ROM TAIWO AMODU, ABUJA

THE NATION IN UNITY

Peoples Democrat­ic Party (PDP) has called on all political parties in the country and other relevant stakeholders in the electoral process to relegate all narrow group interests and join hands with the Independent Na­tional Electoral Commis­sion (INEC) to guarantee the success of the 2015 general elections.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, in a statement at the weekend, said all parties must come together in the interest of the nation and ensure that measures that create the envi­ronment for credible, free and fair elections were firmly put in place.
Metuh said: “The respon­sibility of building a united, strong and prosperous nation anchored on democratic prin­ciples lies on all of us collec­tively.
“We, therefore, charge all political parties, other relevant groups and all stakeholders in the electoral process to jettison all personal/group interests and put that of our nation and its people ahead of all.
“The future of our nation is determined by what we do or say at this point in time. We must, therefore, resolve to work together as patriotic citi­zens and join hands with INEC and relevant institutions of government to ensure credible, free and fair elections devoid of rancour and avoidable dis­agreements.
“At this point, what should be paramount is the wellbeing of our people and the survival of our dear nation and its de­mocracy. We must, therefore, close ranks as brothers and sisters and resist the machina­tions of enemies of our coun­try who do not wish us well.

A former US Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, has warned that Nigeria is likely to experience large scale violence as a result of the upcoming general elections.

Campbell stated this in a report titled ‘Nigeria’s 2015 Presidential Election: Contingency Planning Memorandum Update,’ which was published and released by the US Council on Foreign Relations.
Campbell also predicts that incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan is likely to beat strongest opponent, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls.
“The upcoming elections are a rematch of the 2011 elections between the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan (a southern Christian) and Muhammadu Buhari (a northern Muslim and a former military chief). Tension between Washington and Abuja is higher than in 2011, largely over how to respond to the radical Islamist insurgent group, Boko Haram, which is steadily gaining strength in northeast Nigeria,” the report read.
“The APC is stronger than its predecessors (Action Congress of Nigeria and Congress for Progressives Change) and reflects a splintering of the political classes. The government’s inability to defeat Boko Haram, the economic hardships brought on by falling oil prices, and a growing public perception that the Jonathan administration is weak have fueled support for the All Progressives Congress. Though the APC’s voter base is in the North, it enjoys support all over the country, unlike the opposition in 2011,” it continues.
Campbell however notes that Jonathan is at an advantage due to the fact that he is “is at the centre of extensive patronage networks; he has access to the government’s oil revenue; and he and his party largely control the election machinery and ballot-counting infrastructure.”
“It is uncertain whether any provisions will be made for voters in the three northern states placed under a state of emergency because of Boko Haram, as well as the estimated one million people displaced by the insurgency. These displaced voters would likely support Buhari and the APC; their exclusion would benefit Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Thus despite the strength of the opposition, Jonathan remains the likely—but not certain—winner,” Campbell stated.
The former Ambassador also warned that the elections could “precipitate violence that could destabilize Nigeria.”
Campbell was ambassador of Nigerian from 2004 to 2007 and in 2010 authored a book about the country titled “Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink”.
rexy republic

A teenage suicide bomber blew herself up at a crowded bus station in northeast Nigeria on Sunday, killing at least 16 and wounding 30 others.

Witnesses said most of the victims were children who had either been selling peanuts or begging for money at the time of the explosion.
The bomber managed to get through the security check at the entrance to the bus station in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state, and detonated herself at 1pm local time.
“It was an eyesore looking at the scene which is littered with chopped flesh and battered bodies of victims,” said witness Hassan Umar, who added the bomber was a teenager and that he had seen her remains.
“The girl that carried out the suicide should be around 16 years old, because her face was a bit matured,” he said.
At least eight of the bodies were taken to the mortuary at Damaturu specialist hospital, a hospital worker told the Associated Press by telephone. The worker insisted on anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing, but it fits the pattern of violence by Boko Haram, Nigeria’s homegrown Islamic extremist group that caused an estimated 10,000 deaths last year and is fighting to impose sharia rule over Nigeria.
Boko Haram began using teenage females as suicide bombers last year, likely because they can evade security by hiding explosives under their hijab garments. In April, the extremists kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls who remain missing.
This is the first suicide bombing in Damaturu. The city of about 90,000 people in northeastern Nigeria has suffered several attacks by Boko Haram in past three years. On 1 December Boko Haram attempted to seize Damaturu, but was repelled after a lengthy battle with many casualties.
In recent weeks Boko Haram has attacked the neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad. Those countries and others are planning to form a joint force to help Nigeria battle the extremists.
(THE GUARDIAN)

     stop killing Innocent soul boko haram

 

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The Problems, Challenges And Solutions To Insecurity In Nigeria

By Godday Odidi

Few years ago, Nigerians were anxiously concerned on how the federal government can tackle the corrosive and caustic corruption, education, agriculture and power failure, but the recurring spate of hapless killings in the Northern parts of Nigeria diverted the minds of Nigerians to make the federal government to concentrate on tackling security threats in the country.
Government is meant to protect her citizens and property but in Nigeria the reverse is now the case. Over 10,000 people had been innocently killed while property worth millions of naira destroyed for no just cause and the federal government has abysmally failed to bring the unsympathetic committers to book. The emergence of this extremist called” Boko Haram” which means against western education has gone beyond the educational philosophy but politically motivated by some elements that derived joy in seeing fellow human beings being slaughtered as domestic animals and rendered homelessly.

people keep dieing every day cause by inhumane citizens

It is apparently clear that Boko Haram members are not unlettered as it was formerly described but assembled with highly educated people who are sponsored to disintegrate Nigeria in the hands of President Goodluck Jonathan. President Goodluck Jonathan should know that if the GDP of the country increases to 60 percent and number 26th economy in the world, her citizens are not protected, then the much celebrated GDP is zero percent to Nigerians.

What Does ‘Corruption’ Really Mean?

Kolawole Olaniyan

What does corruption look like? The short answer is: not what you think it does, at least according to President Goodluck Jonathan who while recently “rethinking corruption” said that: “Over 70% of what are called corruption offences, even by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies, is not corruption, but common stealing.

2015 POLLS: JONATHAN DISMISSES THREATS OF WAR

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday in Abuja dismissed threats of war from some quarters of the country over the outcome of the 2015 general elections.
Jonathan, who fielded questions from newsmen at the presidential media chat, said that anarchy would not be condoned in Nigeria
as the country was bigger than the interest of any individual.
According to him, journalists also have a duty in defusing tension in the polity through their reportage.
The president reacted to a question that the Niger-Delta ex-agitators had threatened that there would be war if he lost the 2015 polls.
“We cannot destroy this country and we cannot encourage anybody who wants to destroy this country.”
On the war against insurgency and securing the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls, he expressed optimism that the synergy with neighbouring countries would yield positive results.
He said that the Federal Government had acquired weapons from some countries which would help in the prosecution of the war against insurgents.

The Nigerian military has said it will not undermine Nigeria’s democracy or encourage any act that would threaten democratic process in Nigeria.

Referring to the controversy over the military’s role in the recent postponement of the 2015 general election, Defence Spokesperson, Chris Olukolade, said neither the military nor any of its service chiefs will engage in any act that could pose a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Mr. Olukolade, in a statement, said Nigerians and its friends should be “reassured that the Nigerian Armed Forces believes strongly in the prospects of the country under a democratic rule and will continue to discharge its responsibility to support our democracy as constitutionally guaranteed.”
Stating that the military values the calm exhibited by citizens, the defence spokesperson said it recognizes the nation’s larger interest and that her security is sacrosanct and beyond any political expediency or ulterior consideration.
“Indeed, the leadership, in particular, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs, being products and beneficiaries of the nation’s democratic processes themselves, continue to cherish highly, the nation’s democracy,” Mr. Olukolade said.
He advised Nigerians to strive towards separating the military from partisan politics and retain their confidence in its neutrality and sense of patriotism at this critical point.
Mr. Olukolade said that while the military will be working with all other security agencies to protect Nigeria’s electoral process; all military personnel have also been warned to stay conscious of the service oath and solemn commitment to protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria while remaining loyal to constituted authorities in the country.
Mr. Olukolade said, no excuse will be acceptable for any act that tends to compromise the electoral process or decent conduct of personnel while discharging duties related to elections in Nigeria in March and April.
On Saturday, the INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, announced the postponement of election originally scheduled to hold in February after the nation’s security agencies indicated to the commission that they will not be available to provide security during the elections.
The INEC chairman said security operative agencies told INEC that they were commencing a six-week special operation against Boko Haram insurgents in the north eastern corridors of the country and would rather not be distracted by the elections.