How Archbishop Idahosa died – Wife

 

IN March 1998, Archbishop Benson Idahosa, the flambouyant founder of
Church of God Mission International Incorporated died and left his wife,
Margaret Idahosa and four children behind.Here, the wife and the first female Pentecostal Archbishop in Africa recounts the last moments of her husband and how she had coped with bereavement. Excerpts…You once said you thought you were finished when your husband died. How exactly did you mean?I knew late Archbishop Benson Idahosa when I was young and we were friends for eight years before we got married. He was not only my husband, he was my brother, my friend and a confidant. In addition to these, he was my bishop and archbishop.When he died I was in a confused state and honestly I didn’t know where to begin and what the future held for me. I thought to myself after the burial I would just recline to myself.

Presidential election: Atiku, northern leaders have dumped Buhari —Fayose

EKITI State governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has said the alleged withdrawal of support of former Vice President Atiku Abuba-kar and leaders of thought in the North for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), was enough signal that the APC has lost the battle.

My plan to defeat Jonathan and Buhari — Onovo, NCP presidential candidate

In this interview, the Presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party, NCP ,Mr. Martin Onovo maintains that there is no party that can defeat NCP in a free and fair election. Excerpts:

By Akoma Chinweoke & Achilike Anthony

For a country that shed military rule a decade and a half ago, would you say democracy has taken root in Nigeria?

We would say that democracy is not taking root in Nigeria. We would say that criminology has taken root in Nigeria. We say this because, several criminal acts are freely used with impunity in Nigerian politics. Acts like thuggery, rigging, forgery, perjury, etc. For democracy to take root, the two pillars of democracy must be in place.

The pillars are the ‘Rule of law’ and the Integrity of the ballot.Without one or both, it cannot be called a democracy. In the current Nigerian case, the Constitution and the Electoral act are the fundamental laws for elections in Nigeria. Both are commonly violated with impunity.
Onovo

Onovo

Currently, Gen. Buhari’s certificate issue is still unresolved. The associated perjury is also ignored. At the same time, Dr. Jonathan raised funds in violation of several election finance laws. Democracy cannot exist with lawlessness because democracy requires first, the ‘Rule of law’.

The process of coming to power by many of our rulers is criminal. So, mostly criminals find it easy to come to power. Alhaji Maitama Sule rightly pointed out that the actual process of coming to power involves rigging, election violence, political assassination, abuse of state power and bribing of judges and lawyers. Some judges have been previously indicted. So if you are doing all that, rigging, violence, assassination and bribery to get to power, then, you are a criminal. And the system of such government can be called a criminocracy. We must all reject and oppose any criminocratic acts and candidates.

Following endless controversy trailing the use of card readers and military personnel at election venues. Are you satisfied with the level of preparation by INEC ahead of the elections?

Card readers were used successfully for elections in Ghana. If the card-readers are used efficiently, they can improve the integrity of the elections. We think that the field tests conducted by INEC provide an excellent opportunity to identify all issues with the card-readers and fix them prior to the elections. We must ensure that only qualified and registered voters can vote. We must also ensure that no voter can vote more that once.

It has been widely reported that parties in power are cloning PVCs (another in the long list of criminal electoral practices). There are also public reports that same parties are buying up PVCs from registered voters.

We would keep wondering how the cloned or purchased PVCs will be used by the parties. On the use of the military, we must insist that we have always used the military to support internal security during elections. This is the practice. With so many unlawful but powerful private armies in Nigeria, it is clear that the Nigerian Police alone cannot provide robust security for elections.

With multiple fatalities in several states during the primaries of the ruling party, it will be inappropriate not to expect serious security issues during the elections. We will need the military to support civil security arrangements. With regards to the court judgment against the use of the military, it can be vacated by a superior court.

INEC must be pro-active and stay ahead of criminal political parties and their unlawful actions, INEC must not tolerate violations of our electoral laws but unfortunately, it seems that INEC prefers to keep silent while electoral lawlessness prevails.

A free and fair election cannot be conducted in violation of our laws. We must not accept lawlessness because it is the prelude to anarchy.

You have remained a strong critic of this administration. How do you hope to transform the country if elected the country’s president?

Nigeria is super-rich in human and material resources but Nigeria is very poor in economic terms due to corruption and bad governance. When our new NCP government is installed, we will control corruption and establish good governance. Our comprehensive strategy to control corruption is code named the 4Es anti-corruption strategy.

The 4Es represent; Education, Example, Empowerment and Enforcement. Specifically, we plan to, improve security by motivating, training, equipping and arming our security personnel. Please remember that corruption de-motivates. Also, we plan to: Double current electricity supply with only $9b in two and half years.

Your party is not as popular as the PDP and APC. How do you hope to win the election?

We will win the election because, we are the oldest party in Nigeria today and the people know our history of integrity and patriotism. Voters have also recognized and acknowledged our moral and intellectual superiority over other candidates.

It is very clear that the National Conscience Party (NCP) has fielded the very best candidates for most positions. We will win, also because, we have a better Vision than the other candidates, we are stronger and below the regular retirement age we are more experienced professionally and we are more nationally acceptable.

In this interview, the Presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party, NCP ,Mr. Martin Onovo maintains that there is no party that can defeat NCP in a free and fair election. Excerpts:

By Akoma Chinweoke & Achilike Anthony

For a country that shed military rule a decade and a half ago, would you say democracy has taken root in Nigeria?

Shocking Confessions From Ex-boko Haram Who Converted To Christianity. Alleged Ibb Is The Major Spon - Politics - Nairaland

Question: Who are you and where are you
from?
Answer: My name is Sheik Sani Haliru. I am
from Niger Republic, but my mother is from
Bornu State of Nigeria and I grew up in
Wulari, Maiduguri, (Northern Nigeria) where
I was trained.
Q: Trained as what and under whose
tutelage?
A: I was trained as an Almajiri, after four
years, at the age of 14, I was sent to Kano
City, Kano State where I was trained in the
Sheik Abubakar Gummi School of Arabic
studies.

Boko Haram: Can regional force beat Nigeria's militant Islamists?

The plan has now been approved by the African Union.

But what are the chances that this 8,700-strong regional force will root out an insurgency responsible for the death of tens of thousands in recent years?

Chibok girls are in Gwoza, says freed Boko Haram abductee

Over 200 girls abducted in Chibok in April 2014 are being held in Gwoza town in Borno State, a woman who was recently released by the Boko Haram sect has told the icirnigeria.org.

She said she was held in the same location as the abducted Chibok girls.

Mbutu Papka, 56, who was kidnapped in July 2014 and held by the insurgents for eight months in two locations, said confidently that the abducted girls were being held under very tight security in a house in Gwoza.

Operators panic over low oil prices

 

 Kaduna Refinery

International and local operators in the Nigerian petroleum sector on Wednesday declared that there was palpable fear in the industry as a result of the current low prices of crude oil in the global market.

According to them, the low prices and uncertainties in the local fiscal environment have prompted oil companies to review their work programmes across the country.

Nigeria needs global aid to overcome B’Haram –Shettima

 

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, recently visited Diffa province in Niger Republic to see over 20, 000 people of the state displaced by Boko Haram insurgency. Our correspondent, KAYODE IDOWU, who was on the tour, writes

FG to prosecute firms that spill oil

 

Director-General/Chief Executive, NOSDRA, Mr. Peter Idabor

International and indigenous that firms that spill oil in the country will soon face criminal charges, the Federal Government has warned.

Nigeria, others behind OPEC lowest output since June

 

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke

The decline in crude oil production in Nigeria, Iraq and Libya drove down output from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to its lowest in February since June last year, according to the cartel’s latest monthly report released on Monday.

We’ll gladly receive Gbemi Saraki, says APC

 

 Gbemi Saraki

The All Progressives Congress in Kwara State on Monday said it would gladly receive one of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Gbemi Saraki, if she finally decides to defect from the PDP to the APC.

‘Dollars can’t buy Yoruba votes’

 

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Elders Council of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State has described the efforts by President Goodluck Jonathan to get Yoruba people’s support for his re-election through monetary inducement as too late.

Senate panel faults sale of Cecilia Ibru’s assets

 

Cecilia Ibru

The Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-corruption on Monday described as absurd, the process employed by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria to dispose of the assets of the former Managing Director of the defunct Oceanic Bank International Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru.

President hired Israeli to frustrate card readers – APC

National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress says President Goodluck Jonathan has employed an Israeli expert to interrupt the frequency of card readers on the election day in order to frustrate the use of the machines.

The APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the card reader jammers can undermine the effectiveness of the card reader from over 100 metres.

I’m not ready to feed Jonathan in prison – Patience

Wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, has said she is not ready to feed her husband, President Goodluck Jonathan, in prison.

The President’s wife spoke in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, during the rally of the women’s wing of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Vehicle financing scheme to commence in April – NAC

The Director-General, National Automotive Council, Mr. Aminu Jalal, has said that the vehicle finance scheme that will enable Nigerians to purchase brand new cars assembled in the country will commence at the end of April.

Victim of PDP attack on danger list – APC

The All Progressives Congress in Osun State has said that one of the members of the party allegedly shot during the violence which broke out in Ilase and Obokun on Friday, Bukola Agunbiade, is on danger list at the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa.

A leader of the APC in Obokun/Oriade federal constituency, Mrs. DupeAjayi-Gbadebo, who said this in an interview with journalists, on Sunday, decried the attack.

Oil falls below new budget benchmark

The price of global benchmark Brent crude oil fell about three per cent on Monday to a six-week low of $52.50 per barrel, less than a week after the National Assembly adopted $53 per barrel as the 2015 budget oil price benchmark.

Presidential Polls: States that may determine the winner

LESS than 14 days to the presidential election, a number of states are emerging as votes swinging blocs that will shape the outcome of the polls.

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

WITH just two weeks to the 2015 presidential election, there is no doubt that votes in states with high density registered voters, would most likely determine who wins the contest.

Killer of our daughter on the loose – Family of murdered Lagos housewife

Fate, has an uncanny way of affecting human beings. At times, it turns out positive, some other times, it ends negatively. For the families of Late Mrs. Obiageli Anajekwu and Chinyere Onyali, her bosom friend and neighbour, it has been a tragic tale of woes and untold suffering.

To the foster family of late Obiageli, they are not only contending with the traumatic effect of losing their loved daughter under painful circumstances in her matrimonial home but, are more saddened that investigations into the circumstances that surrounded her agonising death may be stalled by the police.

Buhari, Osinbajo’s wives attacked in Ilorin, 10 vehicles vandalised

ILORIN — The convoy of the wife of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hajia Aisha Buhari  was yesterday attacked by suspected hoodlums in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Mrs-Buhari and Oisnbajo

American delegates, Nigerian intelligence chiefs clash in Washington over election shift

A mild tussle ensued on Wednesday at a special briefing in Washington DC when members of an American pre-election mission disputed claims by two Nigerian security chiefs that their delegation endorsed postponement of the elections.

Giving updates on preparations for the re-scheduled elections, Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, and Rear-Admiral Gabriel E. Okoi, Director of Defence Intelligence, said the Nigerian government has overcome most of the security and logistic problems that led to the postponement of the election.

How we will defeat Boko Haram before elections – Nigeria’s Intelligence Chiefs

The Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, on Wednesday said Nigeria would be fully liberated from terrorist control before elections begin on March 28.

Speaking in Washington DC, Mr. Oke declared that “no territory of Nigeria will be under the suzerainty of Boko Haram” by the time Nigerians go to the polls.

One year after, Jonathan gives Immigration Recruitment victims’ families money, jobs

A year after pledging jobs to families who lost loved ones during a deadly recruitment by the Nigeria Immigration, President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, finally, handed out money and appointment letters to the beneficiaries.

Mr. Jonathan gave N75 million (N5million to each family) as well as employment letters to families of those who died in the botched exercise.

Jonathan visits Adamawa again

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday visited Adamawa State for the second time in two weeks.

Mr. Jonathan arrived Yola, the state capital, at about 12p.m. and visited the Lamido of Adamawa.

Sources at the palace said “the president had a closed-door meeting with some traditional rulers in the Lamido’s palace for about hour before living for Adamawa State government house”.

Adamawa now free of Boko Haram terrorists — DHQ

Nigerian troops on Thursday succeeded in clearing terrorists out of Madagali, the last major town held by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria’s Adamawa State.

The Director Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, who is on a tour of mission areas in the North-East, announced the development via a press statement.

Aide To Katsina Governorship Aspirant Flees With N.5billion Naira Campaign Fund In Abuja

In an economy with about 40 million youths roaming the streets in search of elusive jobs, a governorship candidate in Katsina State, (names withheld ) has lost a whooping N500 million campaign fund to one of his aides

Obasanjo scores two goals in birthday match

It was a fun filled football match on Wednesday evening at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta when a team led by former president Olusegun Obasanjo of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library slugged it out with a team of Ogun State Government led by the governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

At the end of the novelty match which was to commemorate the 78th birthday of Obasanjo, OOPL team beat the state government team 2-1.

Police arraign engineer for N1.4m fraud

A civil engineer, Oyebanjo Adeshina, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defrauding one Anthony Obi of the sum of N1.4m.

Adeshina was said to have committed the offence in September, 2014 at Olowu Street, Ikeja.

PDP will rule Nigeria for next 60 years – Patience Jonathan

Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has declared that the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, will continue to rule Nigeria the next 60 years.

Mrs. Jonathan, represented by the Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, spoke at the party’s women rally in Sokoto on Tuesday.

“Missing N30 trillion” lawsuit against me politically-motivated, says Okonjo-Iweala

The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has lambasted a civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, for instituting a lawsuit against her over the claim by a former Central Bank governor, Chukwuma Soludo, that Nigeria has lost as much as N30 trillion to corruption and mismanagement.

Apart from describing the suit as spurious, the Minster said it was “the latest in the campaign of falsehood and politicization of the economy by persons and groups who are getting more desperate by the day, because the economy, despite their propaganda, was still standing and will continue to stand”.

Fani-Kayode demands N5billion damages, apology from Lai Mohammed over comments on mental health

The Director of Media and Publicity of Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Orga​n​isation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has issued a letter demanding an apology and N5billion damages ​from the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Lai Mohammed, ​for questioning his “mental state​”​.

Mr. Femi-Kayode’s letter dated March 3, through Whyte Prekunomaa of Ahmed Raji and Co, quoted Mr. Mohammed as saying, “We are seriously concerned that Mr. Fani-Kayode may have unhinged, perhaps as a result of a relapse into an unhealthy lifestyle of substance abuse.

I can’t lose 2015 presidential elections — Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said he is confident of winning the forthcoming presidential elections later this month.

The president said in an interview with television channel, Aljazeera, that he has done enough to guarantee victory for him and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party. He said there was no way he could lose the elections.

PDP, APC trade blame over fuel scarcity

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) yesterday attributed the sudden fuel scarcity in many parts of the country to sabotage by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which has infiltrated the ranks of the fuel marketers.

Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Femi Fani-Kayode, said in a statement in Abuja that the fuel marketers have taken a sub-contract from the opposition to frustrate supplies of petrol to fuel stations as part of a grand plan to create tension in the polity.

Court refuses application to stop INEC from use of card readers

A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused an application filed by four political parties seeking to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from using electronic card readers in the coming general elections.

The parties are Alliance for Democracy, United Democratic Party, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria and Action Alliance.

The presidential and national assembly elections hold on March 28 while those of governorship and State Houses of Assembly come up April 11.

Nigerian troops gun down 73 Boko Haram terrorists in fresh attack on Konduga

Nigerians soldiers in Borno state on Monday killed at least 73 members of the Boko Haram sect when the terrorists made yet another futile attempt to capture Konduga, a town 35km away from Maiduguri, the state capital.

The troops, who engaged the terrorists for over five hours, however lost a soldier in the battle.

According to one of the soldiers stationed in Konduga, the terrorists tried to attack the military base using herds of cows and a car filled with improvised explosive devices.

No plan to remove Jega, Preside‎nt Jonathan says again

President Goodluck Jonathan has reassured Nigerians and the international community that he has no plan to sack the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, ahead of Nigeria’s general elections slated for March 28 and April 11.

Mr. Jonathan’s reassurance came amid speculation that the Federal Government, through the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, is plotting to send Mr. Jega on terminal leave before the elections.

Nigeria corruption rating political, overblown – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the perception that Nigeria’s corruption has worsened under his leadership is an overblown assessment with political undertones.

The President, who spoke Monday night in an interview with Aljazera, said despite the country’s position in the global corruption perception index, the perception that corruption has worsened under his administration is inaccurate.