The Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, has made it clear that the only solution to Nigeria’s search for peace is the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office. The governor, who spoke in Uyo today at an interdenominational Church service, urged Nigerians to allow the continuity of President Jonathan’s administration in the country. “As a PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) chieftain, I have found the solution to the peace we are seeking in Nigeria. That solution is the election of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for a second term in office.” “When you do that, you would show that you are not a religious bigot. When you do that, you would show that you are not an ethnic jingoist and that you believe in the unity of this country.” Akpabio, however said that he did not share the sentiments that the February elections would divide the country along religious lines, saying that the exercise would rather unify the country and usher in brotherhood and brotherliness between Christians and Muslims “Because God did not make a mistake in creating over 280 tribes and putting all of them together as one, the next election will be about love, not religion. It will help unite the plurality of Nigeria and not allow religion to tear us apart.” According to him, re-election of Jonathan would not divide the South and the North, adding that since he was elected by both Muslims and Christians, his re-election would equally not allow religion to divide the country. “I want to plead with all Nigerians to join hands together to allow the continuity of this administration. I want to urge the media to focus on those good things so that Nigerians will see the need to allow continuity of the current administration to complete the good works already started by the president.” On the achievements of his administration, Akpabio said the pace of development of the state under his leadership has been so fast that not many people even noticed that most Akwa Ibom citizens were no longer doing menial jobs on the streets of Lagos. Most of those citizens, the governor said, have since returned to Akwa Ibom schools on the basis of the free and compulsory education under the uncommon transformation programme of his administration in the education sector. “No one can completely analyse the efforts of the administration to transform the state, because, just like they cannot understand the ways of God, it is extremely all encompassing.” Governor Akpabio said his administration was born of God, in line with his campaign slogan in 2006 for God’s will to be done. Criticizing the media for the poor perception of the achievements of the government, the governor said irrespective of the achievements recorded in various sectors of the economy, the newspapers have continued to churn out falsehood daily and circulate on the internet. According to him, when the entire media are owned by the opposition, even if an entire power sector was transformed or the railways made to work, nobody would know or see, because nobody would publish it. He said that even when roads are built, like the second Niger Bridge now being constructed, or power plants and dams were being built and power supply improving, nobody would either notice, because they are not being reported. [myad]
Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has pledged his commitment to return Nigerian armed forces to its place of pride among the comitty of nations if he is elected in the february election even as he promised to make a new deal for the nation’s women and youths.. “I wish to assure you of my un-alloyed commitment to returning the Armed Forces to its place of pride among committee of nations.” A statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential campaign organisation, Garba Shehu to mark the armed forces remembrance day today, said that General Buhari sympathised and condole with the families of members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives in various military operations to keep Nigeria secured. He equally sympathised with the men and officers that are currently battling with insurgents in North Eastern part of Nigeria. “An APC government will provide the necessary military equipment and personnel to prosecute the battle effectively and efficiently as soon as we are voted into power in the forthcoming elections,” Buhari assured and added that APC is fully aware of the sufferings of the military retirees whose pension arrears and gratuity have remained a serious problem. The APC flag bearer made clear that his government, is he is voted into power, would correct the Problems even as he advised the armed forces to remain apolitical and focus on the ethos of discipline, which is the hallmark of their profession. “I am aware of the neglect of the military over the years and assure you that everything will be done within available resources to train and equip the military to the level comparable with other developed militaries of the world in the shortest possible time.” He acknowledged that the Nigerian Military had accomplished a lot of feats in building and ensuring global security and peace in conjunction with the armed forces of other great nations of the world as was experienced in the Congo, Sierra-Leone, Liberia, Lebanon and other areas. “Therefore, I call on all Nigerians to join us in the APC in our quest to making Nigeria a better place for all.” General Buhari promised that he would initiate policies and programmes that will impact positively on the lives of youths and women when he is voted into office in the February 14 presidential election. He said that the APC manifesto contains several innovations and legislative proposals that will promote the manpower development and social participation of women and youths in the country. “Drawing extensively from the information contained in the APC’s manifesto, a federal government under the leadership of Buhari promises to offer women and youths in Nigeria a new deal. “We are firmly committed to the value that women are the backbone of the Nigerian society, especially in our rural communities. Therefore, issues that matter to the average Nigerian woman cut across the spectrum of policy areas, such as agriculture – where they predominate as farmers and farm labour – to health and education, where their concern for their children are paramount. “Our policy position for woman takes into cognisance the fact that in spite of several rights outlined in the 1999 Constitution, many women do not enjoy the same freedom as men, particularly in the fields of education, economic empowerment and political participation. “No society can progress where half of its population suffers systemic discrimination. An APC government will seek to end all forms of gender discrimination in both public and private sectors, in education, employment and housing and also protect equal property and inheritance rights.” Buhari said that the core policy objectives of the APC for women and youths to include, “improving anti-discriminatory legislation and instituting merit-based affirmative action in employment; injecting gender as a component of federal character and appointing a Minister for Women and Gender in the Office of the President; enforcing legal protection for the fundamental rights of the girl-child in all areas of religious, social and economic life.” Other policy concerns according to him include, “providing women with greater legal protection from domestic violence and sexual harassment; empowering the Police with specialist training on handling of domestic violence issues; strengthening coordination between women and youths’ agencies at state and federal levels cutting across ethnic and religious barriers.” Other policy initiatives which Buhari promised to implement include “improving and strengthening support for women and youths’ participation in all sectors of the economy through training and skill acquisition; develop innovative ways of encouraging women and youths participation; encouraging local governments to combat female adult illiteracy with education programmes in local languages and provide incentives for the private sector to support these initiatives.” [myad]
They got married on September 3rd, 1998 and had their first child on December 29th, 2014. Excited 60-year old Tunrayo Alagbe who christened her first child on the 5th of January, 2015, says God is never too late.
It was a sunny afternoon on Monday, January 5, 2015, and the atmosphere was radiantly purpled by the stylish outfits of many who had come to witness the naming ceremony of the lovely daughter of the Alagbes. The crowd was surprisingly large, even for the African setting, as many braced the burning rays beating down on the premises of the Women Missionary Union (WMU) headquarters of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Total Garden area, Ibadan, just to show their solidarity with the couple.
As the President of the NBC, Reverend Dr Supo Ayokunle, affirmed during his address at the naming ceremony, “This child has, from the beginning, started breaking records. I have never seen a naming ceremony that attracted this kind of crowd. Also, no naming ceremony has been conducted on the premises before now. This goes to show that God can do anything, anytime, anywhere and anyhow, pleasantly, for his own people. For those who wait upon God, it is never over until it is over. This is an occasion for us to understand that God’s ways are not our ways.”
The Retired Executive Director, Women Missionary Union, Nigeria, and a close friend of the family who anchored the naming of the baby, Reverend Mrs Yemi Ladokun, took the audience through the time of waiting. She showed to the crowd some flowers from the bouquet used during the wedding and stated that she had kept the flowers thinking she would use them during the year after the wedding during the naming ceremony of a child but she was wrong as she had to wait for almost 17 years.
The child was given close to 40 names including, Halleluyah, Testimony, Esther, Jesulayomi, Ileri-Ayo-Mi, OkikiJesu, Adepate, Oluwatoyin, Omoronike, Ibiyemi, Oluremi, Motunrayo, Mo-F’Oluwa-ke, Aderonke, Odunola, Eri-Ipe, Ewa-Iyin, Itan-iyanu-ife, IturaOluwa, Favour, Oluwadamilare, Titilayomi-niwaju-Oluwa, among other significant names.
‘A childless woman has no honour, no respect, no place’
Speaking with Sunday Tribune on the experience during the years of anxiety, Mrs Alagbe noted that the many years of worrying, coupled with the delay before marriage, contributed to making the experience quite worrying. According to her, “I wouldn’t say we were not worried, but God wascomforting and encouraging us. It was not a pleasant experience at all. We experienced delay before marriage but this one was more excruciating. However, God sustained us.”
On the most nagging worry during the times of trial, the couple notes that the African tendency to look down on a childless couple was a constant source of concern. According to the mother, “InAfrica, having children is very important. If you’re married and childless, it’s like you have no honour, no respect, no place. You’re nobody, so to speak.”
The father, Paul Alagbe, further stated that “She would sometimes say if she had known that it would be like this, she would not marry me as it seems like she is a problem to me.” His wife affirmed this by stating that “Medically, I was told he has no problem, but I was the one whose fallopian tubes were blocked. I felt like I was a burden to him, like I shouldn’t have come his way and instead allowed him to live his life.”
‘Childlessness does not mean you are married to the wrong person’
The president of the NBC, Reverend Ayokunle, who spoke on challenges and godly responses noted that nobility and godliness does not immune an individual from trials. According to him, “Childlessness is not a modern-day challenge. The fact that your family is childless does not mean you are married to the wrong person. Some couples who do not have the problem of childlessness have other problems. Would you rather exchange childlessness for blindness, for instance? A problem is a problem but God is always there.”
On her general outlook during the period of not knowing how things would turn out, Mrs Alagbe, whom many describe as cheerful, warm and always ready with a smile, narrated “I kept hoping. I cherished my personal relationship with God because I know that the day you die, this issue of having children no longer has meaning. So, I was jealously guarding my personal relationship with God, especially in relation to eternity. I tried to enjoy other things God has blessed me with.Although, I was often disturbed by that one thing he had not done, I tried to enjoy what he has done and in my own little way, I served him, hoping He will do it. I thought that if He doesn’t do it, He knows why and knows how to sustain me. That’s also why I didn’t visit all sort of places because I know that if I eventually get a child from the wrong source and I end up in hell, what use will it be? Besides, God encouraged me that He will do it and I trusted in His promise.”
‘There was pressure on me as the only surviving male to have a child’
Her husband, Mr Alagbe, was not also without his own troubles. According to him, he was constantly reminded about the need to take the alternative option by getting a second wife. This was further hinged on his position as the only surviving male child of his family. As Mr Alagbe puts it, “We were six in my family; four of them died and it was just me and my sister left. All my siblings who died did not have any children and there was pressure on me as the only surviving male to have a child. However, I was convinced by my faith not to do anything negative.”
God never comes too late –Mother
Mrs Alagbe, who started treatment in early 2014, was confirmed pregnant in April 2014 and the reaction of the couple when the news first broke is too much to sufficiently capture in words.
“I didn’t believe it. It didn’t have much meaning to me. It was like I was dreaming. However, as time went on, I saw it becoming a reality. I just kept thanking God because He said He will do it according to his promise in Psalm 40. I know that this miracle is for God’s name to be glorified and for the hope of people to be reawakened so that they believe that God still works miracles. God never comes too late,” Mrs Alagbe stated.
For Mr Alagbe, his reception of the good news was almost unbelievable. In his words, “It was like a dream. I kept asking myself if it was true.”
While echoing the joy of motherhood, Mrs Alagbe stated that “I just praise God. I’m delighted that God kept his word. In January 2013, there was a prophecy in our church that God will do it. Several people came to me and told me to hold on to that prophecy because it was for me. In addition to what others had been telling me, and the support I received, especially from my church, El-Shaddai Baptist Church, Pastor Mrs Olateju and many people, I am happy that God has been faithful to His word.”
‘You can still help people even in your own sorrow’
While acknowledging that going through childlessness is no trivial task, Mrs Alagbe advises couples in this situation to guard their relationship with God whatever the eventual outcome. As she points out, “Even if at the end of the day, God doesn’t do it, it is to the advantage of the couple. I reached that stage where I told God that if He doesn’t do it, I’m okay with His decision because He knows what is best for me. My advice is that they should hold on to God and ensure that their personal relationship with God stands. They should also do other things to serve God because when you serve God, you are not likely to be too sorrowful and you’ll be happy to meet the needs of others and minister to people. Couples should not aimlessly trust God but anchor on a verse on the Bible and trust the eventual manifestation of God’s word. They should also help others. You can still help people even in your own sorrow. When you minister to the needs of people, your burden is lightened. The couple shouldn’t become so averse to others as if barrenness is the only problem in the world. Afterall, God has done other things that they can enjoy and appreciate. Let them hold on to God.”
Mr Alagbe, affirmed by friends and church members to be a friend of children and who also teaches children in the church, advises couples in the situation to ensure that they are not hostile to people, especially children, no matter how hard it seems.
Taking more wives is causing more problems –Father
In his advice for men who are currently undergoing the challenge of childlessness and who, like him, had been advised to take a second wife, Mr Alagbe encourages them to fear God, stating that “If they go for more wives, they are asking for more problems. The best thing is to hold on to God and see beyond the immediate situation. Right from time, I knew there was a problem but I also considered what the situation would be if I was the one who had the problem.”
The couple attempted to relive the priceless memory of viewing the child for the first time. For Mr Alagbe, “There was anxiety at the time of delivery. I read Tribune newspapers a lot and I had read something about a similar case in which the operation was not successful and I kept thinking about it. But when I saw the baby, I almost cried. I was very happy.”
For Mrs. Alagbe, “I was just happy. I don’t know the words to use. I was excited. I was thrilled that the baby had come at last. I had her through Caesarian section at Vine Branch Medical Centre and at the theatre, when they told me ‘this is your baby; it’s a perfect baby,’ I wanted to scream and say ‘Wow! So this is what was in my womb!’ I lack words to explain. Even though I was in pains, I couldn’t sleep throughout that day. I was just looking at her and I kept saying to myself, ‘So this is you I have been waiting for. Where did you hide?’ I was really very happy.” [myad]
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has said that nobody can become a governor of a state without the support of the incumbent governor.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign organisation in Uyo yesterday night, the governor said that he was a part of former Governor Victor Attah’s succession plan, adding that he has never seen himself as someone who was not supported by Attah.
He said Attah encouraged him contest the governorship and that he had wanted him to be his deputy so that he could take over from him in 2007.
Akpabio alleged that the grouse of some of the 22 aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants in the state was that a sitting governor had never produced a successor in the state and that his case should not be an exception.
“I have never seen myself as someone who was not supported by Attah, I was part of his succession plan. You emerge from a system where the incumbent governor also supports you. An incumbent governor supported me; that is the simple truth.
“Some of them in Abuja, their anger is that after all, a precedent had been set: the incumbent governor should not produce a successor. I told them they do not understand.
“It is not easy; it was the incumbent governor that produced me. I was a commissioner for five and a half years. I stayed until it was time for me to resign like the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Udom Emmanuel, resigned and I contested. Attah gave me his blessings. I went with my wife. I gave him drink, I said, sir, ‘I am now coming out to contest your position’.
“So, if I was not part of his succession plan, would I stay with him until I finish as commissioner, up to the point of resigning, up to the point of accepting my drink? These are things that people don’t know; I don’t like to talk about issues.”
Akpabio added, “It was Obong Attah who encouraged me to be the governor. Right from 2002, he wanted me to be his deputy and take over in 2007. This is the secret you people do not know.
“For me in Akwa Ibom, with all these elders that are present during the inauguration of this campaign organisation, the election in Akwa Ibom is over.” [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan and Presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, the two that have been on each other’s throats as February 14 Presidential election approaches, today, buried the hatchet and went for peace ahead of the election. They signed what was called “Abuja Accord” supervised by former Secretary-General of the Coomonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Kofi Anan and other local and world leaders at Sheraton Hotel and Tower, Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
Here also are chairmen of the two combatant political parties: Chief John Odigie-Oyegun of All Progressives Congress (APC L) and Alhaji Mua’zu Adamu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP R). [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan and Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, Presidential candidates of other political parties as well as their chairmen signed an Abuja peace accord today ahead of February general elections. The stakeholders in the elections, which also included the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega and the security agencies made an undertaking that they would allow peace to thrive before, during and after the elections. The peace accord was drafted by the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, with the former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Kofi Anan and other local and world leaders witnessing the signing by the stakeholders. Among the Party chairmen who signed the accord were Tunde Anifowoshe Kelani of Action Alliance (AA), Rafiu Salau of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ambrose Albert Owuru of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and Professor Oluremi Sonaiya of Kowa Party (KP). Others were Dr. Yunusa Tanko of National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr. Mua’azu Adamu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Godson Okoye of United Democratic Party (UDP), Chief Chekwas Okorie of Unity Progressive Party (UPP) and Alhaji Gani Oseni Galadima of Alliance Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). The Presidential candidates of all the parties also appended their signatures to the peace accord, after which they took a group photograph. President Jonathan took the opportunity of the workshop and signing of peace accord to inform Nigerians that his government had paid compensation of three billion naira to the victims of Kaduna post election violence, even though about N15 Billion was due to the victims He said that other states affected by the post-election violence got between five and seven billion naira, adding the level of destruction in Kaduna state was almost more than all the other parts of the country put together. “So that is the kind of thing the country faces. At the end of elections, we do not need to kill people. We do not need to get our houses or industries burnt. I believe we will get there if we are sincere to do what is right in this country. The emphasis here is electoral violence not electoral malpractices. With electoral malpractices, the Courts can help. To some extent but there is nothing the courts can do about electoral violence. If a property is burnt, it is burnt. If you identify the person, yes, he can go in for arson charges. It is often difficult convicting people.” The President took a look at the history of election in Nigeria and said: “for people of my age and above, we were told that there were electoral violence by the people of south west. And that violence led to the collapse of the first Republic. “In the second republic which I was old enough to observe as a student, we noticed that at the beginning, political parties, the key actors were even relating. After the elections, Governors from different parties were even relating. But as the second round of elections were coming on board, the behaviour changed and people started insulting themselves. I remember a particular day, I was worried because as President Shehu Shagari was approaching one state, even the commentators on the radio were abusing him. “Of course, I was not surprised that, that second republic did not last. Once the politicians start abusing themselves, insulting every institutions, it is just like what late Tai Solarin referred to as “the beginning of the end” “So presently, we are talking about what is coming up. “If you look at the 2011 elections, we approached it differently. I am happy that Civil Society people are here, they did mention that 2011 election was much better than any other conducted by the country. “Even then, at the end of the election, violence still ensued in some parts of the country. Even in Kano and Bauchi, properties and houses were burnt down and in Bauchi, 10 young innocent Youth Corpers were slaughtered.” President Jonathan pleaded to politicians to stop hate preaching that could instigate crises and threaten others. “Provocative and inflammatory statements by people whether they are traditional or religious leaders, or ethnic nationalities leaders must stop. We must stop this. We can practice politics without bitterness. “We must accept that the struggle to rules is not struggle to conquer. Whenever you win election, you will rule the whole country and not only your political party members so that at the end of the election, everybody must be your friend and follower. “We must stop the hate issues then of courses these violence will begin to reduce. We must also strengthen the security.” [myad]
The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has asked the PDP to explain to Nigerians how five trillion Naira in oil and gas revenue has gone down the drain. In a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja today APC challenged President Jonathan to explain why over N5 trillion in oil and gas revenue vanished under his supervision, through fraud and embezzlement. “This government must answer the questions posed by the different Committees and Task Forces that probed the Oil and Gas Sector between 2011 and 2012. By this, we mean the Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Task Force Report, the Minister of Trade and Investment’s report on stolen crude; the House of Representatives fuel subsidy report coupled with the investigations into the ecological fund, SIM card registration and frequency band spectrum sale.” The APC Campaign recalled that a prominent newspaper, The Punch, had in the 25th of November, 2012 edition alerted Nigerians on how over N5 Trillion oil money had been stolen under Jonathan’s tenure. It bemoaned the shock that the nation’s economy is currently going through as a result of the free-fall of the oil prices, adding that waste and graft associated with the management of our oil and gas revenue has further compounded Nigeria’s economic predicament. The APC Campaign reminded Nigerians of the report of Punch Newspaper private investigation in 2012, http://www.punchng.com/news/n5tn-stolen-under-jonathan-investigation/ which was never responded to by the government. It noted that if the above scenario was frightening, what followed in the last two years has been worse and most flagrant. According to the APC Campaign, “industrial theft of oil surged from 250,000 to 400,000 barrels per day and remains unabated. The issue of corruption was also repackaged and lowered to the status of petty stealing. Worse still innocent whistle-blowers were hounded out of office.” [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has disagreed with the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) over what used to cause electoral violence in Nigerian. Buhari had said today, at a stakeholders’ workshop on violence- free 2015 elections held in Abuja, that rigging and falsification of election results have been the main cause of post- election violence. But Jonathan countered by saying that post election violence is often caused by inflammatory statements made by politicians and religious/ ethnic leaders as well as a weak system which allows people of questionable character to join politics. President Jonathan reminded the audience that after the 2011 Presidential election, serious violence broke out majorly in Kano and Bauchi states where he had performed very poorly. “The emphasis here is electoral violence, not electoral malpractices. With electoral malpractices, the courts can help. To some extent but there is nothing the courts can do about electoral violence. If a property is burnt, it is burnt. If you identify the person, yes, he can go in for arson charges. It is often difficult convicting people. “If you look at the history of election in this country, for people of my age and above, we were told that there were electoral violence by the people of south west. And that violence led to the collapse of the first Republic. “In the second republic which I was old enough to observe as a student, we noticed that at the beginning, political parties, the key actors were even relating. After the elections, Governors from different parties were even relating. But as the second round of elections were coming on board, the behavior changed and people started insulting themselves. I remember a particular day, I was worried because as President Shehu Shagari was approaching one state, even the commentators on the radio were abusing him. “Of course, I was not surprised that, that second republic did not last. Once the politicians start abusing themselves, insulting every institutions, it is just like what late Tai Solarin referred to as ” the beginning of the end “If you look at the 2011 elections, we approached it differently, I am happy that Civil Society people are here, they did mention that 2011 election was much better than any other conducted by the country. “Even then, at the end of the election, violence still ensued in some parts of the country. Even in Kano and Bauchi properties and houses were burnt down and in Bauchi, 10 young innocent Youth Corpers were slaughtered. “Violence in that election erupted when election results were still being announced. As we were approaching the end, it was clear that a particular candidate was likely to win and violence erupted in Kano and Bauchi. “The only thing one can deduce, because we cannot say there were malpractices to favour the candidate that won because in Kano, I only got 16% and in Bauchi 15% of the total votes cast. Even in states where we got more than 50 percent, there were no violence. So, violence are not necessarily caused by electoral malpractices.” [myad]
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation has raised eye-brow over the appointment of Chief Mike Omeri, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the Jonathan campaign organisation, saying that it is an act of impunity, and violation of the NOA Act. The Campaign organisation argued that his appointment into a purely political position is in violation of Part 2 Section 6 (2) of the National Orientation Agency Act which expressly prescribes that the Director General of NOA should be “non-partisan.” The Campaign organization describes this behavior as unbecoming and designed to compromise and undermines the rules and principles on which the nation’s public service was founded. It added that this action jeopardises the neutrality, reputation and position of the service as an institution of governance. In a statement signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity of the organization, the APC Campaign condemned the inclusion of Mike Omeri who is currently serving in one of the federal government agencies, in the Media and Publicity sub-committee of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation. According to the APC Campaign, the action is in bad taste and contravenes the public service rules to which all public servants including the DG of the NOA is bound. The statement said that the publication of the name of the NOA DG in some national dailies with other members of the PDP publicity sub-committee is insensitive, reckless and in poor taste. The campaign organization made it clear that the unprecedented step of co-opting public servant of any cadre into a political party’s campaign structure “amounts to making the concerned public officer partisan and therefore a calculated attempt to pollute the reliability and appeal of the public service.” It called on the President to remedy this blunder by ensuring that Mike Omeri is dropped from the PDP Media and Publicity sub-committee without delay, considering that it contravenes Part 2 Section 6 (2) of the rules and regulations for the appointment of the DG of NOA. The section, APC explained, states, inter alia that the DG of the agency shall be non-partisan. “In this election season, the helmsman of the NOA by the law establishing it, should be in the forefront of the campaign for peaceful and credible election and not to be seen to be collaborating with the ruling PDP,” the APC Campaign said. [myad]
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has announced that the commission has registered a total number of 68,833,476 voters for the February general elections. He said that over four million Nigerians who were involved in multiple registrations across the country had had their names struck out of the register.
Professor Jega, who spoke today at the meeting with national leadership of all the 23 registered political parties in Abuja said: “in line with the provisions of the law, the commission has just announced the publications of the register of voters that will be used for the February 2015 general elections.
“The total number of voters registered for the elections is 68,833,476.”
Jega said that over four million Nigerians were involved in double registration and that because of this, their names had been deleted from the register.
He said 38,774,391 Nigerians had collected their Permanent Voter Cards out of the 54,341,610 that were ready as at Monday last week.
He, however, said that the commission had ordered more PVCs and that some of them are already waiting for collection.
“The commission has taken delivery of additional PVCs from the contractor, and we are positive that we will have all outstanding cards with us by 28 January, 2015.
“For the avoidance of doubt, possession of PVCs is a strict condition for anyone intending to vote in the 2015 elections.”
Asked about the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives, asking the commission to use TVCs, he said he was not aware of such resolution.
He said however that the commission is working with the intent of using only PVCs for the elections.
Professor Jega regretted that many Nigerians refused to collect their PVCs, adding that in order to address this, the commission had directed all resident electoral commissioners to further decentralise the distribution of the cards to the ward level.
The time for the distribution, he added, had also been fixed from 8.30am to 5.30pm, from Monday to Saturday.
He said that contrary to the doubt being entertained in some quarters, the electoral umpire would use card readers for the elections.
“INEC will use card readers for the elections. Th commission has taken delivery of more than 130,000 units of these card readers, and we are on schedule to receive the remaining quantity before the end of January.”
He announced that deployment of the cards to states had commenced, adding that there are about 150,000 polling points in the country. [myad]
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