The girls were seized from their school in northern Nigeria in
Some of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria have been forced to join Islamist militant group Boko Haram, the BBC has been told.
Witnesses say some are now being used to terrorise other captives, and are even carrying out killings themselves.
The testimony cannot be verified but Amnesty International says other girls kidnapped by Boko Haram have been forced to fight.
Boko Haram has killed some 5,500 civilians in Nigeria since 2014.
Two-hundred-and-nineteen schoolgirls from Chibok, are still missing, more than a year after they were kidnapped from their school in northern Nigeria. Many of those seized are Christians.
Three women who claim they were held in the same camps as some of the Chibok girls have told the BBC's Panorama programme that some of them have been brainwashed and are now carrying out punishments on behalf of the militants.
Seventeen-year-old Miriam (not her real name) fled Boko Haram after being held for six months. She was forced to marry a militant, and is now pregnant with his child.
Recounting her first days in the camp she said: "They told to us get ready, that they were going to marry us off."
She and four others refused.
null.
219 of the Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped from Chibok by Boko Haram in April 2014 are still missing.
They are among at least 2,000 women and girls abducted by Boko Haram since the start of 2014 (Amnesty figures)
Since the start of 2014 Boko Haram has killed an estimated 5,500 civilians in north-east Nigeria (Amnesty figures)
Who are Boko Haram?
Chibok: What we know a year on
Why Boko Haram remains a threat
null
"They came back with four men, they slit their throats in front of us. They then said that this will happen to any girl that refuses to get married,"
Faced with that choice, she agreed to marry, and was then repeatedly raped.
"There was so much pain," she said. "I was only there in body… I couldn't do anything about it."
While in captivity, Miriam described meeting some of the Chibok schoolgirls. She said they were kept in a separate house to the other captives.
nullMiriam is pregnant with the child of a member of Boko Haram
"They told us: 'You women should learn from your husbands because they are giving their blood for the cause. We must also go to war for Allah.'"
She said the girls had been "brainwashed" and that she had witnessed some of them kill several men in her village.
"They were Christian men. They [the Boko Haram fighters] forced the Christians to lie down. Then the girls cut their throats."
It is not possible to independently verify Miriam's claims. But human rights group Amnesty International said their research also shows that some girls abducted by Boko Haram have been trained to fight.
"The abduction and brutalisation of young women and girls seems to be part of the modus operandi of Boko Haram," said Netsanet Belay, Africa director, research and advocacy at Amnesty International.
The Chibok schoolgirls have not been seen since last May when Boko Haram released a video of around 130 of them gathered together reciting the Koran. They looked terrified.
Amnesty International estimates more than 2,000 girls have been taken since the start of 2014. But it was the attack on the school in Chibok that sparked international outrage.
Michelle Obama made a rousing speech a few weeks after their abduction, demanding the girls' return.
Millions of people showed their support for the #bringbackourgirls campaign. The hashtag was shared more than five million times.
Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamic State in the region, but it has recently been pushed back by a military force from Nigeria and its neighbours. Hundreds of women and girls have managed to escape during these raids.
null
Anna, aged 60, is one of them. She fled a camp in the Sambisa forest in December where she was held for five months. She now sits beneath a tree close to the cathedral in the Adamawa state capital of Yola. Her only possessions are the clothes she ran away in.
She said she saw some of the Chibok schoolgirls just before she fled the forest.
"They had guns," she said.
When pressed on how she could be sure that it is was the Chibok schoolgirls that she'd seen, Anna said: "They [Boko Haram] didn't hide them. They told us: 'These are your teachers from Chibok.'
"They shared the girls out as teachers to teach different groups of women and girls to recite the Koran," Anna recalled.
"Young girls who couldn't recite were being flogged by the Chibok girls."
Like Miriam, Anna also said she had seen some of the Chibok schoolgirls commit murder.
"People were tied and laid down and the girls took it from there… The Chibok girls slit their throats," said Anna.
Anna said she felt no malice towards the girls she had seen taking part in the violence, only pity.
"It's not their fault they were forced to do it." she added. "Anyone who sees the Chibok girls has to feel sorry for them."
Exposing women to extreme violence seemed to be a strategy used by Boko Haram to strip them of their identity and humanity, so they could be forced to accept the militants' ideology.
nullFaith, a Christian, says Boko Haram fighters tried to convert her to their version of Islam
Faith (not her real name) aged 16, who is Christian, described how Boko Haram fighters tried to force her to convert to their version of Islam.
"Every day at dawn they would come and throw water over us and order us to wake up and start praying."
"Then one day they brought in a man wearing uniform. They made us all line up and then said to me: 'Because you are always crying, you will must kill this man.'
"I was given the knife and ordered to cut his neck. I said I couldn't do it.
"They cut his throat in front of me. That's when I passed out."
Faith said she had seen at least one Chibok schoolgirl who had been married off to a Boko Haram militant during her four months in captivity.
"She was just like any of the Boko Haram wives," she explained. "We are more scared of the wives than the husbands
With hundreds of women and children recently rescued from Boko Haram strongholds in the Sambisa forest, the Nigerian government has set up a programme to help escapees.
Many fled captivity, only to discover that some or all of their family members had been killed by Boko Haram. Others have been cast out from their communities, who now consider them "Boko Haram wives".
Dr Fatima Akilu is in charge of Nigeria's counter-violence and extremism programme. She is currently looking after around 300 of the recently rescued women and children.
"We have not seen signs of radicalisation," she told us. "But if it did occur we would not be surprised."
And she added: "In situations where people have been held, there have been lots of stories where they have identified with their captors."
nullMalnourished children being treated at Yola's main hospital. They were recently rescued from the forest with their mother
Dr Akilu said beatings, torture, rape, forced marriages and pregnancies were common in Boko Haram camps.
"We have a team of imams… that are trained to look out for radical ideas and ideology.
"Recovery is going to be slow, it's going to be long… It's going to be bumpy."
As the hunt for the Chibok schoolgirls continues, and questions are raised about what state they will be in if they ever return home, those who have managed to escape are beginning the mammoth task of coming to terms with their experiences.
"I can't get the images out of my head," said Anna, breaking down in tears. "I see people being slaughtered. I just pray that the nightmares don't return."
For others, the nightmare is continuing every day. Miriam is expecting her baby any day now.
"I hope that the baby is a girl," she said. "I would love her more than any boy. I'm scared of having a boy."
Miriam's future is bleak. She is terrified her "husband" will find her and kill her for running away. Her community has also rejected her.
"People consider me an outcast," she said.
"They remind me that I have Boko Haram inside me."
BBC
Monday, 29 June 2015
Read of how Nig's ex-finance minister Okonjo-Iweala spent billions without aithorisation
The National Economic Council, chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday accused a former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, of spending $2.1bn from the Excess Crude Account without authorisation.
“We looked at the numbers for the Excess Crude Account. The last time the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reported to the council, and it is in the minutes, she reported by November 2014 that we had $4.1 bn.
“Today, the Accountant-General Office reported we have $2.0bn. Which means the honourable minister spent $2.1bn without authority of the NEC and that money was not distributed to states, it was not paid to the three tiers of government,” Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole told State House correspondents after the NEC’s 58th meeting in Abuja.
The ‘unauthorised’ spending, according to the economic council, is among the several anomalies discovered in the management of the nation’s economy between 2012 and May 2015.
Within the period, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was said to have earned a total of N8.1 tn but remitted only N4.3tn.
Consequently, the Federal Government has constituted Oshiomhole, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; and Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, into a panel to probe the NNPC and the ECA between 2012 and May, 2015.
Oshiomhole, el-Rufai, Emmanuel and the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulazeez Yari, jointly briefed journalists at the end of the meeting.
Yari told the journalists, through the Director of Funds, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. M.K. Dikwa, that council members received the report of the ECA and unremitted funds by the NNPC.
He said, “On that line, a four-man committee consisting of the governors of Edo, Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom states was constituted to go through the books of the NNPC and Excess Crude as well as the Federation Account.
”The four-man committee will check the books of the NNPC, most especially the issue of excess crude and what is not remitted into the Federation Account.
“The Federal Government, in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria, will look inwards to see how to support and how much they will give to states, especially on the issue of outstanding salaries owed by the states and even the Federal Government.”
Shedding new light on what transpired at the NEC meeting, Oshiomhole said the NNPC and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were compelled for the first time to provide information on the total sales of Nigeria’s crude from 2012 to May 2015.
The Edo governor said, “We are talking about transparency; we are talking about change. And what we saw from those numbers, which I believe that Nigerians are entitled to know, is that whereas the NNPC claimed to have earned N8.1tn, what NNPC paid into the Federation Account from 2012 to May 2015 was N4.3tn.
“What it means is that the NNPC withheld and spent N3.8 tn.
“The major revelation here is that the entire federation, that is the Federal Government, the states and all the 774 local governments, the amount the NNPC paid into the Federation Account for distribution to these three tiers of government came to N4.3 tn and the NNPC alone took and spent N3.8tn.
“This means that the cost of running the NNPC is much more than the cost of running the Federal Government. That tells you how much is missing, what is mismanaged and what is stolen. There are huge figures.”
Oshiomhole said the only lawful way decreed by the Constitution was that if the NNPC needed to spend money, it needed to prepare its budget like every other business enterprise, get it scrutinised by the executive and then forward same to the National Assembly for appropriation.
He added, “If the Federal Government cannot spend without appropriation, why should any agency spend without appropriation.
“This is what the Constitution provided for and this is what President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to do; henceforth all money must go to the Federation Account.
“If you were doing that, you would not have a situation where the NNPC alone will spend N3.8trn and remit to the federal, states and local governments N4.3trn, which means NNPC is taking about 47 per cent and that explains all the leakages you are talking about.”
El-Rufai recalled that he was part of the decision to put in place the ECA during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2004 and 2005 as an administrative arrangement to save for a rainy day.
He said the account was set up in order to be accountable such that every state and local government would know what they had in the account though they could not spend it.
He said, “The Excess Crude Account is 52 per cent owned by the Federal Government and 48 per cent owned by the states and the local governments.
“So the decision of the NEC is to set up this committee of four to look at the operations of the Excess Crude Account and make recommendations to council on its future.
“The other thing the committee will do is to look at the operations of the Federation Account, particularly the shortfall and again come back to council with very clear recommendations as to what to do.
“We have not been given a time frame but as you can imagine state governments are under pressure, many of our state governments are unable to pay salaries on time without recourse to borrowing, so this is very important to us.
“This is an all-governors’ committee; we wear the shoes and we know where they pinch. So we are going to do this as quickly as possible.
“The next meeting of the council is on July 23; we hope to complete our work and be in a position to report to council on that day. So within the next one month, we will be done by God’s grace.”
Copyright PUNCH
“We looked at the numbers for the Excess Crude Account. The last time the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reported to the council, and it is in the minutes, she reported by November 2014 that we had $4.1 bn.
“Today, the Accountant-General Office reported we have $2.0bn. Which means the honourable minister spent $2.1bn without authority of the NEC and that money was not distributed to states, it was not paid to the three tiers of government,” Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole told State House correspondents after the NEC’s 58th meeting in Abuja.
The ‘unauthorised’ spending, according to the economic council, is among the several anomalies discovered in the management of the nation’s economy between 2012 and May 2015.
Within the period, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was said to have earned a total of N8.1 tn but remitted only N4.3tn.
Consequently, the Federal Government has constituted Oshiomhole, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; and Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, into a panel to probe the NNPC and the ECA between 2012 and May, 2015.
Oshiomhole, el-Rufai, Emmanuel and the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulazeez Yari, jointly briefed journalists at the end of the meeting.
Yari told the journalists, through the Director of Funds, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. M.K. Dikwa, that council members received the report of the ECA and unremitted funds by the NNPC.
He said, “On that line, a four-man committee consisting of the governors of Edo, Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom states was constituted to go through the books of the NNPC and Excess Crude as well as the Federation Account.
”The four-man committee will check the books of the NNPC, most especially the issue of excess crude and what is not remitted into the Federation Account.
“The Federal Government, in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria, will look inwards to see how to support and how much they will give to states, especially on the issue of outstanding salaries owed by the states and even the Federal Government.”
Shedding new light on what transpired at the NEC meeting, Oshiomhole said the NNPC and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were compelled for the first time to provide information on the total sales of Nigeria’s crude from 2012 to May 2015.
The Edo governor said, “We are talking about transparency; we are talking about change. And what we saw from those numbers, which I believe that Nigerians are entitled to know, is that whereas the NNPC claimed to have earned N8.1tn, what NNPC paid into the Federation Account from 2012 to May 2015 was N4.3tn.
“What it means is that the NNPC withheld and spent N3.8 tn.
“The major revelation here is that the entire federation, that is the Federal Government, the states and all the 774 local governments, the amount the NNPC paid into the Federation Account for distribution to these three tiers of government came to N4.3 tn and the NNPC alone took and spent N3.8tn.
“This means that the cost of running the NNPC is much more than the cost of running the Federal Government. That tells you how much is missing, what is mismanaged and what is stolen. There are huge figures.”
Oshiomhole said the only lawful way decreed by the Constitution was that if the NNPC needed to spend money, it needed to prepare its budget like every other business enterprise, get it scrutinised by the executive and then forward same to the National Assembly for appropriation.
He added, “If the Federal Government cannot spend without appropriation, why should any agency spend without appropriation.
“This is what the Constitution provided for and this is what President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to do; henceforth all money must go to the Federation Account.
“If you were doing that, you would not have a situation where the NNPC alone will spend N3.8trn and remit to the federal, states and local governments N4.3trn, which means NNPC is taking about 47 per cent and that explains all the leakages you are talking about.”
El-Rufai recalled that he was part of the decision to put in place the ECA during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2004 and 2005 as an administrative arrangement to save for a rainy day.
He said the account was set up in order to be accountable such that every state and local government would know what they had in the account though they could not spend it.
He said, “The Excess Crude Account is 52 per cent owned by the Federal Government and 48 per cent owned by the states and the local governments.
“So the decision of the NEC is to set up this committee of four to look at the operations of the Excess Crude Account and make recommendations to council on its future.
“The other thing the committee will do is to look at the operations of the Federation Account, particularly the shortfall and again come back to council with very clear recommendations as to what to do.
“We have not been given a time frame but as you can imagine state governments are under pressure, many of our state governments are unable to pay salaries on time without recourse to borrowing, so this is very important to us.
“This is an all-governors’ committee; we wear the shoes and we know where they pinch. So we are going to do this as quickly as possible.
“The next meeting of the council is on July 23; we hope to complete our work and be in a position to report to council on that day. So within the next one month, we will be done by God’s grace.”
Copyright PUNCH
Monday, 13 April 2015
Chibok girls are in Borno's Sambisa forest (The Punch)
Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, in an interactive session with journalists spoke on diverse issues including the Boko Haram insurgency, abduction of Chibok schoolgirls and his future plans. KAYODE IDOWU was there
The last four years of your administration have been quite eventful especially in the area of security. How have you been coping?
Honestly how I am coping is a secondary issue; what is more important is how the over six million people of Borno State are coping. These are people, who even in the best of time were poor and now further pauperised by the Boko Haram insurgency. Parents were killed, their sons and daughters slaughtered by some demented monsters who were trying to impose their alien ideologies on the beleaguered people of Borno, now turned to beggars; rendered homeless; orphaned, and widowed. My heart goes out to them. I do not care about my feelings, security or comfort; I am more concerned about the welfare of the victims directly affected and how we can get them back on their feet. We have 1,000 years of recorded history – I believe that there is a silver lining in the horizon. I believe that we shall very soon get out of our problems especially with the successes recorded in the on-going counter insurgency operations. Yes, we have won the first phase of the war; but the battle is still on. The insurgents have melted into the hinterland. Two days ago, they killed 25 people in Kwajaffa. They have refocused their energy now towards the periphery of Sambisa, from there they have been launching attacks on the Askira Uba Local Government Area. They killed quite a number of people in Chul village; they have attacked several other communities along the corridors. But by the grace of God we shall get out of it.
What other efforts are being made to get your state and the North-East geo-political zone out of the clutches of insurgents?
We have always made support for security agencies our number one priority. We have inspired our sons to support the military. We trained, equipped and employed them and they are working. We have created a strong political will. We coordinate community involvement in fighting insurgency and we provide modest leadership. This was why when there were strong fears that Maiduguri was to be attacked in December last year, I flew into Maiduguri from the United Kingdom where I went officially in order to be with the people of Borno State who had nowhere to run to and this was against security advice. I was ready to go through whatever it was with them whether to die or survive. I had mentally bid farewell to my children when I decided to come into Maiduguri that day because the fears were so intense that Boko Haram insurgents were coming in through Konduga. I didn’t want to be remembered as a governor that abandoned his people to their fate. I do not want to be remembered as a governor that stayed in the UK while Maiduguri was taken by insurgents and people killed. It is better to die for something than to live for stupidity. Luckily, the military and the youth volunteers worked very hard, we gave them all the support, citizens prayed ceaselessly and with Allah’s help, the insurgents were repelled from entering Maiduguri which is the most populated place here. I am proud to be part of the success story and of being responsible for coordinating counter insurgency operations. But the most important thing now is that hope springs from our hearts. I am by nature an eternal optimist. My candid belief is that tough times do not last forever but tough people do. I believe that we have a people that have the resilience and the indomitable will to chart a peaceful course for our people. But I want to assure you that the government and the people of Borno will continue to partner with the security agencies in bringing everlasting peace to this part of the world. I cannot but commend security agencies, the army in particular for their unflinching commitment towards restoring peace in our fatherland. The Chinese have a word for danger, the word for crisis that means danger and opportunity. This means that despite the challenges we face it also provides us with an opportunity for social reengineering; to reposition our state to meet the challenges of the future.
It will soon be a year that over 200 schoolgirls were abducted in Chibok. Are there other efforts being made other than what we have heard in the past towards rescuing them?
The Chibok girls’ issue is really very sad; no responsible parent would be happy with what happened to those poor girls. I am a father of two little girls. Any time I look into the eyes of any of my daughters, I fight to hold back tears because I remember that girls like them, born and so dearly loved by parents, are missing and worst of all, in the hands of people that love to kill. It is one issue that has caused so much heartache not only for the parents of the girls, or the people of Borno, but the people of Nigeria as a whole. It is so sad. Last year, when I read an account of one of the parents of the missing girls, I couldn’t sleep all night long because he said he would prefer to pick up the corpse of his daughter and bury her rather than have her in the hands of some misguided vandals who do not have limits to what they can do. Imagine a father preferring to see his daughter’s corpse? Look at how the leader of the insurgents said he wanted to sell the girls into slavery, that some were married off etc. It is disturbing because their capabilities for committing heinous crimes are beyond human comprehension. But like I said earlier, hope springs eternally from the heart of men. Only an insane parent will give up on a missing child. We believe quite passionately and realistically that these poor girls will be found. We have been working hard with some international agencies towards their rehabilitation, trauma management and how they can be made to pick up the pieces of their lives once we get them. We believe that at the risk of compromising their safety, the hopeful assessment of most security agencies, is that probably they may be in the Sambissa forest which is very large. Hitherto we heard they were being held around the Gwoza and Damboa axis. But for now Damboa, especially the township has been recovered and is relatively safe. Gwoza too has been recaptured. Thus, our hopeful assessment is that probably the girls are in the Sambisa forest and we hope that they would be found in good shape – the most important thing is to get them alive; and alive we shall get them.
How right is the assertion that the initial attitude of the government to the news of the girls’ kidnap may have been responsible for their long stay in captivity?
This is correct. Vital hours were lost soon after the attack. Hours that might have paid off if the search for the girls was vigorously done within that time frame. For about two or three days they were at the bank of a river and some of the commanders were said to have gone into the hinterlands of Sambisa to get directives from their masters. That could have been a golden opportunity for us to recover the girls. But scepticism and sheer indifference really compounded our problems. Some were even compounding theories that it was the Borno State government that abducted the girls and kept them in the Government House. I found it quite amusing; why should we abduct our daughters for whatever political gains and keep them in the Government House? But there is no need to cry over spilt milk. It took some time for the Federal Government to invite us over the issue. Even when I was invited, I was really delighted that at last some solutions would be proffered as to how to rescue these girls. But it was amazing that the whole crux of the meeting was geared towards scapegoating. The Commissioner of Education, the principal of the school and others were being railroaded to make phantom confessions which were alien to our knowledge. But what is important is what we can do to bring back these girls. We have succeeded in rehabilitating the 56 that escaped; the state government has committed N100 million for their education in some of the best schools in the country so that they can realise their full potential. These girls, like many of us here, are from the humblest of background; some are the first generation girls to be educated in their families. Therefore, we will do whatever it takes to see that they are rescued; and once they are recovered we will spend whatever resources to ensure that they are rehabilitated.
The Boko Haram insurgency has virtually brought the education sector to its kneel. Now that peace is returning, how do you intend to getting this sector back on its feet?
Yes, it is absolutely true we have challenges; but we have a robust framework. Once peace is established, we are going to pick up the pieces of our lives and restore education to its enviable status. It pains me so much because most of us are from the humblest of backgrounds; and it is because most of us have access to public schools that is why we are who we are. Posterity will judge us harshly if we allow the public schools to collapse. With all sense of modesty, what we spent on education in the last three and half years were not spent in the last three governments that came before ours. We have renovated public schools more than the ones renovated by the governments of Mala Kachalla and Ali Sheriff fused together. We have sent our teachers to India to learn the modern Kayan technology and using projectors to teach in secondary schools. We have increased funds in feeding of our students from N20 million to N100 million every month. Today, students get very nutritious meals. We have set up a quality assurance team to monitor standards in our public schools. We have invested about $3 million on the Kayan technology alone – all geared towards addressing the issue of education. But I want to assure you that with the re-emerging peace we are going to address our problems soon. ?
How far has the Federal Government Safe-School-Initiative gone in your state?
I am sorry to say that the project like most projects of the Federal Government here in Borno is more of hype than action. We have been attending several meetings to that effect but till now there is nothing on ground to show for it. We believe on our part that things are in the pipeline and will start yielding dividends very soon.
Copyright PUNCH
Shailene Woodley wins big at MTV Movie Awards, plus full list of winners
The 2015 Mtv Movie Awards was held yesterday, April 12, in Los Angeles with glitz and glamour.
Beneath are the full list of winners at the event.
BEST MUSICAL MOMENT
WINNER ***Jennifer Lawrence – “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1″
Chris Pratt – “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Seth Rogen & Zac Efron – “Neighbors”
Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig – “The Skeleton Twins”
Miles Teller – “Whiplash”
BEST ON-SCREEN TRANSFORMATION
WINNER ***Elizabeth Banks – “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1″
Steve Carell – “Foxcatcher”
Ellar Coltrane – “Boyhood”
Eddie Redmayne – “The Theory of Everything”
Zoe Saldana – “Guardians of the Galaxy”
BEST VILLAIN
WINNER ***Meryl Streep – “Into the Woods”
Jillian Bell – “22 Jump Street”
Peter Dinklage – “X-Men: Days of Future Past”
Rosamund Pike – “Gone Girl”
J.K. Simmons – “Whiplash”
#WTF MOMENT
WINNER ***Seth Rogen & Rose Byrne – “Neighbors”
Rosario Dawson & Anders Holm – “Top Five”
Jonah Hill – “22 Jump Street”
Jason Sudeikis & Charlie Day – “Horrible Bosses 2″
Miles Teller – “Whiplash”
BEST FIGHT
WINNER ***Dylan O’Brien vs. Will Poulter – “The Maze Runner”
Chris Evans vs. Sebastian Stan – “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
Jonah Hill vs. Jillian Bell – “22 Jump Street”
Edward Norton vs. Michael Keaton – “Birdman”
Seth Rogen vs. Zac Efron – “Neighbors”
BEST SHIRTLESS PERFORMANCE
WINNER ***Zac Efron – “Neighbors”
Ansel Elgort – “The Fault in Our Stars”
Chris Pratt – “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Channing Tatum – “Foxcatcher”
Kate Upton – “The Other Woman”
BEST HERO
WINNER ***Dylan O’Brien – “The Maze Runner”
Shailene Woodley – “The Divergent Series: Insurgent”
Jennifer Lawrence – “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1″
Martin Freeman – “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”
Chris Pratt – “Guardians of the Galaxy”
BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
WINNER ***Shailene Woodley – “The Fault in Our Stars”
Scarlett Johansson – “Lucy”
Jennifer Lawrence – “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1″
Emma Stone – “Birdman”
Reese Witherspoon – “Wild”
BEST SCARED-AS-S**T PERFORMANCE
WINNER ***Jennifer Lopez – “The Boy Next Door”
Zach Gilford – “The Purge: Anarchy”
Dylan O’Brien – “The Maze Runner”
Rosamund Pike – “Gone Girl”
Annabelle Wallis – “Annabelle”
BEST SCARED-AS-S**T PERFORMANCE
WINNER ***Jennifer Lopez – “The Boy Next Door”
Zach Gilford – “The Purge: Anarchy”
Dylan O’Brien – “The Maze Runner”
Rosamund Pike – “Gone Girl”
Annabelle Wallis – “Annabelle”
BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
WINNER ***Channing Tatum – “22 Jump Street”
Rose Byrne – “Neighbors”
Kevin Hart – “The Wedding Ringer”
Chris Pratt – “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Chris Rock – “Top Five”
BEST ON-SCREEN DUO
WINNER ***Zac Efron & Dave Franco – “Neighbors”
Bradley Cooper & Vin Diesel – “Guardians of the Galaxy”
James Franco & Seth Rogen – “The Interview”
Channing Tatum & Jonah Hill – “22 Jump Street”
Shailene Woodley & Ansel Elgort – “The Fault in Our Stars”
BEST KISS
WINNER ***Ansel Elgort & Shailene Woodley – “The Fault in Our Stars”
Rose Byrne & Halston Sage – “Neighbors”
James Franco & Seth Rogen – “The Interview”
Andrew Garfield & Emma Stone – “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″
Scarlett Johansson & Chris Evans – “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
WINNER ***Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper”
Chris Pratt, “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Ansel Elgort, “The Fault In Our Stars”
Miles Teller, “Whiplash”
Channing Tatum, “Foxcatcher”
MOVIE OF THE YEAR
WINNER ***“The Fault In Our Stars”
“American Sniper”
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1″
“Guardians of the Galaxy”
“Gone Girl”
“The Fault In Our Stars”
“Boyhood”
“Whiplash”
“Selma”
MTV TRAILBLAZER AWARD
WINNER ***Shailene Woodley
MTV GENERATION AWARD
WINNER ***Robert Downey, Jr.
MTV COMEDIC GENIUS AWARD
WINNER ***Kevin
Thursday, 29 January 2015
Ajasin family warns Jonathan
The family of the late Afenifere leader and first civilian governor of Ondo State, late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party against using their fathers name as a campaign smear against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
The Ajasin family also said they had forgiven Muhammadu Buhari over the arrest of their father under his military administration in 1984.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, said in Akure on Thursday that his father forgave Buhari before his death.
Tokunbo therefore cautioned politicians particularly those seeking for elective positions to base their campaigns on issues rather than using his father’s name to campaign against the progressives which he (Ajasin) belonged to when he was alive.
Chief Tokumbo said there was no any judicial pronouncement or ruling under Buhari’s government where his father was sentenced to prison or indicted
“It will be totally wrong for anybody to say that Gen. Buhari jailed my father. No that is not correct. It was true that my father was detained under Gen. Buhari’s military regime along with other former governors in Nigeria and two panels of enquiry were consequently set-up to look into the allegations against my father and others, but the panels found my father innocent and exonerated him as well.
“What Buhari did then was part of military policies and tradition. Though many Nigerians were not happy with that but my father had since forgiven Buhari before his demise.
“Let me also tell you that as far as the issue is concerned, the family of Ajasin had forgiven Buhari as well. Because as Christians we should learn and exhibit the spirit of forgiveness always. The Bible says, father forgive us as we forgive those who offend us,” he stated.
Chief Ajasin said he met Buhari at a function sometime ago and happily embraced each other indicating that all was well.
According to him, himself and his sister, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, were part of the crowd that received Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the Akure airport during his presidential campaign rally in ondo State .
Also the Ondo State Coordinator of Buhari/Osinbajo presidential campaign, Mr. Ife Oyedele, accused the PDP of unduly capitalizing on the Buhari/Ajasin saga to score cheap political points.
He said APC as a progressive party should be more concerned about the welfare of Ajasin’s family than the PDP that is antagonistic of the interest of the Yoruba race.
“You cannot cry more than the bereaved. We are happy that the Ajasin family has come to clear the air on this issue,” Oyedele
- See more at: http://www.punchng.com/news/stop-using-ajasin-for-smear-campaign-against-buhari-family/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.xLe0WxIm.dpuf
Monday, 26 January 2015
Mega Mode Media: US plans visa denial to which category of people?
Mega Mode Media: US plans visa denial to which category of people?: A+ A A- The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari endorsed United States' call for free and ...
Mega Mode Media: Interview with Modu Sheriff's deputy reveals how t...
Mega Mode Media: Interview with Modu Sheriff's deputy reveals how t...: Alhaji Adamu Shettima Yuguda Dibal Alhaji Adamu Shettima Yuguda Dibal was deputy to former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff. In this intervi...
Analysis of Buhari's 2015 Campaign
Inside Buhari ‘s 2015 campaign
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
General Buhari flagged off his 2015 presidential campaign in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, unlike in 2011 when he began in Kaduna, where he resides.
His campaign trail is now managed by a Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) peopled by eminent politicians drawn from various parts of the country.
This is far different from his campaign in 2011 where his campaign was managed by his ‘associates’ from The Buhari Organisation (TBO).
This is not to mention the fact that the former Head of State has a chartered aircraft that shuttles him and his delegation from one campaign location to the other, unlike in 2011 where he executed over 90 percent of his campaign by road.
Campaign structure
In 2011, Buhari’s presidential campaign was headed by the TBO’s director general and the secretary Sule Yahaya Hamma and Buba Galadima respectively.
The duo of Hamma and Galadima, who were CPC’s Board of Trustees chairman and national secretary respectively, ran the affairs of the presidential campaign as a TBO’s affair in their capacities. Buhari also ran his campaign with no single serving governor, no serving senator, among others in 2011.
But things have dramatically changed now as his campaign boasts of 12 serving governors, a sitting House of Representatives Speaker, about 40 senators, 170 House of Representatives members and so on.
Unlike the last campaign, Buhari’s campaign council is now managed by experienced politicians that include Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as director general; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as vice chairman North, and former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is vice chairman South.
The effective running of the APC by Tinubu, some say, has helped in reducing crisis that bedevilled other parties on whose platform Buhari ran.
For instance, it is believed that Tinubu’s management style has helped the APC to have less internal crisis resulting from party primaries unlike the PDP.
This is unlike in 2011 where Buhari’s fortune was overturned by myriads of crisis that rocked the defunct CPC during its primary elections, making him lose his strongholds of Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, and many other states.
National reach out
Unlike in the previous campaigns where Buhari was seen as a northern candidate, the current campaign is different as he has reached out to the Southern part of the country with impressive and unprecedented campaign rallies turn out.
Buhari this time around has expanded his followership as seen by massive turn out during campaign tours from the Northern part of the country to the Southern part.
Some say that his rallies in the South western states as well as South East and even South South have helped changed the perception that he is a northern candidate.
The presence of Tinubu and his firm control of the South West politics has deepened the support base of Buhari in the zone.
The selection of Professor Yemi Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate has soared the APC flag bearer’s popularity in the South and flawed his opponents’ branding him as a religious bigot, according to political observers.
Analysts say that Osinbajo has converted more supporters to the presidential candidate than Pastor Tunde Bakare did in 2011, late Ume Ezeoke in 2007 and even the late Dr Chuba Okadigbo in 2003.
Information management
The emergence of APC and Alhaji Lai Muhammed as its spokesperson, many say, has given the party an edge in terms of information management.
Many an observer believe that even the ruling party’s information managers couldn’t out-do the hyperactive Lai in terms of media war.
In the same vein, the selection of Osinbajo into the APC ticket came along with his army of Lagos-based social media activists - all campaigning for Buhari.
The appointment of another successful reputation manager Malam Garba Shehu, who is Atiku’s media handler, is another boost for the Buhari campaign.
All these have tremendously improved the media outlook of Buhari, who has been having deficiencies in that area. Buhari, though, he has been running for the presidency since 2003 has no media office.
Financial muscles
Unlike the previous campaigns, finances are now not much of a problem to the Buhari campaign. This can be seen from the goodwill he gets as well the now popular ‘Buhari Recharge Cards,’ which has fetched money for the campaign.
Recurring challenges
But despite these milestones, it is observed that the Buhari campaign, like the previous ones, is still bogged down by challenges, which seem to defy solutions.
One of such challenges is that of organisation. Though the campaign is well-structured with clear cut division of labour, the reality on ground is still a far cry.
Bureaucratic bottlenecks and red-tapism have been slowing down the campaign, this reporter learned. “The campaign is just going on smoothly by the grace of God,” an insider who had participated in past campaigns told Daily Trust but added that there is a seeming disconnect between the campaign DG and his directorates who are the operational managers.
Daily Trust observed that despite the presence of Shehu as its spokesperson, the campaign’s information management is still far from better.
Presently, Buhari campaign trail moves without journalists attached to it like he did in the past. Only Daily Trust officially attached a reporter since 2003 with a cameraman.
Sometimes, the reporters board public transport to catch up with campaign trail which moves by plane. It is even more difficult as the campaign trails do two states per day.
But a source from the campaign organisation explained that the media and publicity director Shehu made efforts to secure two buses for journalists who would cover the campaign.
“But up to this time, I can tell you that no buses have been provided. That is why you don’t see your colleagues here with us. They can’t afford running helter skelter with all the risks of using public transport to cover our campaign as you are doing,” the source said.
Apart from the media, even the selection of people that follow the campaign trail is another ball game as complained by another insider, who said, “the Buhari campaign trail is filled up by people who have no role or schedule in the campaign rally itself. They are only there to maintain ‘constant visibility’ around the General,” he said.
He said there are times when some of the General’s details are dropped from the aircraft to provide space for those whose only work is maintaining ‘constant visibility’ around Buhari.
He cited the rally at Lokoja, Kogi State, where Buhari got there with only two security details. “You saw how difficult it was to take him to the podium because those security aides whose job is to protect him and control crowd were stood down in Abuja because of space,” he said.
The source added that despite the assassination attempt on the General in Kaduna last year and the current death threats, Buhari’s security is not that improved.
The APC flag bearer usually has difficulty containing mammoth crowds particularly in non-APC states. Usually, the security arrangement and crowd control mechanism are better in APC controlled states.
Another source said, in comparison to Buhari’s delegation, that of Osinbajo is better planned. His people are referred to as the “VP’s men” in the campaign.
“The vice president’s team is better organised. He moves around with his aides in his plane. Unlike our team, Osinbajo’s team comprises of people that add value to the campaign,” he said.
Daily Trust observed that the South West APC governors seemed more committed to the Buhari campaign than most of their northern counterparts.
Tinubu and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, South West zonal coordinator, for instance, attended almost all the campaign tours in the region. Tinubu went far by attending some of the campaigns in the North.
But Tinubu’s northern counterpart on the campaign, Atiku, has been absent so far in the campaign though on health grounds. He returned to the country only last week.
Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, who is the North Central zonal coordinator of the campaign, attended only the rally held in his home state. He was absent in Kogi, Niger, Plateau and Benue states.
Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, North West zonal coordinator, only attended that of Kaduna and Kano and his home state. He was absent in Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa and Kebbi states.
On the other hand, Senator Chris Ngige, South East coordinator, was present in all the South East states rallies.
But all these challenges are surmountable and General Buhari is not unaware of them, one of his associates on the campaign told this reporter.
“He knows almost all these things and he takes careful note of all that is happening around him. He is just buying time. He’s a very patient and tolerant gentleman. He will tackle all of them at the appropriate time,” the associate said.
Daily Trust
War threats: Call ex-militants to order, Buhari tells Jonathan
General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)
A statement by the APC campaign media and publicity director, Malam Garba Shehu, said the ultimatum by the ex-militants is not only a barbaric threat on the sovereignty of the country but also goes against the spirit and letter of the non-violence pact to which Jonathan is a signatory.
The campaign spokesperson observed that the declaration of war against the state is causing panic and concern among Nigerians who are already embattled by so many challenges particularly of insecurity, which have been begging for attention.
The Buhari campaign reminded Jonathan that as commander-in-chief it is his primary responsibility to ensure the protection of citizens and their property and that such an open declaration of war by the ex-militants and several other acts of violence need to be denounced by him in the interest of democracy, unity and stability of Nigeria.
The campaign spokesperson observed that the declaration of war against the state is causing panic and concern among Nigerians who are already embattled by so many challenges particularly of insecurity, which have been begging for attention.
The Buhari campaign reminded Jonathan that as commander-in-chief it is his primary responsibility to ensure the protection of citizens and their property and that such an open declaration of war by the ex-militants and several other acts of violence need to be denounced by him in the interest of democracy, unity and stability of Nigeria.
Daily Trust
I endorse US visa denials to violent politicians and election manipulators-Buhari
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari endorsed United States' call for free and fair election and non-violence in the February general polls.
On the US threat to deny Visa to politicians that engage in electoral violence and malpractices, the APC flag bearer said he fully endorsed the measure to serve as deterrence and give credibility to Nigeria’s democracy and electoral system.
A statement signed by the APC presidential campaign media and publicity director Malam Garba Shehu said it fully identifies with Secretary of State John Kerry’s appeal to political parties to ensure free and fair and non-violent polls.
The spokesperson said all responsible politicians should support the objectives of free, fair and non-violent polls as advocated by the US government.
He however appealed to the Jonathan-led administration to show commitment to free and fair elections and non-violence.
The Buhari campaign also called on other members of the international community to show active interest in the attitude of the PDP administration to these issues of non-violence and free and fair elections.
The U.S. and other members of the international community should not leave the Jonathan administration to its devices or whims and caprices, adding that the government must be held to these commitments to avoid any hanky-panky during the elections, the spokesperson said.
Mega Mode Media: Screen Actors' Guild Awards- Who won what?
Mega Mode Media: Screen Actors' Guild Awards- Who won what?: Courtesy Getty Images The 2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards aired Sunday, Jan. 25, with the best of Hollywood selecting their ...
Jonathan lacks will to crush B’Haram, Buhari tells Kerry
Former Head of State, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari
The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has listed the strategies that he would adopt to end insecurity in the country if elected President.
The methods, The PUNCH learnt, were unveiled by Buhari during his meeting with the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, in Lagos on Sunday.
The source, who was one of the APC members that also attended the meeting, said on Monday that the strategies included the elimination of corruption, transparency in the management of defence budgets and an overhaul of the nation’s security apparatuses.
He said that Buhari highlighted the plans when Kerry expressed concern about the spate of insecurity in the North-East.
The source added, “Kerry said the US was interested in someone that could curb the Boko Haram menace. He said the concern of President Barack Obama was that terrorism should not spread beyond the North-East as it seemed to be doing so gradually.
“Kerry asked what the strategy of the APC would be in fighting insecurity.”
One of our correspondents gathered that while responding, Buhari said since he knows that corruption and lack of political will are some of the problems militating against the war against insurgency, he would tackle them headlong if elected.
Buhari was said to have told Kerry that the Goodluck Jonathan administration had spent billions of dollars on defence and that a large portion of the money was diverted by those in power.
It was also learnt that the APC candidate informed the Secretary of State that the President had turned a blind eye to this.
Buhari was said to have also stated that there was something wrong with the intelligence-gathering mechanism of the military. He therefore promised that he would revamp the security apparatuses of the government.
According to our source, the APC candidate said “that Boko Haram members were not ghosts but that they were gaining ground because the security agencies had been compromised.”
He said that the former Head of State also promised that transparency would be his watchword in the disbursement of defence budgets.
It was gathered that Buhari “promised to ensure that every kobo spent on security would be accounted for as this would ensure that our soldiers get the appropriate equipment and have their morale boosted.”
He was also said to have told Kerry that the Jonathan government once scuttled a hearing by the National Assembly on defence spending, an act that clearly showed that it was not ready to promote transparency in the management of the nation’s affairs.
“Buhari said when the National Assembly set up a hearing with the heads of security agencies to know how the defence budgets were being spent, the Presidency scuttled it because it was obvious that the money for equipment was not being spent judiciously. He said by such an act, the Jonathan government was not encouraging transparency in the way and manner money meant for security was being spent.”
The PUNCH gathered that APC leaders like the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who were also at the meeting, urged the US to impress it upon the Jonathan government to ensure that next month’s elections were not postponed.
Kerry was said to have expressed worry at the pre-election violence in the country but the APC leaders told him that they had nothing to do with it.
The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation has however welcomed the call by the US for free, fair and peaceful elections in Nigeria.
The organisation, in a statement by its Director, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said it fully identified with Washington’s appeal to political parties to ensure credible polls.
According to the statement, the Jonathan administration and all responsible politicians should support the objectives of free, fair and peaceful polls as advocated by the US government.
The statement read in part, “He(Kerry) explained that the US and other members of the international community should not leave the Jonathan administration to its devices or whims and caprices, adding that the government must be held to these commitments to avoid any hanky-panky during the elections.
“On the US threat to deny visa to politicians that engage in electoral violence and malpractices, the APC Campaign organisation said it fully endorsed the measure to serve as a deterrent and give credibility to Nigeria’s democracy and electoral system.”
I can’t fight corruption by jailing people, Jonathan insists
Meanwhile, Jonathan has insisted that he will not fight corruption by jailing people.
He, however, stated that he would build a system that would block people’s direct access to funds.
The President said this at a corporate forum titled, ‘An Evening with Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan’ in Lagos on Sunday.
He said even if five million Nigerians were thrown into jail for corruption, graft would still continue if the system was porous.
He said, “People always say government is not fighting corruption but our position is very clear. We are fighting corruption and our position is that fighting corruption is not all about jailing people and showing them on television sets.
“In this country, we never had armed robbery until the civil war when small arms were being used. Initially, armed robbers were being shot in public and later in secret. But it did not stop armed robbery; so our commitment is in the British law system that states that it is better for nine criminals to go free than for one innocent person to suffer undue punishment. In that case, the concept of beyond reasonable doubt is always difficult to prove in corrupt cases and that is why they even accuse the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) of going for plea bargain.
“In the area of arrest, the EFCC has prosecuted more people and has secured more convictions than before but even if you prosecute 10 million Nigerians and convict five million, it will not stop corruption. Yes, you are fighting corruption which must continue but the most important thing is to block those avenues that corruption can occur.”
The President also promised to bring the fight against insurgency to an end if re-elected.
Earlier, many of his key ministers had spoken about the administration’s achievements.
For instance, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the recent rebasing of the GDP showed that the Jonathan administration had actually diversified the economy better than its predecessors.
Okonjo-Iweala, however, warned that there would be tough days ahead but maintained that the diversification of the economy would cushion the drop in the price of crude oil.
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, said there had been giant strides in the oil sector but lamented that pipeline vandalism was affecting both oil production and revenue.
She said over 60,000 barrels of crude were still being lost to the act daily.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said the economy should be diversified such that oil would constitute only about 40 per cent of the nation’s revenue.
Dangote, who called on the government to ensure job creation, said it was unfortunate that within 90 days the price of oil went from $110 per barrel to less than $50.
Copyright PUNCH.
Friday, 23 January 2015
Inside details of Bamidele's meeting with Tinubu
Strong indications emerged on Friday that the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the last election in Ekiti State, Opeyemi Bamidele, has agreed to work with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to ensure victory for the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in next month election.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the deal was sealed at a meeting between Bamidele and the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Lagos on Friday.
It was learnt that Bamidele agreed to use the Ekiti ‘Bibire’ group to mobilise support for Buhari ahead of the party’s rally in Ekiti State today.
Bamidele formed the Ekiti ‘Bibire Coalition’ in 2013 to realise his governorship ambition within the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, which pitted him against the then governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, an action that led to his eventual exit from the party.
Those at the meeting held at the Bourdillon home of the APC leader were leaders from the three senatorial districts in Ekiti State, including a former commissioner for works, Mr. Diran Adesua; wife of former governor of old Ondo State, Mrs. Yimika Olumilua; Bishop Gabriel Oloniyo; Mr. Ropo Ige and Mr. Remi Oguntuase.
The Deputy National Chairman of the APC and ex-governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Segun Oni, had met with Bamidele and his supporters in Iyin-Ekiti last Saturday.
It was reliably gathered that Bamidele’s group had a fruitful deliberation with Tinubu on how to deliver Ekiti for the APC in the presidential election.
A source in the meeting revealed that Tinubu appealed to Bamidele to continue to strive harder to ensure that APC regains its strength in Ekiti, describing him as a reliable compatriot that had the capacity to turn the fortunes of the party around.
Copyright PUNCH
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the deal was sealed at a meeting between Bamidele and the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Lagos on Friday.
It was learnt that Bamidele agreed to use the Ekiti ‘Bibire’ group to mobilise support for Buhari ahead of the party’s rally in Ekiti State today.
Bamidele formed the Ekiti ‘Bibire Coalition’ in 2013 to realise his governorship ambition within the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, which pitted him against the then governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, an action that led to his eventual exit from the party.
Those at the meeting held at the Bourdillon home of the APC leader were leaders from the three senatorial districts in Ekiti State, including a former commissioner for works, Mr. Diran Adesua; wife of former governor of old Ondo State, Mrs. Yimika Olumilua; Bishop Gabriel Oloniyo; Mr. Ropo Ige and Mr. Remi Oguntuase.
The Deputy National Chairman of the APC and ex-governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Segun Oni, had met with Bamidele and his supporters in Iyin-Ekiti last Saturday.
It was reliably gathered that Bamidele’s group had a fruitful deliberation with Tinubu on how to deliver Ekiti for the APC in the presidential election.
A source in the meeting revealed that Tinubu appealed to Bamidele to continue to strive harder to ensure that APC regains its strength in Ekiti, describing him as a reliable compatriot that had the capacity to turn the fortunes of the party around.
Copyright PUNCH
Credentials: PDP's plot against Buhari thickens
The Peoples Democratic Party has said it is not satisfied with the credentials of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and has threatened to contest the authenticity of his academic results.
A top party official, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH on Thursday, said the ruling party would investigate Buhari’s statement of results issued on Wednesday by the Katsina State Ministry of Education.
The statement of result and the confidential result sheet by the University of Cambridge were both dated January 21, stamped and signed by the Principal and Examination Officer, Government College, Katsina (formerly Provincial Secondary School).
In the result sheet, Buhari’s name was the second among the 17 candidates that sat for the Cambridge/ West African School Certificate Examination in 1961.
But the party source who does not want to be named, said, “The plan of the PDP is to contest Buhari’s academic qualification on two fronts.
“We will first contest the APC presidential candidate’s credentials by writing to all the institutions he attended for the verification of his certificates. We already have individuals in our party that are doing that.
“On the other hand, the ruling party will prevail on the Ministry of Justice to sue the former head of state for perjury.”
The party official said Buhari had, in the affidavit submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, claimed that his certificates were with the military, but the Nigerian Army denied that it had the ex-head of state’s certificates in its custody.
“This means he (Buhari) lied on oath when he said his credentials were with the army. We are not going to take this from him at all. It is the job of the Ministry of Justice to look into this case of perjury and we are going to remind them.”
Buhari had defened the affidavit he submitted by saying, “I had assumed all along that all my records were in the custody of the Secretary of the Nigerian Army. Much to my surprise, we are now told that although a record of the result is available, there are no copies of the certificates in my personal file.”
He said that was why he requested his old school to release his result.
The Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, also said a perjury case should be launched against the APC candidate.
Fani-Kayode urged Buhari to submit himself to the police to answer charges of perjury.
He said, “If they fail to come forward voluntarily, we hereby call on the police and other security agencies to seek them out, find them, arrest them, interrogate them and prosecute them in accordance with the laws of the land.”
Repeated calls to the mobile telephone number of the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, indicated that it was switched off.
A text message sent to him had yet to be responded to as of the time of filing this report at 6:03pm on Friday.
Attempts by our correspondent to also reach the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, for his comment on Thursday, was unsuccessful as his phone was switched off.
The minister had also not responded to a text message inquiry on the issue.
The police however told one of our correspondents they would investigate the allegation of perjury against Buhari if there is a complaint to the force against him.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said, “There is no complaint before the police on the perjury allegation but if there is, we will investigate it.”.
In his reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said the party was not surprised that the PDP wants to contest Buhari’s school records because it is afraid that President Jonathan might lose the election.
He said, “Let them go to court. The truth is that they are not ready for the election. They are making all these excuses because they are terrified they would lose the election.”
Copyright PUNCH
Monday, 19 January 2015
APC orders international probe into PDP's plot to kill Buhari
The All Progressives' Congress Presidential Campaign Council has called for an independent inquiry into the alleged Peoples Democratic Party's plan to kill its presidential flag bearer General Muhammadu Buhari ahead of next month's polls.
The Buhari campaign said in a statement by its media and publicity director Malam Garba Shehu Monday that it is bewildered by plans of the PDP and their surrogates to be plotting the death of Buhari ahead of the February 14 presidential poll.
The APC presidential campaign said it wants an international inquiry into the plot to kill Buhari "because of the danger it poses to Nigeria’s unity and democracy and by extension the stability of the West African sub-region."
“The insinuation that the leader of Nigeria’s opposition should or may die ahead of the February 14 presidential polls is not only morbid and fatalistic, but drips of desperation and represents the pinnacle of political paranoia on the part of the incumbent government which has run out of favour with the populace after nearly six years of lacklustre performance,” the APC campaign said.
It describes as distasteful the paid advertisement by PDP Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, titled “Life and Death and Enough of State Burials...”, as “nothing but death plan by the government in power to scuttle the results of the election and prevent the APC from taking over the mantle of leadership of the country
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)