Ahead of Saturday, April 11 governorship elections in Nigeria, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has met traditional rulers in the state to show them how the election should be held in peace. He asked them to instill in their subjects, the need for them to be peaceful before, during and after the elections. Governor Uduaghan who met the traditional rulers from Delta North Senatorial district, advised them to prevail on their subjects not to do anything that would breach the prevailing peace in the state. “To the glory of God, the Presidential and Senatorial elections were peaceful in the state, this is due to your support in sensitising your subjects on violent free elections. “In this April 11 elections, please appeal to your subjects to maintain the peace. Let them know that violence is not the way to go during the elections. He who kills to get a position will never attain such position because no position is worth someone’s life. “Let them know that any property destroyed cannot be recovered. We desire a violent free election.” Governor Uduaghan stressed the importance of traditional rulers making their domains peaceful throughout the election period even as he said that adequate security measures have been put in place to forestall any breakdown of law and order. Traditional rulers from different Kingdoms, the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Professor Amos Utuama (SAN), Chairman South South zone of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Cairo Ojougbo, Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Edwin Uzor, among others, attended the meeting. [myad]
Former Nigeria Defence minister and war veteran, General Theophelus Yakubu Danjuma has taken a look at the Nigeria-Biafran civil war in the sixties and concluded that if the leader of the Biafra, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu had conceded defeat at the early stage of the war, lives of thousands of innocent Igbos would have been saved. He said specifically that if Ojukwu had conceded defeat after the fall of Enugu, when his government had to flee into the bush, “if he had conceded victory to the federal troops, he would have saved the nation one full year of bloodshed.” Danjuma spoke today when he received in audience at his Abuja residence, President Goodluck Jonathan, who has embarked on such consultative consultations with stakeholders ahead of the May 29th handing over of government to General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC). General Danjuma, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the closed door meeting with President Jonathan said that Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat to Buhari has set a record in the history of the country. “President Jonathan has set a history; a record as something to be emulated by Africa and indeed the whole world. Its an excellent thing he did” Since losing the March 28th Presidential election to General Buhari, President Jonathan has been having private consultations in preparation to the handing over. The President had had similar meeting with the President elect, General Buhari at the Presidential Villa. [myad]
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has restrained Multi Choice Nigeria Limited, operators of the Digital Satellite Television, otherwise known as DStv, from implementing its new rates and increase in tariffs for its subscribers across board.
The restraining order was given by Justice C.J. Aneke sequel to a suit filed by two Lagos-based legal practitioners, Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji.
In the class action suit, with number FHC/L/CS/404/2015, Aneke granted the interim orders till the hearing of the Motion on Notice for Injunction on April 16, 2015.
He also ordered for the Suit and the Interim Injunction to be published in national newspapers.
Adebayo and Adeniji are challenging the arbitrary increase in tariffs.
The legal practitioners had begged the court to order the second defendant, the National Broadcasting Commission, to also implement Pay-Per-View where subscribers choose the programmes they want and pay as they watch, which is being implemented in some other parts of the world.
In the order given on Thursday, Aneke ruled: “That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the 1st defendant (Multichoice/DSTV) from giving effect or enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing or programmes bouquet, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“That an order is hereby granted certifying the plaintiffs’ claim as a class action for themselves as individual subscribers, other corporate subscribers, distributors and retailers of the 1st defendants’ services.
“That an order is hereby granted restraining any other person whether individual or corporate from instituting any other action as may be related to the action against the defendant to prevent multiplicity of lawsuits pursuant to the appointment of the plaintiffs in the class action but may instead opt in or out of this action.”
In March, MultiChoice, owners of DStv and GOtv, announced a 20 per cent price increase for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in Nigeria to take effect from April 1, 2015.
Thus, the subscription fee of DStv’s Premium, Compact plus, compact, access, Family and extra view bouquets were all set to increase, as is the price for GOtv Plus and GOtv bouquet.
MultiChoice explained that the price increase was necessary for it to continue offering the best in local and international entertainment to its subscribers. [myad]
The UmuadaNdi-Igbo in Diaspora, an umbrella organization of Igbo women, abroad, has handed out 11-poin agenda to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) even as the African Bar Association (ABA) identified eight critical areas that the new government must address when he takes the rein of power in Nigeria
In a congratulatory message signed by its Founder/National President, Grace Agude, the group advised the President-Elect to compose a cabinet of skilled, experienced and trusted men and women for a better Nigeria.
She said that the new government should take urgent steps to encourage women participation in government and national development, since women are mothers of the nation even as she made a case for re-organization and better funding of the Nigerian army so as to bring back the lost pride and glory of the country’s military that was once the pride of Africa.
She further called on the incoming Buhari government to take steps to wipe out Boko Haram insurgents currently terrorizing Nigeria, adding that it must also take all necessary steps to bring back our kidnapped Chibok girls.
The UmuadaNdi-Igbo leader said that there is an urgent need to stamp out 419 and other forms of fraud in Nigeria, for Nigeria to attract both local and foreign investors.
The group is also pushing for improved funding for Nigerian universities, teaching hospitals, and other institutions, so as to encourage research and development.
“We want the incoming government to make plans to diversify the Nigerian economy. This way the Nigerian economy will not continue to rely heavily on oil like is currently the case.”
For the country to be one, she said that there is urgent need to unite the six geopolitical zones of the country so as to reduce tension among different ethnic groups.
She further urged the incoming government to encourage foreign investment which will go a long way in creating employment and growing the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
She gave assurance that UmuadaNdi-Igbo in Diaspora will give their unalloyed support for the new government to work, adding: “the People of Nigeria have spoken very loud and clear. We needed a change, and you are that change. Thank God, that much anticipated political change has come in the most peaceful manner ever imagined in our beloved country that has a long history of post-election violence. This victory was definitely not a smooth ride.
“However, you met the challenge with determination, strength, and total confidence. The people of Nigeria saw how determined you have been to provide solutions to the most troubling problems facing our great country widespread corruption, insecurity, poverty; deteriorating standards of education, healthcare delivery and non-existent utilities.
“It has simply been very difficult for Nigerians and the world at large to understand why there has been so much poverty and chaos in a country well blessed with abundance of natural and human resources.
“The proud and hard-working people of Nigeria have, through the ballot box, identified you as the man who can be trusted with bringing that much needed change to Nigeria , Africa’s last hope.
“There is no doubt that the task ahead is a huge one. However, with good focus, determination, hard work, dedication to office, and above all, with God’s guidance and blessings, it can be done. Yes, it can be done.”
And in a statement by its President, Hannibal Uwaifo , the ABA pledged its support for the incoming government “in the bid to deepen democratic values and ensure improved economic fortune for the citizenry.”
Top on the list of the issues, according to ABA is official corruption, which the association advised Buhari to decisively deal with by “setting up a code of conduct of government affairs and handling of public funds for public officials.”
The body also urged Buhari to review salaries of public officials “to reflect the poor purse of Nigeria and to make more finances available for social services.” The statement read in part: “Deliberately welfare policy must be put in place as a priority to cater for the vulnerable and less endowed in Nigeria. Unemployment of our youths must be tackled decisively.
”The rule of law must be strictly adhered to and extrajudicial activities of the security agencies must be checked and severely punished.
”True independence of the judiciary must be ensured and wrongdoings promptly and satisfactorily investigated and punished.
”Government and social services must be improved to deliberately bridge the gap between the zeal and determined quest to conduct a credible election exhibited by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and his team is very commendable and exemplary.
”Free enterprise must be encouraged though deliberate government policies and programmes, especially agricultural technology and small and medium scale business.” [myad]
A Kentucky senator in the United State, Senator Rand Paul has official declared that he will be running for president of the United States of America in 2016.
In his speech a rally in Louisville, Paul said: “today, I announce with God’s help, with the help of liberty lovers everywhere, that I’m putting myself forward as a candidate for president of the United States of America.”
Since riding the tea party wave into the Senate in 2010, Paul has carefully built a brand of mainstream libertarianism — dogged advocacy of civil liberties combined with an anti-interventionist foreign policy and general support for family values — that he bets will create a coalition of younger voters and traditional Republicans to usher him into the White House.
Paul immediately hit the campaign trail for a four-day through New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa and Nevada — the states that traditionally vote first in the primaries and caucuses.
In his speech, he called for reforming Washington by pushing for term limits and a constitutional amendment to balance the budget. He argued that both parties are to blame for the rising debt, saying it doubled under a Republican administration and tripled under Obama.
“Government should be restrained and freedom should be maximized,” he said.
The line-up of speakers who introduced Paul sought to paint the senator as a nontraditional candidate with diverse appeal, and by the time he got on stage, he was the first white man to address the crowd.
The speakers included J.C. Watts, a former congressman who’s African-American; state Sen. Ralph Alvarado, who’s Hispanic; local pastor Jerry Stephenson, who’s African American and a former Democrat; and University of Kentucky student Lauren Bosler.
“He goes everywhere. It doesn’t matter what color you are. Rand Paul will be there,” Stephenson said, firing up the crowd.
So far, Paul joins only Texas Sen. Ted Cruz as a declared candidate for the GOP presidential nomination. “His entry into the race will no doubt raise the bar of competition,” Cruz said in a statement welcoming Paul into the race.
But the field is certain to grow in the months ahead with Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham and others eyeing a campaign. Marco Rubio, a Florida GOP senator, is expected to launch his campaign next week.
Bush, who said his 2016 decision is a “while off,” told reporters in Colorado Springs on Tuesday that “libertarianism definitely has a place in the GOP” but stressed that he differs with Paul on foreign policy.
For now, the nomination is up for grabs with no clear front-runner. Paul came in third place at 12% in a CNN/ORC International Poll of Republicans. Bush led the pack at 16% while Walker came in second at 13%.
Paul, the son of former Texas congressman and three-time presidential hopeful Ron Paul, will build on his father’s legacy as a candidate eager to bring civil liberties to the forefront of the national dialogue. He’s already used his perch on Capitol Hill to draw attention to those issues, including a 13-hour filibuster two years ago blasting the Obama administration’s drone policies and a lawsuit against the National Security Agency’s phone metadata collection effort.
The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has expressed happiness with the emerging reality where Nigerians would vote in leaders and vote them out on account of lack of performance.
He emphasized that time has now come for Nigerians to vote for people and also remove them when they fail to perform even as he sought for the vote of Imo people for Chief Rochas Okorocha for the second term as the state governor.
Buhari, who was received by the party’s supporters at the Imo International Conference Centre, Owerri as he arrived to launch campaign for the re-election of Okorocha, appealed to the people to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) during theApril 11 polls.
“I am here to thank you very much for a very difficult circumstances; you stood by the APC and you stood by me. Imo is very strategic and this is the sixth time I will be coming to Imo. I am overwhelmed by your governor, Rochas Okorocha, for his tenacity of purpose.
“I have watched him fight tooth and nail to see that Imo people have a level playing field to vote for the party of their choice.”
The president-elect also commended the governors of Rivers and Edo states, Rotimi Amaechi and Adams Oshiomhole, respectively for fighting hard to ensure that their people have level playing fields to vote. “I want you to go back and work hard to ensure that Governor Rochas Okorocha wins the coming election.” He also called on the people to vote for candidates of the party vying for seats at the state assembly to enable the governor work smoothly when re-elected for the second term.
Speaking earlier, the APC National Chairman, Johan Oyegun described Buhari as a man who was declared president even before INEC officially declared him winner of the March 28 poll.
Oyegun said the Igbos are the most hardworking and more adventurous people in the country and urged them to re-elect the state governor for a second term.
Also speaking, Okorocha described Buhari as not only the President-elect, but also the Commander in-Chief of the Changed Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Okorocha claimed that a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved President, with who I am well pleased.”
He said Buhari is a stabilizer, saying soon as he named president-elect, the stocks went up and the dollar went down.
He, however, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat even before the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced the result of the election.
“Let me put my hand on my forehead to salute President Jonathan for his show of maturity,” he said saluting the president on camera.
Addressing Buhari directly, he said: “Let me remind you that you are now the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not the President of the APC.
“Today, we shall have a new Nigeria and President Okechukwu Buhari is the president of that new Nigeria. I know that when you take over power, corruption will be a thing of the past. I know that when you take over power, insurgency will be a thing of the past.”
He prayed for Buhari to be successful in his new office and advised that the issue of Igbo marginalization and trauma be addressed.
Ijaw leader and former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark on Tuesday congratulated president -elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory in the just concluded March 28 presidential election.
In a letter dated April 3 2015,which he personally signed, Clark said: “I am pleased to join our other compatriots in this country and friends from the international community to convey my words of congratulations to you and your party, the All Progressives Congress.
“I note that the election was keenly contested but the outcome has been determined by INEC, in the exercise of its statutory duties. We must therefore move forward in the interest of peace, unity and progress of our country.
“I have noted that this is equally the position which you so well stated during your acceptance speech at the collection of your Certificate of Return.” The Ijaw leader further said, “I am glad that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who was so gracious to beat the gun in congratulating you, both by a historic telephone call and a national broadcast, underlined the need for the spirit of placing our national interest above individual or group ambition.
“This was an uncommon display of purposeful leadership and patriotism which I believe sets a propitious cue for the new government.
“This act of statesmanship and honesty of purpose no doubt went a long way to disappoint our detractors both within and outside our country who thought that the result of the elections will not be accepted by any of the two major contestants and thereby create a chaotic situation in the country and satisfying those prophets of doom who felt there will be no more Nigeria after the 2015 General elections.
Ahead of Saturday, April 11 governorship and State Assembly elections, President Goodluck Jonathan has warned against intimidation of electorate by anybody anywhere in Nigeria, saying that his government will not condone such act. The President, who called on all Nigerians to remain peaceful, united and law-abiding, condemned what he called “the very unseemly attempt by some politicians, groups and individuals to intimidate others, heat up the polity and cause public disorder and disaffection in the aftermath of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.” Speaking to newsmen today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Jonathan felt particularly concerned over what he described as “negative triumphalism” that has been put on display by certain elements since March 31, which he said, flies in the face of his personal commitment to post-election peace, unity and national stability. He called on all those, who through their actions and utterances, have been promoting divisiveness, sectionalism and ethnic hatred in the country following the outcome of the March 28 elections, to cease and desist from actions that detract from the true spirit and culture of democracy envisioned by patriotic men and women of goodwill in Nigeria. This is even as he condemned “the undue harassment of public officials serving under his administration and urges all affected persons to continue to perform their lawful duties without fear.” The President cautioned that “this should be a time for the healing of political wounds in the overriding interest of national unity, stability and progress, not a time for ethnic jingoism and the settling of scores. “The Federal Government will not condone any attempt to instigate a crisis in any part of the country in furtherance of personal political ambitions.” President Jonathan assured Nigerians that his administration remains committed to national progress and the entrenchment of the best values of democracy for the good of all Nigerians. He asked Nigerians to go out en-masse once again on April 11 to vote for candidates of their choice in the Governorship and State Assembly elections with the confidence that his administration will do all within its powers to ensure that they do so in peace, without threats, intimidation or violence from any quarters.
Director of media and publicity to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu has opened up, saying that the 2015 Presidential campaign was the most fearful he had ever witnessed.
Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, Garba Shehu, who was central to the election of Buhari by way of information dissemination and management, emphasized that the campaign was the fiercest he had ever witnessed since he debuted into partisan politics.
“I can say that the President acted with grace. He surprised us because we never expected that they would accept defeat. In fact, the sense everyone had was that they probably had plan A, B, C or D. And in any case, with the kind of thing that Mr. Orubebe did at the collation center, you knew that even when the President had grace, given the chance with the community of people around him, they could have threatened this democracy.
“Look, I have been involved in presidential campaigns about three or four times in the past, the difference is that this is the most fearful campaign that I have ever experienced. This is the most life threatening campaign because we were dealing with opponents we thought would stop at nothing because they were throwing everything into it.
“So, we were not taking anything for granted. It affected our lives. Would you see me in a night club? You couldn’t risk it because you didn’t even know who was trailing you. And it came as a huge relief.
“Again, we were getting security reports from our own sources. Until the President said ‘I concede’ and congratulated Buhari, we felt every minute that something wrong would happen. There was a clear and discernible threat to democracy as a system of government.
“Look, everyone felt concerned because, what if, God forbid, he declared a coup? These scenarios had been laid before Nigerians. Mr. Okupe, the Special Adviser to the President, was he not on Youtube, recorded on video, saying that Buhari will never become President? What do you take that for? It means that Buhari would win and they will take it away from him.
“This careless talk, arrogant display of power, it had come from the Villa. Many sources with linkages to power: Asari-Dokubo, Chief E.K. Clark and all of them, were they not sounding words to the President? They had said it that they would take away their part of the country from Nigeria if Buhari won.
“But for the President to have come and say ‘I accept defeat as the leader of the country’; that had an effect of really calming things down. And that’s why, whether they like it or not, President Jonathan has written his name in gold in so far as this is concerned.”
Shehu assured that the president-elect would not avenge the attacks on his person by the allies of Jonathan, saying there was enough work to do to meet the aspirations of Nigerians than pursuing mundane things.
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon has asked the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) to move fast to address the immediate challenges facing Nigeria.
“Nigerians wanted a change, so Buhari must offer that change. They complained of corruption, insecurity and a slow economy. The new helmsman must address these issues.’’
General Gowon, who spoke in Jos today, wished Buhari divine wisdom, even as he challenged him to strive to do better than his predecessor so that Nigerians would see and feel the difference.
The former Head of State said that the peaceful conduct of March 28 Presidential poll has shamed doom-day sayers who predicted that Nigeria would break up in 2015.
“No one will ever repeat that wild and arrogant prediction that Nigeria will go under; those doomsayers have been shamed and Nigeria will grow from strength to strength’’, Gowon said in Jos.
Gowon said that those that made the prediction did not reckon with Nigeria’s ability to solve its problems, adding: “the nation has always had the mechanism to tackle its concerns and this election and its peaceful outcome have proved that a united and focused nation would always survive and move toward greatness.”
The former Head of State expressed happiness that the polls were adjudged free and fair by local and international observers, and commended the patience and resilience of the voters, who defied rain and the scorching to cast their votes.
“During the elections, I visited polling units in Asokoro, Karu, Nyanya, Maitama and Wuse; the people came early and in many cases waited for INEC officials that came late. I was touched by such commitment.
“I was also touched by the good spirit and camaraderie amongst the voters as they waited to vote; I was also happy that they were very friendly and did not allow their political differences to tamper with the fact that they all had one destiny’’, he said.
Gowon also commended INEC officials, especially the NYSC members, for insisting on doing the right thing, and urged Nigerians to keep that spirit so that democratic governance would come of age.
He specially praised President Goodluck Jonathan for quickly calling to congratulate the winner, and described that step a “very soothing balm that ended all fears and anxieties.’’
“The President’s gracious congratulation saved Nigeria from violence. That good wish was very timely and saved Nigeria’s democracy.
“There is no doubt that it set the tone for peace because the situation would have been otherwise if he had remained silent and allowed his supporters to interpret that silence their own way.
“It is something that has never happened in Africa, and definitely not in Nigeria, so we must respect that spirit and challenge other politicians to emulate it,’’ he said. [myad]
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