18 DEAD, Entire Villages BURNT: Authorities Keep Mum On Recent BOKO HARAM Attacks In Borno State

18 people were killed, dozens of houses burnt in Borno State as suspected Boko Haram sect terrorists attacked a number of farming communities around Maiduguri.

The attacks only became public as fleeing residents arrived in Maiduguri on Thursday.

Mr. Wovi Pogu, a native of Njaba village, is one of the five wounded persons; ten residents were killed in Tuesday attack.

"It was after the late evening meals. Suddenly, we heard gunshots in all directions and cries for help from women and children," he narrates from his hospital bed in Maiduguri. Five others were wounded.

"As they entered my house, I was hit on leg and fell down, but I dragged myself to a nearby shack where I hid until the shooting subsided."

According to Mr. Wovi, soldiers arrived much later, when the attackers have already left, to give first aid treatment.

"It was when we were receiving first aid treatment that I was told that 10 people had been killed in the attack. On Wednesday, when Mude, Kwaljiri and Kaya villages were attacked, people from there told us that 8 people had been killed in Kaya while Mude and Kwaljiri villages were completely burnt; but all the villagers escaped," he said.

A resident of the same village Wadai Mutah was not hurt, but fice of his relatives sustained bullet wounds in the attack.

"Our village was attacked by Boko Haram members on Tuesday, and they killed 10 people and set the whole village on fire before leaving," he said.

"At the neighbouring Kaya Village, which was attacked on Wednesday, eight people were killed when the Boko Haram attacked, shooting our people and burning their houses.

"Mude and Kwaljiri villages were also attacked and totally destroyed on the same day but the villagers escaped unhurt and ran to Njaba as they did not know that we had been attacked the day before," he said.

The military and police are yet to issue statements on the recent attacks.

In the first month of 2014, gunmen have killed about 43 persons in Borno State.

It will be recalled that Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States are under emergency rule.
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52 Senators Warn Senate Leadership Against Declaring Seats Of Defectors Vacant

Fifty-two members of the Senate have written to the leadership of the National Assembly to express their objection to any attempts to declare vacant the seat of any member of the Upper Chamber who defects to another political party.

The Senators in the letter dated January 20, warned that if the seat of any member must be declared vacant, it should be only through a process of recall by the relevant constituents or by the pronouncement of a court of competent and final jurisdiction, rather than what they called “politics of intimidation, harassment and or comment that could jeopardize the peaceful co-existence of unity of Nigeria”.

The Senators, who made reference to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis which has culminated in some Senators threatening to defect to other political parties, stressed the need to forestall imminent crisis in the polity.  Urging the Senate to continue to tolerate all legislators irrespective of their views, they said the country could only make progress when there is tolerance and respect for one another and the rule of law.

“Having reaffirmed our confidence in the National Assembly as the only institution empowered by the Constitution to protect and defend the collective interest and yearning of Nigeria are however concerned about some comments, statements and threat in the print and electronic media credited to some elected and unelected persons threatening to declare vacant, the seats of some Senators who are the representatives of the Nigerian people in the National Assembly”, they said.

They stressed that they view such threats with serious concern as they are mischievous and capable of undermining the independence of the legislature and taking away the mandate given to such Senators as the representatives of the Nigerian people.

The Senators further drew attention to an existing legal matter at the Federal High Court in Abuja on the same subject matter, pointing out that it is the practice of the Senate that where a matter is pending in a law court, it cannot be a subject of discussion or debate on the floor of Senate.

“We hereby note that this is not the first experience in the Senate where some Senators have moved to political parties of their choice as a result of one reason or the other, whereas, such has not caused any political tension or intimidation,” the letter cautioned, adding that “It is our resolve that the Senate should maintain and sustain this principle and precedence”.

Rivers Crisis: APC Directs NASS Members To Block Service Chiefs, 2014 Budget, Ministers’ Confirmation

The All Progressives Congress has directed its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals including the 2014 Budget and confirmation of the appointment of Service Chiefs as well as ministerial nominees until rule of law is respected in Rivers State, in particular and the nation in general.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the party’s 8^th regular National Executive Council meeting, held in Abuja, on Thursday.

The communiqué, which was read to journalists by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, after the over six-hour meeting, pointed out that the level of impunity by federal authorities in Rivers State, could no longer be tolerated.

APC noted that it might no longer restrain its members nationwide especially in Rivers State, from taking whatever step they deemed necessary to protect themselves and their property, if government fails to put a stop to the growing culture of impunity.

The full text of the APC communiqué:

“The APC Interim National Executive Committee held its 8th regular meeting today (yesterday).
In attendance were General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Governors of  Rivers State Rotimi  Amaechi; Lagos,  Babatunde Raji Fashola; Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Nasarawa,  Tanko Al-Makura; Yobe, Ibrahim Geidam; Sokoto,  Aliyu Wammako; Adamawa, Murtala Nyako; Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Edo, Adams Oshiomhole; Borno, Kashim Shettima and the Deputy Governors of Oyo, Imo, Kano and Zamfara states and other party leaders.

“The meeting was chaired by the Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and attended by the full complement of the Interim National Executive Committee along with the leadership of the APC in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

“The National Executive Committee of the APC commended the courage, maturity and political sagacity of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in the face of serial unprovoked and unwarranted assaults on his person, his constitutional rights and those of the Government and People of Rivers State. The conduct of Governor Amaechi represents our party’s maturity and compliance with the rule of law in response to escalating impunity. The APC is very proud of him.

“Any cursory observer of events in Rivers State since February, 2013 will be left in no doubt as to the culture of lawlessness and impunity being promoted and supported by the Presidency, and executed by the State Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu, who has become the defacto military Governor of Rivers State and sole administrator of the PDP in the State.

“A few instances of the brazen lawlessness and violations of the Constitution will suffice here – the forceful dispersal of 13,201 newly recruited teachers in the Port Harcourt Stadium using tear gas; blockading the entrance to the Government House in Port Harcourt and forcing the state governor to use another entrance; preventing an aircraft chartered by the state governor from taking off, alleging that the governor was trying to smuggle out a legislator wanted by the Police, no apology was offered to the Governor; the disruption of a peaceful rally during which Senator Magnus Abe was shot with intent to kill; several disruptions of Save Rivers Group rallies, and the unlawful detention of anybody perceived to be a sympathizer of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, while allowing pro-Jonathan and Anti-Amaechi groups to organize rallies unmolested.

“The National Executive Committee of the APC has now resolved that if these acts of impunity and lawlessness continue unabated and the Police persists in being an enforcement arm of the PDP to the detriment of our members, it will have no alternative than to ask our teeming members all over the country and especially in Rivers State to take whatever steps that are necessary to protect their lives and property.

“Following on the forgoing and in view of the joint resolutions of the National Assembly on Rivers State, and other constitutional breaches by the Presidency, the APC hereby directs its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals including the 2014 Budget and confirmation of all nominees to military and civilian positions to public office until the rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general”.

Amaechi, Jang NGF Factions Clash Over Postponement Of NEC Meeting

The Nigeria Governors Forum led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday said its members did not have any input in the 2014 budget.

It also expressed dismay with the way governors were being invited for the National Economic Council meetings only to be informed in Abuja that they (meetings) had been cancelled.

These were part of the resolutions contained in a communique issued after the meeting which held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

The communique reads, “The forum notes that NEC meetings   have been postponed for five consecutive months.

“It has become embarrassing that governors are invited to Abuja for NEC meetings only to be told of their cancellation after their arrival without any tangible reason; yet there are issues of urgent and utmost national importance that ought to have been addressed at such meetings.

“Consequently, we have a 2014 national budget without input from the states resulting in a lack of sense of ownership of the budget process

“In furtherance of the issues raised above, the forum reiterates that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Ministry of Finance are obliged to brief the governors formally on the non-remittance of $49.8bn into the Federation Account.

“In the absence of NEC meetings, the platform for resolving these issues becomes non-existent”.

The forum also noted with concern, the developments in Rivers State and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to convene a meeting of the Police Council to discuss the matter and other related issues.

The NGF also agreed to hold a retreat in Lagos in March this year.

Rivers, Edo, Ekiti, Jigawa, Ogun, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Borno, Lagos, Imo and Kano were states represented at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Jonah Jang faction of the NGF has described as ‘frivolous and inciting’, the content of the statement issued by the Amaechi-led faction.

In a statement released in Abuja by its Media Officer, Mr. Kassim Yakubu, the Jang faction said that issues by the Amaechi-led forum, lacked credibility.

It said, “From the day Gov. Amaechi joined the opposition group of governors, he has sought all avenues and opportunity to attack the Federal Government. All the attacks so far have been political and self-serving with 2015 in mind”.

The Jang faction noted that the NGF was created to work in partnership with the Federal Government for the good of the people and not to oppose it.

It therefore implored Nigerians to disregard the communiqué by the Amaechi-led NGF because it did not represent the views and thoughts of all the 36 state governors.

Marwa Distances Self From Plans To Form New APC

Former military administrator of Lagos State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), has distanced himself from plans to form a parallel party to be known as ‘New APC’.

He described such rumours as part of the antics of mischief makers, who did not wish the party well.

Marwa, who made this known in a statement on his behalf by Bello Zubairu in Abuja on Thursday, said he was completely unaware of any such move.

He said, “I know nothing about it. Nobody has brought such things to my knowledge.

“I am neither a party to nor did I sit with anyone or group to discuss such a move”.

He further warned against the use of his name for something he knew nothing about.

Information Nigeria recalls that the social media was awash with reports purporting that Marwa and other members of the legacy political parties including Ibrahim Shekarau and Attahiru Bafarawa had finalized plans to float a parallel faction of the party.

Tinubu: PDP On Path Of Self-Destruction

A National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is no threat despite the emergence of Adamu Mua’zu as the ruling party’s national chairman.

He said change was inevitable in the country since the PDP had embarked on self-destruction even as he called on the Federal Government to stop the growing impunity in Rivers State so as not to encourage people to resort to self-help.

Tinubu made this known while speaking with reporters at the end of the 8^th Interim National Executive Committee meeting of the APC in Abuja.

According to the former governor, the nation cannot afford another emergency in Rivers State.

His words: “PDP! Threat? What kind of threat? What is my own with PDP? I want PDP to wreck. Why should I think about them? They have wrecked the country. They are self-destruct”.

He said the NEC meeting went smoothly without any rancour or division.

He said: “The meeting went well and was productive. It addressed various landmines of anti-democratic issues in the country, particularly the case of Rivers, where freedom is being hindered and the respect for human lives is no longer the sanctity of our system and that of respect for the rule of law.

“The National Publicity Secretary of the party will address you and further on this.

“We are still working and praying with those emergencies. We don’t want to create another corridor and we don’t want a government that cannot have due tolerance for opposition at the centre.

“The abuse of power must stop in order not to encourage people to self-help”.

On the rumored emergence of a faction of the party known as new APC, Tinubu said some leaders, who were absent at the session, sent words to the national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande.

He added: “There is nothing like new APC. Oh they are repackaging. Ok there is OMO. Everybody can brand and say new Honda, new KIA and new anything you want to say.

“Anybody can be absent with excuses. There are reasons others personally stated or forwarded to the national chairman.

“There are some intruders and alarm rang and they ran away”.

Directive To NASS Members: APC’s Plot To Truncate Democracy Has Finally Been Exposed, Says PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the directive issued by All Progressives Congress, APC, to its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals including confirmation of the Service Chiefs, passage of the 2014 budget among others, until the rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State, as a confirmation of its assertions that the opposition party was determined to destroy the nation’s democracy.

PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said: “In asking that service chiefs should not be confirmed by the Senate, the APC has revealed its devilish plot to undermine the nation’s security system, create a state of anarchy and pave way to unleash mayhem on the people”.

The ruling party added that “In trying to frustrate the passage of the 2014 budget, the APC has also exposed its plot to cripple the nation’s economy and plunge the people into untold hardship”.

According to the PDP, “by attempting to cause confusion in the National Assembly, which is the citadel of democracy, it is now clear to all Nigerians that the APC has commenced the implementation of its orchestrated plot to truncate the nation’s democracy, push the country into a state of chaos and achieve its doomsday predictions; a plot which must be stopped”.

2015: Ballot Box Snatching Would Be Impossible, Says Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Thursday warned that ballot box snatching would not be possible in the 2015 general elections.

He, therefore, urged politicians not to engage in the illegal act in the forthcoming polls as the commission had devised means of frustrating such efforts.

The INEC boss also declared that political parties de-registered by the commission would not be re-registered.

Jega, who made this known at the closing ceremony of a four-day retreat for INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioners in Kaduna, said the new digitalized system would render such act invalid even as he advised politicians with such wishful thoughts to bury them.

He said henceforth every polling booth would have a specialized digital number and all voting cards for that particular station would carry the digital number.

This, he noted, would make ballot box snatching almost difficult if not impossible for politicians.

Urging politicians to play the game according to the rules, Jega warned that politicians, who engaged in the illegal act of snatching ballot boxes, would be detected and their votes declared invalid.

The INEC chairman said, “The new system of digitalised electoral procedure has made it impossible for carrying ballot box from one polling station to another, because henceforth every polling booth will have a specialised digital number and all voting cards for that particular station will carry the digital number.

“When you register in polling booth ‘A’, your registration number is one, everybody that registered there will carry number one, which means that polling unit is ‘A1’. If your polling unit is ‘B’ you have ‘B1/1-500.’ If your voting card is registered under ‘B’ unit and it finds its way into ‘A’ unit box, that vote automatically becomes invalid.

“It pays for people contesting election to ensure that they play by the rules of the game, because when you snatch ballot box from one polling unit to another, you stand the chance of losing the votes count as they will all be declared invalid.

“With this new system and other initiatives put in place by the commission, 2015 will witness a hitch-free election, even though I cannot assure you of absolute perfection as we are learning day by day”.

Jega stressed that the retreat was aimed at exploring ways to correct past mistakes made by the commission.

“We came together to brainstorm on problems encountered by the commission in previous elections and after three days of deliberation, we concluded that some of the major problems facing INEC include the delay in the supply of voting materials to polling units, competent personnel and security coverage for the staff”, he said.

Stressing that the wish for free, fair and credible polls could not be achieved solely by the commission, Jega called for the collaboration of other agencies and stakeholders to help make the 2015 elections a success.

He said, “We in the commission cannot solve those problems alone, we need the collaboration of other agencies like the security and the Presidency to ensure that funds are made available at the right time for the right purpose”.

On de-registration of political parties, Jega said the commission stood by its decision even as the matter was pending before a court.

SSS Invites El-Rufai Over Provocative Statement In Newspaper Column

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has been summoned to the headquarters of the State Security Service in Abuja on Friday over a statement attributed to him in the Thursday edition of ThisDay newspapers.

El-Rufai writes a weekly column for the newspaper.

The former FCT Minister and Deputy National Secretary, All Progressives Congress, APC, was said to have been invited to clarify the statement, where he was quoted to have said, “The next election is likely to be violent and many people are likely going to die. And the only alternative left to get power is to take it by force; this is the reality on the ground”.

The APC chieftain had further warned that the 2015 general elections would be marred by riots and other forms of violence that might lead to loss of lives and property except the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies were ready to organize free and fair elections.

He accused INEC of incompetence, arguing that if it was not able to hold credible elections in Anambra and Delta states, it would be almost impossible to expect free and fair elections from the electoral umpire next year.

He, therefore, on the basis of the above, passed a vote of no confidence in the Attahiru Jega-led electoral commission and security agencies to organise impartial elections in 2015 even as he predicted a disastrous outcome if those involved did not get their acts together early enough.

Information Nigeria learnt that the former minister’s comments did not go down well with the SSS, which necessitated the invitation and also the issuance of a terse statement warning politicians against making provocative and disruptive comments ahead of the general elections.