed profile of voting behavior by region. This allowed us to develop insights into the likely scenarios that will evolve by region, and also enabled us to ensure that a high response in certain parts of the country did not unduly skew the predicted outcomes. Our ability to evaluate voter behavior on a regional basis also allowed us to evaluate the potential impact that low voter turnout or outright vote cancellation in the North Eastern part of the country might have on electoral outcomes. All analyses relevant to the elections were carried out only with respondents that were domiciled in Nigeria and had also indicated that they would be voting in the 2015 elections.

Projected Outcomes

Update: Policeman feared dead, 50 injured as explosions rock APC gov rally in Rivers

PORT HARCOURT—The governorship campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State was again disrupted, yesterday, as several explosions rocked the Okrika National Field venue of the event.

                                               Meanwhile, Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that a policeman lost his life in the shooting at the venue of APC governorship rally in Okrika, while three others sustained gunshot injuries.

A statement by the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ahmed Muhammad also confirmed that a journalist with Channels television, Charles Eruka, was stabbed by suspected political thugs, who shot sporadically and detonated explosives at the venue of the rally.

The Police said it was the timely action of its men that saved the situation from further degenerating.

The governorship candidate of the party, Dr Dakuku Peterside, told Vanguard on phone that about 50 members of his party sustained injuries from the attack.

Meanwhile, Governor Rotimi Amaechi has condemned the incident. He also blamed the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan for the attack on members and supporters of APC in Okrika.

Continuing, Peterside said a policeman and a journalist with Channels Television, Mr Charles Eruka, were also attacked by the suspected political thugs, noting that the journalist was allegedly stabbed.

He said: “We arrived my alma mater, Okrika Grammar School first, where I paid a courtesy visit on the principal. That was at 11a.m. From there we proceeded to pay a courtesy call on the traditional ruler of Ogoloma. Before we got to the venue of the rally, we heard that three explosives had been detonated at the school field. But things were normal when we arrived the venue. We started with praise and worship. Solidarity speeches were going on when suddenly shooting started.

“Fifty of our supporters were injured. A policeman was shot. The whereabout of some of our members is still unknown. A journalist with Channels Television, Mr Charles Eruka was stabbed.”

APC Reacts To Withdrawal Of Security Agents From Border

The country’s main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the withdrawal of Customs, Immigration and other security personnel from the country’s border posts in Kebbi and Katsina States.

The party’s reaction was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a copy obtained by Vanguard.


The party which wondered the purpose the directive was meant to serve lamented that the verbal directive led to the total withdrawal of the stated personnel from the border posts in the two states, leaving the posts unguarded.

APC in the statement asked who gave the order and for what purpose, demanding that the Federal Government should immediately explain to Nigerians what happened.

“It will not be enough for the government to tell Nigerians that it is not aware of such a development, because that will be more egregious than what happened in the first instance, and will amount to the government not being able to secure the country’s borders. It is also necessary to tell Nigerians how many states were affected by such orders. We were only made aware of two, but there is the possibility that the directive could have been more widespread,” APC said.

The opposition party pointed out that with no one left to guard the borders in the affected states for as long as the directive lasted anything could have happened.

“Who gave the verbal order? Was the order given verbally so that there will be no evidence of it? Were the Customs, Immigration and other security personnel ordered away to allow the free entry of contraband goods, election materials, weapons, terrorists or what? Even with our borders manned, Boko Haram terrorists have been marauding freely along the border areas. Will this illegal order not worsen the security situation, at a time the government is giving Nigerians the assurance that it will deal Boko Haram a mortal blow within six weeks?” the party queried.

The party said the development is coming a day after leaflets were allegedly distributed in Gombe telling people to stay away from polling booths on election days, raises more fears over the ongoing scheming by President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration and the PDP to make sure the rescheduled elections do not hold.

“In pursuit of this objective, these band of desperate people will do anything, including threatening the very existence of the country. Nigerians must not allow them,” APC said.

Meanwhile, the opposition party had earlier lambasted the Assistant Inspector General of police, Joseph Mbu, over his comment on February 12 about the forthcoming elections.

Recall that last week, the APC also raised alarm over the siege laid on the residence of its campaign spokesman, Shehu Garba.

APC Says Jonathan Doesn’t Know His Duties

President Goodluck Jonathan has been asked to clarify his duties as the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian armed forces since he has ceased to perform this role.

The All Progressives Congress campaign organisation in a statement signed by the campaign’s director for media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said that Jonathan’s loss of control was quite evident in the media chat which the president hosted on Wednesday, February 11.

“President Jonathan claims that he had no idea about the plans to postpone the elections. Who then gave the command to the service chiefs to write the letter to Jega considering that the NSA’s line of reporting is directly and exclusively to the President? Did they write it without clearance from the commander in chief?” the statement in the Daily Times reads.


The statement further noted that the service chiefs, at the prompting of the national security adviser, made presentations to the Council of State.

“Who authorised them to make that presentation since the President claimed that he was not informed about the shift in the polls date, nay by extension the security issue that was raised by the security chiefs for the postponement of the polls?” Shehu’s statement asked.

“Is the President telling the nation that the top brass of the military can act without his consent? If that is the case, what then is his constitutional responsibility as commander in chief?”

This is just one of many thinly-veiled attacks that the All Progressive Congress have aimed at Jonathan. Late on Sunday, it was reported that the APC had alleged the presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were planning to create an interim government by pushing the election dates back.

Lekki/Epe toll gate goes if I’m elected governor - Jimi Agbaje says

Lagos state PDP gubernatorial candidate Jimi Agbaje, has promised to pull down the Lekki/Epe toll gates, if elected next governor of the state. He said this at a peaceful protest, tagged March for freedom, organised by Freedom Group in Lekki

"I am here to show solidarity with you on the issue of the toll plaza for which you are marching today and assure you that when we get into office, these toll gates will come down; I will demolish all of them. The public/private partnership, PPP, arrangement behind this project is not transparent.
Look at the BRT and Lagos light rail projects, they are collapsing because the PPP arrangements they have on ground are not sustainable. The light rail which was supposed to have been ready since 2012, is grounded and this is because of vested interests of a few people. The PPP arrangements are skewed to favour only a few people, so for me, I am in solidarity with you and a vote for us is a vote for freedom, a vote to bring down the toll plazas.” Mr Agbaje said (source -Vanguard)

15 Things Jonathan Said During His Presidential Media Chat

 Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, tonight hosted his eight presidential media chat since May 2011. 

The challenges confronting Nigeria – insecurity, the economy, corruption, dearth of infrastructure – were largely discussed. Here’s all he said, compiled by me with additional information from PremiumTimes. On postponed elections: The president sought the understanding of the international community over the postponed elections.

 He said the kind of scenarios where elections are postponed for the sake of perpetuating power is not the case in Nigeria. Boko Haram: The president was asked why he thinks the war against Boko Haram can be won in six weeks even though the war had raged for six years. 

The president said he has just acquired new weapons, and gotten support of neigbhouring countries to fight Boko Haram.

 He mentioned that Chad waited for African Union approval, which they recently got too. He also mentioned that the issue of security is beyond Boko Haram. The president said it runs into dangerous signals of youth restiveness.

 In the next four weeks Nigerians will see the difference in the security intervention in the North, he said. The president is asked where he bought arms for the coming onslaught on Boko Haram. He said they managed to get from other sources other than America. Do you have confidence in Jega to conduct the 2015 elections? The president said he wished Jega was seated by his side to answer the question. I wish Jega were here, I could have asked him to answer whether I have confidence in him Yes those who called for his sack may be close to me, but they express their own opinion. 

More than 80 per cent of those who sponsor messages on our behalf we don’t even know them. People use the reschedule of election to misinform Nigerians. I have never thought about removing INEC Chairman, though I have the constitutional power to do so.” GEJ blamed his supporters for rumours about Jega’s resignation.

 “I have not told anybody that I will remove Jega,” he said. He explained that if there are obvious reasons to remove Jega, he would rely on “constitutional” provisions that gives him powers to sack whoever he appoints. Attacks: ”The level of misinformation, especially from young people is high. Attempting to attack the president is treasonable offence.The president is protected by soldiers, not just the police. 

People get carried away and make some provocative statements. Those who pelted my convoy during my campaigns in the Northern part of the country were ignorant. If INEC conducts the election poorly, it will be on my head.” Hate speeches and political violence by both opposition and ruling party members. 

The president explained that “some people” get carried away by the political play and exude these violence. He blamed aides and associates of key political actors for the hate speeches and political violence. He did not categorically condemn the hate speeches or war threats or politically-motivated violence. “We will make sure things are done so that nobody goes to war,” the president said when he pressed for categorical stance on the war threats by ex-militants should he lose the elections. He argues journalists have responsibility to ensure the unity of the country. On why he frequents churches for campaign but never visited mosques: 

GEJ responded by saying he does not receive invitations from Muslims like from the churches. If election would hold should the military fails to eliminate Boko Haram in six weeks: 

The presidents said the new dates are sacrosanct and a new president would be sworn in by May 29. He argued that the goal is not to totally eliminate Boko Haram but to make adequate security arrangement for the election. Missing Chibok girls: Questioning moves to the issue of the president’s perceived weak support especially as it relates to the missing Chibok girls. “Just give us some times,” he said, responding to questions seeking the state of the girls at the moment. 

The president is optimistic the girls would be rescued with the new military collaboration with neighbouring countries. “I believe the story would be different in a few weeks,” the president said. “We would recover them alive.” 

I believe the story of Chibok Girls will get better in the next few weeks, but don’t quote me. We are working with our neighbours, we will comb the whole of that place Partying after abduction? It’s unfortunate that people play politics with the issue of Chibok girls. It’s not like that elsewhere. In other countries, political boundaries collapse in the face of terror attacks, not so in Nigeria. With regards to his weakened political base, the president said “in politics, there are only permanent interests.” 

The president is asked to clarify his previous comments that “stealing is not corruption”: He said he made that statement quoting the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dahiru Mustafa, who explained to him that his analysis of corruption cases in Nigeria showed that most of such cases were theft. He argued that referring to stealing as corruption minimizes the crime. “Ole (thief in Yoruba) should be called Ole and given that treatment,” the president said. “Let us communicate properly. The word corruption, we have abused it.” “It is not actually my quotation.

 I quoted the former Chief Justice,” as he continues to defend his previous comments on corruption and stealing. We have convicted more corrupt people than ever. It is just that Nigerians are confused on what the difference is between stealing and corruption. The state of the N1 billion security loan and funds confiscated in South Africa. 

He said the government have not started disbursing the N1 billion loan. With regards to the .3 million arms money seized in South Africa, he said the money does not belong to Nigeria, technically. He added that the matter was in court. The president is asked if he would hand over if he loses the next election. “If the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, another president would be sworn in,” the president said. He argued that Nigeria is more important than any individual. The president is asked what he will do differently if he wins. He said most of the problem he had in the past is related to perception and not concrete. 

He did not really say what he would do differently. The president is asked to comment on his opponent for the 2015 general election, Buhari. The president responded it was an unfair question. He however mentioned that he has recieved more criticism that Muhammadu Buhari on social media. The president is asked if he has confidence in INEC as presidently constituted.

 He answered saying he appointed everyone at the management level of INEC. Closing Remarks: In his closing remarks, president Jonathan assured Nigerians that elections would be conducted and a new president sworn in on May 29. He argued that it is better for INEC to conduct an election everyone would be happy with.

APC Warns Jonathan To Caution His Wife

Members of the All Progressives Congress from Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to caution his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, over the woman’s alleged refusal to allow the party to hold its governorship campaign in the area.

Patience Jonathan

The party alleged that rather than agree to provide security for the APC governorship campaign in Okrika, the state Police command had suggested that the event be postponed indefinitely since it (command) would not be able to guarantee security if the rally was held.

Okrika, the native home of Mrs. Patience Jonathan, is one of the areas in the state currently embroiled in political crisis, having recorded cases of attacks on APC campaign ground and other forms of politically-motivated violence.

Speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the Chairman of Dakuku Peterside Campaign Organisation in Okrika Local Government Area, Mr. Tamuno William, explained that the APC had been forced to postpone indefinitely its proposed rally in Okrika based on the directive of the state Police command.

William explained that the governorship campaign rally that was to hold on Wednesday was thwarted by police insistence that security was not guaranteed in the area.

He added, “On Monday February 10, leaders of the APC in Okrika received invitation letters to a security briefing with CP Bature scheduled for Tuesday February 11, 2015.

“Prior to these invitations, there were rumours all over Okrika to the effect that the wife of the President, Mrs. Jonathan, had decreed that the APC must not be allowed to hold its rallies in the two Okrika-speaking local government areas of Okrika and Ogu/Bolo.

“According to the rumours, despite several entreaties to her majestic Excellency to allow the APC hold a mere campaign rally, she insisted that the rallies must not hold on ‘her turf’.

“To further guarantee that her orders were not to be thwarted, Mrs. Jonathan arrived Port Harcourt today, Wednesday February, 11, 2015, with plans to visit Okrika on Thursday, February 12.

“In obedience to the invitation from the CP, the leadership of the APC was at the Rivers State Police command at 12 noon and waited to meet with the CP and waited up till 12.40pm.

“Eventually, DC Shaba, DC Amadi and other members of the command, who sat in for the CP, received us. The members of the PDP were evidently absent at the meeting. The sum total of the meeting with the police command was that the Rivers State Police command was unable to guarantee security for anyone in Rivers State during any rallies.

“This meeting was holding at the same time as the PDP was holding its own rally in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.”

It will be recalled that Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has blamed President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, First Lady Patience Jonathan for being behind the the recent crowd revolt against his bid for a second term in office during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Rally at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.