BREAKING NEWS: One Dead, 15 Missing As Atlantic Ocean Surge Sack Kuramo Beach Lagos

One person has been confirmed dead after the Atlantic Ocean charged into Kuramo Beach in Lagos.
The National Emergency Management Agency confirmed the death, saying 15 others are still missing in the incident.

I HATE CHRISTIANS WITH PASSION -Consul General of Nigeria

 Im a Muslim, I can never enter a Church, so said the Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Mr. Habib Abba Habu, responding to complaints from Nigerians that the Consulate never responded to the deaths of five Nigerians in a tragic and ghastly accident on the 21st of July, 2012. The accident had rocked the consciousness of Americans throughout the country by its sheer ghastliness and tragedy that claimed the lives of three women and two children in New York. The news had spread like wildfire not only the mainstream media, but on broadcast television, radio and the internet. Nigerians from all over the United States and outside expressed deep sadness and felt great shock at this tragedy that befell Nigeria.



Those who died include Ms. Eucha Okafor-Mba Mcxdonald, Ms. Nnenna Obioha, Ms. Okwudiri Christina Onyekwu Epton, Miss Adaobi Ovbioha (8) and Master Nwaebube (Ebube) Okafor-Mba (9).
When we started getting complaints that the Nigerian Consulate-General in New York did not once react to this tragedy, did not visit the surviving accident victims at the hospital, never replied to a letter from the President of the Arondizuogu Patriotic Union National Congress of North America (An Umbrella union of all Arondizuogu people an Igbo ethnic group) resident in the North America, nor did they send anybody to the wake-keeping on Friday, July 10, in the Bronx, New York, I decided to get the Nigerian Consul-General, Mr. Habib Abba Habu, to respond to the allegations. It was an allegation that to me as a Nigerian I found to be totally incredulous, because I didnt believe that a Nigerian official could be that callous, and that is before I heard Mr. Habus reasons for ignoring this Nigerian tragedy in America.

I called Mr. Habu several times, and after not reaching him, then sent him a text message, thus Hi, have called several times to get your part that the consulate refused to play any role in the ghastly death of five Nigerians in new york. Thanks. Chika Onyeani. After not receiving a reply, I called Mr. Habus secretary, who said he was on the other line. I explained to her why I was calling and she promised that he would call me back immediately he got off the phone. For sure, Mr. Habu called back.

I explained to him the reason for my call, that I wanted to find out what Nigerians in the New York area were saying, that the Consulate did not react to the tragic death of five Nigerians which made national news in America, that he didnt visit or send his representative to visit the surviving victims of the accident, and that he didnt participate in the wake-keeping on Friday, July 10th. Before I could even finish, Mr. Habu shot back at me and angrily stated, Mr. Onyeani, I am a Muslim, I can never enter a church. I couldnt believe my ears. I said to him, Mr. Habu, you are the Consul-General of Nigeria, not the Consul-General of Nigerian Muslims, and your predecessors, whether Muslims or Christians or any other religion, have taken to visit Nigerians whether in the church or in the mosque. He replied, Well, they are they, and I am me, I can never enter a church.
I said to Mr. Habu, I dont really believe you are saying this to me, and I am going to be writing about this. Well, he replied, I dont really care if you write about it, Chief Onyeani. Then he thought again, and said to me, maybe I didnt say it the right way. As to sending somebody to represent him at the wake-keeping, which was not even held at a church but at a center at Coop City in the Bronx in New York, Mr. Habu alleged that he sent somebody. But Rev. David Kayode, who worked tirelessly with the family and the people of Arondizuogu in securing a place and who most of the New York media called to find out what was going on with the funeral arrangements, disputed Mr. Habus assertion because he was the individual who read the names of all the government officials and politicians who were there. He rattled off some of the people, apart a huge number of Nigerians who showed up, including representatives of the Office of the Bronx Borough President, New York Police Commissioners office, Human Resources Administration, New York State Assembly people and several others.

Checking further to make sure that there was no mistake regarding Mr. Habus assertion, I called Mr. Nnamdi Akamnonu, President of the Arondizuogu Patriotic Union National Congress of North America. He stated that in the course of the wake-keeping, somebody came and told him that there was somebody from the Consulate waiting outside who wanted to speak to him. He said he asked them to walk the individual in, but the individual refused to walk in. He then decided to go and meet with the person. Said Mr. Akamnonu, I saw a young man in shorts with a tee shirt on, and I invited him in, but he said he didnt want to come in, that he had a message from the Consulate, that they had received my letter. He said that was all the message he had to deliver and didnt have a written reply to my letter to the Consul-General, informing him that the wake-peeing was going to be at Coop City in the Bronx. By the way, Coop City is not a church.

It is very hard to believe that a Nigerian official who is sent abroad to represent the Nigerian government, especially an individual who is appointed Consul-General with the responsibility to represent all Nigerians, should abdicate to perform his duties based on his religious beliefs. It is incomprehensible why Mr. Habib Habu should believe that only in a mosque would he be able to perform his duties, and the sad part is that if Mr. Habu had taken a very minor interest in the very tragic deaths of his fellow Nigerians, he would have discovered that the viewing of the bodies were in a funeral home, while the wake-keeping was not in a church.

If Mr. Habu didnt know that he would be representing all Nigerians in his post, it is beyond arrogance that he would have accepted the post of Consul-Genral of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing more than the 160 million Nigerians in Nigeria. It is like saying that the president he represents in America, President Goodluck Jonathan, can never enter a mosque because he is a Christian. Imagine the uproar that would envelope Nigeria should such an utterance came out of his mouth. But Mr. Habu said it because he could because of where he comes from, but other Nigerians of other faiths be damned.
Below is the accident site, the flyer for the wakekeeping and the letter to the Consul-General from the President of the Arondizuogu Patriotic Union.

Source 

BREAKING NEWS: Kaduna Bomb Blast, 4 Feared Dead, Several Injured

A bomb explosion has occurred in Kaduna metropolis, killing four people, in what suggests a fresh wave of attack on the north’s political capital. A witness said that the explosion occurred along the busy Ali Akilu road in the city centre.

The explosive device, a security source said, exploded accidentally in the hands of two men, who were travelling with it on two motorcycles. 


The men are believed to be members of the extremist Boko Haram sect. A loud bang rang out after the explosive went off, shaking buildings around the area.

Several people around the explosion were also affected  by the blast, and the casualty figure from the incident may  rise, our sources say.

Men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, have arrived the area and have cordoned off the scene. Spokespersons of the police and the JTF could not be reached yet for comments.

Courtesy Premium Times

There Will Be Another Civil War If Jonathan Is Impeached – Asari Dokubo

Former President of Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, and leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Dokubo Asari, has said that those those who want  President Goodluck Jonathan impeached are looking for another civil war.

Dokubo told  newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, that the Isa Kaita, who he said represented a collection of Northern oligarchy, had prior to 2011 general elections, declared that they will make Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan should he eventually emerged as President, pointing out that incessant bombings and killings credited to the North-based Boko Haram was the manifestation of the threat by Kaita.

 
He said: “On Boko Haram, the North will lose. We are just waiting; they will push us to an extent where we will tell Goodluck Jonathan that he is on his own. But what will happen will be one that will be unimaginable in the history of the world.

“We will cut them (the Northerners) off from the world. We are capable of doing that. There will be no food and they will pay dearly for their actions. This war will be no joke. There will be no army to prosecute the war for them. When the war starts, other ethnic groups like the Yoruba will tell the North ‘you are on your own.’

“We are saying that nothing must happen to Jonathan because if anything happens to him, the world will know. The arrogance of Boko Haram is un-Islamic. The type of bomb they are using is small. If we begin to throw bombs, nobody will stay in Abuja.

“We don’t manufacture bomb but we will buy them and dynamites. I started armed struggle in the Niger Delta. It is because of Goodluck Jonathan that we kept quiet.

“But soon, we will not be able to guarantee our patience any more. If Ijaw people should retaliate, every household in the North will cry. It is the North that needs peace more than us. Everybody must impress it on them that they should sheathe their swords and drop their arrogance.”

Asari said it was an insult on President Jonathan for him to be asked by Boko Haram to convert to Islam or resign his position. He warned that the Ijaw nation will retaliate should anything happen to Jonathan
 
While calling on  President Jonathan to urgently convene a Sovereign National Conference, SNC, which he said was long overdue, to determine the future of Nigeria amidst the ethnic nationalities.

A Must Read: How To Worship The Nigerian god

The Nigerian god is one. It may have many different
manifestations, but it is essentially different sides of the same coin. Sometimes, adherents of the different sides may fight and kill each other. But Nigerians essentially follow the Nigerian god.
This article is for all those who want to become better
worshippers. If you are a new or prospective convert, God will bless you for choosing the Nigerian god. This is just how you must worship him.
First, you must understand that being a worshipper has nothing to do with character, good works or righteousness.


So the fact that you choose to open every meeting with multiple prayers does not mean that you intend to do what is right. The opening
prayer is important. Nothing can work without it. If you are
gathered to discuss how to inflate contracts, begin with an opening prayer or two. If you are gathered to discuss how to rig elections, begin with a prayer. The Nigerian god appreciates communication.

When you sneak away from your wife to call your girlfriend in the bathroom, and she asks if you will come this weekend, you must say—in addition to "Yes"—"By God's grace" or "God willing".

It doesn't matter the language you use. Just add it. The
Nigerian god likes to be consulted before you do anything, including a trip to Obudu to see your lover.

When worshipping the Nigerian god, be loud. No, the Nigerian god is not hard of hearing. It is just that he appreciates your loud
favour, like he appreciates loud raucous music. The Nigerian god doesn't care if you have neighbours and neither should you.
When you are worshipping in your house, make sure the
neighbours can't sleep. Use loud speakers even if you are only two in the building.

Anyone who complains must be evil. God will judge such a person.
Attribute everything to the Nigerian god. So, if you diverted funds from public projects and are able to afford that Phantom, when people say you have a nice car, say, "Na God".
If someone asks what the secret of all your wealth is, say, "God has been good to me".

By this you mean the Nigerian god who gave you the uncommon wisdom to re-appropriate public funds.

Consult the Nigerian god when you don't feel like working. The Nigerian god understands that we live in a harsh climate where it is hard to do any real work. So, if you have no clue how to be in charge and things start collapsing, ask people to pray to God and ask for his intervention. The Nigerian god loves elections and politics.

When you have bribed people to get the Party nomination, used thugs to steal and stuff ballot boxes, intimidated people into either sitting at home or voting for you, lied about everything from your assets to your age, and you eventually, (through God's grace), win the elections, you must begin by declaring that your success is the wish of God and that the other candidate should accept this will of God.
It is not your fault whom the Nigerian god chooses to
reward with political success. 

How can mere mortals complain?
The Nigerian god does not tolerate disrespect. If someone insults your religion, you must look for anyone like them and kill them.
Doesn't matter what you use—sticks, machetes, grenade
launchers, IED's, AK47's. The Nigerian god performs signs and wonders. He does
everything from cure HIV to High BP.

And the Nigerian god is creative: he can teach a person who was born blind the difference between blue and green when the man of god asks, and he can teach a person born deaf instant English. As a worshipper you must let him deliver you because every case of sickness is caused by evil demons and not infections. 

Every case of barrenness is caused by witches and has no scientific explanation. So instead of hospital, visit agents of the Nigerian god. But the Nigerian god does not cure corruption. Do not attempt to mock him.
If you worship the Nigerian god, you are under no obligation to be nice or kind to people who are not worshippers. They deserve
no courtesy.

The Nigerian god is also online. As a worshipper, you are not obliged to be good or decent on Facebook or twitter all week except on Friday and Sunday, both of which the Nigerian god marks as holy. So you may forward obscene photos, insult people, forward lewd jokes on all days except the holy days.
On those holy days, whichever applies to you, put up statuses saying how much you are crazy about God.

These days, the Nigerian god also permits tweets and Facebook updates like: "Now in Church" or "This guy in front of me needs to stop dozing" when performing acts of worship.
In all, the Nigerian god is very kind and accommodating. He
gives glory and riches and private jets. And if you worship him
well, he will immensely bless your hustle.

Via Daily Times

Chinedu Ekeke: David Mark vs New Media

Nigeria’s Senate president, David Bonaventure Mark, is deeply troubled. And his present state of mind is justifiable. The criminal empire which prince he’s one of is at the verge of crumbling, or so he thinks. He’s eyeing the kingship of the empire in a few years from now. He wants to rule and reign in the kingdom. 

He has amassed enough wealth and bought enough souls to make this possible. He dreams of joining the league of candidates for prison who became presidents of Nigeria in the last three or so decades.But the turn of events, especially since January this year, has jolted him. 

It doesn’t seem as though he would have any smooth ride to the kingship he so much covets, neither would he have the rest of mind to consume the millions he has so far amassed. He recently heaped the blame on new media or social media.
 

The credibility he has sought to build in the last thirteen years hasn’t even taken off the ground, to his utter dismay. Millions of Nigerians don’t see any reason to take him seriously. He knows – or thinks – social media is responsible for this.

Last Thursday, while declaring open a two-day retreat for Senate Press corps in Umuahia, Abia State, he said there was a need to check the use of social media as Nigerians were using them to demean their leaders. Hear him: “We need to change our attitude on how we report things about our country and we should emulate the foreign reporters who never report negative things about their countries.” So Mr Mark wants to sponsor – and pass – a legislation that would impose restrictions on the use of social media in Nigeria. Once that is done, his confidence in the empire will rebound, and his hopes of assuming the kingship will come back to live.

Again, Mr Mark is justified, because, you see, there’s so much money can buy; and there’s even much more plenty of money can buy. The more money you make without working, the more you want to spend without sweat. He pays himself N600 million from Nigeria’s treasury in one year. That isn’t heavenly or biblical year. It is earthly year as we know it; twelve calendar months, the one within which Barack Obama, the United States president, earns N60 million.

What Mr. Mark pays himself in one year is the salary of a US president for ten (yes, ten!) good years. What Nigeria’s number three citizen takes home, legally, in one year, is what the number one citizen of the world’s biggest economy, and only remaining super-power, earns in ten years. Because no president stays beyond eight years in America, it means what David Mark gives himself as earnings in one year is what will pay at least two American presidents – one for eight years and another one for extra two years. That means before Mark concludes his four year term, he would have amassed enough money from our treasury that will pay United States presidents for forty years! You see why he has to checkmate social media? You can’t have access to such amounts of free money without being sensitive to any avenue through which opposition rears its envious head.

Interestingly, what Mark is supposed to be doing to be taking such a humongous amount home every year is the same job the United States Vice President combines with his official job as the Vice, and for which he earns less than one-tenth of the money Mr Mark allocates to himself. Actually, it is the president of the US, not his Vice, who earns up to one-tenth of Mark’s annual bazaar. So for taking home N600 million for doing nothing, why will David Mark not feel threatened by social media?
It is even more annoying because years before now, nobody knew how much of injury his avarice –and those of his ilk – inflicted on the nation’s treasury. 

It was easy for him to buy up the entire mainstream media peopled by brown-envelope-seeking journalists and editors in a hurry to join the resource-grabbing frenzy of those who rule Nigeria. His Ghana-must-go bags were handy for willing media people who had no regards for the sacred role the society, and their jobs, had thrust upon them. Today, Mark can’t control what gets into the new media. He can’t control the number of people who read just a tweet, or Facebook post or blog post, detailing how much David Mark grabs monthly from the purse of a nation in pathetic poverty. He can’t control who reads this piece or who doesn’t. He can’t pull down this website or the other ones linked to it through which this piece will be read by thousands or millions of Nigerians. And this is why he is troubled.

There is also the conscience – or even emotional – side to his discomfort. He hates the poor, and gets angry at the sight of any poor person enjoying whatever he (Mark) considers a luxury. Most of the people who attack him and his tribe of nation-killers on social media do so with telephone which, years ago, he had declared wasn’t for the poor. The society-made super rich which Mark loves dearly can’t say anything wrong about him on social media. They are all colleagues in the nation-wrecking industry. Clearly, it is those “poor” ones, or those who should be poor but have somehow risen above it, that criticise Mark.

As Babangida’s minister of communication, he told whoever cared to listen to perish the thoughts of making telephone available to Nigerians. He stated, clearly, that telephone wasn’t for the poor. It was for the rich, eaters of hundreds of millions of naira from Nigeria’s commonwealth. Today, the senator watches even roadside mechanics clutching their phones, reading the internet and seeing how much of a curse to them this government has become. If you were Mark, you’d be troubled too.

He saw the shape of things to come from social media last January. The OccupyNigeria protests jolted him and his co-travellers. Forget the lies they took to the market of how opposition hijacked the protests, he knew that the power of social media was at work. But for lack of patriotism of the labour leaders who sold the protests to Mark and his government, the government would have been brought down. And since then, he has watched the social media project himself and the government in their true picture: enemies of the Nigerian people. He saw the Arab spring and how social media swept away his mentors in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and others. The senate president has stomached enough. He isn’t going to take it anymore.

It is a paradox that the same society which David Mark has so much undermined sent him to the Senate to represent them. It is even more shocking that the same Mark was made the president of the Senate, the nation’s symbol of democracy. Yet it is more paradoxical that the head of the institution which should bear the torchlight of democracy is the first person who has openly demonstrated his desire to outlaw the right of the people to freely express themselves.

Mr Mark’s ingratitude deserves a special mention. Here’s a man who was part of Babangida’s gang that collapsed Nigeria’s economy while their private economies, represented by their numerous bank accounts, blossomed. This is the same Mark who failed as a communications minister. Isn’t he supposed to be serving a lifetime in jail? Instead, he bulldozed his way through our polity and just happened in the senate. And for not taking a punitive action against him for his failure, he has got emboldened to punish us.

David Mark has always represented darkness in Nigeria. The senate he leads, which is an effective retirement house for former state treasury looters, has represented everything a nation’s senate should not be. While the lower house rose to the defence of Nigerians during the fuel subsidy protests, Mr Mark and his senate looked the other way round just to preserve the darkness which so much benefits him. While the lower house set up committees upon committees to perform their constitutional oversight functions on federal government ministries, departments and agencies, Mark’s senate chose silence which darkness brings.

He is preaching how reporters should follow their foreign counterparts. Unfortunately, the Senate president, like the other “leaders” in Nigeria, does not read. That raises another question: what does he do with the newspaper allowance he pays himself? If he reads American or British newspapers, then he would understand that a vibrant media will always question their leaders.

But let’s even assume Mark is right about foreign reporters not reporting the negatives about their countries; and we choose to emulate them, has Mark emulated the same foreign countries in insisting that politicians only earn realistic and sustainable salaries? Part of what he wants us to report is that he doesn’t pay himself ten times the salary of the US president, or that he hasn’t made efforts to frustrate, through his senate, the demand of Nigerians that subsidy thieves be prosecuted. Mr Mark hasn’t seen anything yet.

I understand he is a Christian. I would refer him to an interesting portion of the Bible. It is John 1:5:
“The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.”
New media is the light of the 21st Century, it is shining forth and forcing darkness to give way.

In the coming days and weeks and months, we would know who gives way between David Mark and social media. But I am convinced it won’t be the latter.

source

EXCLUSIVE: Al-Mustapha's Story On Abacha's Death Exposed. Said he Would've Gunned Down Abdulsalami"

"My Boss, General Sani Muhammad Abacha, died at the early hours of Monday, 8th June, 1998. I had prepared him for a workshop organized by the Federal Ministry of Information for that day as he was expected to deliver an address as the Special Guest of Honour. His speech was drafted and fine tuned by the Chief Press Secretary, Chief David Attah who had submitted it to the Aide-De Camp for vetting and necessary amendments by the Commander-in-Chief. When I got to the bedside of the Head of State, he was already gasping. Ordinarily, I could not just touch him. It was not allowed in our job. But under the situation on ground, I knelt close to him and shouted, “General Sani Abacha, Sir, please grant me permission to touch and carry you.”


"Contrary to insinuations, speculations and sad rumours initiated by some sections of the society, I maintain that the sudden collapse of the health system of the late Head of State started previous day (Sunday, 7th June, 1998) right from the Abuja International Airport immediately after one of the white security operatives or personnel who accompanied President Yasser Arafat of Palestine shook hands with him (General Abacha) I had noticed the change in the countenance of the late Commander-in-Chief and informed the Aide-de-Camp, Lt. Col. Abdallah, accordingly. He, however, advised that we keep a close watch on the Head of State. Later in the evening of 8th June, 1998, around 6p.m; his doctor came around, administered an injection to stabilize him. He was advised to have a short rest. 

Happily, enough, by 9p.m; the Head of State was bouncing and receiving visitors until much later when General Jeremiah Timbut Useni, the then Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, came calling. He was fond of the Head of State. They were very good friends. They stayed and chatted together till about 3.35a.m. A friend of the house was with me in my office and as he was bidding me farewell, he came back to inform me that the FCT Minister, General Useni was out of the Head of State’s Guest House within the Villa."

"I then decided to inform the ADC and other security boys that I would be on my way home to prepare for the early morning event at the International Conference Centre. At about 5a.m; the security guards ran to my quarters to inform me that the Head of State was very unstable. At first, I thought it was a coup attempt. Immediately, I prepared myself fully for any eventuality. As an intelligence officer and the Chief Security Officer to the Head of State for that matter, I devised a means of diverting the attention of the security boys from my escape route by asking my wife to continue chatting with them at the door – she was in the house while the boys were outside. From there, I got to the Guest House of the Head of State before them. 

When I got to the bedside of the Head of State, he was already gasping. Ordinarily, I could not just touch him. It was not allowed in our job. But under the situation on ground, I knelt close to him and shouted, “General Sani Abacha, Sir, please grant me permission to touch and carry you.” I again knocked at the stool beside the bed and shouted in the same manner, yet he did not respond. I then realized there was a serious danger. I immediately called the Head of State’s personal physician, Dr. Wali, who arrived the place under eight minutes from his house. He immediately gave Oga – General Abacha – two doses of injection, one at the heart and another close to his neck."

"This did not work apparently as the Head of State had turned very cold. He then told me that the Head of State was dead and nothing could be done after all. I there and then asked the personal physician to remain with the dead body while I dashed home to be fully prepared for the problems that might arise from the incident. As soon as I informed my wife, she collapsed and burst into tears. I secured my house and then ran back. At that point, the Aide-de-Camp had been contacted by me and we decided that great caution must be taken in handling the grave situation. Again, I must reiterate that the issue of my Boss dying on top of women was a great lie just as the insinuation that General Sani Abacha ate and died of poisoned apples was equally a wicked lie. My question is: did Chief M.K.O Abiola die of poisoned apples or did he die on top of women? As I had stated at the Oputa Panel, their deaths were organized. Pure and simple! It was at this point that I used our special communication gadgets to diplomatically invite the Service Chiefs, Military Governors and some few elements purportedly to a meeting with the Head of State by 9a.m. at the Council Chamber. That completed, I also decided to talk to some former leaders of the nation to inform them that General Sani Abacha would like to meet them by 9a.m. Situation became charged however, when one of the Service Chiefs, Lieutenant General Ishaya Rizi Bamaiyi, who pretended to be with us, suggested he be made the new Head of State after we had quietly informed him of the death of General Sani Abacha. He even suggested we should allow him access to Chief Abiola. We smelt a rat and other heads of security agencies, on hearing this, advised I move Chief Abiola to a safer destination."
"I managed to do this in spite of the fact that I had been terribly overwhelmed with the crisis at hand. But then, when some junior officers over-heard the suggestion of one of the Service Chiefs earlier mentioned, it was suggested to me that we should finish all the members of the Provisional Ruling Council and give the general public an excuse that there was a meeting of the PRC during which a shoot-out occurred between some members of the Provisional Ruling Council and the Body Guards to the Head of State When I sensed that we would be contending with far more delicate issues than the one on ground, I talked to Generals Buba Marwa and Ibrahim Sabo who both promptly advised us – the junior officers – against any bloodshed. They advised we contact General Ibrahim Babangida (former Military President) who equally advised against any bloodshed but that we should support the most senior officer in the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) to be the new Head of State. Since the words of our elders are words of wisdom, we agreed to support General Jeremiah Useni. Along the line, General Bamaiyi lampooned me saying, “Can’t you put two and two together to be four? Has it not occurred to you that General Useni who was the last man with the Head of State might have poisoned him, knowing full well that he was the most senior officer in the PRC?”

"Naturally, I became furious with General Useni since General Abacha’s family had earlier on complained severally about the closeness of the two Generals; at that, a decision was taken to storm General Useni’s house with almost a battalion of soldiers to effect his arrest. Again, some heads of security units and agencies, including my wife, advised against the move. The next most senior person and officer in government was General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was then the Chief of Defence Staff. 

We rejected the other Service Chief, who, we believed, was too ambitious and destructive. We settled for General Abubakar and about six of us called him inside a room in the Head of State’s residence to break the news of the death of General Abacha to him. As a General with vast experience, Abdulsalami Abubakar, humbly requested to see and pray for the soul of General Abacha which we allowed. Do we consider this a mistake? Because right there, he – Abubakar – went and sat on the seat of the late Head of State. Again, I was very furious. Like I said at the Oputa Panel, if caution was not applied, I would have gunned him down. The revolution the boys were yearning for would have started right there. The assumption that we could not have succeeded in the revolution was a blatant lie. We were in full control of the State House and the Brigade of Guards. We had loyal troops in Keffi and in some other areas surrounding the seat of government – Abuja. But I allowed peace to reign because we believed it would create further crises in the country."

"We followed the advice of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and the wise counsel of some loyal senior officers and jointly agreed that General Abdulsalami Abubakar be installed Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces immediately after the burial of General Sani Abacha in Kano. It is an irony of history that the same Service Chief who wanted to be Head of State through bloodshed, later instigated the new members of the Provisional Ruling Council against us and branded us killers, termites and all sorts of hopeless names. They planned, arranged our arrest, intimidation and subsequent jungle trial in 1998 and 1999. These, of course, led to our terrible condition in several prisons and places of confinement."

source

Oil Subsidy Fraud Suspects Funneled Nearly $1billion To Jonathan Election Campaign

Some of the high profile suspects arraigned on Wednesday for stealing $6.8 billion oil subsidy funds have sent a strong warning to President Goodluck Jonathan to desist from prosecuting them or face a full disclosure of how they funneled close to $1 billion towards his 2011 presidential campaign through the oil resources minister Diezani Allison-Madueke and the Minister for the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe.
 
SaharaReporters sources say that operators of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, whose Managing Director, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, was docked along with 20 others, have compiled information that was sent to President Jonathan that includes:

 
• How they specifically handed over $300 million through the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Allison-Madueke, towards the election of President Jonathan in 2011; and 
• That they bought a mansion for Mr. Orubebe in Abuja worth N600 million.
 
Saharareporters learned that the accused Ontario Oil chieftains were shocked by the public humiliation brought upon them by the EFCC. The most powerful member of the Ontario clan, Walter Wagbatsoma, reportedly left Nigeria for Paris shortly before the commencement of prosecution by the EFCC. 
 
Meanwhile, EFCC officials have confirmed to SaharaReporters that Mr. Wagbatsoma has not written any statement or appeared before the agency even though he was listed as one of those to be arraigned by the EFCC. He is believed to have the key to unlocking the involvement of Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke in the oil subsidy fraud. 
 
Specifically, Wagbatsoma is reportedly in possession of a private jet bought last year that he is holding in trust for Mrs Allison-Madueke. A source in Abuja also said that Mr. Orubebe is on the board of Ontario Oil, although he may not be publicly listed. Wagbatsoma is listed as the owner of several companies used to siphon off funds from the oil industry, they include: Ontario oil & gas Ltd., Ontario trading Ltd, Ontario storage terminals Ltd., ontario vessels Ltd., Ontario Drilling and Engineering services.
 
In Lagos today, the prosecution suffered another setback as the court adjourned following the failure of Wagbatsoma to appear  at the trial. The proceedings were equally stalled yesterday by the absence of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
 
Sources knowledgeable about the intrigues surrounding the trial have already predicted that due to the current threat to expose President Jonathan and some of his most powerful ministers, the case will fizzle out over time.

Source

Turai Yar’Adua and Patience Jonathan In A Land Dispute In Abuja

 

 

Our former first lady, Turai Yar'Adua and current first lady, Patience Jonathan took went to court over a property they are both fight  over. And to save the country from further embarrassment, the Attorney General of the Federation has asked the court handling the case to discontinue further hearing on the case.

The property in dispute is located in the central business district of Abuja and was originally allocated to a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, “The Registered Trustee of Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation, WYEF”, a pet project initiated by Turai Yar’Adua.

After Turai left as First Lady, the property was revoked by the FCT minister and re-awarded to Dame Patience Jonathan for the construction of a secretariat of the “First Ladies Peace Mission.”

Turai has been promised any alternative property of her choice in the business district in the FCT as compensation.

A baby Born with 3 Legs Borno State Of Nigeria

A baby girl identified as Nafisat, born with many legs and imperforated anus in Borno State needs your help.

According to medical experts, baby Nafisat needs N1million for corrective surgery for her to remain alive.
Baby Nafisat was born to the Ahmed family in Bayo LGA of Borno state on the 18th of June, 2012.

The family’s joy quickly turned to sorrow as they witnessed many abnormalities surrounding her birth.


A surgeon at the Federal Medical Centre in Gombe states Nafisat needs intensive surgery to keep her alive.
Unfortunately, her parents have no means of paying for this expensive surgery.

They’re calling on Nigerians especially the first lady of the state to come to her rescue.
Nafisat is currently in the Special Baby Unit at Gombe Federal Medical Centre and she is struggling with imperforated anus and other abnormalities.

Dr Adamu Madugu, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center, Gombe, said the baby stands the risk of dying if the surgery is not carried out immediately.

“Nafisat was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, and has been admitted in the Special Baby Care Unit with a case of imperforated anus and multiple abnormalities.”

“The patient has to undergo a series of surgery in order to correct various enormities.”

Baby Nafisat is currently living on different medical gadgets and she needs N1 million for important corrective surgery.
Madugu said with N1 million, Nafisat would be able to pay for her surgery, drugs, investigation, pints of blood, feeding and accommodation.

“Unfortunately, the parents cannot afford the money due to financial constraints,” said the Surgeon who solicited that only government can help the poor parents to save the life of the baby.

Woman Prays For A Miracle After Giving Birth To A Baby Whose Brain Is Outside The Skull

A South African baby boy, born on July 4, is not expected to survive. His anomaly? He was born with his brain exposed outside his head.
Mantwa Mokoena is praying for a miracle. Every day she is at her son’s hospital crib at the neo-natal unit of Kroonstad’s Boitumelo hospital in the Free State.

Every three hours for the past three weeks, she expresses milk into a cup to be fed to baby Sibusiso via a tube, even though every minute might be his last. Doctors say there is nothing they can do for him. His condition is officially “incompatible with life”.


Sibusiso was born on July 4 with anencephaly, a birth defect that results in a brain growing outside a head. According to his paediatrician, Dr Lizzy Tabane, the condition occurs early in the pregnancy at about four weeks after fertilisation, when the brain is still being formed. As the baby develops, the skull does not close properly and leaves a hole at the back of the child’s head.

Most of the brain grows outside the head and is covered by a very thin membrane. Infants with anencephaly usually have a brain stem, which controls reflexes like breathing, but they do not have a forebrain or cerebrum that controls thinking.

“The brain that was formed is abnormal. The brain consists of the cerebral hemispheres on the sides, the cerebellum at the back as well as the brain stem. He has no cerebrum or cerebral hemisphere, just brain tissue and a brain stem which is connected to the spinal cord and helps him to breathe. But unfortunately he won’t last long and there is nothing we can do about it. There is no quality of life without a brain. All that we can do is offer him palliative care as there is nothing curative about his case,” Tabane said.

But despite being told that her first child might die at any time, Mokoena was praying for a miracle. While she understands the seriousness of her baby’s condition, she says she is “waiting for him to get better. I have hope that he will be fine.

“I am so scared of lifting him up in case I hurt him. That part at the back containing his brain is very soft, it’s like touching a plastic with water. So I’m scared I will tear it.”

Mokoena’s partner, Sandile Sithole, has refused to accept that there was nothing that could be done for his baby boy and was searching for assistance.

Mokoena said: “He is hurting. This is his first child and it is difficult for him to accept what happened.” Tabane said they had already counselled the couple and told them that they must “let nature take its course”.

In the meantime, she said, all they were doing was keeping the baby comfortable. In her 17 years of being a doctor, Tabane said, Sibusiso was the third case of anencephaly she had seen. The first child, she said, had died after a week and the second one after four weeks.According to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the prognosis for patients is death.

Most anencephalic foetuses do not survive birth, and account for 55 percent of non-aborted cases. If the infant is not stillborn, then he or she will usually die within a few hours or days after birth from cardio-respiratory arrest.

There have been three recorded cases of children who have lived longer. Stephanie Keene, of Virginia, US, lived for two years and 174 days, and Nicholas Coke, of Pueblo, Colorado, is still alive after three and a half years, and Vitoria de Cristo, born in January 2010, is also still alive. Anencephaly occurs in about four out of 10 000 births. Having one infant with this condition increases the risk of having another child with neural tube defects.
WHAT IS ANENCEPHALY?

• One of the most common neural tube defects.
• Neural tube defects are birth defects that affect the tissue that grows into the spinal cord and brain.
• Anencephaly occurs early in the development of an unborn baby.
• It results when the upper part of the neural tube fails to close.
• Possible causes include environmental toxins, drink and drugs, and a low intake of folic acid during pregnancy.
• Folic acid could help reduce the risk of certain birth defects, including anencephaly.

FUEL SUBSIDY SCAM: Bamanga Tukur’s Son, 11 Others Charged

The law bared its fangs, yesterday, as the Ikeja and Lagos judicial divisions will try 7 oil companies and 12 directors charged before them.

They face between 7 years and 20 years imprisonment and to refund N304bn which was alleged to have been illegally taken from the Federal Government coffers.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, filed charges against the first batch of 18 suspects comprising six oil companies and 12 individuals implicated in the oil subsidy fraud. The companies are: Nasaman Oil Services; Eterna Oil and Gas Plc; Contario Oil & Gas Plc; Nadabo Energy Limited; Pacific Silver Line Limited, Axenergy Limited and Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited.


The 12 individuals involved in the scam are: Mamman Nasir Ali; Christian Taylor; Mahmud Tukur; Ochonogor Alex; Walter Agbasoma; Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer; Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele; Abubakar Ali Peters; Jude Agube Abalaka, Abdulahi Alao and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo.

Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele is director of the accounting firm of Akintola Williams Deloitte while Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer is a staff of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulating Agency, PPPRA.
At Ikeja High Court, Justices Habeeb Abiru and Adeniyi Onigbanjo have been assigned to entertain some of the charges while Justices Samuel Candide-Johnson, Lawal Akapo and Dotun Adefope-Okojie of Lagos High Court will try the other charges in Lagos.

Justices Abiru and Onigbanjo who are presently on annual court vacation couldn’t come for the formal arraignment of the oil marketers yesterday. It was gathered that the Judges will sit today (Wednesday) for their arraignment.

In Justice Onigbanjo’s court, Mahmud Tukur, son of the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Ochonogor Alex, Abdulahi Alao and Eterna Oil & Gas Ltd are defendants in a nine-count charge of  alleged conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining N676.9 million under false pretence.

The EFCC alleged that the suspects on April 28, 2011 in Lagos, fraudulently obtained a total sum of N676.9 million from the Federal Government purporting same to be payment accruing to Eterna Oil under the Petroleum Support Fund.

They are also accused of falsifying claims of having “purchased 33,288,388 litres of Premium Motoring Spirits (PMS) from Mercury Energy Trading AS and imported to Nigeria through Ex-MT Fulmer, Ex-MT Emirates Star and Ex-MT Panther.”

The case preferred against the defendants before Justice Abiru bordered on “conspiracy to obtain N1.9 billion under false pretence contrary to Section 8, punishable under Section 107 of Advance Fee Fraud & other Related offences.”

The charge against Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer and Ezekiel Olajide Ejide stated that they “conspired to obtain property by false pretence contrary to Section 8 punishable under Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences on July 7, 2010, within the jurisdiction of this court.

“Conspired to commit an offence to wit: Obtaining the sum of N340, 178, 111.231 from the Federal Government of Nigeria, purporting to be Payment Support Fund, which sum was in excess of the actual value of the product imported into Nigeria.”

They were also said to have collected the sum of N340, 015,198, being “Excess of the value of the actual product (12,070,706 litres) delivered by MT. Union Brave to Integrated Oil & Gas Ltd on your behalf as against 19,681, 731 litres you falsely claimed to have discharged.”

The defendants were also accused by the government of “altering and forging documents contrary to Section 468 and 467 of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos of State of Nigeria, 2006” respectively. The offences were said “to contradict Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences.

“The charge further said: “On July 7, 2010, within the jurisdiction of the court, you conspired to commit an offence to wit: Obtaining the sum of N340, 178, 111.231 from the Federal Government of Nigeria Support Fund, which sum was in excess of the actual value of the product imported into Nigeria.”

Abdulahi Alao will also face another 7-count charge bothering on obtaining by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents before Abiru.

He is accused of “fraudulently obtaining N2.5 billion in December 2010 from the Federal Government as subsidy payments for supplying 13,364,284 and 20,014,627 litres of PMS from Ex- MT Gavros and Ex-MT Nippon Princess.”

In same vein, two directors of other oil companies who were charged  before the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere will be arraigned on Thursday (tomorrow) for their alleged complicity in the fuel subsidy fraud of N2.153 billion, for the importation of 36.654 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the country.

In a charge No. ID/117C/2012, Integrated Resources Limited, Durosola Omogbemigun, Pinnacle Oil & Gas and Peter Mba who are defendants were accused of having between 2010 and 2011conspired to defraud the Federal Republic of Nigeria by collecting the said money from the Petroleum Support Fund, in respect of purported importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from Europe to Nigeria.

The charge read: 
“You Integrated Resources Limited, Durosola Omogbemigun, Pinnacle Oil & Gas and Peter Mba, on or about February 4, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this Court, by false pretence and intention to defraud obtained from the Federal Republic of Nigeria the sum N986.154 million, requested the said money to be subsidy payment payable to the Integrated Resources Limited, by the Federal Government, under the Petroleum Support Fund, in respect of 19.347 million litres of PMS, which you falsely claimed to have purchased from Guinness Petroleum Limited.”

The charge further stated, “Omogbemigun, on November 15, 2011 defrauded the Federal Republic of Nigeria of the sum N343.182 million, money meant to be subsidy payable to the Integrated Resources Limited, by the Federal Government, under the Petroleum Support Fund, in the respect of 4.116 million litres of PMS, which he claimed to have purchased from Alkamo International Limited and allegedly imported into Nigeria.

“That Durosola Omogbemigun, on or about November 15, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, by false pretence with intent to defraud the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the sum of N823.305 million, purported the said sum to be subsidy payable to the Integrated Resources Limited, by the Federal Government, under the Petroleum Support Fund, in respect of 9.191 million litres of PMS, which you falsely claimed to have purchased from Alkamo International Limited and alleged imported into Nigeria”

Nasaman Oil Services; Mamman Nasir and Christian Taylor are to face charges bordering on obtaining N4, 460, 130, 797. 94 (Four Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira, Ninety Four Kobo) from the Federal Government of Nigeria under false pretence. The sum is alleged to have been fraudulently obtained as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 30.5million litres of Premium Motor Spirit from SEATAC Petroleum Limited of British Virgin Islands.

Nadabo Energy Limited, Abubakar Ali Peters, Jude Agube Abalaka and Pacific Silver Line Limited are to be prosecuted for allegedly obtaining the sum of N1, 464, 961, 978.24 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty Four Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Eight Naira, Twenty- Four Kobo ), being payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 19.4million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

Walter Agbasoma; Adaoha Ugo -Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer; Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele and Contario Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited will be arraigned for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1, 959, 377, 542, .63 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Two Naira, Sixty Three Kobo) from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 39.2 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo who are also charged will be docked for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N979,653,110.20 ( Nine Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira, Twenty Eight Kobo), from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 33, 627, 84 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

Vanguard 

House of Reps Indicted Lamido Sanusi For Fraud And Forgery

The document 81-page document provides, perhaps, the most indicting revelations on the sale of three banks by the CBN last year, a move that has drawn intense criticism to the regulatory bank under Mr. Sanusi

A House of Representatives report on the near collapse of the capital market says it has found evidence of forgery and fraudulent misrepresentation involving the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and other top industry officials in the controversial nationalization of three commercial banks.

The report submitted to the House on Tuesday, says the nationalization of Afribank Plc, Spring Bank and Bank PHB, violated statutory provisions and remained a “major source” of investors’ loss of confidence in the troubled Nigerian capital market.

The document 81-page document provides, perhaps, the most indicting position on the sale of the three banks by the CBN last year, a move that has fetched the regulatory bank under Mr. Sanusi, intense criticisms and accusation of bias.

“This committee is of the view that due process was not followed, and that investors interests were not considered in nationalizing the banks,” the House capital market committee, headed by Ibrahim El-Sudi, stated.

“Public officers charged with the responsibility of protecting investors and depositors did not act in good faith, and there were evidence to suggest fraud, misrepresentations, and forgeries.”

Those cited to have been involved in the irregularities are the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, Umaru Ibrahim, Managing Director, Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), Mustafa Chike-Obi, the CBN governor, Mr. Sanusi, the Registrar of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Belo Mahmud, and the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh.

The committee faulted Mr. Sanusi for a range of several other anomalies and breach of procedures, and accused the CBN boss of deliberately withholding information from the lawmakers during the investigation.

It also indicted Ms. Oteh of multiple cases of irregularities, and accused the SEC DG of fraudulent conduct.
Ms. Oteh was recalled by the federal government on Wednesday after about a month on suspension. Her recall came as the House committee tabled its report.

On the nationalization of Afribank, the committee detailed shocking highlights of the behind-the-scenes leading to the change. The committee said the bank’s name was changed to Mainstreet Bank Limited, a private company with share capital of 100,000 ordinary shares of N1 each, owned by two persons, Gideon Agbedo, a lawyer, and a certain Innocent Obi.

The committee said it found out the Articles and Memorandum of Association transferring the ownership to the individuals, was stamped and verified by the CAC authorizing them to “assume all or part only of the deposits and liabilities of Afribank” and to “purchase such assets of Afribank” as are acceptable to the board.
This meant a publicly quoted company was acquired by a private company owned by two persons, the committee said.

Further, a Certificate of Incorporation no RC 969929 dated 5th August, 2011, signed by Bello Mahmud, Registrar General-CAC , certified that Mainstreet Bank was previously called ‘SHOKO CHUKIN LIMITED’.
“This action is completely false and dubious,” the committee said.
Again, the committee said the position of AMCON, CBN, SEC etc that the nationalized banks were owned 100 per cent by AMCON, were deliberate falsehood as it was clear the two individuals owned the banks with nine other names as the Directors of the bank.

For Bank PHB, changed to Keystone bank, the committee said a similar fraud was perpetuated with share capital of 100 000 ordinary shares of N1 each were owned by one Benson Igbanoi and the same Innocent Obi of Mainstreet Bank.

The object of Keystone Bank ltd was similar to that of the Mainstreet Bank, and has a Certificate of Incorporation no RC 969956 which certifies that Keystone Bank Ltd was previously called Michi Noku Resolution limited, another alleged fraud.


Source: Premium Times

FG Recalls Suspended SEC DG, Ms. Arunma Oteh.

The Federal Government has recalled the suspended Director -General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh.
Her recall was communicated to her through a circular; SGF.2/S.9/C.13/454 dated 17/ July/ 2012 and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
 
According to him, Oteh’s recall follows the outcome of the findings of the external auditors.
It will be recalled that the Board engaged the Price Water Coopers Limited, a renowned audit firm, to examine SEC's account records.
The firm exonerated her from all accusation of fraud and criminal breaches.
She was however indicted for some administrative lapses.
 
The circular reads:
"Please refer to the decision of the Board of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to send you on compulsory leave in order to enable SEC's external auditors-the Price Water Coopers Limited (PWC), to examine the records of the Commission's transactions covering SEC project 50 which you supervised.
 
"I am to note that Government has studied the report submitted by the external auditors and you are neither indicted for fraud nor criminal breach in any form. However, some administrative lapses were reported, particularly, in cases where administrative procedures were not thoroughly observed.
 
"The purpose of this letter is to recall you from your leave and to caution that you must henceforth endeavour to diligently observe all extant rules and administrative procedures in the conduct of all official transactions."

Source: The Nation

Hilary Clinton Gets Stoned With Tomatoes By Egyptians

Egyptians pelted Secretary of State Clinton’s motorcade with tomatoes, shoes and jeers of “Monica! Monica!” on Sunday during her first visit since last year’s dramatic revolution.

A tomato struck an Egyptian official in the face, but Clinton was unscathed during the brief ruckus as she was leaving the U.S. Consulate in Alexandria.

It was not clear who the protesters were, or what their political affiliation was.


On Saturday, protesters chanted anti-Islamist slogans outside Clinton’s hotel, accusing the U.S. of backing the Muslim Brotherhood’s rise to power.

The Islamists, on the other hand, complain that Washington spent years propping up former President Hosni Mubarak and tacitly encouraging his often brutal efforts to suppress religious militancy.
The United States provides Egypt with $1.3 billion a year in military aid.

Adams Oshiomhole Declared Winner Of Edo Governorship Election As President Jonathan Congratulated Him An UPDATE

UPDATE 2: President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Adams Oshiomhole on his victory in the election. He also wished the comrade-governor a successful second term in office.
The president commended INEC and the security agencies for the successful conduct of the elections.
Rauf Aregbsola, the governor of the state of Osun, has also congratulated Mr Oshiomhole over his victory.

There was spontaneous breakout of jubilation by the people in the streets in the state capital as details of the results filtered out.

Loud booms of gunshots and fireworks could be heard from different parts of the city, as supporters from across all political divide poured out in the streets on motor bikes in jubilation of the victory.

One of the celebrating youths, who spoke with our reporters, described Mr. Oshiomhole’s victory as a triumph of the people of the state against politics of godfatherism and patronage.

“This victory show that if one, who is in leadership position performs and delivers the dividend of democracy to the people, victory can be achieved irrespective of the political party one belongs,” the ecstatic youth said.

Below is the full statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati.

"President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan congratulates Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on his re-election yesterday for another term in office.

"President Jonathan also commends the Independent National Electoral Commission, its personnel and the nation’s security services for ensuring that the elections were free and fair in keeping with his administration’s commitment to continually strengthening democracy in Nigeria through the establishment of a more credible electoral system.

"The President  urges Governor Oshiomhole to receive the fresh mandate given to him yesterday by the people of Edo State  as an endorsement of his outstanding  performance in his first term and an expression of their desire for a continuation of his focused, purposeful and dynamic leadership.

"He expects that the Governor will work even harder in his second term to justify the confidence in his leadership clearly expressed by the Edo State electorate yesterday and assures him that the Federal Government will continue to give all possible support and assistance for development in the state.

"President Jonathan wishes the Comrade-Governor continued good health and a successful second term in the service of Edo State and Nigeria."

UPDATE 1: The agent of the PDP has congratulated Mr. Oshiomhole for the victory, and INEC, for doing a good job. Speaking shortly after the result was announced at the INEC office in Benin, he added that his party would study the result of the election and then come forward with a formal reaction.
Read our earlier post below.
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The candidate of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Adams Oshiomhole, was this morning declared winner of the gubernatorial elections held yesterday in Edo State.

In the result announced by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Osayuki Oshodin, who was the returning officer, Mr. Oshiomhole polled a total of 477,478 votes, or 73.72 per cent of 647,698 total votes cast , winning in all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

His closest rival, Charles Airhiarvbere of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 144,235 votes, or 22.27 per cent of total votes, while the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)candidate, Solomon Edebiri, got 3,642 votes, and Izevbuwa Roland of the Congress for Political Change (CPC), received 2,792 votes, or 0.43 per cent of the total votes,

Other  results include that of Frank Ukonga of the Social Democratic Mega party (SDMP), who got 807 votes, or 0.56 per cent of total votes; Andrew Igwemoh of the Labour Party (LP), 604, or 0.09 per cent, and Paul Orumwense of the National Conscience Party (NCP), 504 votes, or 0.08 per cent.

About 17,282 voters could not vote in eight local government areas of the state for various reasons bordering on various breaches of the Electoral Act. But, elections did not hold at Ologbo, a riverine area of the state following the dead of four officials, including three police officers and an INEC ad hoc staff, in a boat mishap as they were conveying electoral materials to the area.

Observers noted the low turn out of voters, which was 40.4 per cent of the total number of registered voters.

The PDP polling agent at the polling centre at the INEC headquarters, Dickson Ikhairhe, who accepted the outcome of the polls on behalf of his party, said the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party will deliberate on the result and issue a formal statement.

He commended NEC’s handling of the exercise, describing it as peaceful and orderly, while congratulating the winner, Adams Oshiomhole for his victory.

The CPC representative, who congratulated the ACN for emerging victorious, said “victory for ACN is victory for all progressive parties in the state.”

Mr. Oshiomhole’s ACN won at the Uzenema Primary School voting centre, where the self-acclaimed godfather of Edo politics, Tony Anenih, voted. The result at the end of voting at the centre showed that the ACN scored 3,120 votes against PDP’s 1,004 votes

The PDP candidate in the poll, Mr. Airhiavbere, and other PDP chieftains, including Gabriel Igbinedion, lost in their wards. ACN also won in Ward unit 7 where the Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomie comes from, scoring 169 votes against PDP’s 129.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TALLY

AKOKO - ACN (),  PDP ()

EGOR -   ACN (),  PDP ()

ESAN NORTH EAST ACN - (13,068), PDP - (12, 478)

ESAN CENTRAL - ACN - (), PDP - ()

ESAN SOUTH-EAST - ACN - (), PDP- ()

ESAN WEST - ACN - (), PDP - ()

ETSAKO CENTRAL - ACN - (16, 834), PDP - (5,113)

ETSAKO EAST - ACN - (14,904), PDP - (9,634)

ETSAKO WEST - ACN - (44,962), PDP - (5,920)

IGUEBEN - ACN - (), PDP - ()

IKPOBA OKHA - ACN - (58, 809), PDP - (6,505)

OREDO - ACN - (66,552), PDP - (9,081)

ORHIONMWON - ACN -(), PDP - ()

OVIA NORTH EAST - ACN - (), PDP - ()

OVIA SOUTH WEST - ACN - (), PDP - ()

OWAN EAST - ACN - (15,150), PDP - (7,229)

OWAN WEST - ACN - (), PDP - ()

UHUNMWONDE - ACN - (17,011), PDP - (5,826)

TOTAL- ACN - () PDP - ()

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PU12/11/05/002 ACN-121, ANPP-0, CPC-0, Labour Party-0, PDP-3

PU12/11/06/010 ACN-187 ANPP-2 CPC-0 PDP-13
PU12/11/O6/008 ACN-164 ANPP-2 CPC-3 PDP-17
PU12/11/06/009 ACN-206 ANPP-1 CPC-1 PDP-17

PU12/11/06/005 ACN-174 ANPP-1 CPC-0 PDP-21

PU12/11/06/006 ACN-176 ANPP-1 CPC-0 PDP-28

PU12/11/06/007 ACN-53 ANPP-2 CPC-9 PDP-2

PU12/11/06/004 ACN-230 ANPP-2 CPC-0 PDP-8

PU12/11/05/019 ACN-288 ANPP-0 CPC-4 PDP-18

PU12/11/05/023 ACN-277 ANPP-0 CPC-0 PDP-17

PU12/11/05/025 ACN-171 ANPP-7 CPC-2 PDP-23

PU12/11/06/001 ACN-184 ANPP-1 CPC-2 PDP-12

PU12/11/06/002 ACN-111 ANPP-2 CPC-0 PDP-20

PU12/11/06/003 ACN-155 ANPP-3 CPC-0 PDP-15

PU12/11/05/024 ACN-240 ANPP-1 CPC-1 PDP-2

PU12/11/05/010 ACN-201 ANPP-O CPC-0 PDP-18

Uroma Primary School, Predo LGA, Ward 2, ACN 216, ANPP 2, PDP 18

Oza Primary School, Oredo LGA, Ward 10, ACN 129, PDP 35

Oza Primary School, Oredo LGA, Ward 10, ACN 14, PDP 35

Ebidi Pri. Sch., Fugar, Etsako Central. Ward 2 , unit 7 , CPC= 0, , PDP=129 , ACN=169 

Ebidi Pri. Sch., Fugar, Etsako Central. Ward 2 , unit 8, CPC=0 , PDP=88 , ACN=141 Unit 

PU 14,GRA,Benin.PDP 32,ACN-190,CPC-3

Source