Alhaji Ali Olanusi, Deputy Governor To Governor Olusegun Mimiko on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dumped the party for All Progressives Congress (APC). Alhaji Olanusi announced his resignation from PDP today after months of battling with Governor Mimiko. The Deputy Governor is an indigene of Supare in Akoko South West local government area of the State. He became the Deputy governor of the State in 2009 under the platform of Labour Party before he defected alongside the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko to PDP in October, 2014. At a point, media report had it that the embattled deputy governor, who was at loggerheads with governor Mimiko, was at the verge of being impeached. Details later.
Former Nigeria military President, General Ibrahim Babangida is not happy with the way the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been questioning the reputation, patriotism and loyalty of the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari simply because he was once a soldier.
In a statement, General Babangida said that nobody is stopping anyone from campaigning for their preferred candidates contesting various positions in the elections, “but to do that at the expense of the reputation, contributions, patriotism, loyalty and sacrifice of former presidents to the Nigerian state is, to say the least, immature.
“Apart from promoting hate campaign which clearly undermines the modest contributions of these former presidents, the commentaries in the documentary against the former presidents leave a sour taste in the mouth.’’
Full text of the statement goes thus:
STOP DENIGRATING THE MILITARY
In clear attempts to whip up support for President Goodluck Jonathan, certain persons, groups and individuals have embarked on several campaigns of calumny against former military Heads of State and presidents who have had the opportunity to govern this country. Of particular reference is a one-hour documentary aired on Silverbird Television on Tuesday night; 24th March, 2015 that deliberately impugned the integrity of Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, my humble self; Ibrahim Babangida, late Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and T.Y Danjuma; all of whom have had the privilege of presiding over the affairs of this great country at various levels. It is either that those promoting the hate documentary are intellectually deliquent or they suffer memory loss; or a combination of both.
I have my very strong reservations about the contents and thematic focus of the said documentary. Apart from promoting hate campaign which clearly undermines the modest contributions of these former presidents, the commentaries in the documentary against the former presidents leave a sour taste in the mouth. Nobody is stopping anyone from campaigning for their preferred candidates contesting various positions in the elections, but to do that at the expense of the reputation, contributions, patriotism, loyalty and sacrifice of former presidents to the Nigerian state is, to say the least, immature.
For record purposes, and without sounding immodest, the idea of a PDP that has now become the “largest party in Africa” started in my home, here in Minna. With the support of my fellow colleagues, we prepared the way for this democratic process that has now led us to where we are presently. We built the democratic infrastructure and architecture. Those who are parading themselves as democrats today, all participated in military governments. As a deliberate principle of remaining unsung, or blowing my own trumpet, I have elected over the years to maintain dignified silence on so many issues concerning Nigeria while I cultivate my access to each sitting President to pass across my advice in whatever form.
It is on record and this is incontrovertible that the government I ran paraded some of the best brains this country can be proud of. I still remain eternally grateful to those wonderful brains who participated in our government to fashion a new roadmap for re-engineering the country. Some of our policies have remained unsurpassed till date and most of what the country enjoys today was a creation of the Military. From primary healthcare to good roads, DFRRI, Better Life for Rural Women, housing, river basin authorities, MAMSER, new airports, agricultural development and other economic infrastructure, to mention but a few, were platforms where our interventions were felt. We achieved that much with very slim resources. If we had the several billions of dollars that are flying around today, we would have turned Nigeria to the Dubai of Africa.
The military is an institution that is so dear to my heart. It is an institution that nurtured my growing up and my achievements in life. I am not only sold to the military institution and by extension the Nigerian state, I am betrothed to it. As a profession, retirees are bound to participate in politics and democracy as an all-inclusive process, same way that Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Nurses, and Civil Servants get involved in it. It is the reason why I ventured into politics in 2003 before I quit in 2010. It is the same reason why General Obasanjo participated and got elected; and now General Buhari. It is therefore very curious that promoters of President Goodluck Jonathan’s aspiration would attempt to demonize and stigmatize former military leaders and cast aspersions on them in order to malign their reputation. This is very unfair.
Fact is; the military fought a civil war to keep this country together. What I suffer today is a consequence of the injuries I sustained during the Nigeria Civil War. I am not sure there is any patriotism that is more than that. Some of us were prepared to die for the country. The military is presently combating the dreaded Boko Haram sect to restore Nigeria’s territorial integrity. What law under a democracy forbids retired military personnel from participating in politics and presenting themselves for election? Over 90 percent of American Presidents have military background. Leadership training is better grounded in the military than any other profession. And the military parades some of the best brains in any country, including Nigeria. In fact, some of my military students that I tutored have Doctorate Degrees. It is therefore callous, wicked, out-of-sync, cynical and a show of crass ignorance for anyone to undermine the military institution by embarking on mudslinging campaigns against former presidents and leaders of military background.
While those campaigners are pointing their accusing fingers at us, they forget to recall that the present Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization is actually a retired Military Officer. It is this form of demonization and stigmatization that often compels us to exhibit espirit de corps amongst ourselves in support of our military institution and colleagues when the stakes are high. As disciplined military officers, we are patriotic Nigerians and must be treated with utmost respect and decorum.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF GENERAL IBRAHIM B. BABANGIDA, GCFR.
The Presidential candidates of the two major contending political parties in Nigeria: President Goodluck Jonathan of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) met this morning to renew their commitment to peaceful, free and fair election, come Saturday, March 28. The election is less than 36 hours from now.
The contenders, who were brought together by the former Nigerian military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar under the auspices of National Peace Committee signed a joint document pledging their commitment to a united, democratic and prosperous Nigeria.
“We also pledge to respect the outcome of free, fair and credible elections. We want to all Nigerians to stand together at this critical phase of our nation’s history.”
The full text of the previous Peace Accord between which was signed on January 14th this year and the renewed one today were spelt out at a meeting of the two contenders at Sheraton Hotel, Abuha thus:
Renewal of our pledges to peaceful elections: Joint statement issued by His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan and Major General Muhammad Buhari on Thursday, March 26, 2015 ahead of the 2015 presidential elections You may recall that on 14th January 2015, both of us, long with nine other party leaders signed what has now come to be known as the Abuja Accord. The substance of that Accord was our commitment to free, fair and credible elections in our dear country. In the Accord, we agreed to, among other things, run an issue-based campaign and pledged that our electoral campaigns will not involve any religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves and all agents acting in our names. Now that the campaigns have come to an end, we meet today to renew our pledge for peaceful elections. We therefore call on all fellow citizens of our dear country, and our part supporters, to refrain from violence or any acts that may in any way jeopardise our collective vision of a free, fair and credible election. In addition, we call on INEC and all security agencies to ensure strict adherence to their constitutional roles. We also pledge to respect the outcome of free, fair and credible elections. Today, we again renew our commitment to a united, democratic and prosperous Nigeria. We want to all Nigerians to stand together at this critical phase of our nation’s history. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. God bless you all. Speaking after Jonathan and Buhari had appended their signatures to the Peace Accord document, General Abdulsalami said that the peace committee was set up after Abuja Accord which was signed by both President Jonathan and Gen. Buhari, adding that the committee has been working round the clock to assist the parties and Nigerians to ensure that there is peace and harmony before, during and after the elections this time around.
“Mr. President was kind enough to see us yesterday (Wednesday), one he is the President of the country and secondly he is a contestant. And this morning Gen. Buhari despite his late arrival last night or early arrival this morning was kind enough to meet with this committee.
“In essence all the meetings were held to brief them the current situation of the country and what we expect of them as stakeholders and as presidential candidates.
“I want to thank both the President and Gen. Buhari for finding time to meet with the committee. And I want to thank both party chairmen for the support received in trying to send this message of peace.
“I’m happy both parties, the contestants are committed to free and fair elections, free of violence. And this morning, a document to reiterate their commitment to peaceful elections was signed by both.”
It would be recalled that on January 14th, both Presidential candidates along with their party chairmen and others signed what is known as the Abuja Accord, which they renewed today to reassure the world and make Nigerians understand that Nigeria is more important than their own aspirations and that people should live and reflect the ideals of this.
The wordings of the accord were read by Bishop Kukah. [myad]
A Kalabari leader and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Chief Anabs Sara Igbe has resolved to vote for Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Rivers State even though he is a member of PDP. Sara Igbe also promised to vote for General Muhammadu Buhari, Presidential candidate of the APC because of what he described as unjustified exclusion and intimidation of some people in Rivers State by the powers that be in Abuja. The Kalabari leader made the statement at a luncheon of Kalabari chiefs and elders with Peterside in Port Harcourt. Sara Igbe who described justice as an indivisible word, called on those preaching justice and equity in Abuja to come home and feel the gratuitous injustice playing out in Rivers State. He accused the First Family, President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Patience of deliberately punishing the Kalabari and entire people of Rivers State by the imposition of Nyesom Wike as the PDP governorship candidate. “You all know that I am a PDP member but I will not speak for PDP here. This is a very serious issue, so I must be objective and fair because even God is a God of justice. They refused to give us ticket because they were afraid that Soku Oil Wells will go back to Rivers State. “So they searched for a man who hates Kalabari people and gave the governorship ticket. I have known Wike for many years; I know where he stands on issues, so I will not vote for him. I stand for justice, equity and fair play, these are what Peterside represents. That is why I will vote for APC. “But I will not leave PDP. Let me also tell you that Patience Jonathan hates Kalabari people, that was why she brought Wike. So Kalabari people must support Peterside. As chiefs and leaders, we must stand up and defend our territory or become conquered slaves. Let us vote for Peterside because he will represent our collective interest. “Our forefathers fought and defended our territories and nothing can destroy it now. The time has come for us to defend our communities or we will be slaves forever. Rivers State is for all of us, so we must stand up and say enough is enough.” He said that President Jonathan has never hidden his hatred for Kalabari people even as he recalled how, under the late President Umar Yar Adua, Jonathan, then a Vice President, denied Kalabari nation the opportunity of producing the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC even after the late president had recommended. In the same vein, another Kalabari leader, Chief Bekinbo Soberekan expressed faith and confidence in the candidacy of Peterside. “I believe in Nigeria, I believe in Izon nation and I believe in Rivers State. Peterside, the APC candidate is flying the flag of all peace loving people of our state, therefore he needs our support. Politics is about interest and sense. This young man is honest, humble, independent-minded and passionate about the development of Rivers State. Go home and tell everyone that our survival as a people depends on Peterside, so we must be careful in order not to regret tomorrow.” Responding, Peterside thanked the chiefs and leaders of Kalabari Kingdom for speaking out in this season of election when truth and courage are in short supply. He said that he fully appreciates the fact that Rivers is a multi-ethnic state; therefore he will do his best to run an inclusive government that will positively affect all and sundry. [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has made it clear that he is not loosing sleeps over the looming Presidential election, rescheduled for this Saturday. Jonathan affirmed: “I’m not apprehensive at all as to whether will win the election. I have worked very hard to win the election. My party is working very hard for me to win the election. Political process is not an individual business because it is actually the party that is presenting you but as a sitting president I’m more interested in the nation so nothing will keep me awake.” The President who was responding to international teams that interacted with him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today, reassured that the elections would be conducted as scheduled and that it would be free and fair. He said that as a government, “we will do our best even though I’m a candidate but I’m more interested in peaceful elections than who emerges as the next president of Nigeria. “I want a situation where the whole world should respect our electoral process. I will feel diminished if at the end of the day that the international and observers don’t accept the process, the result. I won’t feel comfortable. “I will be happier if both Nigerians and international observers agree that the process is credible, is transparent at all levels from the state house of assembly, to the governors of the states, the house of Representatives to the senate and of course the presidential, that they were duly elected by the people. It will make me happier as a president who preside over the elections the way although I don’t control INEC, they are independent body but if anything goes wrong it is on the head of the President. So if INEC does very well I will also take the glory. In 2011 after the elections when I travelled out I was happy when other heads of states commended me, I accepted the credit. If they had done poorly the admonition would have come to me. “So I will be happier to see a credible elections accepted by the world than anyone emerging as president. Presidents will come and go, so even if I win the elections in the next four years I will go, is not an office that you must be there. Luckily in Nigeria, unlike other countries where presidents stay for a very long time, here you can’t say more than eight years. So the issue is not that President Jonathan must continue in office but that our elections process must be accepted by Nigerians but also by international community.” President Jonathan said that those who are close to him know what he stands for, saying that his interest is more about the country and not about him. Responding to the question raised about the postponement of elections from February 14, President Jonathan said that if elections were held on February 14th, there would have been problems in this country because the tensions were quite high and the security challenges were quite enormous. He said that when the security operatives advised that elections be rescheduled for security reasons, a number of people thought it was just because of the terror attacks in some parts of the north. “Yes, that was a major factor too because at that time, the Boko Haram were in three states: Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. They were holding territories, some local governments were completely under their control and invariably there were no government in those places. And of course, some states like Gombe and Bauchi were also not free. In fact, it would have been difficult to conduct elections in five states of the federation. And if we had conducted elections on that 14th, they would have come up to disrupt elections in these five states and that would have made the presidential elections in these five states inconclusive. Because whoever emerged a winner though we are 14 candidates but the PDP and the APC candidates are the two that are well known. ‘It would have been difficult because probably the vote difference of any of these candidates, if you aggregate the remaining five states that elections would have been disrupted, it would have been difficult to declare a winner. “When these elections were rescheduled, on that 14th, Gombe state was attacked because the Boko Haram thought elections were to be held and they came out actually to disrupt it but they were repelled. But now we have cleaned up Adamwa and Yobe completely. And even Borno state, before the elections, it was only a little area like the Sambisa forest that will be in the hands of Boko Haram. We believe by tomorrow or latest Friday, we will be able to take over Gwoza. If we take over Gwoza, it will not take us more than one week to clean up. Now Boko Haram are not in position to come out and disrupt elections. “So I want to assure that elections would be conducted on the 28th across the country so there will be no reason for inclusive results.” President Jonathan said that apart from the issue of Boko Haram, within that period, there were some red flags which were dangerous signals, adding that as a sitting president, there were some states they even attempted to stone his convoy, adding: “it was as bad as that because some people were instigated. It shows clearly that we may run into crisis if we don’t recalibrate our security architecture. “So it was Boko Haram at one hand which was key and that has been handled but at the same time, even internal security needed to be reviewed and re-strategise and within this period, a number of things have been done by government through the intelligent services and so on. “So even states where people were extremely hostile to opposition parties have died down completely. Before now, bill boards belonging to opposition were destroyed sometimes even attacking vehicles. So generally, you now see that the country is calmer than February 14th and a number of people didn’t know but I know of course, by virtue of my office. And the best thing that happened to this country was the rescheduling of the elections. The rescheduling of the elections was not to give anybody advantage because is the same Nigerians that are to vote we are not importing new people.” Jonathan said that even in terms of the electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that it was very ready to conduct the elections, but that as at that 14th on February, some states, more than 50 per cent of the people had no permanent voters card. “A state like Lagos for example, as at that time, only 38 per cent of people had PVCs. That means that only 38 per cent that would have voted and by all standards the turn out for elections is about 60, 65, so if you take 65 per cent of 38 per cent, that means overall, only over 20 per cent people would have decided who becomes the next governor, senator, house of reps members in Lagos state. That is totally unacceptable. “But at least, between that time and now, more people have collected their PVCs. That has also helped to bring down the tension because a lot of people were angry believing that the government was trying to disenfranchise them from voting. They accused state governments, accused federal government but at least, some people have gotten their cards though not 100 per cent. I would have preferred every Nigerian who is interested to vote, to vote because this is election. In 2011, all those who were interested in voting voted. “So on the overall in terms of the security threat generally, it has come down drastically across the country. In terms of the Boko Haram enclaves, they have been degraded to a level that for now they cannot come and disrupt elections. So we are quite happy with the security services.” The leader of the African Union (AU) electoral observer team, Mr. Amos Sawyer said that the team is here first in full solidarity with the Nigerian people as they deepen the democratic experience. He said that Nigeria is very important to West Africa and Africa as a whole. He also stressed the importance of peaceful and credible elections to not only the deepening democratization processes of Nigeria but for all the peace, stability, and progress of Nigeria benefits the entire region. “We are highly encouraged by developments thus far, particularly the Abuja Peace Accord where the President met with the opposition and together committed to elections that would be credible, free and fair and respecting the results and moving forward. “One example Mr. President is that we have watched you and you have often said that your candidacy or political career is not worth the life of a single Nigerian, that is commendable.” [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has sited a College of Health Sciences and University Teaching Hospital at Akwete-Akpa, Otukpo, Benue State. Akwete-Akpa is the hometown of the Senate President, Senator David Mark. The groundbreaking ceremony was performed today on behalf of President Jonathan by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo. The President acknowledged that the project is the baby of the Senate President that will not only provide the country with the much needed manpower in the health sector, but would bring world class healthcare delivery services to the people. He said that the PDP administration recognizes the fact that healthy citizens translate to higher life expectancy, more productivity and greater development, saying: “the choice of this location for the Teaching Hospital was informed by the need to bring this level of health services closer to the people without having to travel long distances to access the services. “This Teaching Hospital being established today, when fully operational, shall offer tertiary health services to the good people of Benue State, its catchment areas and the Nation in general. Moreover, I am excited at the prospects of the high-level manpower this institution will produce for the country in various specialised fields of health in the years to come.” President Jonathan particularly thanked the people of Akwete-Akpa for the provision of the 600 hectares of land for the construction of the health institutions of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, which he noted had the necessary facilities to accommodate the new campus. The President gave his commitment to continue to provide quality healthcare services to Nigerians through adequate service delivery, the provision of critical infrastructure and human capacity development. The Senate President, David Mark, said the event was of unique importance to him even as he appreciated the President and appealed to the people to cooperate with the contractors and project managers to ensure the speedy completion of the projects. The Benue state Governor, Gabriel Suswam described President Jonathan as a silent achiever, who had done well for the people of Benue. He emphasized that the project was a PDP project, conceived by PDP government. In their separate remarks, the Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Morro, the Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee, Professor E. E. Okpere and the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Chief Chike Udenze, commended the project which they said will stem medical tourism, provide the much needed manpower and create more jobs for the people. When completed, the project will bring to 21 the number of teaching hospitals in the country. The project was approved in year 2014 by the President and it is a partnership between the University, the Federal Ministries of Health and Education as well as the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). [myad]
Nigeria will hold general elections on March 28, in what is expected to be the closest vote since independence from Britain in 1960.
Here are five key battleground areas where the outcome could tip the result in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), led by ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.
Lagos, in the southwest, is the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa with an estimated population of 20 million and has 5.8 million registered voters.
The city’s government has been controlled by the opposition since military rule ended in 1999. But the PDP has performed well in Lagos in past presidential elections and Jonathan will need some support in the city to secure re-election.
Lagos is the most religiously and ethnically mixed part of the country, where inter-marriage among faiths and tribes is widespread and where voters have a track record of transcending sectarian biases that shape voting in the rest of the country.
Both Jonathan and Buhari have campaigned aggressively in the key swing state and experts say the result is likely too close to call.
Buhari won Nigeria’s second most populous state in 2011 by more than one million votes but will need to make gains in Kano to beat Jonathan nationally, after losing to the president by more than 10 million votes four years ago.
Buhari is from neighbouring Katsina state and his popularity has grown in the north over the last four years, with the region desperately wanting to retake the presidency from the mainly Christian south.
Three other factors are likely to help Buhari among Kano’s five million voters:
– Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso defected from the PDP to the APC last year, meaning the state government machinery will for the first time be aiding the opposition.
– Ex-Kano governor Ibrahim Shekarau — who has since joined the PDP — was one of several opposition presidential candidates in 2011 and received more than 526,000 votes.
Buhari now leads a united opposition and could grab the support of those who backed Shekarau but equally the ex-governor’s supporters could still remain loyal to the PDP.
– Since Nigeria last voted, Kano has been hit by dozens of Boko Haram attacks. Those frustrated with Jonathan’s handling of the conflict may turn to Buhari, who has emphasised his national security credentials.
Next to Jonathan’s home state of Bayelsa in the oil-producing south, Rivers should have been comfortable terrain for the president and the PDP.
The ruling party has won easy majorities in all governorship and national elections in Rivers since 1999.
But Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who defected to the APC, has become a vocal Jonathan antagonist and is serving as director general of Buhari’s campaign.
Amaechi is seen as desperately wanting to hand Jonathan a defeat in this former PDP stronghold and analysts say some of the state’s 2.5 million voters will follow their governor in backing Buhari.
At first glance, the dynamics of this religiously divided northern state with 3.4 million registered voters appear to favour Buhari. The opposition leader has lived in the state capital Kaduna city for most of his life and is a native son in the eyes of many voters.
But Jonathan ran neck-and-neck with Buhari in Kaduna in 2011 — losing by about 150,000 votes — and may do well there again.
The current Vice President Namadi Sambo is from Kaduna and carries some support, while the state government is still PDP-controlled. The most crucial period in Kaduna may be after the results are announced. The state was the epicentre of post-election violence in 2011, which killed more than 1,000 people.
Borno, in the northeast, has been brutalised by Boko Haram for six years but is not a battleground in terms of the electorate: Buhari is expected to win massively among a population that has voiced outrage over Jonathan’s handling of the Islamist uprising.
The election battle in Borno may instead centre on logistics and legalities.
Hundreds of thousands of people forced from their homes by the fighting have been told they can vote in displaced persons camps.
But the details of this emergency arrangement could prove complicated — and may be subject to legal challenge — possibly fuelling tension in an already restive region. [myad]
Muslims from all walks of life gathered at the Eid Praying ground in Ibadan to offer a special prayer for the successful and peaceful elections which begin on Saturday, March 28 and April11.
The prayer was called by the Muslim Ummah of South- West Nigeria (MUSWEN).
The prayer session which started at 10 am was presided over by Sheikh Baosari Suara Haruna lll, Chief Imam of Ibadanland and President General, League of Imams and Alfas in South West Including Edo and Delta States.
Haruna told the gathering that the prayer was necessary in view of the forthcoming general elections.
Speaking on the essence of the Prayer, the Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, Dawud Noibi, said the association organised the prayer to ensure peaceful elections in the country.
“The only resort Nigeria has is to call on Allah to guide us and give us peaceful elections,” he said.
He said the way out in solving any problems should be through negotiation and not through crisis.
“As Muslim faithful we have the believe that through prayer there will be peace in Nigeria and all will be well,” he said.
Mr. Noibi advised those eligible to vote to come out en-mass to cast their vote according to their conscience .
Speaking in the same vein, the chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Kunle Sanni, said that Muslims believed in the efficacy of prayer hence the need to call on Allah.
” As the election is drawing near, there has been apprehension by Nigerians that the election may be marred with violence and may lead to anarchy”
He urged all the ethnic militias not to attached to any political party in other to ensure a free and fair elections.
The National Public Relations Officer (PRO) Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria, (FOMWAN) Sururah Oyero emphasised the role of women in the forthcoming elections.
According to her, the role of women is to come out en-mass to fulfill their civic obligations.
“FOMWAN is calling on women to take care of their children and must not send them out to hawk at the polling units,” she said.
Ismail Alli, Secretary to the Oyo state Government, said he came to represent Governor Isiaka Ajimobi, who he said value the importance of prayer.
At the prayer, a whole Quran was recited as well as some selected prayers for a free, fair and violence-free elections in the country.
Many prominent islamic leaders and representatives of Muslim Organisations in Nigeria attended the prayer session. [myad]
A Federal High Court in Abuja has failed to stop the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari from contesting the Saturday Presidential election, though it adjourned further hearing in the suit seeking to disqualify him till April 22 and 23. This adjournment has finally laid to rest the speculation that the court would be used to stop Buhari from taking part in the Saturday polls.
About four different plaintiffs have approached the court seeking to disqualify Buhari from participating in the presidential polls over alleged certificate forgery and perjury.
The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola at the resumed hearing refused the joinder application brought by one pro-democracy activist, Ebunoluwa Adegoruwa and another lawyer, Chukwuma Ochu seeking to be joined in the matter.
Ruling on their application, the court held that none of the parties seeking to be joined had shown enough interest that could warrant their joinder.
The court described them as interlopers and busy bodies.It was on that note that the court refused their application.
The court later adjourned till April 22 and 23 for hearing of the matter against Buhari.
One Chika Okafor had dragged Buhari to court seeking to disqualify him from contesting the March 28 presidential election over alleged certificate forgery and perjury.
While the case was pending, APC applied to be joined and was consequently joined as a co-defendant.
Buhari through his counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) had also challenged the mode of service of court papers on him and also the order to abridge time.
APC through its counsel, Lateef Fagbemi SAN had also filed a preliminary objection as to entertaining the suit by the court. The court had earlier fixed Tuesday for the ruling on abridgement of time and mode of service of the process on Buhari.
But at the resumed hearing, Ebunoluwa Adegoruwa had brought an application for joinder.
He premised his application on the grounds that he was a pro-democracy activist and wants to ensure that all the candidates were granted equal right. [myad]
Boko Haram militants have kidnapped 506 youths, including women and children from the town of Damasak in Borno State. Though there has been no official confirmation of the figure, but a trader who gave his name as Souleimane Ali confirmed that Boko Haram militants took 506 young women and children (in Damasak) and that they killed about 50 of them before leaving.
“We don’t know if they killed others after leaving, but they took the rest with them.”
Ali said that his wife and three of his daughters were among those kidnapped, saying: “two of them were supposed to get married this year. Boko Haram said ‘they are slaves so we’re taking them because they belong to us’,” he said.
Mohamed Ousmane, another trader, said the militants took his two wives and three of his children.
A 40-year-old resident who gave her name as Fana said fighters had rounded up captives in the main mosque before taking them out of town. She said she saved her two children by hiding them in her house.
Ali said he was just hoping life would return to normal, adding: “we’ve seen the worst possible things you can imagine, so after a certain point there was no point in trying to leave.
“They killed all our friends, our family members, so we just submitted ourselves to God.”
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