2013 the worst year, says opposition

Abuja - As 2013 draws to an end,
the opposition All Progressive
Congress described the year as
the “worst” for citizens.

Interim National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
felt for the citizenry, which the
government he said had
pauperized and dehumanized amid an unprecedented fall in the
standard of living.

“They say President Goodluck
Jonathan's achievement in 2013 is
unprecedented, yet Nigerians
celebrated the Christmas and New
Year holidays in unprecedented
pitch darkness and an
unprecedented number of our
youths are unemployed.

They say
they are winning the war against
corruption, yet key government
officials, including the so-called
Coordinating Minister of the
Economy, do not even know how
much Nigeria earns from crude oil
and gas sales, and what happened
to US$ 12 billion earned from
domestic crude lifting. They are so
eager to cling to any straw of
'achievement' that they are
celebrating the revival of the
locomotive engine in the 21st
century,” said Mohammed.

Such is the alleged insensitivity
and “total lack of compassion” for
human beings that the Jonathan
administration would reportedly
spend the nation's scarce
resources on importing animals
for the villa zoo and on purchasing
presidential jets that they do not
need, argued Mohammed.

“Because this government has
become numb to reason; because
this government has deteriorated
from cluelessness to hopelessness
and because this government has
totally lost any sense of direction,
we say it is time for Nigerians to
gird their loins and join hands
with all those who are seeking
genuine change. To adapt
Mahatma Gandhi's timeless quote,
Nigerians must be the change they
wish to see in their country, and
the year 2014 must be our Year of
Change!'' Mohammed said.

– CAJ News

INEC plans elections for first quarter of 2015

Abuja - The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) is
considering conducting all
elections between January and
February 2015, according to
Nation.

This was made known by the Chief
Press Secretary to INEC chairman,
Kayode Idowu.

This comes as the commission will
lift the ban on political campaigns
between August and September
2014.

All political parties have 60 days to
submit the names of candidates
representing their parties before
the date appointed for the general
election, which will be between
October and November 2014.

INEC has started preparations for
the 2015 elections, beginning with
the issuance of permanent voters’
cards and putting in place card
readers.

APC Moves To Reconcile Warring Members In The States

Determined to ensure that no
internal rancour splits its ranks,
the reconciliation committee of
the All Progressives Congress
(APC) headed by Alhaji Abubakar
Baraje, has commenced the
process of reconciling the warring
parties in the five states, where
the G-7 governors are locked in a
supremacy battle with local
leaders of the party..

It was gathered that as part of the
party’s effort to harmonise its
affairs at the state level, the
leadership has approved the
inauguration of interim state
executives.

The party, at its last meeting in
Abuja, gave approvals for all the
zonal chairmen to immediately
inaugurate the interim state
executives and for them to
commence mobilisation for new
members. It also proposed a plan
to hold the party’s congresses in
January 2014.

Following a directive to the
committee by the interim national
executive of the party to
commence action immediately
after the Christmas holiday, the
seven-man reconciliation
committee has decided to look
into the protest letter submitted
by some stakeholders in Kano
State.

A source said yesterday that the
Baraje committee had concluded
plans to begin the peace-building
initiatives with a visit to Kano
where they hope to broker a
peace meeting between Governor
Rabiu Kwakwanso and his
predecessor, Mallam Ibrahim
Shekarau.

At its last meeting in Abuja, the
APC interim National Executive
Committee Chairman, Chief Bisi
Akande, had announced the
setting up of the reconciliation
committee to look into the crisis
rocking the five states.

PDP challenges Anambra poll outcome

Abuja - The People’s Democratic
Party (PDP) is in support of its
candidate, Tony Nwoye, who is
challenging the results if the
November 16 Anambra
governorship election.

Willie Obiano, the All Progressives
Grand Alliance candidate, was
recently declared the winner
following what some parties
described as a shambolic poll.

“The NWC is therefore in total
support of the suit filed by its
candidate, in the November 16,
2013 Anambra governorship
election,” the National Publicity
Secretary of the party Chief Olisa
Metuh, stated.

He described the action of the
candidate as a “step in the right
direction and an acceptance of the
directive of the National Working
Committee earlier communicated
to him to pursue the mandate in
accordance with established
democratic procedures and rules.”

“The PDP is totally committed to
democracy and electoral
processes as stipulated by the
constitution and laws of our land.

"This explains why we remained
steadfast to the processes
outlined for the Anambra
governorship election and the
reason for our earlier stand and
directive to our candidate and
members to participate in the
Supplementary Election as
directed by Independent Electoral
Commission,” Metuh added.

“As a party committed to
strengthening the institution of
democracy, we believe that due
process must be followed at all
times to allow the laws and
electoral rules run their full
courses without any interruption.

"It is in this regard that we
commend our candidate for
conforming with the ideals of our
great party in seeking redress at
the right time and through the
appropriate democratic channel,”
Metuh stated.
He expressed optimism justice
would prevail.

Meanwhile, Metuh urged the
people of Anambra state to resist
alleged violence by another
opposition, the All People’s
Congress (APC).

“(APC is) turning the state into a
theatre of violence and bloodshed
typical of desperate politicians and
bad losers who do not have the
interest of the people at heart,”
lashed Metuh.
– CAJ New

500 vice president supporters decamp to APC

Kaduna –About 500 members of
the ruling People’s Democratic
Party (PDP) in Vice President
Namadi Sambo’s local government
in Kaduna State will on New Year’s
Day decamp to All Progressive
Congress (APC), according to
Sahara Reporters
Sources close to Sahara
Reporters, confirmed this report
and said that that it was sad how
Sambo’s relevance was
diminishing.

The source added that the local
government chairman is APC, and
all members in the State and
National Assemblies are APC.
It would be recall that Sambo lost
all elections in his own polling unit
in the 2011 elections.

The vice-president is presently in
Kaduna for four days to discuss
issues related to PDP abysmal
failure in the state and the North-
West Zone.

I have no political ambition for now - Al-Mustapha

Kano - Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha,
the former Chief Security Officer
of late Gen. Sani Abacha, said on
Monday that he had no ambition
to venture into politics or seek for
political position in the country.
He made the remark while
addressing newsmen shortly after
a courtesy visit to the Emir of
Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, at his
palace in Kano.

“I have not decided to venture
into politics now and I have not
been invited into that direction.”
He said his recent visit to some
states, particularly troubled areas
across the country, was informed
by his desire to ensure peace and
unity.

“Many organisations and
associations actually contacted me
with invitations that took me
there. I did it with a view of
putting a helping hand.

“Right from 1984, I found it
mandatory to help associations in
support of peace and unity, and
now that God has granted me
freedom, I cannot say no.

“We have opened ground for
reconciliation to many tribes and
communities and we hope it will
add colours towards achieving
peace, unity and development in
the country,” he said.
He noted that he would continue
to respond to such calls by
organisations and associations
provided they were meant to
foster unity and peace in the
country.
- NAN

Ebonyi governor gets warning over conference remarks

Abuja - The People Democratic
Party (PDP) has distanced itself
from media report credited to
Ebonyi governor, Martins Elechi of
Ebonyi, on the proposed National
Conference.

“The attention of the National
Working Committee of the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
has been drawn to reports in the
media wherein the PDP was
mentioned to have commented on
an earlier report credited to
Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi
State on the proposed National
Conference. We wish to clarify
unequivocally that the National
Working Committee (NWC) of the
PDP never in any manner
whatsoever made or authorized
any comment on the said report.

The PDP as a well-organized
democratic institution has duly
established channel of external
communication which is carried
out with the utmost sense of
responsibility after due
clarifications on issues,” National
Publicity Secretary of the party,
Olisa Metuh, stated.

Metuh added that it was therefore
wrong and” completely
unacceptable” for anybody to
present statements made by
individuals who were not
members of the NWC of the PDP
on the said report as the official
position of the party, moreso
when such statements were made
without due clarification from the
governor.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the
entire National Working
Committee restates total
commitment and respect to all
our elected officials, especially
PDP governors who remain strong
pillars of the party. We restate our
respect for Governor Elechi who is
one of the best governors in the
country and one of the leading
lights behind the stability and
growth of not only the PDP as a
party but the institution of
democracy in Nigeria generally.”

Metuh said Elechi, whom he
described as a seasoned democrat
and statesman, played key roles in
the creation of Ebonyi state and
displayed famed political sagacity
and grassroot appeal as the PDP
South East Coordinator in the
2011general elections.

“It is therefore unacceptable to
the National Working Committee
for any person under any guise
whatsoever to make comments
that in any way ridicule or seek to
ridicule his image and portray him
in bad light. With the clarifications
made by Governor Elechi on his
remarks on the National
Conference, it is clear to all that
the comments on the statement
earlier credited to the governor
were uncalled for as he and the
National Working Committee are
indeed on the same page in
supporting the proposed National
Conference,” said Metuh.

“The National Working Committee
therefore cautions all aides of
elected officers at all levels to
desist from rushing to make
unnecessary and unprovoked
statements that tend to cast
aspersions on our elected
officials, especially State
Governors who hold the sacred
mandate of the people,
particularly when there can be
clarifications through direct
contact with their principals. All
such aides must henceforth guard
their actions and utterances and
ensure that they do not in any
way undermine the unity and
stability of the party. In the same
vein, all unauthorized persons
must also desist from making
statements in manners that
suggest such to be the official
position of the National Working
Committee on party issues.”

– CAJ News

Delta warns aspirant leaders against violence

Abuja - Delta State Governor,
Emmanuel Uduaghan, has
dissuaded people from using
violence or fanning ethnic
sentiments to get into public
office.

The governor, speaking at a Warri
North Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) Local Government rally, said
such actions would not yield these
politicians the desired result.

“Resorting to violence or ethnic
sentiments to achieve aspirant
office holders their goal through
force and violence does not get
anyone into office but only breeds
chaos and anarchy in society,”
Uduaghan said during the event
organised by the ruling party.

He urged the aspirants to endear
themselves to the people by their
words, deeds and actions,
reiterating that whoever will
emerge winner in an election
must do so through the ballot box
and not because of the ethnic
group they belong.
According to him, power belongs
to God Almighty.

“No matter the violence one
employed or the ethnic sentiments
resorted to, whoever God decides
emerges winner at the end of the
day,” the Delta premier said.
– CAJ News

Silence of electorate not acceptance of defectors - Chairman

Lokoja - The Chairman of Dekina
Local Government Area of Kogi,
Mohammed Ali, said those
defecting from PDP to APC should
not mistake the current silence of
the electorate for acceptance.
Ali, who gave this warning at a
news briefing in Lokoja on
Monday, stressed that the people
would definitely react at the
appropriate time.

Ali described the defection as
unfortunate. According to him, it
is unbelievable that those who
have benefited so much from PDP
could suddenly turn their backs on
it at this time.

On the state of local governments
in the state, Ali said the 23
councils were operating under
difficult situation.

He said the unresolved problem of
ghost workers and huge monthly
wage bills were responsible for the
development which makes it
impossible for the councils to
implement people-oriented
programmes.
M
The chairman contended that the
way out was for the councils to
widen their revenue base and
remove all the ghost workers from
their pay rolls without further
delay.

He decried high wage bill of
workers, saying that the state’s
civil servants were the highest
paid in the north.

The chairman cited Ogori-
Magongo Local Government which
pays as much as N50 million per
month as workers salaries in spite
of being the smallest in the state.
- NAN

Commissioner advises political parties against imposition of candidates

Udege - Alex Ogah-Kana, a
Commissioner in Nasarawa State
Independent Electoral Commission
(NASIEC), on Monday advised
political parties against imposing
candidates on the electorate.
Ogah-Kana gave the advice during
an interview with News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) at Udege, Nasarawa
Local Government Area of the
state.

He said that the advice became
imperative to ensure free, fair and
acceptable elections in the
country.

Oga-Kana said heeding the advice
would make parties to present
candidates chosen by the people
to contest elections.

Oga-Kana, thanked Gov. Umar Al-
Makura for appointing him into
the commission. “I want to urge
the people of the state to embrace
peace and unite, irrespective of
ethnic, religious or political
affiliation for the development of
the state and the country.”

“I want to use this medium to
reiterate the position of the
commission to conduct free, fair,
credible and acceptable election in
2014.”

“I also want to advise politicians to
play the game of politics according
to the rule; this is because the era
of imposing candidates against
the will of the electorate has
gone."

Oga-Kana also urged politicians to
properly sell themselves to the
electorate to win their votes on
Election Day.

“People should cooperate with the
electoral bodies in the country to
have free, fair credible and
acceptable elections for the
benefit of all,” he said.
- NAN

CNPP warn APC against accepting PDP defectors

Abuja - The Conference of Nigeria
Peoples Party, (CNPP) has warned
the All Progressives Congress
(APC) against accepting defecting
People’s Democratic Party(PDP)
members in the new year,
according to Premium Times
The CNPP insist that more PDP
defections to the APC fold could
lead to a one-party system in the
country.

This was made known by the
spokesperson of the group, Osita
Okechukwu.

Governors Musa Kwankwaso of
Kano State and Chibuike Amaechi
had hinted that more PDP
members and governors would
soon leave the party. On
November 26, Amechi and
Kwankwaso along with Aliyu
Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako
(Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed
(Kwara) left the PDP for APC.

APC became the majority in the
lower legislative chamber after 37
members of the House of
Representatives left the PDP.
Presently there are reports that 22
senators will defect to the APC in
the new year.

PDP challenges Anambra poll outcome

Abuja - The People’s Democratic
Party (PDP) is in support of its
candidate, Tony Nwoye, who is
challenging the results if the
November 16 Anambra
governorship election.

Willie Obiano, the All Progressives
Grand Alliance candidate, was
recently declared the winner
following what some parties
described as a shambolic poll.

“The NWC is therefore in total
support of the suit filed by its
candidate, in the November 16,
2013 Anambra governorship
election,” the National Publicity
Secretary of the party Chief Olisa
Metuh, stated.

He described the action of the
candidate as a “step in the right
direction and an acceptance of the
directive of the National Working
Committee earlier communicated
to him to pursue the mandate in
accordance with established
democratic procedures and rules.”

“The PDP is totally committed to
democracy and electoral
processes as stipulated by the
constitution and laws of our land.

"This explains why we remained
steadfast to the processes
outlined for the Anambra
governorship election and the
reason for our earlier stand and
directive to our candidate and
members to participate in the
Supplementary Election as
directed by Independent Electoral
Commission,” Metuh added.

“As a party committed to
strengthening the institution of
democracy, we believe that due
process must be followed at all
times to allow the laws and
electoral rules run their full
courses without any interruption.

"It is in this regard that we
commend our candidate for
conforming with the ideals of our
great party in seeking redress at
the right time and through the
appropriate democratic channel,”
Metuh stated.
He expressed optimism justice
would prevail.

Meanwhile, Metuh urged the
people of Anambra state to resist
alleged violence by another
opposition, the All People’s
Congress (APC).

“(APC is) turning the state into a
theatre of violence and bloodshed
typical of desperate politicians and
bad losers who do not have the
interest of the people at heart,”
lashed Metuh.
– CAJ New

Jonathan upbeat at 2014 prospects

Abuja - President Goodluck
Jonathan predicted a brighter
future for Nigeria in the coming
year.

The President made the prediction
at the last Sunday of the year
Church Service at the Apostolic
Faith Church Regional
Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

He called on Christians to
continue to pray for peace and
unity of the country, in the midst
of daunting challenges.
Jonathan said despite its diversity,
Nigeria had remained as one
nation.

“Therefore citizens need to shun
the barriers created by the
diversity and embrace
togetherness at all times,” he said.
The President particularly forecast
a brighter future for children in
the country.

Jonathan promised to continue to
do his best and thanked the
church for their prayers.
He shared with the congregation
more of his great expectations for
Nigerians in the New Year,
especially the children.

The end of the year service had
over 100-man orchestra, with rich
accompaniment of musical
instruments and a section where
the children presented a special
rendition for the President.
The General Overseer, Reverend
Emmanuel Adeniran, noted in his
message that the visit of the
President was of great
significance.
– CAJ News

Katsina to conduct LG polls early 2014, says Shema

Katsina - Gov. Ibrahim Shema of
Katsina State on Sunday said the
state’s Local Government elections
would be conducted in the first
quarter of 2014.

Shema who disclosed this in
Katsina at a state PDP zonal
meeting said the elections date
would be announced in January for
the political parties to begin
preparations
The governor, who was
represented by Sen. Umar Tsauri,
said all the materials needed for
the exercise were on ground.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that the 34 local
governments in the state were
being managed by caretaker
committees.

This was as a result of the
expiration of the tenure of elected
council officials early in 2011.
“The elections will take place next
year, God willing, because
everything has been put in place,”
Shema said.

The governor called on PDP
supporters to come out en mass
during the elections to vote for the
party’s candidates.

On the defection from the party to
APC by some members, Shema
said “most of such people are not
original PDP members. Now, they
have joined the group they belong
to”.

He, however, admitted that the
party was facing challenges.
“We all know that PDP is facing
some challenges and anyone
trying to say otherwise is
deceiving himself.”

“But we have been able to identify
those challenges. By identifying
the problem itself, it means half of
the challenges facing us as a party
have been solved,” the governor
said.

Shema however said PDP in the
state would continue with the
zoning and consensus principle.
He also called on party members
to woo to the party’s fold other
people that would help PDP in
achieving its political objectives.

- NAN

VIDEO/Photos: Patience Jonathan's alleged billion naira hotel under construction in Yenagoa

This is the billion naira hotel under construction in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state allegedly owned by the First Lady of Nigeria, Mama Peace. I got the stills from a video shot by Kayode Ogundamisi for Sahara TV. You will find more photos after the cut...

Also see photos of the massive family compound of the Jonathans which is under full military guard in Otueke in Bayelsa State after the cut...

The Jonathan Family Home in Otueke...

BOKO HARAM: In 2014 We Will Kill More, Because Allah Says We Should Decapitate, Amputate, Mutilate (VIDEO)

The leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, has appeared in a new video, promising to“decapitate and mutilate” more people in the name of Allah and ridiculing the United States for putting a bounty on his head, saying, “You can’t in any way harm me.”

Shekau, who has been dubbed a “global terrorist” by the U.S and twice been declared killed by the Nigerian military, claimed responsibility for a December 20 attack on a tank battalion barracks in Bama, Borno State.

“Brothers pulverised 21 armoured tanks. People were killed in their multitudes, bodies scattered all over,” he said, adding that his forces “blew out the brains” of soldiers who tried to hide under their blankets.

“Had Allah allowed us to eat them we would have eaten them but we are not cannibals,” he added, according to reports. “This is a victory from Allah.”

The video showed the terrorist leader seated on a mat surrounded by masked fighters. It included footage ostensibly filmed of the attack, with burning buildings and fighter jets and armed, masked men walking around them.

The insurgents stormed the barracks by arriving in a convoy of trucks shortly before sunrise, opening fire on soldiers inside before torching the compound. Witnesses said they kidnapped soldiers along with women and children.

The military has not yet released a death toll from the attack but said that more than 50 insurgents were killed when ground forces backed by fighter jets pursued them after the raid. Locals claimed they also killed an unknown number of civilians and destroyed four villages.

Shekau threatened more mayhem in the video sent to AFP on Saturday whose authenticity has not been verified, although it is one in a series sent to the news agency in which he features.

“As for killing, we will kill because Allah says we should decapitate, we should amputate limbs, we should mutilate,” he said.

He also shrugged off the bounties put on his head – $7 million by the U.S and $312,500 by the Nigerian government.

“We do not worship money. “You can’t in any way harm me.”

Watch Video: