President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned Nigerians against scuttling the 2015 general elections through acts of violence and thuggery. He called on youths in particular to shun negative tendencies from politicians and vote for credible candidates with proven mettle for leadership.

The President spoke today at the 2nd convocation ceremony of the Nigeria Turkish Nile University, Abuja, in which Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State and the Director-General, State Security Service, Ekpeyong Ita, were awarded honorary doctorate degrees.

“I would like to point out especially to our youths that the general elections are fast approaching,this calls for responsible engagement and participation.

“While encouraging you to vote for credible candidates of your choice, I urge you to shun all invitations to political thuggery or acts that can undermine free, fair and credible elections.”

President Jonathan, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Suleiman  Bagoro, said the  Federal Government was determined to win the war against terrorism, adding that the insurgency in Nigeria was calculated to undermine the nation’s cohesiveness.

“These are trying times for our country, occasioned by the challenge of terrorism, innocent  lives are being wasted by some people who have chosen to undermine our cohesiveness as a people.

“They will not succeed. We are determined to win this war and win back peace which is prerequisite for our development.”

He said efforts are being made to end the disparity between holders of Bachelor’s Degree and Higher National Diploma in the public service.

While discouraging over-dependence on paper qualifications, the President said the focus of his administration was to address comprehensively the challenges facing all sectors of education.

“Our aim in government is to address comprehensively, the challenges facing all sectors of education. We must move the focus from the mere acquisition of certificates to the development and application of skills for which individual students are best suited.” [myad]

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose has lamented alleged high level of money-politics being displayed the All Progressives Congress (APC) even as he said that whatever happened, he would leave his fate in the hand of God.

Fayose expressed worry that despite the presence of heavy security in various parts of the state, agents of APC and other political parties were busy freely distributing money to voters at polling units, adding that the rate of violence was also very high.

Speaking to newsmen on Saturday shortly after casting his vote in Afao area of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, the PDP hopeful said: “the issue of money sharing is unfortunate. It is disturbing when highly placed people in government are assigned to polling units to be sharing money. It is unfortunate. Whatever way it (election) goes, I will leave it to God.

“The violence is unprecedented. I called the Inspector General of Police to inform him of the violence. And I called the State Security Service Director in the state and I told him this violence is unprecedented. It is unfortunate but I hope we do not carry this into the 2015 election.”

On whether the violence he alleged would mar his chances, Fayose said: “I have to collate and get information before I can make a statement on whether the violence will affect my chances but I know I have done well, I have campaigned well and I am loved by my people.”

Meanwhile, soldiers and policemen arrested no fewer than seven journalists in various parts of the state as the voting was going on. Our correspondent witnessed the arrest of an unidentified photojournalist in blue native by a team of soldiers for taking their picture in front of Fayose’s house in Afao.

The journalist was put into a patrol vehicle and driven to an unknown destination, while five other journalists identified as, Toyin Yusuf, Oyetunji Ojo, Akin Ogunsola and Aremu Awolola and Jadesola Ajibola of Inspiration FM as well as other technical staff of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation were arrested by the police.

It was learnt that the reporters were arrested by a team of over 50 policemen at Ifaki Ekiti in Ido-Osi Local Government Area and were reportedly dumped at the Kwara boundary.
One of the reporters, Ajibola, said the Police Mobile Force Commander, identified only as Patrick, handed them over to a senior police officer identified as G.B Seleke, and told them not to return to the state.

“The commander told us that we had no business being in Ekiti State despite our protests that we were accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission. We showed them our tags but the policemen were adamant.” [myad]

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described the cavalier use of soldiers, especially in furtherance of a dirty job as nihilistic.
The Labour condemned in strong terms the denial of access to Ekiti, of some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, including, Rotimi Amaechi, Adams Oshiomhole, Musa Kwankwaso and Wammako of Sokoto State.
It advised President Jonathan to ensure that such thing never happens again, adding that “the cavalier use of our soldiers, especially in furtherance of a dirty job is nihilistic.”
The governors were to be in the state to take part in the party’s last mega rally before the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.
In a statement by its president, comrade Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar, the NLC described the action as tyrannical and a violation of their constitutional right to freely move, associate and express themselves.
He said the security officers that barred the governors cited orders from above and wondered who gave these orders and on the basis of which authority the orders were given.
“We at the Congress believe the orders are a violation of Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which states that “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”
“The hypocrisy of ‘these orders’ is laid bare by the their selective implementation as the Ministers of Defence and Police Affairs, (both of PDP), Messrs Musiliu Obanikoro and Jelili Adesanya were said to have been given passage with fanfare.
He stated security operative’s conduct was not only a tyrannical use of power, but an assault on our hard earned democracy and must not be allowed to stand.
The statement reads: “We warn that those who undermine the democratic and constitutional rights of others not only endanger our democracy but make a bad investment as whatever goes around, comes around. President Jonathan should ensure this never happens again. The cavalier use of our soldiers, especially in furtherance of a dirty job is nihilistic.
“We also find it necessary to caution against the over-militarization of the state as this has the potential of scaring voters from exercising their civic duty.
“For the purpose of emphasis, we are not against providing security for voters but soldiers should not be deployed in a manner that suggest that the nation is at war with a foreign enemy.”

[myad]

A drama is playing out in Adamawa state as members of State House of Assembly who commenced the procedure towards impeaching the state governor, Murtala Nyako, his deputy, Bala James Ngillari ran away from the state immediately after directing the House clerk to serve the duo notice of impeachment,  as the troubled governor and his deputy also took to their heels.

Reports reaching us indicated that the lawmakers, the governor and his deputy are now taking refuge in the nation’s Federal Capital Territory.

It was gathered that the lawmakers fled the state for fear that they might be attacked by people loyal to the governor and his deputy, thereby stalemating the impeachment process.

Was learnt that the  clerk, who should have served the impeachment notices to the governors and his deputy could not deliver them because he when he arrived at the Yola Government House, the offices were shutdown. [myad]